Women Motorcycle Riders Share Insights!

Answers to your personal riding-related questions —
VTwin Mama is here to provide a forum for insight!

Reflection
If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again. – Flavia Weedn

On September 11, 2010, we will be hosting the Ride for Freedom Service Dogs in conjunction with FSD’s Festival of the Bastardino being held at Centennial Park in Englewood , CO. The Ride begins at the Festival and then tours the Front Range for 150 miles before ending at Red Rocks Grill in Morrison.

Freedom Service Dogs (FSD) is a Colorado based non-profit organization that takes dogs from rescues and shelters and, after nursing them to perfect health, trains them to be service dogs for wounded and disabled veterans. As you know, many of our soldiers are returning from war with life altering injuries such as amputations, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. A Service Dog not only provides them with unconditional love and support, but their training to the soldier’s specific needs means that a wounded warrior can regain some confidence and independence in their daily lives. I challenge you to view the video at www.FreedomServiceDogs.org and not be moved by the power of these stories and what these dogs mean. And of course, as most of the dogs are rescued, it’s a second chance for them as well. All of FSD’s work is done at no cost to the client. So fundraising is critical for their success.

Please visit www.RideforFSD.org for more information regarding the event. All funds raised are going directly to FSD and all funds and efforts stay in Colorado . – Michelle G. Mallin

1st Class Motorcycle Touring is pleased to announce that they are offering a Ladies only motorcycle vacation, continuing their focus on Women Riders. This ride can be used with the Amtrak Auto Train partnership for those traveling from the Northeastern United States. The ladies only motorcycle trip is a 1,000 mile, 6 day-5 night ride starting in Orlando, Florida, and is called our “Arctic Escape to the Sunshine State.”

The “Arctic Escape to the Sunshine State Tour” can begin in Virginia with train’s service to Florida making it an 8 day-7 nights, or a 6 day-5 nights for those that are closer to Orlando. This vacation package includes lodging, Airboat through the Florida Everglades and scenic guided motorcycle adventure throughout the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Everglades, the Florida Keys, video of the ride, and a support vehicle to carry luggage. This Ladies Only ride is available for booking until we reach capacity of 10 rooms or by the registration closing date of Oct. 1st, 2010.

For more information and video of this ride, visit the 1st Class Motorcycle Touring website. To reserve a space, call Russ or Becky Beckenstein toll-free at 877-83-TOURS (877-838-6877).

Dear VTwin Mama,
The top of my helmet has paint chips missing because of being in the trunk and being bounced around a little. Is there anyway to touch up the paint? – NHSubmom

Dear NHSubmom,
From what I've read and researched, the painting of a helmet is a multiple layered work of fabrication and art. I know there are auto paint touch-up kits, but I'm not aware that there are any paint touch-up kits for helmets so that you could get a match to the color. If it's truly just surface chips, consider adding some decorative decals ... they really do come in flavors beyond skulls and snakes! – Mama

Dear VTwin Mama,
I am only 5" and about 150 lbs. I don't have any experience. But I've always wanted to own a sport motorcycle. Any suggestions on what I should look for?? – Newbie

Dear Newbie,
Yes, you should look for the nearest beginner class near you. The reason I advocate this approach is because it gives you a chance to actually get on a bike and ride it and begin making observations of what does and does not work for you. You're looking specifically at things like feet to ground reach, arm to handlebar reach (and spread) and leg to foot control comfort. Along with all sorts of other fit details.

Can you visit dealers and sit on bikes and take notes? Yes. You'll quickly find out that sport bikes have higher seat heights than standard or cruiser models and have less options to lower them for fit. If the seat is at 35" and you have an inseam of 28", you can see that a challenge is there.

Rarely is the first bike you buy your dream bike ... because the only way to really understand what makes a bike a dream bike is to ride thousands of road miles. So, take a class, buy something local and cheap (but running) and get some miles in. Sell it when you've got the basics mastered and can shop with real knowledge. It makes a difference! – Mama

Dear VTwin Mama,
I was riding recently and I came up onto a MC rider, I followed him, not sure if I should pass. After a couple miles he moved to the center lane. I stayed behind him for another mile or so, then slowly passed, with a downward peace sign. I drove for another five miles and then exited. Coming to a stop, I was surprised to see him on my left calling to me. He told me, "the next time you pass a patch, tap your watch twice, not doing this is a show of disrespect, and someone may chase you down." Is this for real? Or is this local. I don't want to cause any problems. – kenrn2

Dear kenrn2,
My guess, given the attempt at intimidation, is that you came across a 1%er riding on his own (at that moment). 1%ers are groups like the Hells Angels, Banditos, and a host of other outlaw riding groups (which can be national or local only). On the back of his jacket or vest he would have had a central patch with rocker panels (curved patches) above and below the central patch. You are wise to be wary.

