Pavement, power and patience
Early the next morning we gathered in a large parking lot.
The bikes were all ready for us: two Yamaha Star XV250s and
three Honda Rebels. We worked to actualize what we reviewed
the evening before. Slow was the key. I liked the curriculum
and method for the course as each new skill built upon the
previous skill and confidence naturally grew for each of us. I
was actually amazed that the friction zone yielded a great deal
of control. I was relieved to be able to shift smoothly and brake
well. We were all pretty elated to be moving, and stopping suc-
cessfully. My biggest issue was that I looked down instead of
up and I neglected to scan ahead. Mike was very patient with
me and simply repeated himself over and over. Turns were a
problem. Oddly enough, turning broadly with more speed was
easier than turning tightly. Unfortunately,
remembering to square up after a stop
became a problem for most of us. We
lost one student the first day due to an
awkward fall and injured throttle elbow.
We all got sober quickly after this and our
classroom work that afternoon turned to
safety margins and risk offset as well as
strategies for common riding situations.
Again, the fear crept back into our minds.Deluge and determination
The next day was not so great. I dumped my bike, twice.
Both times because I neglected to square up after stopping
to watch my classmates. I also became very frustrated with
figure 8 turns and hard angle turns. I just couldn’t keep inside
the lines. Mike picked up on my frustration. His admonitions
were all about deep breathing, keeping my head up and taking
my time. Finally, it occurred to me that what was happening
was mental fatigue. Piloting requires a great deal of mental
alertness, more than I experience driving a car. Mike was right.
I was new at this, yet expecting it all to be second nature
somehow. If I didn’t want to get hurt, I needed to pace myself.
The pressure was on. I knew that by the end of the morning’s
riding session I would have to execute all the exercises within
the context of testing. I needed to relax.Just then, it started to rain, then pour. Mike gathered us up
and said we would just keep going. He said the rain was an
opportunity for real confidence building. We all performed
well; sweeping curves, obstacles, quick stops, all in standing
water. By the time the testing was to start we had already been
through the worst of it. When Mike explained the rules for
the exams and how points are deducted from your score, my
heart sank. I had to stay in the lines, not put a foot down, and
definitely keep upright. It wasn’t pretty, but I made it. Bonnie
was the most in control and could navigate those tight boxes
like a champ. Chandra did everything well, and Melissa rode
consistently and made us all laugh with her self-deprecating
humor and positive team spirit. We made it through day two
and on-the-bike testing.
Back in the classroom, we reviewed
our handbook, discussed emergencies,
special situations and rider impairment
then we took our written test. Before
leaving, we reviewed our piloting scores
and test results with rider coach Mike.
We all passed, but we were all impressed
by how much practice we would need in
order to master the basics. It was clear
to all of us that a second course would be wise, because there
is nothing like real experience to make you pay attention and
in two short days we came to understand how poor habits are
hard to break. I know this from my dance training. Anything
can go wrong during a performance and the only safeguard
against injury is muscle memory. I attended beginner dance
classes to practice basic techniques every single day for just
this reason. The acronyms and exercises of the Basic Rider
Course work in the same way. The course proved very produc-
tive for me, and I doubt I’d be out on my own without it.Head up and seated well
These days I put my course lessons to work as I tootle
around town on a 1976 Suzuki GT185. This is the perfect bike
for me right now. It’s small, upright, and easy to manage. If
there is anything I’d change for a women’s-only course, it
would be the bikes. I do understand that most facilities offer56 MOTORCYCLE CLASSICS September/October 2019
Bonnie (left) executed great turns, while Chandra (above) had the
most riding experience of the group coming into the course.“With each outing,
my fear lessens and my
confidence increases.”