I have now taken and passed the intro courses for motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), and dirt bikes. Huzzah and hooray!! I'm really fortunate that my work offers these courses for free. So I took advantage and realized a long time dream of learning how to ride.
First I did the ATV course with my supervisor. This was back before he showed his true colors of being a complete jack ass. I did good in the class and picked up pretty easily the fundamentals. ATVS are not entirely new to me. I did ride them a bunch while I lived in Vermont as a kid.
The basic rider course for the motorcycle was good but with some issues. I rode a cruiser and the clutch was too far out for my fingers plus I had on gloves too big. So I kept stalling the bike. I also had trouble with the tight turns and turning right. Even with the issues my instructor was pleased with me and that I never lost control of the bike. In the class was a puppy who attached himself to me. A young man who is basically nice but not really the stand on your own type. I always attract the puppies. I guess that's just how I'm going to start my army of minions.
After the motorcycle course I had a good idea of what type of bike I want. I would like off road the best. Looking for a bike that is both street legal and off road so that I can ride it to the trails. No towing a bike for me. In the meantime while I pick out just the right bike I got a helmet and gloves.
To finish my training I did the dirt bike class. Having my own gloves was awesome. My instructor was pleased and said I did well. Even with falling down twice. But it's best to get the lumps on some one else's bike, right? The first fall was off of a board. We were doing going over obstructions and using solid 2x4s. First we were going over them like a speed bump. Then my instructor moved it so you go down it long ways on two wheels.i did that a few times then on the fourth time the board broke from under me and down I went. Ouch.
Next we were doing k-turns. Go up a hill, stall the bike, then maneuver the bike so it points down hill, remount, coast on down. What I did was grab the front brake and the clutch instead of just the brake which resulted in the bike going forward, me going back, fell onto my shoulders, then it was heals over head. Ouch. Got back up, got bike down hill, then repeated the maneuver a few more times successfully.
So there we are. I'm hell on wheels! Every one look out!
