When I told my parents I would be taking the MSF, their widened eyes and lack of response told me they were nonplussed. I’m sure they thought I was long past any wild inclinations of youth and, despite my younger brother getting a motorcycle several years ago, never imagined my mid-life crisis would transform me into a biker chick.
Why do some people choose motorcycles while others steer far away from them? For me I think it harkens back to my childhood and the thrill of getting bikes at Christmas. I remember learning to ride a bike at the tender age of four behind our apartment building in Annapolis. I remember getting a pink “princess” bike one year for Christmas and riding it despite its shameful color and association (I was a proud tomboy growing up). And I remember getting my “dream” bike, a 10-speed racer in yellow and blue that I rode up until college and adulting took me firmly away from childhood.
But why as an adult did I not get a motorcycle? There were practical reasons such as needing a car to take me to work so I could carry all of the students’ papers and portfolios back and forth between school and home (I was an English teacher before I became a school librarian). And my money went into another hobby and then even more into my house. The years passed and I lost touch with the girl who loved riding her bike; living where I do, riding a bike is not too advisable as streets are narrow and cars are too fast. But I would still check out a motorcycle stopped beside me at a light or cruising by me on the highway.
Seven years ago, my best friend bought a Honda motorcycle and took herself across the country. She was dealing with tons of crap and needed the escape. There was never any suggestion of me getting a bike and joining her. For one thing my hobby was still eating up most of my extra money. But I was envious of her as I imagined the freedom on the road and the wondrous sites to be seen.
Now I find myself not as eager to spend all my money, nor all my time, on that one particular hobby. I still devote myself to daily training and pursue my own personal excellence. But I am making time for what is fun. And let’s face it, riding a motorcycle is FUN! As a kid there is a thrill in pedaling the bike faster and faster to then cruise along the street. This same thrill is matched by revving the motorcycle and cruising along the roadways. Subconsciously, as both the kid and the adult, we are aware of the risks involved in riding, but risk involvement increases the thrill (see skiing, parachuting, rock climbing, zip lining, etc.).
Interestingly enough, seeking the thrill of riding does not mean seeking the biker look of yesteryear. James Dean and Steve McQueen might look sexy cool on their motorcycles in jeans, t-shirts, and leather jackets, but today’s serious riders dress for the slide more than the ride—and hope they are overdressed. Last night we were watching a video of a rider somewhere in Europe on the 2021 BMW R NineT Scrambler, a bike we are considering for my second, uptick bike. This rider was riding on motorways in busy traffic. What I found odd was he wasn’t wearing gloves. One of the coolest things about the popular video motorcycle vloggers is that they are decked out in safety gear, including gloves. It’s great that the role models out there are showing the proper, careful way to ride. Yes, every now and then, someone is out on a bike in jeans and a leather jacket, but they always wear gloves. Well at least they did until we found that particular video.
As for my ride, it was an early start on Saturday, up before 9:00 and out riding before 10:00. We were hoping to avoid the heat of the day; the forecast was for sunny and 91 degrees. Summer is arriving fast.
My goals for today’s ride were to smooth out shifting gears, work on my U-turns, and downshift from third gear to a stop in first gear. I had one engine stall on my first attempt to shift down to the stop. I am adjusting myself to the shifter; I don’t always manage to move it into the correct gear. I believe it is adjustable, so I will need to check into that. I finally remembered to get the manual from under the seat and bring it home for some reading.
My turns went well, though I found it easier to turn tightly to the left than the right. My boyfriend said it might be due to the camber of the parking lot. But I think it is because my right side is dominant, so I am more comfortable stretching out the right arm on the turns and still feeling in control. But I will add turning to my right to my list of practices.
The shifting up to third went well enough that I began working on maintaining a consistent speed on the throttle. I also realized that a large part of my shifting problem was that I was shifting too soon into second. Once I established 11-12 mph before shifting, it was much smoother. I also realized that sometimes as I went to shift and I struggled with the shifter, my speed went low enough to negate the need for shifting.
The best part of the morning was cruising in third and feeling the cool breeze. I felt like I was getting a taste of what it will be like when we are out on country roads cruising along, and that I am really excited to begin doing. I ended my practice feeling really good about my riding. The bike never felt heavy, I only stalled twice, and I was able to ride for over an hour as my wrists are getting stronger. Next time I will continue to work on downshifting. I will add stopping quickly as I didn’t practice that too much this week, and I will work more on my right sided U-turns. I am beginning to feel ready for the neighborhood roads, which is a small step towards those country roads.
Flutterby Biker 