By MIKE Phillips |
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TCLOCS New Year is here ; this is an
THE excellent time to check our bikes and ourselves . TCLOCS is a pre-ride check for the bike that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation recommends . TCLOCS is also a pre-ride check of the rider that will give us an honest evaluation of our riding . TCLOCS is preventive maintenance for our bikes and ourselves . TCLOCS should be performed several times a year . When the weather gets bad and we ride less , it is a perfect time for maintenance on our bikes and ourselves . TCLOCS on the bike stands for tires , controls , lights , oil , chassis , and stands . You can find a copy of the TCLOCS procedure on the internet . Riders can check these things themselves , but if you are not sure or encounter a problem , take the bike to a mechanic , and let the professionals work on it .
TCLOCS on us stands for training , commitment , legal , observance , confidence , and self-assessment .
T-Training . Statistics show that 90 % of riders involved in a crash have not had any formal rider training . More than half of riders in crashes had less than five months of experience on the bike they were riding at the time of the crash . Riders should take formal training every year . Motorcycle riding is a sport . Every participant in a sport needs a coach . People who play golf go to a driving range or putting green to practice . Many people take lessons with a pro . A lot of riders never take training or practice .
We often call our friends to go for a ride , but when was the last time
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you called someone to practice quick stops or other safety maneuvers ? That call may not only save your life but also your friend ' s life . I challenge everyone to make a simulated emergency quick stop the next time you ride . Is that the best stop you can make ? Is that the stop you will make when a car pulls out in front of you ? Many schools offer an experienced rider course that usually lasts one day . Several CMA chapters have offered a one-day riders ' course using certified instructors at no charge as an outreach to the chapter and the local riding public . This is a great way to improve your skills and a chance to meet and minister to local riders ..
C-Commitment . How committed are you to safe riding ? Do you practice ? Do you wear protective gear ? Cars have bumpers , crumple zones , airbags , and seatbelts . Riders only have the gear they wear to protect them . I support the rider ' s choice of what gear to wear ; however , I always wear a helmet , long sleeves , long pants , gloves , sturdy shoes , and eye protection . As a retired policeman , I have investigated hundreds of motorcycle crashes and have never seen a crash where protective gear caused an injury . I have seen many crashes where the lack of protective gear caused injury or even death to the rider . Are you committed enough to safety to be an example to others of safe riding ?
L-Legal . Are you riding legally ? Do you have a license and insurance ? Do you obey traffic laws , including the speed limit ? Do you go along with whatever the group is doing , or do you ride your own ride ? Are you
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riding after drinking alcohol ? Having any alcohol in your system when riding increases your chance of crashing by five times . When you have a blood alcohol concentration greater than 0.05 ( about two and Β½ drinks for an average person in one hour ), your risk of crashing is forty times higher .
O-Observant . Are you observant when you ride ? SEE or Search , Evaluate , and Execute is an excellent strategy to use to stay safe . Search for roadway users , including cars , animals , or anything on the road . Search for traffic controls like signs , lane markings , and lights . Search for an escape path . Keep your head and eyes moving front to back and side to side so you can prepare for a problem in advance rather than react to an emergency . Evaluate the best course of action and then smoothly execute that action .
C-Confidence . There is a fine line between confidence and overconfidence . Riders without confidence ride timidly . They ride with a stiff body , causing slow reactions to changing conditions . They develop tunnel vision , affecting their ability to see and avoid danger . Lack of confidence sometimes occurs because riders get a bike that is too heavy or too tall for them . Some ride in conditions they are not prepared for , like rain , gravel , low light , heavy traffic , curvy roads , or high speeds . Riders must build confidence through training and practice . Ride in all conditions . Start slow and easy ; you build confidence as your skills improve . If you are not comfortable in your riding , you will not have confidence in your riding .
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