Friday, February 17, 2017

Who wants to join me?

Trobairitz, you in?  Sonja, you want to fly and ride?


Second Annual woman-led ADVWoman Rally dates announced for July 20-23, 2017, in Granby, Colorado


GRANBY, COLORADO, February 9, 2017 – Second Annual woman-led ADVWoman Rally dates Announced for July 20-23, 2017, at Flying Heels Rodeo Arena in Granby, Colorado


Dates are announced for the second annual adventure rally organized for women and families. To be held July 20-23, 2017, in Granby, Colorado, the event will include a variety of self-guided rides, Geocache scavenger hunt, classroom training sessions as well as on-range adventure and dirt bike rider training. All instructors are women! Men are welcome too-- this is a female and family friendly rally.
  
“We are building on last year’s success with several key changes,” said Pat Jacques, Rally Director. “BMW Off Road instructor Caroline Stevenson has joined the teaching staff, plus the rally is expanded to four days, Thursday through Sunday. We have obtained indoor convention space, and have hotel accommodations available.  We will teach on-range rider training ‘Adventure Essentials’ and ‘Dirt Bike Essentials’, and we’ve added the advanced level ‘BDR Essentials’ class. This will support riders in successfully completing the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route teaching steep ascents and descents, hair pin turns, water crossings, and rocky terrain skills.”

Last year’s Rally was a great success with several participants traveling over 1800 miles to attend.  “I knew the ladies would have a blast, but I was most surprised by how much the gentlemen enjoyed themselves,” said Jacques. “They were thrilled to see their spouses and partners quickly gain confidence and skill, which translates to more opportunities to enjoy riding together and also strengthens the industry.”

Classroom Sessions are open to all attendees and will run Thursday & Friday 3:30PM-4:30PM and 4:45-5:45PM, with several classes running simultaneously in different locations. Topics include trailside maintenance, trailside first aid, intro to GPS navigation, fitness and training for off-road riding, truck & trailer motorcycle loading and unloading, flat tire repair, how to pick up a bike, moto-camping and travel photography.

“Women teaching women is natural and transformative. We’re excited to have Canadian GS Trophy Candidate and BMW Off-Road Certified Instructor Caroline Stevenson joining our all-woman staff this year. Caroline’s quiet, confident manner and considerable skill is sure to resonate with many women,” said Jacques.

Immediately following the Rally there will be a “First Ever” All-ladies Colorado Backcountry Discovery (COBDR) Tour led by Jacques and fellow adventure rider Alisa Clickenger. All classes are taught Thursday and Friday so participants can enjoy a full day of adventure riding on Saturday.

https://advwoman.com/

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Everything but the kitchen sink

Remember the proverb “For want of a nail”?

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.  For want of a shoe the horse was lost.  For want of a horse the rider was lost.  For want of a rider the battle was lost.  For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.  All for the want of a horsehoe nail.

That is what I felt like over the weekend.  Everything was thrown at me except for the kitchen sink.  And the rain.

The work week last week was Atrocious. Absolutely atrocious.  To the point of questioning myself if it was worth it anymore.  Should I be looking for another job that will give me more time at home, less stress, fewer responsibilities.  I needed to get out, and Oilburner surprised me with the night in Savannah.  I wanted to ride so I could feel the wind in my face.  I wanted to clear the cobwebs.  Oilburner has been having his own issues, and was not physically well enough to ride.  I didn’t want to drive because I knew I would stew in my own head.  So what was the compromise?

He said it was time for me to learn to ride with a passenger.  I have been avoiding that little experience for a very long time.  In the beginning I was able to use the excuse that I was new to riding.  Then it was the excuse that I was afraid to drop the bike and hurt my passenger or my bike.  We won’t debate the order of priority.  Hehe

This time I was out of excuses. If I wanted to ride, I was going to have to suck it up.  And I was ok with that.  It was surprisingly easy to get over that mental hurdle.  However, he then threw in that I should ride his bike.

Please realize that I have ridden his bike a total of 3 times in 2 1/2 years.  For a total of about 35 miles.  The first ride was picking it up from the dealership, for 7 miles.  Mind you they were an exhilarating 7 miles.  It was the first time I had tested the new water cooled engine, and I managed to get that thing from 0-60 in lightning speed.  The second time Oilburner forced me to try it in the mountains to see how I liked the handling.  Don’t get me wrong.  It is a nice bike, but too big and bulky and weighty for me.  The third time was out of absolute necessity when we took a weekend trip and I didn’t have warm enough gear.  The windshield and fairings kept enough wind off to keep me warm until we arrived at the hotel about 15 miles down the road.  (Yes, I had on just about every article of clothing before I gave in to riding his bike.)

