Nothing to do with TB's, just a story.
Got a worthwhile education this past weekend. Fifteen years ago, I accidentally let my drivers license expire ( duh ). I lost my motorcycle endorsement, so I gave up riding for a while limiting my rides to just on the airport to and from my hangar and bathroom etc and on rare occasion around my neighborhood. Did get a temporary " learner's permit" , but they are only good for a year or so. Did that twice, but that severely limited where and when I could ride. During that relearning time I became painfully aware of how much I had forgotten about riding.
I thought about going directly to the BMV and scheduling a skills test. But, my bike is a very heavy (500 lb ) '78 Suzuki GS 750 and the slow speed skills test portion with my bike is very ( and I do mean very ) difficult. So, being unable to borrow a smaller and more nimble bike , and not having the balance that I had 25 years ago , that effectively ruled that option out. So a friend turned me onto a basic rider course offered by the state of Ohio that even offered bikes to use. So, I paid the $50 registration fee and scheduled the course. A well spent fifty bux bought me 5 hours of classroom time and two 6 hour days of riding with instruction.
I happened to be put on a little Suzuki TU 250x, a nimble little well-balanced 300lb 16hp fuel injected and spirited little beast, (that quite frankly, I wouldn't mind owning one to ride around my home area. ) Anyway, I became painfully aware of how much I didn't know. Granted, I do know the basics because I bought my ride 38 years ago and have never had an accident -- until pulling into the garage 2 weeks ago when it fell with me on it. ( I used the front brake with the handle bars turned and down I went with a thud. )
Anyway, they made us practice and practice and practice more doing all sorts of stuff like stopping while in a corner until we got it right. ( John, bars *SQUARED* , then brake ! He said on more than one occasion.) We had to do figure 8's in a 20x20 foot box without going over the lines or putting our foot down, emergency / panic stops, a "swerve to avoid" from 20 mph, how and where to look when cornering and stuff like that. (I came close to, but I didn't drop my bike . A couple of girls did but escaped unscathed thanks to all the safety gear that they required for us to wear.) on an interesting footnote : I will say this.... Damn my legs are sore. I used muscles I have evidently not used in quite some time.
All in all, this was a very good decision I made. I am ,by far, *not* an expert rider now, but rather much more aware of my skill set.
If there is any fellow Ohioans looking to ride, I highly recommend this rider course. Money very well spent.
Got a worthwhile education this past weekend. Fifteen years ago, I accidentally let my drivers license expire ( duh ). I lost my motorcycle endorsement, so I gave up riding for a while limiting my rides to just on the airport to and from my hangar and bathroom etc and on rare occasion around my neighborhood. Did get a temporary " learner's permit" , but they are only good for a year or so. Did that twice, but that severely limited where and when I could ride. During that relearning time I became painfully aware of how much I had forgotten about riding.
I thought about going directly to the BMV and scheduling a skills test. But, my bike is a very heavy (500 lb ) '78 Suzuki GS 750 and the slow speed skills test portion with my bike is very ( and I do mean very ) difficult. So, being unable to borrow a smaller and more nimble bike , and not having the balance that I had 25 years ago , that effectively ruled that option out. So a friend turned me onto a basic rider course offered by the state of Ohio that even offered bikes to use. So, I paid the $50 registration fee and scheduled the course. A well spent fifty bux bought me 5 hours of classroom time and two 6 hour days of riding with instruction.
I happened to be put on a little Suzuki TU 250x, a nimble little well-balanced 300lb 16hp fuel injected and spirited little beast, (that quite frankly, I wouldn't mind owning one to ride around my home area. ) Anyway, I became painfully aware of how much I didn't know. Granted, I do know the basics because I bought my ride 38 years ago and have never had an accident -- until pulling into the garage 2 weeks ago when it fell with me on it. ( I used the front brake with the handle bars turned and down I went with a thud. )
Anyway, they made us practice and practice and practice more doing all sorts of stuff like stopping while in a corner until we got it right. ( John, bars *SQUARED* , then brake ! He said on more than one occasion.) We had to do figure 8's in a 20x20 foot box without going over the lines or putting our foot down, emergency / panic stops, a "swerve to avoid" from 20 mph, how and where to look when cornering and stuff like that. (I came close to, but I didn't drop my bike . A couple of girls did but escaped unscathed thanks to all the safety gear that they required for us to wear.) on an interesting footnote : I will say this.... Damn my legs are sore. I used muscles I have evidently not used in quite some time.
All in all, this was a very good decision I made. I am ,by far, *not* an expert rider now, but rather much more aware of my skill set.
If there is any fellow Ohioans looking to ride, I highly recommend this rider course. Money very well spent.
! I love bikes and would like a weekend/country road cruiser but then I remember why I cannot pick my nose with my right hand....
