Risk Taking
Risk taking is done on different levels.
1st it is done on a emotional level. When I started riding if there were a lot of cars on the road I felt at risk and I immediately moved to a side road. The more I rode, my experience showed me which busy roads were more risky than others.
Gut level - Something doesn’t feel right. Such as a lot of teen-agers driving around.
2nd It is done on an experience level. When I see that people are stacking up behind me, or having to pull into the oncoming traffic lane to go around me. I realize that I am going to make someone mad or someone may not see me and that is more risk than I want to take. The longer I let this go on the riskier it gets. I’ve learned to pull off and let people go by. This decreases risk and I enjoy life more.
Time of day and day of week increase or decrease risk. For example I can ride a more risky road during a Chiefs football game. If they are competitive.
3rd It is done on an educational level. I learned by reading the bicycle forums that hills may be risky to ride on if I don’t take the lane. People may pass me (when riding near the gutter) and an oncoming car may cause them to pull into me forcing me into the ditch or worse.
Gloves, reflector vest, type of lights were items that I learned to use by education to reduce risk or allowing me to ride in more risky environments.
Life is a choice of risks. Some risks are more perceived than others. We can slowly endanger ourselves by not exercising. That is a risk which many don’t perceive till they think its too late to do anything about it.
We can alleviate the risk of inaction by taking another risk of action.
Risk vs. Reward
Some things might be risky but if the reward is large the risk is perceived to be worth it. Is the perception correct? Do we really understand the cost?
I think one of the biggest risks is not living your dreams. Do we undervalue the real risk. Or undervaluing the reward. Nothing ventured nothing gained. The key for me is to follow my dreams in a manner that can be done over a long period of time.