My Therapist Wears Knobbies And A Peak Helmet

We explore how adventure motorcycling creates freedom, focus and practical resilience, from learning tyre trade-offs to choosing safe, cool gear for Australian heat. We share etiquette, legal must-knows and why tradies’ problem-solving skills make off-road riding a natural fit.

• defining adventure riding across mixed terrain
• freedom mindset and riding at your own pace
• mental reset through terrain focus and flow
• skill-building, recovery and bike pick-up
• helmets, jackets, pants, gloves and boots
• heat, fatigue and ventilation for Australian conditions
• gear sources and Japanese quality imports
• tyre choices: 80/20, 50/50, 60/40 pros and cons
• why riding suits tradies’ adaptability
• trail etiquette for shared public spaces
• legal requirements on public dirt roads
• navigation and safety tech for remote areas
• closing advice on curiosity and confidence

If you like what you hear on today’s show, make sure you share this podcast with your mates who are electricians or who are involved in the trading world
I want to reach out and help as many tradies as I can with this podcast
I want to help tradespeople break through to the next level in their career and in their lives
So that’s all for now folks, but before I go, if there is anything you’d like me to talk about on future episodes, maybe want to ask a question or be on the show, you can do this by contacting us on any of our media sites
I’ll put the links to these in the show notes
And don’t forget to follow the show and leave a review

https://www.facebook.com.au/dylkoelectrical
https://www.instagram.com/dylkoelectrical
https://twitter.com/dylkoelectrical
https://linkedin.com/in/dylkoelectrical
https://www.electricianwauchope.com.au

