As you may recall, the last 2 posts promise to finish the story of the motorcycle rider's course and it ended as I found myself crumpled up in a heap under my little Honda 250 at the foot of my instructor, the drill sergeant. I knew I was in trouble by the look on his face. I was the oldest in the class by about 10-15 years and I was a woman rider. The look on his face told me he didn't feel safe on the streets if I was out there too. I was desperate, as I had already purchased my first Harley Davidson 883 and it was parked in the garage at home. I HAD TO PASS.
Then I thought of Donna. She had obviously ridden behind for many years and was now in class with me learning just like I was. Donna was my ace in the hole. With long blond hair, designer sun glasses, a slim figure, wearing tight leather pants, she was "well endowed" in a low cut clingy shirt. I had already seen her riding her little 250 beside me in class and she was worse than I was! Neither of us could figure out how to cut a close figure 8 around those cones without knocking them over but the instructors LOVED DONNA! What did she have that I didn't have?
I think her secret weapon was her poses on the bike. Whenever she knocked a cone down and had to stop to get remedial instruction, she leaned way over the front of her bike and looked up at the instructor while he looked down her shirt. From the rear in that pose... well, you can imagine the sight. She should have been in front of a camera rather than on a bike. But Donna was clumsier than I. By lunch that day, I had mastered a few more moves than Donna had, so I found MY secret weapon. I bonded with Donna at the slim hip.
For the entire afternoon I stayed right behind Donna in the formations. When she did rode through the obstacle course, I rode a tiny bit better than she did. When she struggled, I gave her pointers. She became a friend and it became quite obvious that Donna would pass the course, so I would have to pass too, only by virtue of not being as bad as Donna.
Bless her heart! We passed. The instructors had no choice but to pass me and I left that Saturday afternoon with a certificate that entitled me to sit for the written motorcycle license endorsement test just like Donna did. I was soon to be on the streets alone, another woman rider joining the ranks of Harley Davidson enthusiasts! Thanks Donna!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Beautiful Day in Februray for the First Ride of 2011
I know many of you braver souls or those living in warmer climates have already had your first ride of 2011 but today the temperature in Iowa was 47 degrees and the sun was out. That combined with having a babysitter lead to my husband and I taking our first wonderful ride of 2011.
We have not had the bikes out since mid November when the snow began to fall and although the ground is still snow covered, it was warm enough to cause the streets to be only wet. I always love the first ride of spring and roaring down the street only to find a new pothole formed over the winter time now filled with a deceptive pool of melted snow water.
My tire landed in a few of those today and I got wet! Loved every minute of it. I even loved the 2 pairs of pants, 2 jackets, and 2 pair of gloves I had on, trying to stay warm enough to make it 5 miles across town. I made it 10 miles in total before my fingers were too cold to feel the clutch and brake.
I can't describe how exhilarate the first ride of the season is!
"If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand".
(One of my favorite Harley Davidson sayings)
Next time I post, I promise to tell you how I partnered up to pass my rider's class. You will love the story of Donna and the instructors. I haven't forgotten.
We have not had the bikes out since mid November when the snow began to fall and although the ground is still snow covered, it was warm enough to cause the streets to be only wet. I always love the first ride of spring and roaring down the street only to find a new pothole formed over the winter time now filled with a deceptive pool of melted snow water.
My tire landed in a few of those today and I got wet! Loved every minute of it. I even loved the 2 pairs of pants, 2 jackets, and 2 pair of gloves I had on, trying to stay warm enough to make it 5 miles across town. I made it 10 miles in total before my fingers were too cold to feel the clutch and brake.
I can't describe how exhilarate the first ride of the season is!
"If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand".
(One of my favorite Harley Davidson sayings)
Next time I post, I promise to tell you how I partnered up to pass my rider's class. You will love the story of Donna and the instructors. I haven't forgotten.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Learning to Ride my Harley
I vividly remember my motorcycle rider's class. It was at the local community college on a Friday evening and all day Saturday. I was 48 years old and SO nervous. We all piled into a classroom on Friday evening with our riding gear in hand and met our instructors. That clinched it for me. We had two gentlemen as instructors whose obvious secret dream in life was to have been drill sergeants torturing new recruits. I felt that we were about to fulfill a portion of their dreams.
