Meet the Protagonists
Mental Side of Biking with H. H. Dilthey
by Paolo Volpara OMM 2009
 Bike racer in and off road, passionate of Side Cars, consultant for top Motorcycle brands, Instructor of great talent and international experience, Hans Heinz Dilthey started his career in BMW were he covered the position of Sales Director Europe. He then moved to managerial position in Metzeler Tires before opening his own Company in the field of Motorcycle and Car Training. Co-author of a Riding School Book, Hans is cooperating with the qualified ADAC MC training group in Germany while training motorcycle Police Forces in several European Countries. He now lives in Cairo managing his own company in car related businesses.
Personally I own him a “change of mind” or if you want an “illumination” that is at the origin of OMM ARA: I met Hans Heinz Dilthey for the first time at the Riding school of Nurburgring at the end of August 2000 while riding there in the company of Cemil Turker.
The course, the participants, the atmosphere had a big impact in my way of riding and my way of thinking. Inspired by Hans presence I decided that I would look deeply into the training side of biking.
As creator and director of the Nurburgring challenging course Hans was always in contact with top professional riders, racers and testers: at the end of the course we left our address with a hopeful invitation to Turkey. From then on we developed a personal deep friendship and Hans contributed in many ways to the development of OMM and ARA training program.
First of all, Hans was the person who introduced us to Jon Taylor who is the creator of the ARA training system: furthermore Hans visited us several times in Turkey to conduct training courses on the road and on circuit. Finally, it is Hans who organized OMM link with ADAC – DVR opening the possibility for us to have qualified trainers for ARA Control. In this area he conducted as well qualifying courses and some of the ARA Control instructor own to him all they know in this area of training.
In March 2001 Hans spent time with OMM riders sharing his experience in theory and practice: some of you will remember the Boxer Café’ in Kurucesme just above the first BMW dealership. Here we had a presentation of his theory and on the Korfez circuit we practiced some of his Nurburgring exercises: we also shared knowledge in a training session with a group of “Dolphins” the Turkish motorcycle Police.
I believe that a fit tribute to Hans (together with our thanks) is to edit here my notes of that first visit keeping in Italic the quotes that frantically I took during the sessions.
Hans’s riding and training “philosophy” is based around the classic concept of self-knowledge, self-awareness. The ancient Delphic imperative “Know Yourself” reveals, with Hans, a new meaning for modern bikers.
“You must be always aware of what you and your bike are doing: this is the only way to be in Total Control” The self-awareness starts from a realistic self-evaluation enabling the biker to know and visualize his own limits: to ride within them and to work toward them. “The perfect biker is the upper part of the motorcycle” says Hans introducing his concept of riding in harmony and fusion with the machine. The rider is always aware of speed, gear, position and environment. “Everybody can ride from 0 to 100 km/h… but not everybody knows how to go from 100 to 0 Km/h. Instead of kilometers Knowing always your own limits is fundamental in preparing and planning for the unexpected.
Three simple statements introducing a complex program of tuition based on mental preparation before riding and mental activity during the ride. Hans summarizes his program in “Five basic ideas for better riding” that became fundamental elements of OMM way of riding.
1. Ride relaxed. Hans will always open a riding session with a set of exercises designed to relax mind and body. Sitting on bike the riders are invited to contract and relax the major groups of muscles combining the muscle-connection with a deep, relaxed breathing. ”Only relaxed muscle can react fast and the best rider is the one still relaxed at the end of the ride”. Breaking, accelerating, cornering must be done in a “soft relaxed way” holding the handlebar “as a new girl friend”. By gripping the bar with tense strength we transfer to the bike unwanted orders magnifying every vibration or movement in a sudden, dangerous way. Relaxation does not come natural and to help it Hans suggests the “Smile test” or the “Beans test”. The first one consists of keep smiling while keeping the tongue between teeth during a hard section of a ride. The second one has been created by a doctor friend of Hans; this expert uses to give to riders at the entrance of a Nurburgring Circuit five beans to keep in the mouth for the duration of a lap: at the end the riders have to return the beans uncrushed. Tension on the mouth, arms or shoulders is the most noticeable symptom of a general tension of the entire body and it is the easiest symptom to spot. “Keep smiling under the helmet to be sure that you ride relaxed.”
2. Realistic self-evaluation. Every rider has to strive for a realistic self-evaluation of his own riding style. Again, the principle of self-awareness comes into play: “Humans do not react to reality but to the imagination of reality. Your perception guides your riding”. It is easy for all us riders to operate on a non-realistic self-evaluation: ignorance of the technique, pride, big egos, excitement and inexperience often bring bike and biker in that tragic spot where reality-situation and perception-imagination do not match: the accident spot or the call of physic laws. “We think of ourselves as riders in control…but we are not and professional biking is to develop a determined performance at a determined time” .In order to achieve this level of consistency Real Situation (the way I ride) should perfectly match perception (the way I imagine myself riding). Realistic self-evaluation is the basis for control of the bike and safety of the ride (Ride within your limits). It is also the platform for continuous improvement: only the rider well conscious of his riding skills and riding performance can objectively work on improvements every time he hit the road.
3. Separate Vision Direction from Bike Direction. We all know about Target fixation and we also know that the bike goes where we look. Still, in critical situations, we tend to look where we do-not-want-to-go instead of targeting the way out. Think of a corner coming too fast or picture in your mind that car coming out on your path without seeing you. “We look at the problem instead of turning our vision toward the solution.” Problem in cornering? If the vision is focused on the obstacles, the mind closes the throttle and applies brakes: nobody in a good state of mind wants to rush against a guardrail. In a situation like this one it is beneficial to look at the exit of the corner, at the empty space of tarmac available for completing the line. “And not only the eyes but the all body has to follow the vision”. In simple words, we have to “raise our vision” getting a larger and generic view of the situation we are riding. During panic situations (hard breaking) the vision tends to drop to concentrate in front of the bike. “Raise your head, raise your eyes, raise your vision. Look to where you want the bike to go and you will find the solution”
4. Mental training. Self-evaluation is not the only aspect of thinking- riding. “More you think… better prepared you are” The setting of the mind is the essential element for safe riding: we have to figure out, pre-form in mind the ride ahead, picturing the difficult situations that we are likely to encounter. Planning the trip is not an exercise reserved for long rides. When commuting the brain should be alerted of what is coming to be instantly ready to react. Time should be dedicated to this preparation before starting the engine; take a look at the racers focusing intensively at the starting line. This is the action of mental training, an element too often forgotten in educational programs.
5. Make the right kind of rest at the right time. “Your body is like the battery of your bike. If it is almost discharged, it takes a long time to get back full performance”. Resting is as important as riding: we have to start the ride after a good rest and we have to know (realistic self-evaluation) when to stop for rest before the “battery” runs too low. Frequent rests allow better recovery maintaining a good level of “charge in the battery”. Hans specifically insisted on the need of water for long, hard rides. “Do not wait to feel thirsty.. when you feel the need of a drink your body is already in critical dehydration”
Before meeting Hans I would have defined a competent biker in terms of riding skills: the illumination changed this view and, from that momentous meeting, I know that “Mental Riding in Self-awareness” is the right answer.
Brain application makes every activity more interesting, safer, and more entertaining: this I learned from Hans Heinz Dilthey and for this I will be always in debt.
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