Ok, as the title suggests this is about "Special K" learning to ride, its also a little about the determination it takes to get out there and learn how to do something that deep within ya secretly always wanted to do. but did think you could ever do it or that anyone would ever believe in you enough to allow you to do it. How the older you are somethings don't come natural, but if its what ya want you will keep at it and give it a try. So at this point "Special K" had been watching me ride to work for about 2 years. We both worked in the same building but in our areas. "K" worked on the other side in the grooming area and me well I was in the surgery and lab and exam room areas. Now out paths did cross and trust me we did bable too and everyonece in awhile she'd say "Tumbles, when are you going to teach me how to ride?" My responce was always the same, "take the Motorcycle Saftey Foundation learn to ride program, and get your self and nice little 650 starter bike." This when on once a week for 2 years. One day a client came in and asked about the bike out front there. I told him it was mine and then we got into the discussion about learning to ride, the MSF, beginner , Intermediate and Expert courses.
I took the beginner course I think 1997, as part of my Woman's Motorcycle Club a few ladies and I were getting together. We decided that all members ought to have atleast the beginners if not expert courses under their belt. I had already been riding by 97 but as we were writing out the Bylaws I figured that I had better take atleast the learn to ride class. It was a nice little class, I did learn a few things and it filled in the missing gaps I had at the time. I took the instructor into the grooming room and introduced him to "K". She and he talked about the course and he left a number to sign up with. I was thinking of taking the expert course again I've taken it 2 times in NJ, since the course was about 25 dollars for returnin students, and NJ residents. After the trooper left "K" asked me if I take this course will you help me? I told her sure I will, this is the best way to go "K", they teach ya from the ground up how to get going. They won't teach you any of my bad habits I might have developed over the years, and this is a really good way to figure out if you want to ride or not. You'll get an idea if you'd enjoy it, let's face it after ya spend 4,000 plus on a bike and gear that is not the time to find out you'll hate it. Then she said, "I get to practice on your harley", "No fucking way man, are you nuts?"
I had been say this for years to her ot take the MSF, and when this guy walked in I figured he would be the perfect person for her to talk to about the classes. So right no she had no more excuses either take the course or don't. It shocked the crap out of me when she said to me on a Thursday I go to Beach Blvd tomorrow night for my first class, "Awesome" I said. She then told me what she needed and if I could help her out, why not I had a mess Joe Rocket jacket she could wear, its stinking hot here in April on the asphalt with the sun beating down on ya, I also loaned her my full fingers with holes in them, and then suggested Open Road Leathers for boots. Hell with boots if ya don't end up riding ya can still wear them anyway. I was so excited for "K". I kind of knew where she was coming from however she was a lot older. See her ex husband was a Patcholder and she was Property of, she said they had the best time in the desers of the southwest with the "brothers' of the club, but she wasn't sure if she could ride or not. The back is different than the front.
Monday, came then Tuesday that's when I started my work week, I came in the door didn't see her in grooming so I knew she'd be outback walking one of her clients. I warmed up my machines, got my mesages, check the surgeries and go the stuff ready, started my medications and moted the patients charts as I did the medications, feed and gave the am updates to the owners. I was so excited I wanted to see if she passed!!, The moment she had a chance she came running over to me and Dr. Martina, "I did it I did it I did" dam it was harder than I thought, I had a little problem with the short stop but I passed, and look yesterday I went and got my M endourcement! OH YAY! "K"! I bought her lunch at the Boogie Grill right there on A1A in Ponte Vedra. He next comment was "Now I know what I'm doing, you'll help me practice, and we have to use your harley" " did ya fall on your freaking heard, or do ya think a coaconut fell on mine?" She said "I'm guessing that's a no".
On Saturday afternon we went down to Honda Of St. Augustine, they were advertising left over modles new in creates and Honda will honor the manufatcor warrenty. It was "K" myself and Her POP. Mo was so proud of her daughter because Insead of talking about it, she when out and put her money where her mouth was. I was looking for a Shadow 650 to 750 for her. After she sat on my bike she found it a wee bit big, so I thught the 6 or 750 would be a little big at frist but within weeks it be just right. Well she went for the Honda Rebel 250, and was more comfortable with the idea of it. He Pop watching asked "which one? the red with the flames, or the blue one with the stripe?" Neither she said, "I've decided on the Black one." He took on look and said, " isn't that a moped?" LOL! The following Wed I went down with "K"to pick up the little Rebel, she wasn't sure about it at the moment and wanted me to ride it home. So they went over this is your bike speach, this is how it works. I will admit something right now, I went to take off in the parking lot and almost dropped the dam little thing right there not 20 feet from the service bay. The thing was so small and crunched up feelling ti freaked me out...........LOL! I bobbled it and almost fumbled...what a shock I ddn't expect that.
