BMW MOA Foundation: MSF's SeasonedRider Course

Reprinted from theOctober, 2007 BMW Owners News, with permission of the BMW MOA and Ray Zimmerman.

by, Ray Zimmerman

Creating a dialogue to promote safe riding

During the 'MOA International Rally in Wisconsin, the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, through its educational arm, the BMW MOA Foundation, presented seminars on the effects of aging on motorcyclists. This is the second year that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course was offered to attendees at the National. The average age of a BMW rider is 53; those years can bring an abundance of experience, but those years also can be counted upon to bring on new challenges. Safer motorcycling requires concentration, coordination, balance and the ability to make quick and effective decisions. The effects of aging may influence your safety, therefore it is important that seasoned riders correct or compensate for the changes that come with age.

The goal of the SeasonedRider Course is to make riders aware of the general effects of aging on those skills necessary to ride safely, and to encourage riders to take steps to become increasingly safer, and more responsible motorcyclists. The SeasonedRider course provides opportunities to discuss the effects of aging on riding skills. It covers how aging may result in both positive and detrimental effects on personal judgment and performance, vision, cognitive functions and motor skills. Participants are given the opportunity to share some real-life situations and experiences.

Some participants commented that they avoid riding at night. Most stated that they do not ride at night if it's raining because the centerlines become difficult to see. Also of great concern was the use of medications, and the need to wear glasses. Prescription sunglasses seemed to be a common cure for daylight riding but then when dusk arrives, those must be changed out for clear lenses.

Since fatigue can be a greater concern as riders age, we discussed the changes in riding habits, relative to high-mileage days. Many admit that they don't ride as many miles per day as they used to. It was also interesting that the mileage discussion spawned comments about peer pressure. Peer pressure among 50-somethings? Yup! You can almost hear your buddy; "Aw, come on! It's only another 175 miles. We'll be there by 10 tonight!"

Our reaction times slow as we age. One of the exercises included in the SeasonedRider Course is designed to test reaction time. Although it's a simple test, it does help us discover that we're not as "quick" as we were at 25 years of age. Is there anything that can be done to adjust and compensate for, offset or minimize the effects of aging on motorcyclists? Sure!

First, the rider can become more aware of the effects and consequences of aging. Second, they can focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Personal fitness is essential to keeping us safe on the road for a long time. Good diet and regular exercise can help us experience more enjoyable riding as we all age.

Third, think about the fact that fatigue, hunger, temperature extremes, aggressive riding and emotional upset is known to reduce our cogitative speed, and lead us to use poor judgment, or to arrive at good decisions much too late! Why too late? Where does the poor judgment come from? Well, aging complicates and exacerbates the effect that difficult conditions have on our older brains. Gals and guys, if you don't feel on top of your game, DO something about it! Maybe it's time to stop for the day. Learn to listen to your body, and understand that your limits will change as you age.

Our experience suggests that two hours is the required amount of time for the SeasonedRider workshop. During the two classes presented in Vermont in 2006, and the three classes in Wisconsin in 2007, we discovered that, although the bulk of the discussion centered on the effects of aging, we found that the course also provided an opportunity for the attendees to interact with fellow riders, and MSF RiderCoaches. Participants discussed specific motorcycling skills, techniques and mental strategies. They got "more than they paid for!" Actually, there is no charge for this extremely valuable and well-received instruction.

The SeasonedRider Course utilizes a modular curriculum. It is one of several courses offered through the MSF Rider Education and Training System (RETS). The all-classroom curriculum offered opportunities to discuss and understand that aging may result in both positive and detrimental effects on personal judgment and performance, thereby affecting risk-taking and safety. Also discussed were the riders' tactics, "SEE" (Search, Evaluate and Execute) and how aging affects this MSF-based strategy.

Participation is the key to learning from the course! Learning from other riders is a key component to the success of the seminar. To foster interaction, the course is limited to 25 attendees per class.

Much of the curriculum is based upon small-group discussion, in addition to classroom exercises involving reaction time and cognitive skills. Also, participants were provided the opportunity to take a basic eye test to see if their eyeglass prescription was still valid.

