Forgive the clumsy metaphor, but I continue to be amazed how – for me – riding a motorcycle keeps providing so many opportunities to learn. This time around it’s about Riding the Tiger – the BIG F – fear. This past weekend I spent with a work mate – I’ll call Scottie – and a bunch of other moto-mad blokes on a guided dirt bike ride through the ranges between Hoskinstown and Narooma. Thanks to Darin Rowley and the team from Adventure Motorcycle Equipment. 
Over the weekend we traversed the fire trails for several hundred kms over the ranges in the mud, gravel and rocks, and water. It was supposed to be a beginners social ride, but with all the rain around was, was in parts anything but. For me there were several ‘fuck me’ moments when I really wanted to back out – when my guts rolled, the hairs on the back of the neck stood up, and several other physiological things happened that I won’t go into.
There were also at least 8 occasions when I dropped the bike in the mud, around a steep tight corner, or just generally screwed it up. When my face burned with embarrassment, and I needed help to pick up my Tiger. The cool thing I realised (eventually) was that most of the other blokes on the tour on their ‘cool’ adventure bikes – were dropping them also. In fact it was fucken’ hilarious – to look back with my hands on hips with my bike on it’s side on the ground – and see bikes in various stages of sliding all over, falling over, fallen over, and being picked up, and riders and bikes covered in mud of various colours. 
I did some things over those two days on my Tiger that I’m really chuffed about and that gave me a real adrenaline rush. They were also things that by myself I would NEVER be crazy enough to try. Like hairing full throttle up a rocky trail with the bike literally bouncing all over the place – and shitting myself that I’d crash! And crossing a slippery, flooded causeway that I was almost certain that would take me down. In both cases I made it, and in both cases I dropped the bike soon after because I was still musing over what had happened, and not present in the moment.
Reflecting on the adventure on the highway ride home with Scottie and over the last few days – I’ve learned that the ‘Big F’ is very much a mind game. Yes it has physical effects, but it’s the mind that creates these effects. And if you steel yourself, face it, and have a real go – you will be surprised what can happen. I’m not a great moto-rider and probably never will be. But by ‘Riding the Tiger’ I’m learning more about me. I’m slowly becoming more aware and in the moment – and hopefully – becoming a better human. Blog done. MotorcycleJourneyMan.
Motorcycle Journey Man 