Sunday, I rode wing (second) next to someone training to lead rides for my motorcycle riding group. In my group, we call ride leaders Road Captains. I have served as a Road Captain for my group since 2005.

On Sunday, I was riding to evaluate the new Road Captain-in-training so he can earn his Road Captain patch and organize and lead rides on his own. It was a great ride. I enjoyed…

…this leadership opportunity so that I can share the skills I learned and encourage others to lead rides for our group.

I remember how I felt when I was in his same position. I was so nervous having to assume the responsibility to lead a ride safely, keep the riding pace, worry about being split up by cages (car drivers), and ensuring that my ride accommodated all riders down to the lowest denominator (that is, the newest, most unskilled rider.)

Over the years, I have built more confidence in leading rides so that when I am leading one, I can relax and enjoy the ride, too. I have learned where to look, what to watch for, how long to wait at stop signs, how to avoid bicyclists, and so forth.

One of the major things that I learned to accommodate my navigational disability is to plan rather simple routes that do not involve a lot of turns. When routes get complicated, that’s when it becomes easy for me to miss a turn and get lost. Man, I’ve done that plenty… however, I realize now that most people enjoy the ride and don’t mind (too much) if we have to make a U-turn or readjust the route.

I have also learned that an on-board GPS is a mere “suggestion,” not an absolute. I swear, my GPS is programmed to steer me wrong each and every time. So I relax and use it as a general “pointer,” but I have learned not to become dependent on it.

Instead, I “pre-ride the ride” — that is, ride the route by myself about a week before so I can become familiar with landmarks, turns, and check out the destination. I also look for unexpected things like road construction that would not show up on an on-line map.

When I return from the pre-ride, I can tweak my route as necessary and also avoid sharp 120-degree right turns (the bane of my existence since an old skydiving injury prevents me from turning my head to the right so I cannot manage tight-right turns well.)

Now, back to Sunday’s ride. It was terrific. Well led, easy, and fun. It had been well-planned and went on roads with which I was familiar.

I also enjoyed nice sunny weather on a very pleasant day, getting out to do something fun instead of all the usual weekend chores (that I knocked out on a long-day Saturday.)

Life is short: leather up, boot up, and ride!