I looked around the room and found that there were about 5 women and 10 men. Of course I was old enough to be the mother to most of them. There was no one else in the class over the age of about 35. I kind of felt doomed as the drill sergeants began barking the rules to us.
It was pouring torrential rain that evening and I was very relieved to find that we would not be riding as we expected but we would finish all book work and ride the entire next day. The studies were simple for me. I passed all those assignments and prepared to begin the next day on the bikes.
Saturday morning we all met in the big parking lot with our instructors, helmets and gloves in hand. This is the point where I have to tell you that at 6 foot tall and 200+ pounds, I was not only the oldest one in the class, I was the biggest one in the class.
We went to the garages and all picked our bikes from the assortment of little Honda 250s parked inside. We then began the real portion of the class.
The first thing the drill sergeants did was make us get on and off the bike... about 100 times. Just on and off. Kickstand up, kickstand down. I was anxious to ride.
Well the long and the short of it is we finally started those little bikes. Sitting on one of those little bikes, I felt like a teenager on a tricycle. My legs were just too long, but I was grateful not to have too much power in that engine as I began letting out the throttle for the first time.
We rode around and around the parking lot, around cones, doing quick stops, avoiding obstacles, and learning to shift and clutch through the gears. Oh, and the drill sergeants barked out orders and berated us the entire time.
By noon that day, I was exhausted. Yes, that is pathetic but I had been a desk jockey for years and really felt my age that day. Right before our lunch break, the meanest drill sergeant was standing right beside me as we purred our little bikes into the final formation before lunch and came to a stop. He told us to dismount. I complied, but this time I forgot the kickstand! I toppled to the ground under that little 250, right at the instructor's feet and laid there stuck! I was the only one of the whole class who had dumped their bike. I laid under that Honda struggling to get back to my feet and recover, looking beseechingly at the instructor, who offered no help to me. I wiggled and pushed and finally righted myself and my little bike. I just thank the good Lord it was not my 600 pound Harley Softail on top of me. As the drill sergeant watched my struggles in quiet satisfaction, he almost grinned. After I finally got up I said "Does this mean I am not going to pass?" I think I was trying to find a graceful exit after the fall, but he said something non-committal like "I can't guarantee anything", and turned and walked away. Reminded that "big girls don't cry", I steeled my resolve to rest at lunch and return in the afternoon to pass that darn class.
In my next post I will tell you just how I passed that class!
I looked around the room and found that there were about 5 women and 10 men. Of course I was old enough to be the mother to most of them. There was no one else in the class over the age of about 35. I kind of felt doomed as the drill sergeants began barking the rules to us.
It was pouring torrential rain that evening and I was very relieved to find that we would not be riding as we expected but we would finish all book work and ride the entire next day. The studies were simple for me. I passed all those assignments and prepared to begin the next day on the bikes.
Saturday morning we all met in the big parking lot with our instructors, helmets and gloves in hand. This is the point where I have to tell you that at 6 foot tall and 200+ pounds, I was not only the oldest one in the class, I was the biggest one in the class.
We went to the garages and all picked our bikes from the assortment of little Honda 250s parked inside. We then began the real portion of the class.
The first thing the drill sergeants did was make us get on and off the bike... about 100 times. Just on and off. Kickstand up, kickstand down. I was anxious to ride.
Well the long and the short of it is we finally started those little bikes. Sitting on one of those little bikes, I felt like a teenager on a tricycle. My legs were just too long, but I was grateful not to have too much power in that engine as I began letting out the throttle for the first time.
We rode around and around the parking lot, around cones, doing quick stops, avoiding obstacles, and learning to shift and clutch through the gears. Oh, and the drill sergeants barked out orders and berated us the entire time.
By noon that day, I was exhausted. Yes, that is pathetic but I had been a desk jockey for years and really felt my age that day. Right before our lunch break, the meanest drill sergeant was standing right beside me as we purred our little bikes into the final formation before lunch and came to a stop. He told us to dismount. I complied, but this time I forgot the kickstand! I toppled to the ground under that little 250, right at the instructor's feet and laid there stuck! I was the only one of the whole class who had dumped their bike. I laid under that Honda struggling to get back to my feet and recover, looking beseechingly at the instructor, who offered no help to me. I wiggled and pushed and finally righted myself and my little bike. I just thank the good Lord it was not my 600 pound Harley Softail on top of me. As the drill sergeant watched my struggles in quiet satisfaction, he almost grinned. After I finally got up I said "Does this mean I am not going to pass?" I think I was trying to find a graceful exit after the fall, but he said something non-committal like "I can't guarantee anything", and turned and walked away. Reminded that "big girls don't cry", I steeled my resolve to rest at lunch and return in the afternoon to pass that darn class.
