I've been reading David Hough's More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering The Ride recently. It's quite similar to his first book, but focuses more on practical exercises to improve your motorcycling skills instead of the wide overview of motorcycling in general. Highly recommended; the exercises are a lot less detailed than those detailed in Parks' Total Control but are still quite useful, and the wealth of other information that Hough provides is great.

One of the focuses of an early chapter is what Hough calls "wimp-o-phobia;" the conscious / subconscious reaction we have when someone passes us, cuts us off, rides faster than us, or takes any sort of action that would imply that we're not as skilled as they are. I'd like to say that as a scientist, a "man of reason," I'm immune to this sort of thing, but it's clearly not the case. I would direct the reader's attention to my recent encounter with road rage as an example of letting my pride get in the way of a safe ride.

And while I certainly wouldn't classify it as quite the same thing, I did notice a bit of a similar reaction on the Mt St Helens ride two months ago - occasionally I did find myself pushing a bit past my percieved limits in order to keep up. It was nothing crazy, and it certainly wasn't the fault of the very talented and polite riders who were along with me - everyone was very clearly oriented on riding their own ride. But all the same, I remember entering a few corners where I was a little concerned by the end. I remember coming out of one particularly hairy S-curve in the Alder Lake twisties, and telling myself "I do not need to ride this way." I think it's instructive to keep in mind one's tendancy to push a little bit harder, the maybe-subconscious desire to be "one of the guys" instead of "that newbie who can't keep up." Maybe being mindful of this tendancy will help to keep it in check before the fact, rather than having to talk myself down when I find it starting to affect me.

As if there was any question, Hough ends (or nearly ends) the book with The Ten Commandments of Motorcycling. The very first one:

Perfect your roadcraft. Good roadcraft means being less stressed as well as avoiding awkward or dangerous situations. Be courteous and acknowledge courtesy to you. Never be provoked.

Words to remember, I think. I clearly still have a lot of work to do in this department...