How to overcome anxiety: a guide for motorcyclists

How to overcome anxiety: a guide for motorcyclists

How to overcome anxiety: a guide for motorcyclists

As ridiculous as it may seem, I've always been a little jealous of people who have that kind of (excessive) self-confidence. The ability to face any obstacle, no matter how big, fast, or life-threatening, and have the firm belief that everything will be okay.

Now, it might be surprising to hear this from someone who races and has traveled extensively on motorcycles, but I'm an overthinker, I have anxiety, and it always seems to take me twice as long to feel comfortable doing things that the rest of the world can understand in a few minutes. I'm an intellectual, not an athlete. I'm sure there's a lifetime of trust and psychological issues I could unpack here to explain it, but instead, let's talk about how this applies to motorcycle riding.

Imagine, if you will, sitting atop a dirt bike in the backcountry. You're a new rider. You don't really know what you're doing, and your mind has made sure you're constantly aware of this fact. You see a pile of rocks in the road, sitting at the other end of a deceptively steep slope. In a split second, you've conjured up every possible thing that could go wrong. You've imagined all the ways you could get hurt, all the mistakes your inexperience is bound to cause. You haven't attempted the obstacle yet, but you've already decided it's too much.

You've hit the brakes. You're staring at the rocks. And now the fear is even worse. Like a self-fulfilling prophecy, your worry makes you even more likely to make a mistake.

Your friends might push you to stop being a klutz, and you want to stop being a klutz, too. But that doesn't change the fact that your body is paralyzed by fear. This is the simplest way I can think of to explain what it's like to try to learn to ride when you're an anxious person with an overactive imagination. But fortunately, there are ways to overcome excessive self-preservation that aren't as barbaric as yelling, "Send it!"

Education

It's easy to simply say "seat time," but it's more complicated than that. Even if you've been riding for a while, your brain might still be playing tricks on you because you know you don't really know what you're doing. Maybe you've fallen a few times, injured yourself, or are just humble enough to know the limits of your own knowledge. Seat time is incredibly important, but quality seat time requires understanding the fundamentals.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to seek professional instruction. I've attended many schools in my 12 years of riding. I started with the MSF course and followed the suggested exercises in a parking lot until I was confident enough to start commuting. After six months of canyons and highways, I began to think I was a good cyclist... until I almost threw my bike over the edge on Glendora Mountain Road in Southern California.

The next time I got on a motorcycle, I trembled every time I saw a corner. I had no idea what I'd done wrong, but I knew I didn't want it to happen again. So I bought a bunch of riding books to try to forget my mistakes, from Twist of the Wrist to Proficient Motorcycling, and decided it was time to hit the track and learn how to turn properly. I signed up for an introductory lesson (most track day organizations have check riders on staff who provide help and extra instruction to new riders) and made my way to Streets of Willow. I was probably one of the slowest riders ever to grace the back straight, but the more laps I did, the easier it became to put the techniques I'd read about into practice.

Once I started running, where progress is clearly quantifiable, it became more apparent that I had reached a plateau between my speed and my fear threshold. What you think you're doing and what you're actually doing don't always align, so taking lessons with Ken Hill and Jason Pridmore, where they analyzed my riding and showed me ways to maintain control even as my speed increased, was all I needed to continue improving.

But training can be expensive, and not all of us have the time or money to get a professional critique, especially in the early days of riding. While I can argue that you should invest in training before investing in a new exhaust, that kind of willpower isn't always realistic.

Luckily, you can get your own exhaust and enjoy the resources available online for free. When I decided to learn to ride a dirt bike during the COVID-19 pandemic, when everything was shut down, I watched some YouTube videos by skilled professional riders explaining the techniques in detail. With the seeds of knowledge planted, I discovered that instead of staring at a drop-off and worrying about what would happen if I lost control and went too fast, I focused on modulating the clutch in combination with the front and rear brakes, forcing my mind to stay in the present. Previously terrifying obstacles began to feel more like solving a puzzle than defying death, and I love puzzles!

Know your enemy

On this last point, much anxiety is about thinking too far ahead, fearing a future that will likely never come. It's a combination of uncertainty and lack of confidence. Whether your motorcycle will make it across the stream or you'll be swept away, they seem like equal possibilities.

If uncertainty is your enemy, then maybe you just need to, well, reduce it. If your friend suggested a trail or road you've never been on, watch some videos of others who have been there. If there are no videos, study a map (topographical maps can be especially helpful for dirt) or ask someone. Regional public forums or park rangers are great resources. Make sure you know where you're going and how to get back on your own, in case something happens.

When you're flying and don't have time for pre-game thinking—perhaps you've come across a dark creek higher than before or a rough hill with uncertain traction—walking over the obstacle first can give you time to analyze the best way to cross it, figure out how scary it is (or isn't), and deconstruct it with logic instead of blind faith.

Motivation

When I decided last year that I wanted to learn to drive dirt after years of paved roads, I suddenly felt like I was back where I started, even though I'd been driving for over a decade. The feeling of my tires slipping terrified me; rocks, hills, and sand triggered the worst fear I've ever faced. At one point, I literally cried as I looked down a steep hill I had no choice but to climb if I wanted to get back to the truck.

It's easy to just say, "Well, if it's that scary, then maybe it's not for you." But I wanted it to be for me, and I knew that if I could get through the growing pains, the reward would be worth the struggle. While I told myself, "You can do this!" it didn't silence my inner demons, telling myself, "If you do this, you can get some of that amazing handmade peanut butter cup ice cream."

Treat yourself. That hill you conquered or that rock you surmounted may not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but don't underestimate how important it was to you. Conquering your fear deserves a reward, and having something positive to associate with difficult moments is a surprisingly useful mental exercise. You'd be surprised what you can accomplish if you can manage to smile in the moment instead of frowning.

At the end of the day, it's okay to be scared, especially when you're learning. That initial fear doesn't mean you don't belong on a motorcycle, and no matter how easy all your friends make it seem, you're not the only one who feels that way. Be patient with yourself. And when you get over those bumps, the thrill of the wind in your hair will be much more satisfying.

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