Autumn has definitely arrived, making the morning cool enough for me to wear my Alpinestars Bionic Tech V2 Motocross Protection Jacket (though it really is more like a compression shirt with body armor) under my Klim jacket. This is an added layer of protection that my boyfriend wants me wearing. I don’t mind; I like the chest and back protectors. And it was comfortable to wear.
The neighbors’ cars were parked all up and down my practice street, so I warmed up with some cruising and worked on my stops with a right-side U-turn. The day was so perfect for riding, that Bill soon came out and, rather than bring his chair to sit and watch me practice, he asked if I was ready to ride the neighborhood. Of course I said yes.
As I rode, I was able to solidify my thoughts about the benefits of cruising the neighborhood. Before today, I enjoyed the cruising with not much thought. After all, I just had to keep up with and follow Bill. But today as I rode, accepting that I would not see any butterflies, I thought about all the training my neighborhood cruise provides and the benefitting experience I gain.
Right at the start, I practice a hill start, albeit on the camber of the road and not a true hill. I still train my clutch release and throttle roll on, which I will need on a true hill start. Then there are all the stop signs. Stopping allows me to practice proper form—left foot down—and practice the friction zone as I start the bike moving again. On many of our stops, I am adding a turn as I accelerate and, having seen Bill drop his bike a few weeks ago, I benefit from handling the bike.
Though our roads are mostly 25 mph, with one 35 mph strip in there, there are still curves to train on. Today I especially felt my body position on the bike as I leaned the bike into the curves and marveled at my confidence. Today also marked my first official “lane change.” I went up Pembroke Blvd. and turned back where the two lanes become one, using the two lanes to practice looking, signaling, and moving into the left-hand lane. On our ride Bill takes us into several courts as well to practice turns. And of course there is the gravel at the two historic houses’ parking lots. It is easy to feel how slips can occur, and I did feel my back wheel slide a tiny bit in the gravel. I surprised myself when I realized I wasn’t frightened by the slip; I was intrigued and thought how much fun it would be to practice “backing it in” turns (backing it in refers to using the loss of traction on the rear tire to help turn the bike; if you are turning to the left, the rear tire would slip to the right and vice versa).
We rode for a good long while, going down a bumpy road, taking turns through the hospital parking lot while standing on our pegs, just enjoying the ride. Bill even commented as we returned the bikes to my parents’ garage that it was a really good day, and I had to agree. It was our best ride yet, but I have no doubt more fantastic rides are on the way!
Flutterby Biker 