The 2008 BMW International Rally will be held in Gillette, Wyoming from July 17 -20. The SeasonedRider Course will be offered again, as it was very popular. Pre-registration is available, and strongly encouraged, starting April 1, 2008. Bill Graham and I, both long-time MSF RiderCoaches, presented in Wisconsin. If you have any questions about the course, feel free to contact me at the BMW MOA office (636-394-7277) or e-mail at RayZ@bmwmoa.org. See you in Gillette!

BMW MOA Chartered Club Officers: are you interested in having the SeasonedRider Course offered at your location; perhaps during a club meeting or at your annual event? The BMW MOA Foundation is looking at ways to do just that. If interested please contact Ray at the 'MOA office.

Ray Zimmerman is an MSF Rider-Coach, and has trained new and experienced riders in four states since 1996. Ray has also conducted the Foundation’s ‘SeasonedRider’ workshop for the past two years. Since 2000 he has served as Executive Director of the BMW MOA. Ray has been riding for more than 40 years.

WRITE TO MotoSafe! Have questions about riding techniques? Maybe you’ve read something in MotoSafe that you didn’t understand, or just flat disagree with! Have a riding tip that has helped you? MotoSafe would love to hear from you. From time to time, we’ll open the mailbag. Note that your letter or email message may be used, respectfully, in a future MotoSafe column. Write to: R. Wiles: roger@rogerwiles.com or 9223 Hill Street, Blairsville GA 30512, or to the ON editorial offices.

The BMW MOA Foundation’s MotoSafe is intended to present responsible viewpoints on thoughtful and safe motorcycling skills and practices; the authors, the Foundation, the BMW MOA and the Owners News do not guarantee readers’ personal safety, and can take no responsibility for readers’ application of this material.