To fully understand if one of these groups has an active chapter in your area, I'd do some Internet research. You could also consider contacting the local Harley dealer and asking them for their HOG chapter contact name and number. I am sure they are well aware of who/what is operating in the area. A well established Southern Cruisers chapter might also be able to fill you in.

I am not aware of what protocols there might be. I do know that when I was living in Mobile, AL and had joined a Southern Cruisers group, I learned that they had to negotiate with a local 1% group for the right to wear their single panel SC patch. It sounds medieval, but there it is.

If I saw rider(s) with a three part patch, I'd back off, pull in somewhere safe, and take a break for 10 minutes to let them get on with their journey. – Mama

Hi Mama,
I wrote to you 3 years ago when I first bought my Sportster 883 Low. I had only had the bike 3 days when I hit a tree.(I was not used to the throttle yet). Needless to say that really screwed up my head, and now I am very nervous when it comes to high speeds. Even 3 years later I feel uncomfortable when I turn corners. I am too cautious, as I feel the bike will keel over.

Anyway, I have found the Sportster to be too top heavy and just today went and picked up my new/used 2005 Softail Deluxe. It is a big bike and very intimidating to me. But the ride is so much nicer than the Sportster. But once again my problem is fear. I am turning the corners like a snail and have trouble getting up to speed quickly. I love the bike and really want to do better.

Dear Nervous Grandma,
Taking sweeping curves at a faster speed is an acquired skill. As you know, a lot of it is about your head and eyes properly looking through the curve, but there is more to consider than just that, including proper lane position, not entering too fast (you're over compensating for that part), and learning not to fixate on the "bad" things around (less road shoulder, opposing traffic, etc.).

My suggestion is to check into the MSF's Experienced Rider Course. The course description covers practice on curves, traction, and lots more.

Once you've read their general course description, I would call your local course provider and talk to an instructor and relay exactly what you've told me. Ask them if the Exp RC is a good fit for you to get your curve work under control so that you can proceed with practice on your own with more knowledge and confidence.

Not all courses and instructors are the same, so if the first MSF provider doesn't sound interested in working with you, check the next closest one.

If you do decide to take the course and find it useful but need more support, ask if any of the instructors offer private lessons. I'm thinking four one-hour sessions, scheduled a week apart might be the ticket.

A little side note. You know that the designer of your '05 Softail Deluxe took a lot of time to get good balance and tire traction right. You know that many people ride this bike at proper speeds through the curve. You know that it is imperative that bike tires not be under or over aired ... so one confidence booster right off the bat is to check your tire pressure before each ride so that you know you are in the optimum range that the bike designer/tire mfg. had in mind. It seems like a small thing, but at this point it is something you can absolutely control and know that your bike is ready to carry you correctly on your adventure.

Dear VTwin Mama,
I started riding in Maryland years ago and there was no helmet law, but I still wore my full face helmet most of the time. I was a state correctional officer at the time, and I got assigned to the University Of Maryland Hospital, in downtown Baltimore. That's where the state shock trauma center is. It was summertime and the inmate I was supposedly guarding was technically brain dead ... he had been stabbed in the brain stem with a home-made knife called a shank. So I had plenty of time to watch the motorcycle accident victims coming in. I am not going to give any ugly details, but let me say this ... broken arms and legs heal, but broken brains do not heal. I will not leave my driveway without my helmet on my head! – Anonymous

Dear Anon,
Thank you for your observation. While I remain a supporter of the right to choose, after 9 years of letters coming into this site from a wide variety of professional medical people who witness first hand the devastation that a helmetless rider can face, I too have not ridden without a helmet.

Suffice it to say that I've also had the heartbreak of losing a valued riding friend through a riding accident despite her having a helmet on. It's not a perfect solution, but my point is, please, please, please ... consider the different types of risk associated with gear choice and make sure your current choices are thought out to your satisfaction. – Mama

Hi, I'm Petra Baer, creator of the VTwin Mama site. In mid June I announced that I was taking a much needed break from my computer. Over these last three months I've been able to get a healthy balance back into my life and get my energy level back to its normal level ... following a series of crisis with family members and friends that started back in January 2010. If you can stand a bit of a twist on an old adage, back then I simply couldn't squeeze lemonade from lemons any more.