I’m kind of regretting that blog about Will I ever not be a novice motorcycle rider?. I posted a link to it on a discussion group for women adventure riders. Some of the advice I got in replies was quite good. But a lot wasn’t at all.
I got chastised for how I ride from people who have never seen me ride. I got advice that showed people hadn’t actually read the blog (like regarding where I might find a dirt and gravel expert to mentor me for a day). I got a long essay about “covering your clutch” and”clutch feathering” and “dry clutch” – I don’t know what ANY of that means…
I also got a couple of statements about how I needed to get another bike. That makes me crazy. I love my motorcycle. Stefan has done so much to it to make it fit for me to ride, and I’m just not willing to downgrade yet. It also was frustrating – I wondered if men got this same advice if they ever admitted to what I admitted to. Of course, male motorcycle riders NEVER admit to any weakness, so… 😉
Motorcycle riding keeps me humble, that’s for sure. I’m an expert in a lot of things, but I’ll never be an expert at that.
One person said I was going to have to accept that I was going to drop my bike more than once. Goodness knows I dropped my Nighthawk more than once… always when I was trying to park. But I’ve done so well at keeping this KLR 650 looking so beautiful – I want it to always be beautiful…
What I’ve decided I need, instead of the advice I was offered:
- To start doing arm and hand exercises three times a week
- To make and follow a plan to lose 20 pounds (weight loss helped me SO much on my first bike – less between my thighs means better foot placement)
- To take Stefan at his word that he’s not going to get mad when I drop the bike. Especially if I dent his fabulous panniers.
- To do my best at the Team Oregon class I’m going to take next month – and maybe even schlep up to Vancouver, Washington and take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation bike bonding class as well
- To keep riding
- To not share so much online about my motorcycle riding abilities.
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