District Educator Article

Masters and Level 5?
By David Dirig

Last month, I was honored by being invited to speak at the Masters Breakfast in Idaho (JIF Region Rally). Of course, I had to come up with something to talk about, and what follows below are my thoughts on how each of us can go beyond the official levels of the Rider Education Program. While this is targeted at those of you who have achieved the Masters level of the Rider Education program, this should also encourage those of you who have not to strive toward this goal and consider the Master Tour Riders in your chapter as additional Rider Education resources.

This was Dori's and my first Masters breakfast, so we wanted to recognize all the Master Tour Riders for what they had accomplished as members of an elite group that have achieved the highest level of the Rider Education Program. But while we recognized their past achievements, we also wanted to ask what their future accomplishments would be? OK, we've reached Level 4, where do we go from here? Do we rest on our laurels and point to our numbered patches? Do we start racking up the high mileage pins to add more weight to our vests? Yes, but how do we build on the Rider Education Program and go beyond this highest level that we've all worked and rode hard to achieve? Maybe call it an un-official Level 5 of the Rider Ed program?

I would put it to you that each of us already are extending the program by being examples to those riders who have not yet reached Level 4. The question is are you a good example or not? Every time the bike comes up off the side stand, we represent the GWRRA Rider Education Program at its highest and most prestigious level. Is each of us representing the program in its best light with respect to safety? It may be inconvenient at times (putting your helmet on to move your bike across the parking lot, wearing real gloves riding across the desert), and we may not always recognize our role, but each of us represents this program at all times.

There have been over 2500 Masters patches awarded to date, and each of these patches represents a vast wealth of knowledge and experience. How do we capitalize on this? Each of you is an asset to your chapter and especially your chapter educators. Even if you're not an official officer, each of us can help out our chapter educators. Whether it be giving safety talks, providing articles and input, or simply making observations during a group ride, we owe it to our friends and loved ones to improve the safety of our riding groups. Give others the benefit of your experience and promote the Rider Education Program by helping out and supporting your chapter educators

This not only can be done through official channels by supporting and helping the Educators, but there can also be unofficial channels. Lets face it, we all have a lot of pride tied up in our rides and how we ride. To suggest to someone that they might alter their riding habits in the interest to safety takes a lot of tact. This is one of the most challenging things that I have found as Chapter Educator. Some less experienced riders may need help but may respond better to other riders that are not official chapter officers. In my case (and many other Chapter educators), age may also be a factor. To come up to someone who's machine is older than I am, who has kids my age, and suggest that they change their lane position or their entry point to a curve is often a tough sell. But its necessary for the safety of the group. Some people may not respond to the Educator's position for a number of reasons. This is where you all come in. Each of you can become an additional voice of reason to try and persuade these people the validity of what safety issues are being raised.

An example from CA1F: One of the Master Tour Riders in CA1F took a less experienced rider under his wing by taking him for a ride and giving him pointers on counter-steering and lane position in curves. This was a relatively new rider to our chapter who had been taking advantage of our Parking Lot Practices and gotten involved in the Rider Ed program. By providing another source for information and experience, this Master Tour Rider in our chapter not only helped out this new rider, but he also decreased the risk to the entire group by increasing the riding skills of its members. He added another voice of reason and safety as well as providing a different angle on some of the skills and concepts that I had been discussing with this new rider. Each of you can provide this additional point of view and support for your Chapter Educators in helping out with newer riders.

Its not only the good things that we can use to benefit our chapter. The bad things can be used as well. As you all know, Dori went down on her Valkyrie in May coming through some twisties. She's back up and riding now, but my point is that this can also be used to further Rider Education. She could have easily blamed a number of reasons for the accident, but her response from the start was that she screwed up. A moment's inattention cost her a broken collarbone and the entire right side of her new bike. It could have been much worse. My point, however, is that Dori used this as an opportunity to tell others about her mistake so that they could learn from it. This takes more than recognition of a mistake, it takes the self-fortitude to point toward yourself and say "mea culpa."

Each of us can learn from our mistakes, but to publicly recognize those mistakes so others can learn from them takes maturity, self respect, and a drive to help others. For that I recognize all those who have gone down and used this as a platform to help others (such as Dori did standing up at multiple chapter meetings in S. California and describing her accident and what she did wrong). You may recognize that you made a mistake during a ride, but did that new rider behind you recognize your poor choice of entry speed into a blind curve? Most likely no, unless you make it a point of discussion for the group. Co-riders! You're out there too right!!?? You see what goes on; bring it up with your Rider & your Educator so all can benefit from your observations. This could be as simple and short as talking about what you saw or did or should have done at the next riders meeting or gas stop, or make this the topic of a guest safety talk or newsletter article. I guarantee you that your Chapter Educator will welcome your input.

So how do we extend beyond the Master Tour Rider level? How do we create an impromptu Level 5? I'd say many of you are already doing it in your own way. Each of us can extend to the next level by promoting Rider/Co-rider safety through your riding style, as well as helping your Chapter Educators through official and un-official channels. Help us all by making your experience and know-how available to the rest of your chapter; I promise you won't be disappointed.

Ride Safe and COAST (Concentration On A Safe Trip)

D&D