Jr. Patriot Report - April 2025

John Stumpner

Practice

“Practice makes perfect.” While being completely perfect is nearly impossible, many people try to be. Those people that are the best at what they do often have to practice and train a lot to be as good as they are. Entertainers spend countless hours in rehearsal and practice before they step on the stage or in front of the camera. Athletes spend months in practice and training before their sports seasons start. During the season, time between games is spent in more practice and training. Even writers have to practice, often filling notebooks with ideas and rough drafts before sitting down to write their articles and stories.

Even street riding motorcyclists can benefit from a little practice. It takes considerably more skill to ride a motorcycle than to drive a car. Learning new skills and practicing old ones make motorcycling safer and even more fun. In the spring of the year, many bikers come out like a bear from hibernation. Not having been riding for three or four months leaves their skills a little “rusty.” To help with this, some ABATE of Wisconsin regions and other organizations hold springtime events to help bikers “knock the rust off” their skills. These practice events are usually held in a large parking lot or other closed area where bikers can get together and help each other become better riders.

Most ABATE members want to practice to be as good as they can at what they do whether it be riding, hosting a meeting or event, or being a grass roots lobbyist. To help ABATE members practice their “people skills,” the Motorcycle Riders Foundation holds the annual Heartland STEAM Seminar. (STEAM = Seminar To Educate And Motivate). At Heartland STEAM, members of motorcyclist rights groups from all over the Midwest get together to train and practice to become better at helping to defend the Freedom of the Road for bikers.

For bikers, all this practice and training is built on other practices and training. Believe it or not, but the schoolwork you are doing now is helping to get you the practice and training you need to ride a motorcycle and be an ABATE member in the future. The 3 R's, “readin', 'riting and 'rithmatic, give you practice in the thinking skills you will need, whether it's an afternoon of riding your motorcycle or participating in an ABATE meeting. While it may seem boring and hard to pay attention, try to remember that what you learn and practice now will make your future easier and more successful.

As you're out and about this spring, you may see groups of motorcyclists practicing their skills. ABATE of Wisconsin encourages and supports this practice. By practicing and honing their skills, bikers can become better and safer, increasing their enjoyment in riding and the freedom of the road.

John