Safety, Superstition and Spirits

Happy Fall riding!

Safety is obviously necessary when riding. I learned about the guardian bell early on in riding (as it should be), but later discovered the origin and several other biker superstitions.

The concept of a bell warding off evil spirits can be traced back to medieval times, as the bell was used to protect the deceased as part of a funeral tradition. The gremlin bell originated in World War II, but with fighter pilots who believed mechanical problems could be warded off with a bell. As those pilots returned home and became riders, the superstition was passed on into the biker world with the addition that the guardian bell should be gifted from another rider (thank you, Archie).

For single riders, the back foot pegs should always be up as it is an invitation for evil spirits to take a ride. As a two-up rider, I usually put one foot peg down and he does the other before I get on. The only exception to the rear foot pegs rule is during a funeral procession for a fallen biker. In this case, his/her spirit is invited for one last ride.

As a high school principal in Texas, it is a belief that as the football season goes, so does the school year. School spirit is a critical component of a positive school culture along with a winning team. Yes, the adage only applies to football… sorry, I didn’t make up the rules. However, in the biker world, dropping one's helmet signifies an upcoming crash along with the saying “as goes your helmet, so goes your head!” Does this always occur? Of course not, but who wants to drop and/or damage one’s helmet? We had to replace a visor on our trip from last summer. No crash, but no fun!

I think I may need help understanding the superstition associated with green bikes. I have to admit, I have only seen two green bikes… ever. So this one must run deep. After a little research, I found this superstition is also linked to World War II in regard to postal and courier bikes that were targets for attack. In reality, they were poorly maintained and therefore an easy target, but the green color is all that transferred to the biker superstition.

Pic from our most recent Arkansas trip! If you recognize the bike, please tell them thank you for the pic!

One of the things I love about the biker community is the willingness to help one another. Every time my husband sees a bike pulled over and in possible distress, he either stops or gives a hand signal to determine if they are in need of help. It is considered bad luck (and in poor taste) not to help a fellow biker. We recently pulled over when we saw a couple off their bikes and administering first aid to the husband. We initially thought a wreck was involved, but it turned out to be a bee sting right above his left eye. The couple had an ice pack, but we had something better: a green liquid that is made specifically for bee stings and is very easy to take on trips! In this case, green is good.

When in my car, I am very aware of bikes. I give plenty of space between me and the bike when it is in front of me and serve as a blocker to the cars behind me. I hope others do the same for us or him when he is riding alone. I also feel compelled to stop and check on a biker when I am in my car, but may get a couple of eye rolls due to the following: 1) they have no idea why a car is stopping and 2) I really don’t know what I could personally do. Is there something that signifies I am biker-friendly? If so, I want it.

Many bikers have a very specific order of putting their gear on before riding. I know I disrupt my hubby’s flow when I need his assistance with my gear… oops. I probably need to develop a system as I tend to forget to take off my earrings. Ouch! A helmet and earrings is a no-go!

Gloves are the last thing I put on.

Another superstition is to avoid placing gloves on the seat. While the origin is unknown, it is widely believed that placing the gloves on the seat invites bad luck and/or an accident. I had firsthand (no pun intended) experience with this. While in Glacier National Park, I had to go into the road to stop traffic so the hubs could roll the bike out of a blind parking spot. In a rush, I inadvertently placed my gloves on the seat, forgot I did so, and then hopped on my seat. About a mile away, I realized I only had one glove. We returned to the parking lot, and I looked under every car in the vicinity of where we parked for the missing glove. While it was a great thigh workout, with no luck, I got back on the bike and continued on our ride. The hubs spotted something black on the road and… it was my missing glove. While there wasn’t necessarily any bad luck as a result, the search was time-consuming and aggravating. I learned a lesson: do not place my gloves on the seat!

In purchasing a second-hand motorcycle, many riders will not purchase and ride a bike of a deceased rider. It is believed the deceased person’s spirit may still cling to the bike, and bad luck could ensue as a result. Many times a bike may be passed down between relatives, but the bike is never ridden as it serves as a memory of the family member who once rode it. I have to admit, bikes utilized at a funeral are something special. I have seen fellow riders accompany the hearse to the graveside service, the "three revs" where the riders rev their bikes in unison, and even the bike or picture of the bike next to the casket. It is a class act.

Whether you believe in these superstitions or not is a matter of choice, but they have become superstitions for a reason. I created my own ritual and carry a heart rock my grandmother gave me. It walked down the aisle with both of my children when they married, was in the room for all three of my grandchildren’s births, so it only makes sense that the rock rides with us on bike trips. It is my good luck charm, and it keeps me safe on the bike and while traveling.

Do you have a ritual or superstition that impacts your riding? Please share in the comments. Ride safe… Fall is here!

The Blonde Backpack