Mark he said its OK. Really I hope so. Bit nervous.
Hello everyone in the BR! GRowlette (aka Catherine) here!
Moderators if this post is not OK please wipe it. Please Dave D or Mark or whoever.
Just to report on my bike course. Sorry if a bit long please ignore if it's boring to you. It has nothing to do with UK, so tell you that now so that you don't waste your time, Filipinas make too much talking, we know that and maybe it's not mean much to anyone in UK. We live in Asia and life is different here. Just he keeps his UK links and I read the BR to learn and perhaps one day I can visit there. It is interesting to know how much more law abiding and disciplined it is in UK. Here you get away with anything if no one is looking.
My Big Boss he has made a down payment on a new red HD Sportster 883 cc for me (special Import) and really I look forward to riding myself with our group. My Virago 400 cc has been OK but as he says its not a real bike like a Harley.
Bikers are motorists too, and I often read BR posts about them.
I can only say that riding is a way of finding freedom. I know several women who ride and they say the same.
Don't want to over-do it but HF asked me to report on my course and I'm feeling a bit proud hehe! Big G he snoring after some Jack D . Had his Harley mate Greg from Abilene Texas (both retired) over and 18 oz BBQ steaks they both cooked up on the porch and their ZZ Top records n Lone Star beer so i got the PC to myself for a change (my laptop is busted, like my leg LOL). These guys are retired and talk Middle East stuff from the good old oil days of the 1970's and that's all they do when they aren't riding.
This was the Lady Safety Course, girl bikers only. I was really so nervous to begin. Big One he took me there then he left me all alone to go to some meeting. I hated him honestly.
Well we started on Tues a.m. at 10 at the Country Club. 2 Chinese cruisers My little Virago (one girl was a no-show) and a girl on a KMX along with a police lady on a big Kawasaki with red lights and a siren. She even brought her gun! 37 Magnum. police issue. There is a gun ban right now because of elections in May but she said law enforcement officers are OK. Bit scary. All girls anyway. Jake was a good teacher. We started in the classroom and we all had to share our riding experience together and tell what we wanted out of the course. This was good because it made us think and Jake said it's OK to feel scared and it's OK to admit that and we are here to deal with that. He wrote it all on a chart and said this how we will measure progress and at the end you can go back to this and see for yourself how you have done compare with today's sharing. We discussed how fear is controllable and how it can boost safety if its managed right. He told us a rider with fear but not afraid is a safe rider. I never thought like this before.Really it opened my mind. Bit like Zen I think! My grandfather was Chinese so maybe that's it.
In a way it makes me understand my Boss better also, Also he taught how one rider must always help another on the road, unwritten code he said. Really I liked that. I think Harley riders are much better at that. Brotherhood i guess. When our lot (The Chosen Few) go out we always check we have tire inflator, first aid kit, yellow jacket etc who is in charge of the ride. Its good to think you have a problem and others will help. How many cagers would help another in trouble. Few I think.
Then we did a lot about how a motorbike works and the things that happen when you're riding, I didnt understand all of this, but what I learned the whole 3 days was always look where you want to go and your bike will do the rest. Really that works, so simple. We did diagrams about where to put the bike on bends. Target fixation also, J said they teach fighter pilots that.. Most of it wasn't lecturing it was about us working it out for ourselves by discussion. Jake put us right if we got a bit off track! One time we started about how our boyfriends ride, and the police lady said she had a girlfriend but not a boyfriend! Whoops. I really liked that style of instructing, I think a good way to teach not just talking at you like a schoolteacher so you go to sleep. Better you work it out yourself, that way it sticks in the mind.
Then we did some foot up riding round traffic cones (easy, except Leni fell off hehe!) and practiced panic stops. We learned the back brake for steadying the bike not for panic stops and that the bike weight goes on the front wheel so use the front brake. Highsides and lowsides and how they happen and what not to do. Jake he says all the time don't be scared of your bike but know it and how it will react. Lane splitting skills and also get better at finding neutral at traffic signals, not hold the clutch in all the time while stopped like Catrina (bad me). Another thing this really surprised me! how if you drop your bike you sqat down and use your back muscles to pick it up. Jake made us do it with his Honda. I'm only little just 5-1 and 110 I think and I never thought how I would pick up my bike if i dropped it. Really that is amazing, we all couldnt believe it. Again it makes you more confident about what to do. I want to make G do it with his Harley hehe! Bet he cant!. Too much beer belly.
