As Good As It Gets With Karen Ramsay

This entry is part 20 of 21 in the series Adventure Rider Issue #13

I think I may have peaked.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying my riding can’t be improved upon – far from it. It’s just I reckon this is as good as I’m going to get without assistance.

And despite my riding being at its peak, I’ve had a number of offs lately.

Sometimes I might get myself in a situation a better rider could easily ride through or recover from. It could be from going too quick, tackling something I really shouldn’t or when my riding ability in my head isn’t aligned with my actual ability. All of this has got me thinking about how well we’re prepared for a fall.

Backfire

My latest off was a bit of a rough one. Fortunately I wasn’t badly hurt, but I can say I haven’t been able to kneel down and scrub the floor since it happened, and it was entirely due to me trying to be a smart Alec.

Hubby Dave had organised an overnight ride. It was a big group of 19 riders with a great range of bikes, experience and competence.

For some reason Dave is reluctant to let me go sweep if we ride in groups. I reckon I’d make an ideal sweep – I’m happy to follow along, I have basic first-aid knowledge (very basic just in case you’re tempted to come off in front of me) and I’m not going to be hold-ing anyone up. I have absolutely no desire to prove my ability to do power slides or be the first person to the gate.

So on this ride I’d been happily travelling along near the back while son Darcy was sweep. Approaching the lunch stop, I thought I’d have some fun and splash Darcy as we went over a crossing. I slowed to let him catch up then moved to the right to get him beside me. Then I twisted the throttle.

This is where the combination of lack of ability and over supply of confidence kicked in.

The next thing I knew, the screen and tank bag were level with my head and I went crashing heavily onto the concrete causeway.

Luckily I tend to stay level-headed most of the time, so despite a scarily painful knee, I stretched out to hit the kill switch then kept my thumb up so Darcy wouldn’t worry too much when he saw me under the bike.

Having landed heavily with my knee on the concrete, and thinking there was some serious damage, I was thanking my lucky stars I’d recently bought new and improved hip and knee armour to replace the standard foam ‘protection’.

The sixth sense

Which brings me to first aid. I always travel with a first-aid kit (except when it’s on Dave’s bike and we get separated). In the kit I have triangular and rolled bandages, tape, scissors, an eyewash cup, emergency blan-ket, antihistamines and a range of painkillers. While I don’t have private health insurance (and people can debate the pros and cons them-selves), I do have ambulance cover.

From a few people I’ve spoken to who’ve been transported out by ambulance or chopper, you’d be a fool not to have it.

With protective gear, I reckon the more you have the better. No one would guess I’m actually a tiny waif beneath all the gear I wear (well… it’s possible). I’d never ride without it. I don’t even ride around the block without gloves. What’s likely to be the first thing that hits the ground when you come off?

My advice is to get gear that’s good quality, comfortable and fits well.

I’ve also learned to listen to what my body is telling me. These days I’ll turn around and come home if I don’t have a good feeling about the day or the ride. I’ve done that on a few occasions. Unfortunately the sixth sense isn’t infallible…which is why there’s been a few offs.

What I’ve learned

• Being a smart Alec can easily backfire
• Apparently sweeps need to be quick at tyre changes
• Always trust your instinct
• Good protective gear is worth its weight in gold
• Always check your undies before a ride

Karen has proven she has no fear of water crossings.

Karen Ramsay

Wardrobe malfunction

Finally, and most irrationally, are the superstitions.

I have a necklace I wear without fail every time I ride (including the rides where I’ve had an off. In psychology I think it’s justified by saying it would’ve been worse if I hadn’t been wearing it). Other people put their boots on in a particular order or have a lucky t-shirt. Painfully undressing after my worst off, I discovered I’d been wearing my undies inside-out and back-to-front. It’s lucky I had any on, being so nervous at having had multiple offs the day before and getting dressed in the dark. But I maintain to this day that had a bearing on my riding.

Ultimately, I reckon the motto ‘be prepared’ – for road and weather conditions, for kangaroos around the corner, for flat tyres and anything else that could potentially occur – will stand every rider in good stead.