Kim Walker

11/11/2025

Being Impacted by Loss

Recently, there have been a number of tragic motorbike accidents, and the sense of loss in the riding community is deeply felt. Whether you were directly involved in an accident, knew someone personally, or were simply part of the wider riding network, it’s completely understandable to feel the emotional impact of these events.

Everyone Experiences Loss Differently
The way loss affects you will vary depending on your relationship with the person and your own life experiences. You might feel sadness, anger, confusion, or even guilt. You may also feel numb or disconnected — and that’s okay too. There’s no “right” way to grieve.

Even if you didn’t know the person well, their passing can still stir up strong emotions. As riders, we share a bond — a sense of connection, freedom, and vulnerability on the road. When someone from our community is lost, it reminds us of that fragility and can leave us feeling unsettled or anxious about our own safety.

Be Gentle with Yourself
Grief and shock take energy. It’s important to give yourself permission to slow down and take care of yourself.
• Allow yourself to feel your emotions, whatever they are — tears, anger, disbelief, or exhaustion.
• Let those around you know what you’re going through. It’s okay to ask for understanding or a bit of space.
• Try to rest when you can. If your sleep or appetite are affected, that’s normal. These things usually settle with time.
• Do things that bring you comfort or calm — listening to music, spending time outdoors, or going for a quiet ride when you feel ready.

Finding Support
You don’t have to navigate this alone. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
• Talk to friends or family who understand the riding community.
• If you’re part of a club or group, share how you’re feeling — others may be struggling too.
• If your thoughts or emotions start to feel too heavy, please reach out for professional help.

Lifeline is available 24/7 on 13 11 14, and there are other counselling services that specialise in grief and trauma support.

Riding After Loss
It’s natural to feel hesitant about getting back on your bike. Take your time. There’s no set timeline — ride again when you feel ready. Start small if you need to, perhaps a short ride with trusted friends. Over time, many riders find that being back on their bike becomes part of the healing process — reconnecting with what they love, with a new sense of awareness and respect for the road.

10/11/2025

This article recently featured in the Black Dog Ride quarterly newsletter. Please support this amazing organisation that is doing a fantastic job of raising awareness of depression and su***de prevention.

Riding With Anxiety: Finding Balance on Two Wheels

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges worldwide. In Australia alone, around 1 in 10 people live with an anxiety disorder, with women affected almost twice as much as men. Yet despite how widespread it is, only 1 in 4 people seek support.

Left unaddressed, anxiety can interfere with work, relationships, and overall quality of life. Over time, it can also lead to more serious issues such as depression and substance misuse.

But for riders, anxiety doesn’t just stay in the mind — it shows up on the road too.

When Anxiety Meets the Road

On a motorbike, anxiety can creep in through tightened muscles, racing thoughts, or overthinking every corner. This isn’t just uncomfortable — it can compromise attention, decision-making, and reaction times. In other words, anxiety on the bike can increase risk.

At the same time, riding is often one of the very things that helps ease stress. Research shows that motorcycling increases alertness, sensory focus, and adrenaline, while lowering stress hormones like cortisol. Many riders describe it as a state of “relaxed awareness.”

It’s no surprise that more than 80% of riders — men and women alike — say riding makes them feel happier. The combination of movement, focus, and flow is a powerful antidote to a busy or anxious mind.

For some riders, the bike is freedom from the weight of daily pressures. For others, it’s about reconnecting with confidence after setbacks. Whether it’s a short solo ride through familiar streets or a long group trip across winding country roads, being on two wheels can offer both challenge and release.

Finding Calm in the Ride

As both a psychologist and a rider, I’ve seen how anxiety shows up differently for different people. Some feel it in their body — a tight chest, restless energy, or tension in the hands. Others notice it in their thoughts — replaying “what ifs,” doubting their skills, or fearing worst-case scenarios.

What has helped me, and many riders I’ve worked with, are small but powerful practices that turn the ride into an ally rather than an obstacle:

Breathing at the lights – using a steady grounding breath before taking off can reset the body, instead of carrying tension forward.
Riding within your limits – choosing routes, speeds, and distances that match how confident you feel that day. Some days call for pushing boundaries; other days call for easing back. Both are valid.
Connecting with the ride – tuning in to the hum of the engine, the wind against your jacket, and the rhythm of the road can bring you into the present moment.

These practices don’t erase anxiety, but they create space to ride with it — and, in many cases, through it.

A Resource for Riders

My experiences, both personal and professional, led me to create Ride with Anxiety, a book designed specifically for motorcyclists. It combines psychology, lived riding experiences, and practical strategies to help riders better understand their own anxiety — how it shows up, how it affects their riding, and how they can manage it in ways that keep them safe, confident, and connected to the joy of motorcycling.

Importantly, it’s not about eliminating anxiety altogether. For many riders, anxiety may always be part of the picture. Instead, it’s about learning how to ride alongside it — so that it becomes a manageable companion rather than a barrier.

Finding Your Balance

Anxiety is widespread, and many people never reach out for support. For motorcyclists — women and men alike — it can feel like a double-edged sword: increasing risk on one hand, but offering powerful relief on the other.

By learning more about how anxiety works — and how riding can both help and hinder it — riders can create safer roads, stronger confidence, and healthier minds.

And sometimes, the ride itself becomes part of the healing journey.

To learn more about Kim Walker and her book, "Ride with anxiety: How to build confidence and keep riding through fear", please visit her website.

Written by Kim Walker

www.ridewithanxiety.life

10/11/2025

Please take a moment to consider donating to support Nadia’s family. Sending love to all ❤️

With the deepest sorrow, we share that our beloved wife and mother, Nadia, passed away on Friday evening in a t… Vitalii Shevtsov needs your support for Nadia

10/11/2025

🌿 Ride with Anxiety 🌿

Sharing my Ride with Anxiety message is deeply personal to me. I share it because I’ve been there — not just with riding, but in many parts of my life where anxiety has gotten in the way.

