I have learned how to ride a motorcycle.
I have a motorcycle: It's a Harley Davidson Sportster, 1200, Low (Which has been "slammed" to a lower, Low)I was first learning, and ... well, I drove into the ditch. I was trying to turn onto main street: I was looking at the ditch, rather than onto the road where I wanted to go. I did learn quickly that you go where you're looking. Fortunately, it wasn't a deep ditch. Unfortunately, Mike had to get it out. He was able to.
After this, I had taken a motorcycling course. It was from Vanderhoof: E & R training. They provided motorcycles, helmets, and safety vests. They had plenty of bikes, none of which were very tall. (Which was a good thing) It was 2 and a half days of training. And, we received our 2nd test. Which I passed! yay!
So, after learning how to ride, I decided to go and try it out on my very own bike. Big mistake. I went to get it out of the shop ... and dropped it. I vaguely remembered seeing and reading a little card at the Harley shop: pick it up with your legs, not your back. I attempted repeatedly; it didn't work. I ended up going into town and asking Colin to come out and pick it up and train me to do so. Once he showed me the technique, it made a lot more sense than the way that the motorcycle pick-up card said.
Later, I was able to ride all over the Valley (The Bulkley Valley: Topley to Smithers, Topley to Burns Lake, Topley to Prince George.) It was a lot of fun. When I had asked Colin to pick up the Bike at the beginning of the summer, it had 119 km on it. When I parked it after the Biking Season ended, it had over 7000.
I failed the first time that I attempted the final test. For some reason, I became completely unglued. Nerves, bad habits I'd developed, probably more nerves. Further self-training and I tried one more time. I made it that time. So, now I'm licensed for class 5 and class 6. My new license states "Class 5,6."
Since becoming a motorcyclist, I have found other women locally who ride. It seems to have become something that women just decide to do. There is a terrific age range: My great-neice is 14 (and has been motorcycling for 2 years) all the way to over 60. I've met women in their early 20s and early 30s who motorcycle.
It's a very fun thing to do. I appreciate it. My husband says that I look good on a bike. Many others are surprised that I decided to take it up.
