We all have problems committing at some point. The key is to identify the opportunity, think it through, choose your line and attack with confidence. If you aren't in it to win it... you won't.
It doesn't matter what kind of riding you do or at what skill level you perform, at some point we all run across a certain obstacle that hooks its barbs of fear right into us. Sometimes those paralyzing thoughts of self-mutilation are too much to overcome but then there are those which only prompt us into a temporary hesitation. This can be only a moment or two as you approach whatever stands in your way, or it could force you to stop in your tracks and reassess the situation. Other times it's too much to overcome on that particular day and the obstacle will haunt you until your next meeting. Regardless of what the obstacle is or how badly it taunts you, essentially there comes a moment when you have to drop sack, twist the throttle and commit.
For you guys out there, the word "commitment" carries significant weight in general, but in the motorcycling sense it's something that we actually
want to do. Finding a way to commit yourself whole-heartedly out on the track or trail can be the difference between winning or losing, or perhaps more importantly, self-respect or self-loathing. We attended two of the three AMA EnduroCross rounds this year and having participated in the
Las Vegas finale, we can attest that there are plenty of scary obstacles in those arenas that demand commitment.
One of the most dramatic examples was found at Round 1 in Denver, CO where the rockpile featured log transitions during the daytime qualifiers. By our count, only two riders found the correct line, right amount of throttle and proportionate cajones to attack the situation like a tabletop. Both riders were on Yamahas, and one of them was
Zip-Ty Racing's Bobby Garrison. After scooping our jaw off the floor, we made our way to the popular Yamaha rig and interrupted his lunch to find out what it takes to drop the hammer like that.
One of the first things that were apparent in this case was having an open mind about line selection. Obviously, most of the riders didn't even consider jumping the entire rockpile. Garrison identified the option during the track walk and felt it out in the early practice and qualifying sessions. After that he knew that the only thing preventing it was his willingness. Click on the video link for a glimpse of his thought process when faced with a lack of commitment.
Let us know what you think about this Riding Tip in the MotoUSA Forum.