I share it because I want you to know: it is possible to ride with anxiety, whatever that looks like for you.

For me, riding equals living. And riding isn’t just about motorbikes — it’s about having the strategies to manage your anxiety well enough so you can do the things that matter to you.

That might be giving a speech, going for a job interview, climbing a mountain, or showing up at a party. Whatever your version of “riding” is — you can learn ways to feel confident enough to ride with anxiety.

If this message inspires you to read my book or come along to a workshop — that’s awesome. But this post isn’t about that.

It’s about giving you a glimmer of hope that things can feel different from how they do right now.

With love and kindness always,
Kim xx

08/11/2025

We sadly lost a beautiful soul from the riding community last night on the Gold Coast. Please be kind to yourself if you have been directly affected by this loss. Remember there are support services that you can reach out to including Lifeline 131114. Sending love to everyone involved.

07/11/2025

Why graded exposure on its own may not be enough

If you’ve ever been to one of my workshops or presentations, you’ve probably heard me talk about avoidance, neural pathways, and the power of graded exposure. And yes — graded exposure is an awesome strategy. It absolutely has a place in managing anxiety, and there’s plenty of evidence to support it.

But… anxiety isn’t just about behaviour.
It’s also about our physiological responses and our thought patterns.
To effectively manage anxiety when it shows up — especially in situations like riding — we need tools that target all of these components.

Graded exposure is one piece of the puzzle, but for some people, it’s not enough on its own.

✨ My upcoming Ride with Anxiety workshops dive into these psychological tools and strategies — so you can learn how to manage anxiety both on and off the bike.

They’re informed by my experience as a psychologist, designed specifically for riders, and applicable to anxiety across all areas of life.

If you have any questions or want to know more about the workshops or my book, please reach out — I’d love to chat.
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Supporting riders in their journey of learning to manage their anxiety, overcome fear, and build motorcycle confidence.

05/11/2025

🏍️ Fear as Fuel: Rethinking the Ride

The new Shoei campaign really hit me — it portrays fear not as an enemy, but as a driving force.
A force that can sharpen our awareness, improve our reactions, and deepen our connection with the ride.

Imagine using your fear as fuel.
Not something to fight.
Not something to silence.
But something to listen to, learn from, and lean into.

As riders, we often talk about confidence — but true confidence doesn’t come from the absence of fear.
It comes from knowing how to work with it.

That’s exactly what Ride with Anxiety is about.
Because anxiety on the bike doesn’t mean you’re weak or unskilled — it means you’re human. It means your brain and body are doing what they’re designed to do: protect you.

When we learn to reinterpret those sensations — the racing heart, the tension in our hands, the alertness in our senses — they can actually become tools for focus, precision, and presence.

So the next time you feel fear rising as you ride, try this thought:
➡️ What if this isn’t something to overcome… but something to harness?

Because sometimes, courage doesn’t mean removing fear — it means riding with it. 🏍️💭

04/11/2025

✨ Feedback Time! ✨

If you’ve attended one of my Ride with Anxiety workshops or read my book, I’d love to hear from you! 💬

How has it changed your experience with riding?
• Has it helped you feel more confident on the bike?
• Do you find yourself riding more often or enjoying your rides in a new way?
• Maybe it’s shifted how you think about anxiety and performance on two wheels?

You can share your feedback by sending me a private message, or simply add a comment below — your words might help another rider see that they’re not alone, and that confidence on the bike is possible. 🙌

Your feedback means so much — not just to me, but also to others who might be wondering if these tools can help them too. Every story, big or small, makes a difference. 🏍💙

Thank you for being part of this growing community of mindful, confident riders!

03/11/2025

🌟 Next Online Workshop Announced! 🌟

🗓 Monday 2 December
⏰ 5:00 – 6:30pm (QLD time)
📍 Online via TEAMS

Join us for the final “Ride with Anxiety” workshop of the year! 🚀
If you’ve been thinking about joining but haven’t yet — this is your chance to finish 2025 feeling more confident, calm, and in control on your bike. 🏍️💪

In this live, interactive session, we’ll explore:
✅ Practical tools to manage fear and anxiety while riding
✅ How to rebuild confidence after a scare or setback
✅ Mindset shifts that help you enjoy every ride again

You’ll also have the chance to connect with other riders who get it — no judgment, just genuine support and real conversations about what it’s like to ride with anxiety.

✨ Limited spots available! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this encouraging and empowering community before we wrap up the year.

👉 Reserve your spot now:
🎟 Ride with Anxiety: Build Confidence and Learn to Ride Through Fear
 Ride with Anxiety- Build confidence and learn to ride through fear https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ride-with-anxiety-build-confidence-and-learn-to-ride-through-fear-tickets-1956762131209?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile

Let’s make your next ride one that feels free, focused, and fearless.

Join us for this online "Ride with Anxiety" to boost your confidence, face your fears, and learn how to ride through them like a boss!

02/11/2025

🏔️ I did something pretty awesome… I walked all the way up to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko!

(…and yes, I keep accidentally saying Mt Everest 🤣🤣 definitely not that one!)

It was such an incredible experience — challenging, breathtaking, and honestly, I loved every minute of it.

Being up there reminded me just how important it is to do the things that make you feel truly happy.

Life is here for living ❤️❤️❤️

02/11/2025

💛 Thank You Riders! 💛

A huge thank you to everyone who purchased a copy of Ride with Anxiety during October! 🏍️💨

Your support has helped raise awareness for depression and su***de prevention through the incredible work of the Black Dog Ride. Together, we’re not just riding — we’re making a difference.