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Total Control Advanced Riding Clinic August 2008 Preparing for and Riding Long Distances July 2008 The Dangerous Five Driving Sins June 2008 Safe Spring Riding May 2008 Riding Blind April 2008 Command Respect March 2008 Stayin’ Safe Riding School February 2008 Impaired-Riding Countermeasures January 2008 Being Seen, Passively December 2007 Sit Up Straight November 2007 MSF SeasonedRider Course October 2007 Sidecar Driving Tactics Part II September 2007 Sidecar Driving Tactics Part I August 2007 Accdient Scene Management July 2007 The Case for Professional Training June 2007 A Hidden Risk May 2007 Soft Hands April 2007 Mentoring a Novice Part III March 2007 Mentoring a Novice Part II February 2007 Mentoring a Novice Part I January 2007 Submission Guidelines	Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Seasoned Rider Course Reprinted from theOctober, 2007 BMW Owners News, with permission of the BMW MOA and Ray Zimmerman. by, Ray Zimmerman Creating a dialogue to promote safe riding During the 'MOA International Rally in Wisconsin, the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, through its educational arm, the BMW MOA Foundation, presented seminars on the effects of aging on motorcyclists. This is the second year that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course was offered to attendees at the National. The average age of a BMW rider is 53; those years can bring an abundance of experience, but those years also can be counted upon to bring on new challenges. Safer motorcycling requires concentration, coordination, balance and the ability to make quick and effective decisions. The effects of aging may influence your safety, therefore it is important that seasoned riders correct or compensate for the changes that come with age. The goal of the SeasonedRider Course is to make riders aware of the general effects of aging on those skills necessary to ride safely, and to encourage riders to take steps to become increasingly safer, and more responsible motorcyclists. The SeasonedRider course provides opportunities to discuss the effects of aging on riding skills. It covers how aging may result in both positive and detrimental effects on personal judgment and performance, vision, cognitive functions and motor skills. Participants are given the opportunity to share some real-life situations and experiences. Some participants commented that they avoid riding at night. Most stated that they do not ride at night if it's raining because the centerlines become difficult to see. Also of great concern was the use of medications, and the need to wear glasses. Prescription sunglasses seemed to be a common cure for daylight riding but then when dusk arrives, those must be changed out for clear lenses. Since fatigue can be a greater concern as riders age, we discussed the changes in riding habits, relative to high-mileage days. Many admit that they don't ride as many miles per day as they used to. It was also interesting that the mileage discussion spawned comments about peer pressure. Peer pressure among 50-somethings? Yup! You can almost hear your buddy; "Aw, come on! It's only another 175 miles. We'll be there by 10 tonight!" Our reaction times slow as we age. One of the exercises included in the SeasonedRider Course is designed to test reaction time. Although it's a simple test, it does help us discover that we're not as "quick" as we were at 25 years of age. Is there anything that can be done to adjust and compensate for, offset or minimize the effects of aging on motorcyclists? Sure! First, the rider can become more aware of the effects and consequences of aging. Second, they can focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Personal fitness is essential to keeping us safe on the road for a long time. Good diet and regular exercise can help us experience more enjoyable riding as we all age. Third, think about the fact that fatigue, hunger, temperature extremes, aggressive riding and emotional upset is known to reduce our cogitative speed, and lead us to use poor judgment, or to arrive at good decisions much too late! Why too late? Where does the poor judgment come from? Well, aging complicates and exacerbates the effect that difficult conditions have on our older brains. Gals and guys, if you don't feel on top of your game, DO something about it! Maybe it's time to stop for the day. Learn to listen to your body, and understand that your limits will change as you age. Our experience suggests that two hours is the required amount of time for the SeasonedRider workshop. During the two classes presented in Vermont in 2006, and the three classes in Wisconsin in 2007, we discovered that, although the bulk of the discussion centered on the effects of aging, we found that the course also provided an opportunity for the attendees to interact with fellow riders, and MSF RiderCoaches. Participants discussed specific motorcycling skills, techniques and mental strategies. They got "more than they paid for!" Actually, there is no charge for this extremely valuable and well-received instruction. The SeasonedRider Course utilizes a modular curriculum. It is one of several courses offered through the MSF Rider Education and Training System (RETS). The all-classroom curriculum offered opportunities to discuss and understand that aging may result in both positive and detrimental effects on personal judgment and performance, thereby affecting risk-taking and safety. Also discussed were the riders' tactics, "SEE" (Search, Evaluate and Execute) and how aging affects this MSF-based strategy. Participation is the key to learning from the course! Learning from other riders is a key component to the success of the seminar. To foster interaction, the course is limited to 25 attendees per class. Much of the curriculum is based upon small-group discussion, in addition to classroom exercises involving reaction time and cognitive skills. Also, participants were provided the opportunity to take a basic eye test to see if their eyeglass prescription was still valid. The 2008 BMW International Rally will be held in Gillette, Wyoming from July 17 -20. The SeasonedRider Course will be offered again, as it was very popular. Pre-registration is available, and strongly encouraged, starting April 1, 2008. Bill Graham and I, both long-time MSF RiderCoaches, presented in Wisconsin. If you have any questions about the course, feel free to contact me at the BMW MOA office (636-394-7277) or e-mail at RayZ@bmwmoa.org. See you in Gillette! BMW MOA Chartered Club Officers: are you interested in having the SeasonedRider Course offered at your location; perhaps during a club meeting or at your annual event? The BMW MOA Foundation is looking at ways to do just that. If interested please contact Ray at the 'MOA office. Ray Zimmerman is an MSF Rider-Coach, and has trained new and experienced riders in four states since 1996. Ray has also conducted the Foundation’s ‘SeasonedRider’ workshop for the past two years. Since 2000 he has served as Executive Director of the BMW MOA. Ray has been riding for more than 40 years. *WRITE TO MotoSafe!* Have questions about riding techniques? Maybe you’ve read something in MotoSafe that you didn’t understand, or just flat disagree with! Have a riding tip that has helped you? MotoSafe would love to hear from you. From time to time, we’ll open the mailbag. Note that your letter or email message may be used, respectfully, in a future MotoSafe column. Write to: R. Wiles: roger@rogerwiles.com or 9223 Hill Street, Blairsville GA 30512, or to the ON editorial offices. The BMW MOA Foundation’s MotoSafe is intended to present responsible viewpoints on thoughtful and safe motorcycling skills and practices; the authors, the Foundation, the BMW MOA and the Owners News do not guarantee readers’ personal safety, and can take no responsibility for readers’ application of this material.

BMW MOA Foundation	P.O. Box 3982 Ballwin, MO 63022 509A Old State Rd Ellisville, MO 63021 ph:(636)394-7277 fx:(636)391-1811 e: foundation@bmwmoa.org The BMW MOA Foundation is dedicated to improving motorcycle riders safety, support for motorcycling, and increasing awareness and participation in the moto-lifestyle and its many enjoyable benefits. The BMW MOA Foundation is a non-profit Public Educational Foundation that meets IRS 501(c)(3) requirements.