We made a date for our first get your experience day. That day came it was a warm April Saturday afternoon. I went to her house and put on shorts and sneakers then meet her in the driveway she took one look and said, "what's up with that?" I said, "it's freaking hot, I'm not going to be baking in the sun with protective gear on if I'm not riding." "Not riding, Not riding, then what in the hell are ya here for Tumbles, Man I want to hit the road!" "Now, " I said, "do ya know anything about ths here little bike?" she said she didn't I said ok, let's get too it then. "But, But, Ijust want to hit the roads, get ready to throw my sleeping bag and tent on it and go." I told her I knew that but first we got work to do and the number one thing is to know the bike's controls without looking and have control as we stop. She agreed that was the right way to do it. Really it must have been about 88 degrees out then add that nice Florida Humitdity and that makes it God aweful. I got the bike on level ground and with the jiffy stand still on had her sit on the bike as I yelled out right turn, low beans, rear brake, clutch, fron brake, left turn, reserve, high beams clutch 1st gear...............what are ya dong? "K" says, "looking for reserve" hum now aren't ya gland we did this first in stead of at the corner of Kernan and Beach?" "yeah yeah Yeah" is all she could say. It took a good 20 minutes with me shouting directions and controls out until she could look at me whicle findng them. I know but folks that 2 seconds can mean the difference of life and death.
So know we could find the breaks and clutch, horn with out looking down to find them. Were ready to roll, here I had her to the saftey impection, brakes, lights, tire pressue, look over bike ro anything unusal. A habit I wanted her to start to do.........Then we both are sweating to death, but since we were rolling out on to the street and going to fire that rebel up I made her wear gloves, long sleeve jeanjacket and the helemet. She had a fit! " Tumbles, man ift freaking hot and look at your all comfortale and me dressed like its 30 degrees out.!" "Dude if ya hit your head it will feel better with the helmet on, plus your learning sometimes we fall down when we are learning? She yelled out, "Freaking Bitch, I feel like I'm driving with my mother this isn't going to be any fun Im too hot!" "ok, I can go home ain't no sweat off my butt. She settled down and got the bike stared and worked on the frichtion zone, First gear brake, first gear brake, then first gear second gear brake, the idea was to learn about breaking but to know the gears without looking down to shift, in a busy city ya could be a hood orinament if your not careful. We ran around the development doing the gears and braking for about 2 hours. She was complianing cause of what she was wearming and me I was running next to her. She said next time It time for the road, I had to tell no it won't be ya got a little bit more work to do I'll pactice this during the week and next we're going for a ride......Ok we'll see.
On Thursday evening I just got home abot 730 or so and I got a phone call. "K" said Ya know I think I need some more help before we hit the road is that ok if this Saturday we day in the developent. "sure" I said then added, " dude what happened" She then told me she wasn't sure how it happend she was trying to do a stop but it was more or less slowing to turn when she poped the curb took out a bird house and hit the mailbox. She said she picked t righ up went home and slammed the garage door shut as she was humilited. I told her about the story about how my one motorcycle ran into the other motorcycle. Crap happens don't worry about it. Now we've got figure out what went wrong so we can correct your actions. Her real responce was, " Tumbles, I thought that so called help you were giving me was bullshit! I thought maybe you might be a little jealous of another lady riding and really wasn't into helping me. I was thinking you didn't know what you were talking about because I passed my MSF, and I can legally ride the streets, so that crap you were working on with me was just plain bullshit!" "Oh yeah? what ya think now K?" I"m thinking you got a real good point, before ya can roll 55 ya got to be able to stop, and not be looking down ever cause I think that's what really happened. "well? WELL?" I say, she says" yeah I'm sorry I throw my helemet at you, you didn't diserve that at all, you were just telling me the truth that the M don't mean Shit uncless ya can put it to the test, other wise ist just paper.' Special K's first lessons, stopping and looking were very important and driving a car and a bike are two different things. Me my lesson, I'd do it all the same way over again. I wouldn't change a dam thing about the experience I was trying to share with her. Have a great one! "T"
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