Never Fear, Never Forget Respect
Hey everyone — we all share the same passion and I want to take a moment to pause and remind ourselves: we share a dangerous hobby and we should never lose respect for that. The guy who got me into riding at 30 — he was 38 at the time — is gone today. Went into oncoming traffic in a corner. He was a really good rider with enormous experience. So whenever you throw a leg over your bike, never lose respect for the machine. This is a hobby that can kill you, and it takes a lot of time, money and practice to do it safely. Never leave your bike solely to a mechanic — always keep an eye on it yourself, like a parachutist who packs their own chute. Get the best gear that's still comfortable enough to actually wear — whatever suits the weather or your preference — but always the best you can afford. And on the road, never ride more than 80% of what you think you're capable of. One more thing — never ride in fear. If you're genuinely afraid, get off the bike and don't get back on. But that's different from respect. Fear and respect are not the same thing — lose the fear if you can, but never, ever lose the respect for the machine. This post is for Oliver — my best friend who can't read this anymore. 🖤