Day 2 of BRC

The Last Day of the Basic Rider's Course

After sharing my experience of the first day with my friends, there were many Congrats and tips offered - and appreciated!

The day started again in the classroom and everything went fine up until the Figure 8's in a box.  With 11 of us in the class, there were only a couple of opportunities to try before we moved on and I definitely did not get the hang of it.  I rolled on the throttle by accident, swerved much to large, couldn't counterbalance.  Wow was that hard and I could not do it.  

I had tears in my eyes.  I knew it was going to be on the test and I wouldn't have enough time to practice or obtain the skill needed to be able to do it with ease.  Others picked it up so quickly and I really struggled with it.  I wanted to leave.  The thought though of giving up just wasn't worth it.  I was going to complete as much of the course as I could, or until the coaches said, "This isn't for you."

The coaches were really great.  They offered many tips throughout the day (keep your head up, don't turn when stopping, look where you want to go) and kept reminding the students each time.  They didn't give up on me, and thankfully I didn't give up on myself.  I did not get the points for the figure 8 in a box, but I did manage to get all the points from all the other exercises which allowed me to pass the test to obtain my license waiver.

Now I see a lot of parking lot practice in my future.  My husband is soooooo happy I did it.  I think he was more nervous than me.  He said though, "How many figure 8's do you see in the middle of the road?"  Someday I will master that.

Now I need to get a bike.

First Time Riding

First day of the motorcycle course...

I'm fairly new to the motorcycle world.  After meeting Darcy I started as a passenger.  I never thought I would ever ride on my own, or that I would want to. 

The experience as a 'professional passenger' was great.  We went on so many long trips, and many more day rides looping around the north GA mountains.  The things that you see, smell and are a part of are so different than being in a car.

I really started to enjoy the leaves changing colors and the views from the highest mountains.  We always take 2-lane roads instead of the highway when we can and had a lot of fun in the twisties.  

Packing for our trips was a challenge.  I joked that I would have to get my own bike if I ever wanted to take an extra pair of shoes.  I did get very good at packing everything for a week in a tiny saddlebag (well the saddlebag wasn't tiny, just small in comparison I had ever packed in the past)!  

I joked when I registered for the Basic Rider's Course, that I needed to learn how to ride so that I could have more packing space.  That wasn't the real reason.  I wanted to see if I could do it.  I wasn't sure if I would like it, or if I would pass the test and get my license, but figured at the very least I would try and at the end I would be a better passenger.

The course I attended was at the Honda facility in Alpharetta, GA.  A group of 11 soon-to-be-hopeful- riders gathered in a training room and we were introduced to our instructors.  I was one of 3 women taking the course which did put me a little as ease.  I really wasn't nervous about riding..  or falling actually.  I was more nervous about what my husband would think if I failed.

After learning the basics inside the building, we were paired with our bikes outside.  I was lucky enough (I'm being sarcastic here) to get a Honda Rebel 250.  What a piece of shit that bike is!  It is so small and low to the ground.  After getting some feel for the clutch (and what it was there for), I managed to breeze through the exercises with only a couple of stalls.

The weather was beautiful and I had experienced something new..  Jury is still out if I'll be able to get through tomorrow!