When the World Goes Silent: Embracing Motorcycle Freedom, Safety & Community
- Michelle Hatcher
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
The roar of the engine fades, the wind tugs at your jacket, and suddenly you’re alive — every sense on fire, every heartbeat synced to the rhythm of two wheels on tarmac. The world beyond your visor retreats into a soft blur, and all that remains is the tactile thrill of throttle and brake, of lean, of the road humming beneath your tyres. There’s nothing quite like the freedom of a motorcycle ride: the chance to reclaim yourself, to push past the ordinary, and to feel truly, utterly free.
I still remember the first time I attempted to lean into a corner as tight as I could, it felt like gravity itself had shifted — was I going to fall off? My nerves sang, my life flashed before my eyes, my knuckles whitened on the grips, and then — when I powered as much as a 125cc can, out of the bend — the sky seemed to open above me. In that instant, every worry fell away. The stresses of deadlines, work, expectations, and everyday routines vanished in the slipstream, leaving only the raw, unfiltered joy of riding and motorcycle freedom.
Yet with that adrenaline rush comes a profound vulnerability — heck! Doesn’t it just!? Every bend hides risk: the careless car around the blind crest, the sudden pothole, the slick patch of gravel or farmyard residue. Every fellow road-user may not see you — in fact, we know full well that much of the time we are invisible.
A split-second glance in the wrong direction, and a lifetime can change. In that precious space between exhilaration and danger lies our shared responsibility: to ride with heart, to honour motorcycle safety, and to demand kindly from car drivers the respect all bikers deserve.
From my first wobbly 125cc learner expeditions from Spring 2024 when my heart pounded as loudly as the engine — to the trips now where I push my bike to the limit wanting more than it could ever possibly give, I still don’t look back. Each ride teaches me invaluable riding tips: how to read the camber on a little-used backroad, gauge a crosswind on a dodgy bridge and trust muscle memory when a hazard appears without warning.
But I didn’t get here alone. My biker hubby, is my rock in the mirror, my co-pilot, and my fiercest protector. He doesn’t know this but he has taught me to face the experience in a downpour — when spray off the tarmac can blind even the most seasoned rider — to trust my instincts on gravel, and, most importantly, to never ride past my limits.
On epic road trips he stations himself in my mirror always protective. He’s the first to help me understand the importance of the chain, the one who checks my headlights and signals before I set off. The one who has my back.
When my confidence falters — perhaps after a near-miss with a distracted motorist — he reminds me why we ride even without saying anything: for the taste of pure freedom, the wind in our faces, and the friendships we forge on two wheels.
So, today, I’m calling every rider — learner, returner, and lifelong enthusiast — to transform our passion into a movement for safer roads and stronger community:
🏍️ Ride Boldly, Ride Safely:
Sharpen your skills with defensive riding courses, invest in premium motorcycle gear, and embrace each journey with mindful courage. Double-check kit — helmet fit, jacket zips, boots, gloves — because every detail matters when life rests on your shoulders.
🤝 Build Our Brotherhood & Sisterhood:
Nod to every rider you pass, stop, have a brew and talk to each other, and support new riders with group rides and mentorship. Take part in the Bike&Brew event.
Remember: our bond on the open road is our greatest strength.
🚗 Cultivate Mutual Respect:
Other road users need to understand our vulnerability on the roads. Visibility isn’t just headlight beams — it’s a shared understanding that we’re people with families, friends, loved ones, hopes and dreams, and a love for two-wheeled exploration.
🛣️ Advocate for Better Infrastructure: I am personally petitioning for the Government for:
A national campaign focused on motorcyclist safety and visibility.
Strengthen driving tests to better educate motorists about motorcycles.
Recognise mental health benefits.
Engage with charities leading this work at community level.
I am aiming to ride from the Forest of Dean to Parliament to personally hand in a letter after 10K signatures have been reached. Sign and ride with me.
📣 Amplify Our Stories:
Journalists, influencers, and anyone who’s ever felt the whisper of wind under their helmet — let’s tell this story together. Share your “world went silent” moment, post your best motorcycle maintenance tips, or write a guest blog on Full Throttle Full Heart. Rewrite the narrative so that motorcycling is celebrated for the joy it brings and honoured for the lives it empowers. It’s in YOUR hands.
Join me, UK charity motorcycling wellbeing charity Make Your MARK and thousands of riders worldwide in carving out safer roads, louder engines of change, mental wellbeing, Motorbiker Acts of Random Kindness and a community that rides with Full Throttle Full Heart. Let’s make every ride count — not just for ourselves, but for the next rider who follows in our tire tracks.
🔗 Read my very personal account of learning to ride and embracing freedom on two wheels in Full Throttle Full Heart:
Safer Roads Petition ➡️ https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/727687
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