One Bike, One Road, One Grrrl...
As some of you know, I've only been riding since September '09. I
got my first (and only!) bike at that time, and she (yet unnamed)
and I have had some learning experiences.
I went on my first long trip on the bike to a nearby town/suburb of Parker, CO to meet some classmates for a community service project. I got directions, and looked it up on Google maps, then realized my "little jaunt" was going to be about 15 miles. Yikes! But it was a warm (60's) sunny day in Colorado, and I just couldn't resist! So, my first thought was - how am I going to be able to look at directions while I'm riding? I already had turn-by-turn directions written down on a sticky note, so I thought "why not just stick it onto the tank"? I put the sticky note on there are thought about what tape to use...scotch tape? heck no... Masking tape? yick... I know - Blue painter's tape! Wow, I'm going to look soooo hawt with this yellow note stuck onto my tank with blue tape! woohoo!! With that decided, I set off on my nerdy newbie way, with my brand-new armored kevlar jeans and a bright yellow refective vest over my armored jacket. Yes, I was a circus on wheels, but I was a highly visible circus!!
I had a wonderful ride, played with some traffic that didn't behave too badly ( I think they were scared of my vest :P ). I actually got up to 55 mph on a long lovely stretch of road on the way there, and got used to getting the bike into 4th gear :))
I did get lost, but I pulled off into a parking lost, pulled out my phone and put it on speaker, and without taking off my helmet, got directions, hung up and got back on the road.
Found the house, had a little trouble parking on a street without any curbs and no room left in front of the house, but managed angling it in. My bike got admired, and one of my friends that was there (who has been riding for years) gave me some advice about the LED red and amber license plate that I want to put on the bike, then we got to work on our project.
On the way home, I am feeling more confident about at least being able to find my own house again! It's mid afternoon, and the sun is just beautiful! I actually get some "motorcycle waves" exchanged on the road this time, and I'm so excited! I'm recognised as a motorcyclist! (well, it's either that or "look at that newb doofus"!)
On that long lovely stretch of road that goes 55 mph, I all of a sudden learn what a cross-wind feels like. Now, I'm always amazed that no-one talks about how similar motorcyling and bicycling are to each other - from my years and years of battling crosswinds on my bicycles, I automatically lean the bike into the wind and keep on going. Easy as pie, although I did get startled at first - the crosswinds are a bit stronger at 55 mph rather than 15 mph :)
I get home after seeing a little heaver early rush hour traffic - but they were still scared of my vest, and treated me well. :)
For my next adventure, my husband and I go shopping for his motorcycle, and I get to put my winter gear to the test riding it home!
I went on my first long trip on the bike to a nearby town/suburb of Parker, CO to meet some classmates for a community service project. I got directions, and looked it up on Google maps, then realized my "little jaunt" was going to be about 15 miles. Yikes! But it was a warm (60's) sunny day in Colorado, and I just couldn't resist! So, my first thought was - how am I going to be able to look at directions while I'm riding? I already had turn-by-turn directions written down on a sticky note, so I thought "why not just stick it onto the tank"? I put the sticky note on there are thought about what tape to use...scotch tape? heck no... Masking tape? yick... I know - Blue painter's tape! Wow, I'm going to look soooo hawt with this yellow note stuck onto my tank with blue tape! woohoo!! With that decided, I set off on my nerdy newbie way, with my brand-new armored kevlar jeans and a bright yellow refective vest over my armored jacket. Yes, I was a circus on wheels, but I was a highly visible circus!!
I had a wonderful ride, played with some traffic that didn't behave too badly ( I think they were scared of my vest :P ). I actually got up to 55 mph on a long lovely stretch of road on the way there, and got used to getting the bike into 4th gear :))
I did get lost, but I pulled off into a parking lost, pulled out my phone and put it on speaker, and without taking off my helmet, got directions, hung up and got back on the road.
Found the house, had a little trouble parking on a street without any curbs and no room left in front of the house, but managed angling it in. My bike got admired, and one of my friends that was there (who has been riding for years) gave me some advice about the LED red and amber license plate that I want to put on the bike, then we got to work on our project.
On the way home, I am feeling more confident about at least being able to find my own house again! It's mid afternoon, and the sun is just beautiful! I actually get some "motorcycle waves" exchanged on the road this time, and I'm so excited! I'm recognised as a motorcyclist! (well, it's either that or "look at that newb doofus"!)
On that long lovely stretch of road that goes 55 mph, I all of a sudden learn what a cross-wind feels like. Now, I'm always amazed that no-one talks about how similar motorcyling and bicycling are to each other - from my years and years of battling crosswinds on my bicycles, I automatically lean the bike into the wind and keep on going. Easy as pie, although I did get startled at first - the crosswinds are a bit stronger at 55 mph rather than 15 mph :)
I get home after seeing a little heaver early rush hour traffic - but they were still scared of my vest, and treated me well. :)
For my next adventure, my husband and I go shopping for his motorcycle, and I get to put my winter gear to the test riding it home!
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