When helmet drops

American bikers have a saying that I can really relate to. It goes like this: “Bullshit stops when helmet drops”.

It basically means that you have to give up any thoughts that were running through your mind when you mount a motorbike (yup, I say “motorbike”, not “motorcycle” — I am no American and, heck, English is not even my native language). Riding a bike takes a lot of concentration and you cannot afford yourself to sink into some deep thinking while doing it. Bike is not as forgiving as a car when it comes to distractions. Every move you make (or not make) may cost you a life (in any aspect of the meaning of this word), so you have to be always aware of what you are doing and what is going on around you.

At the same time motorbikes are one of the best antidepressants ever and that poses a dilemma: you can ride a bike to drastically improve your mental condition and in the same way you should not ride a bike if you have some heavy thoughts on your mind and you cannot suppress them for the time of riding.

So what should you do then?

I have no idea.