I apologize to the Dr. Zeus fans, but you have to at least appreciate the alliteration. Yes folks, it's getting warmer and riding season is rapidly approaching. That means that along with the chirping birds you'll hear the beautiful sound of motorcycle exhaust. I love spring. The smell of the air after a good rain, the warm feeling from the sun as if feeling it for the first time, and even the smell of those fresh exhaust fumes from a motorcycle being brought out of hibernation bring a smile to my face.

With the increase of motorcycles on the road, it's important to remind everyone of their presence. People haven't seen them on the road for a while so they forget to pay attention to them and often do not see them even when looking right at them. Somehow our recognition apparatus in our brain has a size limit. If you're out on the road, you may hear some bikes before you see them. The important thing is that motorcyclists and cagers alike must pay attention to each other on the road if we are to avoid collisions. Unfortunately in a contest of might, the motorcycle ALWAYS loses to the cage.

Because spring is the season of motorcycle accidents due to sand, unwary motorists, inexperience or latent experience and naiveté, here are some tips to be safer this year. First, grass is just as slick as sand. Fresh grass on the road, especially in curves, can cause you to slide as if you were on oil. If you're mowing your yard, please do not blow your grass onto the road. Second, avoid riding in traffic if at all possible until you've reacquainted yourself with your bike and it's handling. Third, your yard is slick and bumpy in the spring. Don't ride in it for practice. Fourth, no matter how nice it is, don't forget to wear jeans, boots, and a leather jacket in case you do go down so you can avoid road rash. Finally, make sure your bike is ready to go. Check the tire pressure, battery, brake wear, shocks, chain or belt tension, clutch play, plug condition, lights, and change your oil and filter. For those of you reading this that don't ride, be aware that we're out there and give us the same courtesy as other motorists.

Let's keep the spring stats down this year.