MSF training rules!

In the immortal words of Steppenwolf's Born to be Wild. Get your motor running ... head out on the highway ... looking for adventure ... whatever comes our way. "In the 5 years I've been a motorcycle rider - yes I'm a late bloomer, it took me 20 years to wear down my wife before she finally gave me the okay - the words to this song echo in my head every time I strap on my helmet. Although this great "wind therapy" anthem has my head rockin' as I tighten my chin strap, there are also other words kicking around inside my head - the words of my Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) instructor. He'd constantly remind all the participants in our class: "Time and distance are your friends. Take your time and keep your distance." Thankfully this quote is one I've never forgotten. In fact, this quote may very well have saved my skin.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

It was back a few years ago on a dusty patch of Loop 1604 in San Antonio, Texas. With a great deal of encouragement from Steppenwolf, I was motoring south on 1604 at a point where it's only a single lane in each direction. I was trailing a pickup truck straight off the set of "Sanford & Son." You know, the rusted bucket of bolts full of busted up kitchen appliances, copper pipe, and yard trash. As soon as I spotted the truck, the words of my MSF instructor began echoing in my head "... keep your distance." I backed off the throttle, sacrificing speed for distance - in other words, giving myself more time to react should something fly loose from the bungee corded mess not too expertly strapped inside the bed of this wreckage on wheels.

Thankfully, that afternoon the words of my MSF instructor won out over the words of Steppenwolf. No sooner had I backed off the throttle, what appeared to be the twisted carcass of an old washing machine came bounding off the tailgate of the truck striking the road in front of me. Distance truly was my friend that day, as I was easily able to avoid the twisted shell of metal by simply steering my bike out of its path.

Air Force leadership may also have saved my skin that day. I wonder would I have taken the MSF Basic Rider course if it wasn't mandated for all Airmen. Would I have heard the ...