Photo submitted by Ricky Nickles

Ricky Nickles (12) sits on his motorcycle after work Oct. 28, 2024. “After work drives are always nice because it’s usually warmer out,” Nickles said. Nickles liked to take his bike to work every day to get more riding time.

Winter is just around the corner — temperatures cool and rain turns to snow. As riding season comes to an end, motorcycle riders start to put away their bikes, but not 17-year old Ricky Nickles (12). 

“It’s getting colder outside, but I’m still going to ride…As long as my bike stays warm, it should be okay,” Nickles said.

Choosing between a motorcycle and a car came easy to Nickles. This is because he has been riding motorcycles since he was young and always looked up to other drivers.

“Growing up I’ve always been around bikes…” Nickles said. “I pretty much have wanted a motorcycle ever since I was a little kid.”

To Nickles, riding is more than just a hobby. Riding motorcycles gives Nickles a sense of freedom and a way to clear his head after a long day. There is one other reason why he likes driving.

“My most favorite thing about riding [motorcycles is]…seeing kids look at me when I drive by,” Nickles said.

New motorcyclists, especially teenagers, are more prone to accidents. Even those who have been driving for a long time still have issues. One problem Nickles had when beginning was driving with a tinted visor at night. When it’s dark out, and your visor is also dark, it makes it very dangerous to drive. Nickles advises new motorcyclists to always wear gear when beginning. 

“When beginning, you are going to want to go fast and look cool…” Nickles said. “Riding is one of the best things ever. You just need to make sure you stay safe out there. You don’t have walls like in a car.”