kari-star
05-26-2009, 02:15 PM
This weekend the weather was beautiful and the motorcycling was super - my partner (Mike) and I went out for a couple of days of riding practice! I hadn't been out since getting my motorcycle license three weeks ago, and was eager to use my skills before starting to forget them. *I HAD SO MUCH FUN!*
On Sat. we hit a parking lot so I could build some confidence, then went back to get his bike and off we went! We are in Orange County, NY, and there are lots of beautiful winding 2-lane country roads to cruise around. (No pictures because I'm still trying to not overcompensate for turns - it's not time yet to throw a camera into the mix! ha!) We rode for about 2 hours all together, stopping after an hour and a half or so for some lunch, and we covered probably about 60 miles around home. On Monday we went out for another 1 1/2 hours or so and another 40 miles. (These are very rough mileage estimates!)
I feel like I learned a lot about taking curves and corners in these two days of riding - the faster-than-parking lot speeds really make things interesting! Mike stayed behind me during the ride and our bluetooth headsets managed to maintain a connection as long as we stayed reasonably near each other so he was able to warn me of upcoming traffic signals and tight turns. that was helpful. I will toot my own horn and say that he is of the opinion that I've got really excellent form, and that I am doing a great job. (of course he said this after our sat. ride, and on our monday ride I took a short trip across some double yellow lines that may have changed his mind... a good learning experience!) After the second trip out I felt a little more comfortable asking the bike to lay down as we went around turns instead of staying so slow and straight up.
The gloves I'm wearing (the cortech dx gloves (http://www.newenough.com/gloves/street_short_cuff/cortech_by_tour_master/ladies_dx_motorcycle_gloves.html)) are awesome in the summer heat, but I bought a men's XL for the finger length, and the palms are sized too large and they get bunchy around my thumb-pits about half an hour into a ride - which is hecka annoying! I'm going to order the ladies L (according to this chart (http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/pages.php?pageid=30) my palm would fit, but whether my fingers do remains t be seen) to see if they're a good replacement.
Here I am in the driveway afterwards on Monday! I had to get a pic for my mom. ;) Please note the glitter tape stripe I added to my helmet so it would match my jacket. :D: I'm on Mike's other bike - a SV650 - and it's way more comfortable to ride than I thought it would be!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/3566943548_665f76eb08.jpg
So much fun! I can't wait to get out again!
On Sat. we hit a parking lot so I could build some confidence, then went back to get his bike and off we went! We are in Orange County, NY, and there are lots of beautiful winding 2-lane country roads to cruise around. (No pictures because I'm still trying to not overcompensate for turns - it's not time yet to throw a camera into the mix! ha!) We rode for about 2 hours all together, stopping after an hour and a half or so for some lunch, and we covered probably about 60 miles around home. On Monday we went out for another 1 1/2 hours or so and another 40 miles. (These are very rough mileage estimates!)
I feel like I learned a lot about taking curves and corners in these two days of riding - the faster-than-parking lot speeds really make things interesting! Mike stayed behind me during the ride and our bluetooth headsets managed to maintain a connection as long as we stayed reasonably near each other so he was able to warn me of upcoming traffic signals and tight turns. that was helpful. I will toot my own horn and say that he is of the opinion that I've got really excellent form, and that I am doing a great job. (of course he said this after our sat. ride, and on our monday ride I took a short trip across some double yellow lines that may have changed his mind... a good learning experience!) After the second trip out I felt a little more comfortable asking the bike to lay down as we went around turns instead of staying so slow and straight up.
The gloves I'm wearing (the cortech dx gloves (http://www.newenough.com/gloves/street_short_cuff/cortech_by_tour_master/ladies_dx_motorcycle_gloves.html)) are awesome in the summer heat, but I bought a men's XL for the finger length, and the palms are sized too large and they get bunchy around my thumb-pits about half an hour into a ride - which is hecka annoying! I'm going to order the ladies L (according to this chart (http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/pages.php?pageid=30) my palm would fit, but whether my fingers do remains t be seen) to see if they're a good replacement.
Here I am in the driveway afterwards on Monday! I had to get a pic for my mom. ;) Please note the glitter tape stripe I added to my helmet so it would match my jacket. :D: I'm on Mike's other bike - a SV650 - and it's way more comfortable to ride than I thought it would be!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/3566943548_665f76eb08.jpg
So much fun! I can't wait to get out again!