Pretty much every time I ride around my dad, he'll blast the Jackass movie version of the song "If You're Gonna Be Dumb, You've Gotta Be Tough", on the way to wherever I'm going riding. Because of this, the lyrics are branded into my mind, and often repeat over and over again in my head while I'm riding. Those are typically the only thoughts I have other than "rock", "tree", "cliff", "car", or whatever else is right ahead of me. I don't really think about anything else. I can't actually.
Most people crash because they think too much. Either that, or they wuss out of a ride because they make up the worst-case scenario and convince themselves that'll happen to them. I used to do that. But after spending hours on the same square trail I made in the old pasture I used to ride on, I got bored and decided either I sell my dirtbike and do something else, or I get out of first and second gear, throw my wussy little cheat sheet in the trash, and go exploring other places. Shortly after, whether it was God answering my unintentional prayer or merely a coincidence, Clarke moved away from that place, forcing my riding to change.
I quickly got some earbuds and began to ride while listening to music. I also found a speedometer app on my phone, so I bought a little thing that would attach my phone to the handlebars, started setting speed and riding time goals, and rode to reach those goals. Shortly before that little thing finally broke after months of constant use, I reached 77 miles per hour pinning the throttle down a familiar stretch of country road. I've since deleted the app, haven't replaced the phone mount, and just go by gears, which half the time I don't even know what gear I'm in. In reality, I figure out my speed based on wind resistance.
But no matter how fast or slow I'm riding, I always take safety seriously. I never ride my dirtbike without a helmet. And not just any helmet. I ride in a full-face motocross helmet that's more safe and protective than the helmets knights and soldiers fought in. I also keep my helmets fresh. Motocross helmets can take a few crashes, but after the third crash, it's best to retire them. I switch between my three helmets pretty regularly, and am in the process of getting another one. Helmets are $120 at least, so I usually check my favorite dirtbike gear store once a week for clearance sales on helmets that aren't ridiculously overpriced (so, I don't spend $400 on a $600 helmet. No one should). A $120 certified helmet is just as safe as a $400-$600 certified helmet. They're tested by the same people, and have the same exact expectations.
Anyway, I may be tough, but I'm not exactly what you'd call dumb or ignorant. Sure, I have my moments, but we all do. I know how to ride, and I ride well. I push myself, but not too far. I think just enough to use common sense, but not enough to imagine what would happen if I went too fast around a mountainside bend. I leave my thinking mind behind when I go riding, which is a much-needed break, considering I have a tendency to overthink and over-complicate things on a daily basis. My music takes over the throttle, and my lizard-brain helps to avoid obstacles and keep my riding in check. It's like being terrified without the terror. It's like a roller coaster, only nothing except for the weight of my body and my death grip on the bike is keeping me on, and I'm the one in control. The world is my track and trail. The dirtbike is my key to true freedom.
