Friday, November 16, 2012

How Busy Could He Be?


Here's the thing with being a part-time freelancer and full-time radio guy (not to mention husband, father and grandfather): there's never enough time. So while I have been writing, quite a bit actually, all of my writing efforts have gone towards work that actually pays. And since this blog doesn't pay, well it's been further down on the list of priorities. So here's a sampling of some of what I've been working on lately. Click on an individual heading to go to the full article.

I have been pretty busy writing


Life is a risky business. You can minimize risk, manage risk, anticipate and have a plan for dealing with risk, but you can never totally eliminate risk. There is risk associated with riding a motorcycle. You can ride safely and do things, employ strategies to help ensure your safety, but, as the U.S. Supreme Court said in a workplace safety related case in 1980, "safety is not the equivalent of risk free."

There are two major areas of motorcycle safety or risk management that I'll look at here; avoiding getting into an accident in the first place and minimizing your risk of injury if you do have an accident.

Every rider has different needs, a unique attitude and wants to express that when they ride. There is a wide array of gear and accessories available to help you ride comfortably, securely and in your own inimitable style. I've listed some of the basic categories here along with a list of some of the major manufacturers in each.
Maybe you've been thinking about riding a motorcycle for a while. Perhaps you rode years ago, before the kids came along and now that they're about grown you're thinking of going back to two wheels. In my own experience as a rider I have only one regret, that I didn't start doing it 20 years earlier. It is one of the most pleasurable experiences you can have.

As  much fun as it is though, it does require a good deal of thought before you jump into it. Like any new endeavor there's a learning curve. So before you throw a leg over that shiny new ride and motor off for adventure allow me to share a few things you should know before you ride.

Shorter days and cooler temperatures signal the beginning of the end of the riding season for many bikers. But it doesn't have to. As long as you allow yourself a little more time to gear up and get where you're going, and you what winter hazards you're likely to face, you can ride pretty much year round.

We bikers are a pretty hardy bunch. We long for the open road, the wind in our faces and the feeling of being one with our rides. Being closed up inside a four-wheeled, climate-controlled cage? That's a last ditch choice for those of us who favor the two-wheeled freedom of a motorcycle. And yet for those riders who live where the winters are harsh, snowfall is measured in feet and temperatures can  dip well below freezing for weeks at a time it's often necessary to park the bike for the winter.

But simplhy putting your motorcycle in the garage for the winter can mean having a ride that's hard to start come spring. If it starts at all. It can also lead to an expensive trip to your local dealership if you don't take a few simple steps to get your bike ready for the winter. By taking a little time to prep your bike for a couple of months of inactivity you can ensure you're ready to ride when the weather finally breaks.

Another Shameless Plug
As if this entire peice hasn't been one big "please read my stuff" deal, here's another. You can subscribe to this blog or "like" my FaceBook page here to keep updated on what I've been publishing.