Transcript

Welcome And Why Riding Matters

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Hello everyone, welcome back to Sparky's Life. If you're new here, welcome. And if you're a regular listener, welcome back to. I'm your host Grant Billco, Sparky by Trade. And like a lot of you listening, I spend most of my life either working or thinking about work. Today's episode is about something that pulls me right out of that headspace. Off-road adventure motorcycle body. There's no racing, no ego, not proving anything. Just getting away from the world and seeing what's out there. Have you ever looked at a dirt road and thought, I wonder where that goes? Well, this episode is for you. So let's get the show started. What is off-road adventure riding? Adventure riding sits in a sweet spot. It's not full enduro, and it's not road touring. It's the ability to ride highways, back roads, fire trails, gravel, sand, mud, and creek crossings, sometimes all in the same day. Adventure bikes are built for versatility, and that mindset carries straight into your life. You don't need perfect conditions, you learn to adapt. So that must be sound familiar for all those tradespeople out there. The adventures of adventure bike riding. One is the freedom. Adventure riding gives you options. You're not limited to sealed roads. If the bitumen ends, the ride doesn't just end there. That freedom does something to your head. You stop rushing, you stop comparing, you stop chasing time, you ride at your own pace. Number two is mental reset. Off-road riding demands attention. You're reading the terrain you're riding, the type of traction you're dealing with, the constant changing of your weight transfer and your throttle control. There's no room for work stress. Your brain switches from problem solving life to problem solving right now. That's your own therapy, whether you call it that or not. Number three is confidence and skill building. Every off-road adventure teaches you something. It teaches you balance, patience, momentum, and recovery. So if you drop the bike, you pick it up and you ride on. That carries back into work and life. You stop panicking panicking when things don't go perfectly. A good thing to learn before you go riding is how to pick your bike up. When it's on flat ground, there are a few techniques you can use. The best place to find those techniques is on YouTube. There is a lot of great motorcycle content out there, and learning how to pick up your bike is just one of them. And then just go out and practice. Even if it's in your own front yard. Choosing the right riding gear and apparel. So let's talk gear. Because off-road adventure riding is not the place to cut corners. So let's start with how to choose your helmet. In a helmet, you want good airflow from the front and at the top. With vents, you can close and open. A peek on the top of the helmet for sun protection. Also try for a lightweight or carbon fiber helmet. And adventure or dual sport helmets are the go for this type of riding. Some helmet brands also have a drop-down smoked visor for the sun, just like having sunglasses on. Jackets and pants. Key things to look for are abrasion resistance, impact protection, something that has elbow, back, and chest pad protection, and good ventilation, especially in summer. The Australian summer can cook you. Off-road means you'll work harder physically and mentally. So if you're too hot, that equals to fatigue. And being fatigued equals to making mistakes. You must have the right riding boots. This is a non-negotiable. Adventure or off-road boots protect your ankles, your shins, and your feet. You can replace the plastics and your boots, but you cannot replace your ankles and feet. Now for your hands. Riding gloves are essential. There are different gloves for different rides. Light gloves for technical riding and heavier gloves for cold or long distance riding. The grip and feel are more important for off-road riding. Through my research, I have found a company called Zaki Moto who are based out of Victoria. I have pretty much purchased my winter and summer riding apparel through them. They import their motorcycle gear from Japan. Now the Japanese or Nihonjin are renowned for their good quality products. The Zaki Moto website is zakimoto.com.au there, I'm Grant Dilko. If this is your first time here at Sparky's Life, welcome. It's great to have you here. And if you're back here for more, welcome back and thank you for your loyalty and support. If you like what you hear on today's show, make sure you share this podcast with your mates who are electricians or who are involved in the trading world. I want to reach out and help as many tradies as I can with this podcast. I want to help tradespeople break through to the next level in their career and in their lives. The great adventure compromise. Now let's talk tyres because this is where Adventure Rider gets interesting. There's no perfect tyre, only the right compromise for the style or the way you ride. The basic or factory tires, 80-20 tires, that means 80% road and 20% off-road ratio. These tyres are great if you mostly ride on sealed roads and occasionally ride on gravel, fire trails, and forestry roads. The pros to these types of ties are they are long wear life wearing, they are quiet and stable on bitumen. The cons to these tyres are they have limited grip in loose dirt and are a bit slippery in mud or sand. The next tie selection are the 50-50 tyres, which means 50% road and 50% off-road. This is the sweet spot for most adventure riders. The pros to these ties are decent off-road traction, still manageable on the road, and very versatile. The cons to these ties are they are louder on the sealed roads and they have a shorter lifespan. If you're unsure about the type of off-road riding you'll be doing, the 50-50 tyre is a good start. For the serious off-road enthusiast, the 60 60-40 tires are better, which means 60% dirt and 40% road. These tyres are best for regular off-road riding, loose terrain, and adventure touring. The pros are they have better bite in loose, unsealed roads, and they give you more confidence with off-road riding. The cons are faster wear and tear and less grip on wet pitchment. The real life lesson is that the tyres teach you balance. You can't have everything. Just like life. Not how Instagram depicts how you should ride. Why adventure riding fits tradies perfectly? Adventure riding suits tradies because we are self-reliant, we adapt easily, we can always fix things, and we don't panic when the plan changes or mistakes are made. You get stuck, you work it out, you break something, you improvise. Same skills, different environment. And the reward is you have quiet, you're enjoying the open space, and you have perspective and clarity. The riders' code of conduct. Off-road etiquette is very important and essential. When you're out on the trail or public forestry roads, you also have to share the trails with other motorcycle riders, mountain bike riders, four-wheel drive enthusiasts, walkers, bush campers, and bush hikers, people on horses, and not to forget the native wildlife. Be kind and courteous by reducing your speed to reduce the noise, to avoid the scare and surprise aspect. Even go so far as to consider stopping for others coming towards you, especially horse riders. Remember to maintain a safe distance if you're in a group or any others you may come across. Safety is always the number one priority. Respect the environment and don't leave rubbish or other materials behind. Always take the rubbish with you and dispose of it properly. Read any information about the signage and follow them. Things to remember riding on public dirt roads. All road rules and regulations apply. All riders must have a motorcycle license. All motorcycles must be registered with the plates attached to the bike and visible. Safety gear should be worn. Helmets are mandatory. The maximum speed limit is 60km an hour unless signposted under otherwise. That was an interesting one. I didn't know about that one. Creation of new tracks and bush bashing is not permitted. If you are unlicensed and your trail bike is unregistered, bike riding can only legally occur on private property with the landowner's consent. Or at registered trail bike clubs operating on approved land. And also to stop the spread of weeds, avoid riding in weed-infested areas. Alright everyone, we'll wrap the show up there. But before I go, I'll finish with this little story. I once told a mate I was going adventure motorcycle riding. He said, Isn't that dangerous? I said, mate, I'm a Sparky. I spend my week poking invisible lightning. He said, yeah, but off-road you could get lost. I said that's fine. I have my GPS Garmin Zumo XT2 on my bike to get me out of trouble. And I also have my Garmin Inreach Mini 2 emergency device at the ready. If there's no phone reception, no phone reception means no work calls. Then I added, at worst, I'll be back stuck in the bush, sitting next to a broken bike, thinking about how peaceful it is, not answering phone calls and emails. If you've been thinking about adventure motorcycle riding, you don't need the biggest bike, you don't need the best gear, you don't need to be an expert, you just need curiosity. Ride your own ride, choose gear that keeps you safe, pick ties that suit your adventure, and remember, sometimes the best way forward is the road that doesn't look like a road at all. So catch you next time, Sparky's Life. So that's all for now folks, but before I go, if there is anything you'd like me to talk about on future episodes, maybe want to ask a question or be on the show, you can do this by contacting us on any of our media sites. I'll put the links to these in the show notes. And don't forget to follow the show and leave a review. Thanks for listening to Sparky's Life. I'm your host Brantorko. Keep safe and catch you on the next one.