Wheelin
Active Member
I didn't get into motorcycling until my early 40s. While it's posed a lot of disadvantages in terms of riding skills, waiting so long--at least for me--was the right decision. I was far too emotionally immature in my 30s to have so much power in my hands and am pretty sure that I wouldn't be alive to type about this now if I didn't wait.
Now in my 50s and having to split lanes in LA traffic in order to make my work commute and life balance palatable, I still have to tell myself (literally out loud while riding the bike) "Be PATIENT." It takes patience not to want to glare at a motorist who cuts you off. It takes patience not to scream at motorists who deliberately block the lane during a traffic jam so that you can't split lanes. It takes patience not to try to split lanes between 2 semi trucks only 2 feet apart. It takes patience to ride past motorists who are texting, putting on makeup, shaving, and smoking pot. Most of all, it takes patience to ride within one's limits--and given how late I started riding, being patient with myself is the greatest challenge that I face every day. Because if I'm not patient in LA traffic, I will not make it in the long term. Not being dramatic. It's just a fact.
I only wax poetic about this because I feel it's the only obvious advice that I can impart to other riders, no matter how high level their skills, because sometimes the obvious is hiding in plain sight. That, and I did a damn fool maneuver today because I wasn't patient enough....
Now in my 50s and having to split lanes in LA traffic in order to make my work commute and life balance palatable, I still have to tell myself (literally out loud while riding the bike) "Be PATIENT." It takes patience not to want to glare at a motorist who cuts you off. It takes patience not to scream at motorists who deliberately block the lane during a traffic jam so that you can't split lanes. It takes patience not to try to split lanes between 2 semi trucks only 2 feet apart. It takes patience to ride past motorists who are texting, putting on makeup, shaving, and smoking pot. Most of all, it takes patience to ride within one's limits--and given how late I started riding, being patient with myself is the greatest challenge that I face every day. Because if I'm not patient in LA traffic, I will not make it in the long term. Not being dramatic. It's just a fact.
I only wax poetic about this because I feel it's the only obvious advice that I can impart to other riders, no matter how high level their skills, because sometimes the obvious is hiding in plain sight. That, and I did a damn fool maneuver today because I wasn't patient enough....
Last edited: