This blog is written for other women like me, just learning to ride motorcycles. I hope you'll relate to what I go through, maybe learn something, and share your stories/tips with me. Let's ride ... together!
Just heard about the free lighting clinic going on at the Brighton, MI Harley-Davidson shop. I don't know whether other Harley dealerships are doing these things, but I didn't find them in a quickie Google search.
So here's the scoop: The event is early evening on Feb. 9 — that's a Thursday, which is never a good day for me because of work — and sign up soon, because space is limited. Refreshments will be available, which is good because if you're like me you'll be hungry by 6 p.m.
If you go, you'll get info on products and installation, and of course, be encouraged to buy stuff.
I love it when all of the traffic is running slow on snowy roads, because then I'm not pressured to push my small, lightweight car any faster than I'm comfortable driving. Road rage is doubly dangerous when the road is slick.
Today I saw the driver of a PT Cruiser make a blunder that resulted in a scary spin-out. He wasn't hurt, thank the Lord, and did not even damage his car, but I could see he was scared. His first reaction after the car stopped moving was to bow his head and cover his eyes as if to say "Holy Shit! What just happened?"
As someone who has been involved in more than her fair share of vehicle crashes, I know that these things happen in the blink of an eye. Literally. I looked down at my radio once and rear-ended another car years ago because I'd misjudged our relative speed. The damage to her car was minor, but because of the way I'd hit her, my airbags deployed, smashing me in the face and filling my car with smoke, and the airbag cover flew up, cracking my windshield. All because I looked down for two seconds.
And that was on dry pavement.
This morning, it was snowing and the wind was kicking up bluster that obscured vision as near as 20 yards away in some places.
I was not in a position to see exactly what the PT Cruiser's driver did this morning, but it appears from the evidence I did see that he took a turn a little too fast, and hit the brakes when he realized his mistake. Locking the brakes on snow is a surefire way to cause a spin.
One of the first things they teach in motorcycle rider safety class is to NEVER apply the brakes in a turn. Later, they teach how to do it safely when you must, but paying attention, looking ahead and slowing BEFORE the turn eliminate the danger. Avoiding trouble is always better than working your way out of it once you're in.
That's why everybody should have some motorcycle training included with their driver's education. That, and to make them more sensitive to us riders, of course. We all should know before we go.
I know I promised video of the motorcycle show, and I still *hope* to get it done, but my plan was to do it at my office on Monday, and because of a death in the family I was unable to.
My mother-in-law, a loving and simple woman who cared for nothing more than her husband, her cat and her many children and grandchildren, left us on Sunday afternoon. She had suffered a number of diseases in her 79 years, mainly brought on by overweight that led to diabetes and multiple organ failure. Her children take a lesson from her example —one is a dedicated runner determined not to suffer her mother's fate.
My father-in-law is inconsolable. They were married for 60 years, minus 10 days. That is a rare gift.
Losing a parent is difficult, and perhaps the moment when we really grow up. Mine are still with us — and I certainly haven't grown up in my 50 years on this Earth.
I'm not sure I have any wisdom to impart regarding the end of life, but we can choose to see events in the light of goodness rather than feeling sorry for ourselves. I see her death as a blessing in that her family was able to be with her, share their love and accept her passing before it was completed. A sudden death, or one lingering for many months, would have been more traumatic for all involved.
Too many people ignore or deny the inevitability of death, a natural consequence of living. It's the way we're meant to be, and we can choose to make it a beautiful, profound thing.
I encourage support of hospice organizations, which perform a sacred service to families in need. Theirs is a difficult job.
Ironman and I went to the 2012 Progressive International Motorcycle Show yesterday, and enjoyed looking at the bikes — new, old and custom. I shot a bunch of video clips, but because of technical difficulties I won't get it all together till tomorrow. Sorry.
Until then, I just wanted to share this one really cute little pink single-cylinder bike I took a picture of. Hoping to persuade a friend of mine that she, too, can ride.
Smage Bros Stunt Show, Photo Credit Andrew Wheeler AutoMotoPhoto
Those who vote for the "People's Choice" award are automatically entered to win a custom-built Honda Fury, sponsored by MotorcycleUSA.com. Photo credit Andrew Wheeler AutoMotoPhoto
The Progressive International Motorcycle Show is coming to Novi, Mich., this weekend at the Suburban Collection Showplace.
This event will feature the latest motorcycles including Aprilia, Beta, BRP, Darwin, Ducati, Erik Buell Racing, Gas Gas, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, KTM, Moto Guzzi, MV Agusta, Norton, Star, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha, as well as the latest aftermarket parts and accessories, high-end customs, live motorcycle stunt shows by "America's Got Talent" stars The Smage Bros and "The Learning Curve," an interactive stage that will host industry experts presenting a variety of motorcycling topics for all riders, including adventure riding, motorcycle maintenance, increasing bike performance, seminars for women riders and more. Special presenters include: Yamaha Champions Riding School seminars from AMA Champion Nick Ienatsch, AMA Superbike Top 10 Finisher Ken Hill, AMA Superbike Champion Scott Russell and more.
Motorcyclist Magazine will present "A Century of Motorcycling" with display of bikes representing every decade since Motorcyclist magazine was founded 100 years ago in 1912.
Suburban Collection Showplace is at 46100 Grand River Ave., in Novi. Show hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the event is $15 adults and $6 for children 6-11. Children 5 and under are admitted free. On Family Day, Sunday, all children 12 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. For more information, call 800-331-5706 or visit www.motorcycleshows.com.
Videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/IntMotoShows
The show next moves to Washington, D.C.; New York, N.Y.; Cleveland, Ohio, Minneapolis, Minn.; Chicago, Ill.; Charlotte, N.C.; and finally Daytona Beach, Fla., March 14-17, in time for Bike Week.
I just got notice from Motorcycle Cruiser, to which my subscription recently lapsed, asking me to sign up for digital magazine subscriptions. I loved my digital MacWorld when I had it — you can click on an item in the table of contents and go directly to the article you want to read. And best of all, NO RECYCLING!
So I clicked on the link and checked it out. Oddly enough, there was no option for M Cruiser. Hmmm ... I do see Motorcyclist, and Dirt Rider, and Sport Rider. It's a mystery to me why the Cruiser mag would send this to me and not be included.
But anyway, I do like to load up my Android phone with stuff I can use anytime I get stuck waiting at Belle Tire or the doctor's office or what have you. And my hubby loves the Kindle Fire I bought for him as an anniversary gift. Maybe he'd like one of these subscriptions.
In case you're interested, too ... Choose your device, Android, iPad, computer, Kindle Fire or Nook ... and pick a title. The prices appear to be much better than print, too, at $7.50 to $15 for most titles shown. But appearances can be deceiving. For instance, Dirt Rider lists at $9 with a "newstand" price just shy of $60 for 12 issues (about $4.95 per issue). They always wring it out of you for those impulse purchases. But on Dirt Rider's website, you can subscribe to the dead tree edition for $12 (12 issues). So you save a little with the mobile version.
Of course, you can get a lot of the content of both Motorcyclist and Dirt Rider free on their websites.
Two more ideas I forgot to mention before, but my sister reminded me of one.
You can get your biking friends a subscription to their favorite motorcycle magazine — order online right now and give them a printed receipt. Cycle World, for example, is just $12 for one year. You can order a gift subscription here.
Some people might prefer Easy Riders (that's the one with the 20-year-old barely dressed chicks on the cover), or American Iron or Motorcyclist ... personally I like the Road Runner because it deals more with travel and touring. I also read Motorcycle Cruiser, which reviews the new road bikes and is not prejudiced against certain bikes. Or, maybe your friend is into Dirt Bike.
And here's a novel but practical idea: Give a yearly pass to a local park system, either state parks or regional parks such as the Huron-Clinton Metroparks here in Southeast Michigan. She didn't want me to know but my sister's giving us a pair of stickers to get into the Metroparks again next year. She throws in a parks map, too, and it's a great gift. We felt free to ride to and through any of the parks anytime for free. We also support them, and our Michigan State Parks by buying these yearly passes.
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