 This post is sponsored by the Colorado State Patrol’s MOST program. The Scarlet Headers is a social club in Denver, Colorado. Our main goal as a women’s riding group is to allow a space for women to relax and feel comfortable about where they are at with the sport of motorcycles. This is no competition. There is no judgment. Everyone is welcome to join in, ask questions, learn from and support one another on two wheels. This year, some of our members wanted to brush up on techniques like braking, managing curves, U-turns and overall confidence on a bike, so we participated in a MOST (Motorcycle Operator Safety Training) endorsed class. Seven women signed up for the Basic Rider Course 2 together at the Motorcycle Rider Training Center in Lakewood, Colorado. MRTC has been teaching from this location for more than 40 years, with different generations earning their endorsement from Bill Souder and his instructors. Here’s what our riders had to say about their day on the asphalt:  What was your personal experience with taking the basic riders course 2? Abby Anderson, Triumph Tiger I personally like to take long, multi-state trips, over unknown terrain, and wanted to sharpen basic skills to be more confident in other states, come what may. My next trip is crossing the state of Oregon to the border of Idaho and back and after that I’m going to southern California for an MC bachelorette weekend. I wanted to ride better than ever on group trips in unknown territory on borrowed bikes! Kelly Moore, Honda Superhawk What was unique about this course from the Riders Course 1, which I took 16 years ago, was seeing the information from an experienced perspective. With the riding portion, it offered new challenges doing slow riding skills on my own much bigger bike vs. the 250cc provided in the class previously. It was humbling and pointed out the areas I would like to give more attention to to become a better rider. Kendall Wilson, Triumph Bonneville My personal experience was that it was very challenging, but also extremely rewarding. I have new skills now that I need to practice until I feel confident I can do them under any circumstance.  What about the skills that you practiced hit home? Caroline Westwood, Triumph Bonneville This would be a great class for someone, like me, who has about two years on the bike and is looking to build upon those skills. My main objective for the class was to conquer the U-turn. This didn't happen, however, I feel I gained more confidence in the maneuver through the guidance of teachers. It was also very impressive to watch the teacher perform a U-turn on his massive BMW motorcycle. Kendall Wilson, Triumph Bonneville Practicing slow moving skills on your motorcycle is more important than I thought. Going fast is easy. But, slow maneuvers, not so much. What was said about stopping way back when you're behind cars at a stop light was something I hadn't thought about a whole lot. Giving yourself an escape route even at a red light behind a car means that you literally need to be aware of your escape routes at all times. I'll definitely remember that next time I ride. Sam Wolozynski, 1978 Honda CB 400 Feeling solid about something as simple as a tight U turn (not a frequent maneuver of mine on the road) will ensure that when I do have to do one, I can spend less mental energy worrying about controlling my bike and more on what's happening in my surroundings. Practicing these skills without pressure and with instructor feedback makes me feel more confident. Abby Anderson, Triumph Tiger I just could not conquer the U-turn. I want to practice, using six parking lot spots, when I can. We always talk about getting out into a lot and setting up cones, but should really make it a part of one of our annual events. Hand out prizes, make it fun. Other than that, I brushed up on braking into corners, where to lean when, and felt good about it all.  What are your thoughts on the Motorcycle Riders Training school? Nikole Strickler, Ducati Scrambler Sunday's class was my fifth riding class and frankly, I always learn something new. There's always room to improve my skills and try and let go of some of my bad habits (like two-finger clutching!). I especially enjoyed challenging myself to decrease my turning radius with each attempt in the box. I’ve been riding a bike of some variety for almost 19 years, and truly believe you're never too advanced to slow down and work on the basics. Sunday’s Basic Rider 2 was a perfect way to start the riding season. Kendall Wilson, Triumph Bonneville The teachers were helpful, patient, gave good insight, made you laugh, and made the overall experience more enjoyable. The demos were super helpful because they'd leave you with tips on how to make each skill a little bit easier. Sam Wolozynski, 1978 Honda CB 400 I loved taking the course with my new bike and putting valuable hours into getting in sync with this particular machine. It doesn't hurt that I got to hang out with a ton of awesome biker friends all day either. The BRC2 course was easily a worthwhile investment into my skills, safety, and enjoyment on the road, and something I'll consider repeating for many riding seasons to come.  Once you decide to ride, searching out an endorsement class is the next step to getting on a bike. And as a lifelong rider these classes add layers to a rider’s knowledge base, season after season. You can find a MOST class near you by heading here!
2 Comments
|
RSS Feed
