Some things you just don't do

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In my youth I rode motorbikes. Not like the guy in the picture above, of course. I once heard a doctor describe bikers as organ donors on two wheels. This guy is a donor on steroids. Thing is, I'd be too scared to even try what he’s doing. Firstly, I’m afraid of heights, Then I’d be afraid to crash. Finally, I don’t wear waterproof underwear.

I often wonder what it is that drives people to do what others, like me, wouldn’t dream of. Are they simply reckless. I don’t think so, or more of them would crash, more often. Is it adrenalin. Well, yes, at the time of performing the stunt but we’ve all got a bountiful supply of adrenalin, yet we don’t do things like this.

When the rider brings the bike back to ground, stops and removes his helmet, he’s kind of like you and me. Just an ordinary person. Yet, he isn’t. We’ve stereotyped him into a crazy, daredevil category, but that’s not true either. He’s spent hours and hours practicing what he does. He's a pro who’s worked extremely hard to do what you’ve just witnessed with an open mouth. He’s not fearless and he's crashed often. But he takes risks that he’s taken time and time before. He knows what the outcome will be and what he needs to do to achieve that result. It’s like you or me driving to the mall. Except you need to add speed, precision timing, risk factors, obstacles, cool nerves, athleticism and supreme confidence.

I no longer ride motorbikes. In fact, I don’t even ride a bicycle, other than the one in the gym that goes nowhere. I cycled for many years and when I told someone recently that I really miss it, they asked why I don’t do it any longer. They say you never forget how to ride a bicycle. True, but you do lose confidence in your own ability and that exponentially increases the risk of falling off.

Now, I get an adrenalin rush from watching the Tour de France from my couch. Especially the sprint finishes.