Preparation for the ‘big ride’ makes every day an incredible adventure

  • Published
  • By Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Donald Bretz
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Chaplain
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  When I look at the pictures of our earliest Airmen wearing leather jackets, gloves and goggles, I feel a certain kinship as a motorcyclist.

Those early Airmen knew that they were engaging in a dangerous endeavor; yet again and again they climbed into their open cockpits and took to the skies. For them, there was nothing like flying and for many of us, there is nothing like riding.

Recently I completed a 3,700 mile round-trip motorcycle ride to New Jersey spread across nine days of riding. For me, it was not only a considerable accomplishment -- it was also an incredible adventure.

Although I had done a lot of preparation, each day brought its own challenges. Since this was my first "big ride" I wanted to be as prepared as possible with the right equipment, training and a plan.

Even as the military has a variety of aircraft for different missions, there are also various motorcycle classifications.

My touring bike was designed for long rides like this: minimal engine vibration, adjustable air shocks, cruise control, a comfortable seat, room for gear and plenty of power. It also has great safety features such as anti-lock brakes, two additional driving lights up front and optional increased rear brake lighting.

Any pilot knows the importance of good maintenance, so to ensure the bike was in peak running condition, it had a maintenance service before the trip.

We are a pilot training base and we are blessed to have some incredible instructors who use their experience to make our students the best they can be. Long before my trip, I sought counsel from experienced distance riders about what to take.

From them I garnered a list of essential items: cell phone, rain gear, layered clothing, items for routine and emergency maintenance, a front brake disc lock, GPS, maps and other personal items. Since the carrying capacity on a motorcycle is limited, only the most necessary items could be taken.

I first began riding motorcycles when I was 12, using 250cc dirt bikes to climb the hills behind an uncle's place in the country. Yet there is a big difference between riding a dirt bike and riding on the Washington, D.C. beltway with cars zooming in and out of traffic.

Motorcycle safety training helps bikers become better riders. Prior to my trip, I took advantage of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation training for experienced riders sponsored by the Vance Air Force Base Safety Office. This training honed fundamental skills using my own motorcycle and also offered the opportunity to discuss real issues encountered on the road.

Defensive riding techniques and risk mitigation, such as wearing proper protective gear, are critical due to the vulnerability of being on a bike instead of an enclosed four-wheeled vehicle.
Like flying, riding is exhilarating but it does have its risks. Safety training and proper protective gear can save your life as a rider and the life of your passenger.

Ironically, my closest call was while riding through Pennsylvania Amish Country when a buggy almost pulled out in front of me. As the startled driver pulled on the reins the horse's front legs were going in one direction and its back legs in another.

It was not really a close call - but it was a scenario they failed to cover in the MSF course. As a biker, one always has to be prepared for the unexpected.

No pilot would fly 3,700 miles without doing mission planning - and I was not about to head off to New Jersey without some idea of how I would go.

The biggest external impact on my trip was the weather. I wonder how many pilots have had to modify plans based upon the weather. Two months out - I had things pretty much mapped out - but my plans changed.

About half of my time was spent riding in the cold rain and in the Appalachian Mountains, there was thick fog. I found myself stopping a bit more than I had anticipated. Road construction and detours contributed to the need to be flexible. Periodic status reports via text messaging and phone allowed family to track my progress and keep them updated on my plans.

All of this sounds like a lot of effort - but it was all worth it. The famous poem "High Flight" expresses a spiritual aspect of flying. For me all my senses are heightened while riding - including my sense of God's presence.

Reaching New Jersey and then having my son join me on his motorcycle for a ride to the shore and along the flooded banks of the Delaware River are days I will cherish for years to come.

And to come home safely and later have my wife place her arms around me as we headed out for a short ride was the epitome of trust.

No wonder pictures of those early pilots show them smiling so much. They knew it was worth the risk.