Like I said, his bike is nice, just not the bike for me.  It is weighty at 604 lbs wet.  Compared to the GS coming in at 525 lbs wet, it is much heavier, changing the center of gravity. It is wide.  I mean, I know I am wide…but not nearly as much as that bike!  The seating position makes me feel like I am sitting on top of the bike, not feeling integrated with it.  With that seating I’ve had difficulty getting my feet off of the pegs , around the fairings and onto the ground.  It just wasn’t what I would consider a comfortable bike.  Plus I always worried about the cost of all the plastic in the event that I dropped it and scratched it.

Well…it took me another couple seconds to acquiesce and get over that previous sticking point.  He had a point that the windsail they call a windshield and fairings would make for a more comfortable ride.  And help keep the rain off if the 50% predictions came true.  Ok.  Suit up!

I jumped on his bike and took it up the street to get a feel for it.  Forget that the end of the street is a cul-de-sac and I had to execute my first u-turn.  We started the day on the street as I was not riding down our steep driveway with him on the back.  Thank goodness he is a great passenger.  Leaving our neighborhood I opted for the right hand, downhill turn instead of the left hand, uphill start.  Those haven’t been successful for me in the past.  First turn under my belt.  Small curves and stop sign was next.  Huzzah!  Uh oh.  Next stop sign was behind someone that was not in a hurry to get into traffic.  Then I had to cross traffic in a left hand turn on a fairly busy road. Ok.  This isn’t so bad. 

Which way to head out of town?  Freeway would be steady and require fewer stops and balancing and shifting.  But by the fourth stop…I was feeling pretty darn good.  Yep.  The backroads with tons of waiting stoplights was the way.  Again…good passenger led to good experience and there were no problems.  I knew this was the way to go as I was too focused on technique and safety to even think about my bad week.  I wasn’t going to have any time to wallow.  And Oilburner not riding was also the right decision when he informed me that he was getting dizzy and nauseous whenever we stopped.  Yeah…I don’t want him piloting his own bike.

We eventually made it to the interstate and I must admit that I enjoyed that windsail.  Very smooth.  So smooth that when I got tired of a car pacing us I was easily able to out distance it.  I still regret not going 3 more mph and reaching my first ton on the big RT.  Bummer.

Riding was a breeze.  There was nothing to worry about with a passenger.  I even executed additional u-turns for lunch without a second thought!  Getting to Savannah was a breeze.  Still fun to imagine what the other riders were thinking when we passed them and they realized a girl was piloting with the boy riding pillion.  Or did they think Oilburner was just a masculine girl?  HHhhmm…..

Sunday was where it got interesting.  I slipped.  I slipped in the shower and sliced my toe open.  Lots and lots of blood and pain.  Luck would have it that it was my big toe.  On my left foot.  And which toe is used for shifting?  You got it.  All day Sunday had me hissing Ouch into our communicators each time I had to up shift.  Or put my foot on the ground.  It made for an interesting ride home.  I’m just glad the rain staved off for another hour.  We got the bike tucked in, wound cleaned and bound, and were just sitting down when the skies opened up.

Thank you Oilburner for being such a good passenger and teaching me the joys of riding together.  And for trusting me with your bike.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Virginity Lost. Glass Ceilings Shattered.

Savannah 2/17

I’ve now ridden Oilburner’s RT for 300 miles and learned to ride with a pillion.  Minds appropriately blown?  I’ve learned that riding two up isn’t quite as difficult or scary as I had always made it to be in my mind.  I’ve learned the joys of getting a back massage while riding.  I’ve learned how much fun it is to lean back and put my hand on his knee while cruising down the highway.  I’ve partaken of the schadenfreude of passing a couple on a Harley, with his arm candy riding bitch…and me thinking of mine.  I’ve let the little devil inside out when I quickly gunned the throttle and released it so that his helmet knocked into mine.  I’ve had the GREAT laugh of knowing EXACTLY when he turned the passenger heated seat on (14 miles from home) and he couldn’t figure how I knew.

I miss my Big Red bike.  We haven’t ridden since Christmas.  Hopefully I will get to ride it soon.  But the sacrifice is worth it right now.  I’m happy to help Oilburner to get out as well.  It may only be one night, but a ride to Savannah was absolutely necessary.  We may not do much while here, but just the act of getting here was the best.  Remember, it isn’t about the destination, it’s the journey.  The backroads home will be calling our names.

Savannah 2/17 Savannah 2/17 Savannah 2/17