By MIKE Phillips |
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PAUL KUEHN & RIDE LIKE A PRO ARKANSAS
RECENTLY , I talked with Paul Kuehn about motorcycle riding . Paul is an instructor with Ride Like A Pro . Ride Like A Pro teaches police motor officer skills to civilian riders in a safe , controlled environment . Paul has been riding for over nineteen years , the last twelve he ' s spent on cruiser bikes . Paul is also a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for Washington County in Arkansas .
Paul has been called to many motorcycle crashes while working as a Deputy . Paul said , " Most crashes are preventable . Crashes occur because the rider does not know the techniques to prevent a crash , or does not have the skill to apply the techniques properly ; either way can lead to grave mistakes ."
Paul was impressed with Ride Like A Pro after he watched a demo at Daytona Bike Week . He wanted to ride like the demo riders and pass those skills on to other riders to help keep them safe . Paul had to demonstrate his riding and teaching proficiency for Ride Like A Pro ' s founder , Jerry Palladino , before he could become an instructor .
Paul ’ s classes cover safety and control at low speeds . The design of a motorcycle helps control the bike with little input from the rider when at high speeds . A speed under 20 mph makes the bike much harder to control , requiring 90 % of steering input to come from the rider . Most crashes and tip-overs happen at less than 20 mph , making slow speed skills essential for safety and control . Techniques at slow speeds
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also work at higher speeds . Proper techniques work the same on any two wheel bike regardless of brand , style , or size .
Ride Like A Pro concentrates on improving three basic skills . These skills are proper use of head and eyes , friction zone , and braking . Friction zone and braking are physical skills that can be learned and improved through training and practice . The most important skill is the proper use of the head and eyes . It is the most challenging skill to perfect , even for experienced riders .
Riders must not look where they are at but must look up and ahead to where they want to go . The natural tendency of riders is to look directly in front of the bike . Additionally , riders in critical situations will get tunnel vision and look at the front tire or fixate on a point or obstacle right in front of the bike . This leads to many crashes that could be prevented .
I asked Paul what advice he would give to experienced riders . He said , " Riding is a perishable skill . If you don ' t keep working on riding skills , you lose them . Riders can keep and improve their skills by taking a riding course and riding with better riders . The most important thing is to practice good riding skills . Every time you ride is an opportunity to practice ."
Paul teaches classes for experienced riders to improve their skills . Most of the classes I work with are for beginners learning new skills . The basic skills for both groups are the same . The differences in the classes are fine-tuning skills by increasing difficulty and raising
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expectations . Experienced riders are usually harder to teach because they have riding styles and habits , whether good or bad , developed by years and miles on the bike . New riders are more open to training because they do not have preconceived ideas about riding .
Christians spend a lifetime learning about God . Christians gain knowledge through church services , Sunday school , small groups , Bible studies , prayer , and always being open to God ’ s Word . Motorcycle riders , like Christians , should never stop learning , practicing , and improving through any road open to them .
For more information about Ride Like A Pro , go to https :// www . ridelikeapro . com /. CMA
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