Got My Motorcycle License
Devon and I have always had this deal, he gets a roadster and I get a motorcycle. So this spring, when he started seriously looking for a roadster, I figured I best hurry up and get my motorcycle license. The only way for me was to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Beginning Rider Course. I signed up, hoping that the weather would stay warm and off I went. So much for the weather, Saturday morning was 40 degrees with rain threatening. The rain came before the morning was out. Sunday started with rain, which ended before the test started, and the temp went up to 50. It felt almost tropical. But is was still a great deal of fun. And I learned a whole lot. It had been 30 years since I’d been on a motorcycle, so there was a lot to learn. I just kept an open mind and tried to do what the instructors were telling me. I got more and more comfortable on the bike, (a Suzuki 125 named Irene) throughout the morning Saturday, although I got colder and colder in the rain.
Sunday morning I applied what I’d learned the previous day and was dressed warmer and drier. Despite my best intentions not to spend another day with Irene, she was a touchy little bitch, I got her again anyway. And somehow for the first exercise of the day I wound up first in line, and it was the dreaded figure 8. I did everything bad possible except drop the bike. All confidence gained the day before, gone first thing. I thought about giving up a number of times throughout the day, but decided I’d keep at it until they asked me to leave. But during an early break, I was hanging out in the shipping container that the bikes are stored in with a couple of classmates. They said I was much improved from the day before. At first I thought they were kidding, but they were serious, and it helped me get through and concentrate on what I should be learning. We got some practise time toward the end of the morning. Quick stops and maybe figure 8′s. We were given a choice which we would do, with the admonition that figure 8′s are parking lot flash, where quick stops will save your life. I decided to let fate decide for me. After I’d done the first quick stop, if the 8 box was empty I go, but if it was full I’d do a quick stop. I did one perfect figure 8, to the applause of my classmates. I was only able to pull it off because I told myself no one would be looking. But it was great anyway.
When it came time for the test, the rain finally stopped, and it warmed up a bit. All our moods lightened, and we spared some laughing sympathy for the classes who got the opposite weather than we did. How awful to do all your learning and practise in sunny weather, then have it rain for the test. I tested last, and as I sat watching my classmates go through their paces, I told myself there was no way I could pass, and that was fine. I’d take the test, so I’d know exactly what to prepare for. I really didn’t think I could pass, every time I did an exercise the instructors had one comment or another. But walking away was pointless when I’d come so far. I pooched the figure 8, of course, but, hey I did a perfect one earlier in the day and that was enough for me. And then as it turns out, I only lost one other point on the rest of the test. I earned my license! Now to search for a bike.
After logging in, you can open up the side bar (upper left of pages) and you’ll find an option to add a comment.