In my next post I will tell you just how I passed that class!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Leather for Women Riding Harleys
In excited anticipation, I await spring in Iowa. I cannot wait to take that first chilly ride on my Harley Davidson Softail. While thinking about that first exhilarating ride of the season, I am reminded that I need to make sure and dress warmly. Even if 45 degrees feels balmy in comparison to what Old Man Winter has been throwing at us, it does not take long to freeze your toes, nose, and fingers while riding.
The first few rides of the season, when the temperature is below 50 degrees, I like to stay on the main streets in town, with a speed below 50 mph. I remember one spring day that my husband suggested we ride to breakfast, a short skip of 25 miles via interstate. I though that was a grand idea, full of the thrill of the anticipated ride. Roughly 10 miles down the interstate on the way to our favorite cafe, I flagged him over with a stiff arm. I could not go any further. It took a convenience store and full cup of coffee to warm me enough to get back on the bike and ride the 10 miles back home, in search of a closer place to get our omelets.
So now I am reminded of that ride and planning the layers I will need to wear in order to get out on that first spring day comfortably.
Boots - check
Warm socks - check
Long underwear (Cuddleduds work well) - check
Jeans - check
Chaps - Having lost 45 pounds since I last wore mine, I am not sure I can fit them... better try them on.
Shirts in layers - easy!
Leather coat - (many times over a sweatshirt) - check
Gloves - Wow, I wish the heated gloves had worked well for me. Now I have only my heaviest gauntlet gloves and I know that will be my Achilles heel. I have glove liners, so maybe I should buy some of those hand warmers to stick in my gloves.
Head covering - Stocking hat or helmet.
Face covering - I have not broken down and bought one of the fleece face scarves yet, I think I look like Jesse James. - Maybe I should just go ahead and do it. Screw vanity when you are cold!
I have been seriously considering whether to purchase new chaps or new leather pants. It looks like all I need to gather is a face covering and the heated gloves. Maybe I should check Amazon for prices on these items. Amazon has about anything you could wish for and will be delivered right to your home. Here are some examples:
Well, I am signing off now.. I better get the credit card out and get to shopping. SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER GIRLS!
GET READY TO ROLL!
The first few rides of the season, when the temperature is below 50 degrees, I like to stay on the main streets in town, with a speed below 50 mph. I remember one spring day that my husband suggested we ride to breakfast, a short skip of 25 miles via interstate. I though that was a grand idea, full of the thrill of the anticipated ride. Roughly 10 miles down the interstate on the way to our favorite cafe, I flagged him over with a stiff arm. I could not go any further. It took a convenience store and full cup of coffee to warm me enough to get back on the bike and ride the 10 miles back home, in search of a closer place to get our omelets.
So now I am reminded of that ride and planning the layers I will need to wear in order to get out on that first spring day comfortably.
Boots - check
Warm socks - check
Long underwear (Cuddleduds work well) - check
Jeans - check
Chaps - Having lost 45 pounds since I last wore mine, I am not sure I can fit them... better try them on.
Shirts in layers - easy!
Leather coat - (many times over a sweatshirt) - check
Gloves - Wow, I wish the heated gloves had worked well for me. Now I have only my heaviest gauntlet gloves and I know that will be my Achilles heel. I have glove liners, so maybe I should buy some of those hand warmers to stick in my gloves.
Head covering - Stocking hat or helmet.
Face covering - I have not broken down and bought one of the fleece face scarves yet, I think I look like Jesse James. - Maybe I should just go ahead and do it. Screw vanity when you are cold!
I have been seriously considering whether to purchase new chaps or new leather pants. It looks like all I need to gather is a face covering and the heated gloves. Maybe I should check Amazon for prices on these items. Amazon has about anything you could wish for and will be delivered right to your home. Here are some examples:
Well, I am signing off now.. I better get the credit card out and get to shopping. SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER GIRLS!
GET READY TO ROLL!
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