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Last year, I got my first taste of what it was like to ride a motorcycle. A friend and I spent a weekend taking an MSF course. Even just riding around in a parking lot, I knew that I loved it.
What I didn't expect was how motorcycling was going to change me and make me a more prepared person overall in life.
After taking the course, I bought a used Kawasaki Versys as my first motorcycle. Unfortunately, I live in the Midwest United States where winter is now limiting my riding, but I take the Versys out every chance I get. Often, those chances are just short trips to work.
My commute to my job in a restaurant is about a 10-to-15-minute ride on a mix of country roads and city streets. So it may seem absurd that for this short ride that I usually start preparing to leave at least an hour before my shift. It surprised me at first too. I was almost late to work a couple times. I quickly learned how much preparation I needed to do and am better off for it.
I learned to start preparing so early because there are simply that many factors I need to account for, which I divide into three categories: before the ride, during the ride, and after the ride.
Before the ride
The first pre-ride factor I look at is if I should take my motorcycle in the first place. If I’m feeling a little sick or tired, I take that into account before every ride.
Next, I check the temperature, wind speed, and weather. Even on my short trip to work, if the temperature is below 40 degrees F, my hands can go numb before I finish my commute. Additionally, if there is a high chance of rain, even though my gear is waterproof, I typically wouldn’t ride due to my inexperience. These factors determine what I’ll need on the ride or if I should ride at all.
On the ride
The first and most important part of preparing for the ride itself has been drilled into me from the weekend I spent at an MSF course. ATGATT: All the gear all the time. I put on my helmet, jacket, gloves, and boots.
After those fundamentals, I prep for the weather, both the trip to and back from work. It may be comfortably in the 70s on my trip in but drop to the low 50s on my commute home. I’ll put another pair of socks and a hoodie in my backpack to wear on the way back. I also have a cute pair of neon blue gloves to put underneath my warm-weather motorcycle gloves for some extra warmth.
I make sure anything in my pockets or backpack is securely stashed and I'm off.
After the ride
First, it's important for me to be ready for my shift when I arrive. Luckily, I can wear my boots and jeans, but I also need a black T-shirt, my nametag and my hat. Since the pandemic, I always keep a mask in my jacket.
There isn't a lot of space to store my gear in the restaurant where I work. Unfortunately, the spot I found is behind some shelves so I make sure to bring my helmet bag to avoid my helmet getting scratched or dirty. Wherever I go, I try to think ahead about what I’ll do with my gear at my destination, since I don't want it to get dirty, damaged, or stolen.
Finally, if I’m going to bring any food home, I account for whether it can fit in my backpack and be secured tightly.
All this preparation can seem excessive, but it makes my commute to work smooth and enjoyable despite the conditions. I’ve made the trip with a windchill of below freezing comfortably by staying prepared. All this preparation also keeps me safer on the roads and always ready for work when I arrive.
While I'm new to riding, I'm excited to gain more experience. What I didn't expect was that what I’ve learned about simply preparing for a ride to work has already affected the rest of my life. I find that whenever I’m leaving the house for any reason I run through the same process to figure out what I'll need, even when I’m not taking my motorcycle.
I've quickly become the person who never forgets my keys, phone, or wallet and is always dressed for the weather.
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