Review of the traffic code (LOL how many Filipinos obey that>??!!). Q and A to test our knowledge. Saw some videos and we did exercises on position on the road etc. I like the bit about watch for people's legs under buses if they are trying to cross the road and look for car wheels pulling out, smoke from exhaust etc to tell what others might do. Car stops in front be ready for driver door to open. Be assertive over your road space because car drivers will treat you like ****. Try to stay off the road at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. when all the schools come out. Observation and anticipation. Survival skills. Stuff like that really opened my eyes. Traffic here is crazy. I think I liked this session best, we really learnt how to work out what might happen before it does. Also we learnt whatever you are doing on your bike always have a way out and we discuss typical bike situations like when morons in cages crowd your lane and what to do. Always ride with lights on.
Watch for spilled diesel at gas stations and especially when its raining, diesel on the road will have rainbow effect. It's very dangerous. Stay to one side of the oil track down the center of the h'way lane, but occupy the lane because you own it. When you stop to pay your toll at the booth put the exact money in Saran wrap before the ride so you don't inconvenience other drivers waiting behind by fumbling around and also it means you sail through the" Exact Toll - Absolutely No Change Given" lane so you don't have 2 sit behind some bus and choking on his smoke, if riding in a group the lead rider pays the tolls for all. Your right boot will pick up the oil and garbage from the surface at the pay window, so make sure you stay well left, then go through, pull over and stop and wipe your right boot so you get the muck off before you go on else it won't stay on the footrest and could slip off the rear brake pedal. Keep your cellphone charged always and your attorney's number on it. They should teach the pizza delivery guys this stuff! Jake had so many stories. He said his goal was to make bikers the most responsible road users of all and now I look at all the guys me and my girlfriends ride with I can see how they share this.
Really this is useful. So much info. I am thinking when my leg gets better that I will organize a girl rider group. Big One not so keen but I can work on him!
Each day was 10 till 3.30, mix of class and practice. Lunch was really nice! I didnt tell De Big One yet what I ate bcos he'll say my spare tyre is getting bigger and he doesn't mean my bike! he's a nagging one. Specially now I have this cast on.
What we did also was pre-ride checks. G he always did this for me before but now I know to look for loose spokes, check fluid, cables, tires, all lights working etc before I get on. Jake said this was how discipline riders make better riders and confidence comes from discipline. I understand those big boys a bit better now and I see why my Boss does this. Used to kid him he fussed his bike like his other woman but now i see it. His HD is always spotless and I used to kid him and he says this means he is always going over the bike and will spot a problem if there is one. Used to think these HD riders were crazy in the head but now I see they are very serious responsible and disciplined guys with real team spirit before they head out for a ride. Much more than sportbike riders I think. I love Harleys.
Onthe last afternoon we went for a 60km ride all together. Jake chose the road up to Infanta in Quezon Province which is all bends.Like so much of the Philppines it is really beautiful (also Communist NPA but didn't see them!) Also we had to find our way through the city traffic, so a chance to use the anticipation training. Definitely I liked that and we practised trailbraking and positioning on the bends. Especially looking ahead not at the road, so your bike can follow your eyes. This was my fault before I know it now. Always looking in front of the wheel not head up looking round the bend, that was me before. Plan your line, lay your bike into the bend and not be scared, keep the power on and it will do the rest..
Really I love the feeling that gives and all of us were shouting.
My Big Boy is always telling me this and now I see he is right. Surprising we could all go quite fast. I'm still a bit nervous on the bends but I just followed Jake and he was right, the bike does what he says if you let it. Not to hold the bars like a death grip he says but just gently. Really it makes a difference. Told us whatever tires we had junk them and replace with Metzler, best for grip. I got some Dunlops and BG says he'll change them. Then we sat down for a rest, some fresh coconut milk by the road. It's so hot my goodness these days here in Philippines its too much: 36 C most days right now, I got a Tecnik jacket with holes in for the air but it's no good to keep cool (anyway it looks horrible) and reviewed ourselves what we did right or wrong etc
Then when we came back Jake made us look at our comments from Day 1 and answer how we felt the course had helped us. We also had to say two things we needed to personally work on. I said making sure I used lower gears more and to practice anticipation skills. We got our Pass certificates and a patch to sew on our jackets.
I have to go to the LTO and get endorsement 1 (bikes) on my license bcos I've been riding with just a car licence. Jake says most people don't bother but the insurance company or the cops may get funny if you don't get it. I hate that place! Line up at Window 3 and wait 2 hours to get your name called and its so hot already in the sun. Plus you have to fill the bottle for your drug test, go to the comfort room and embarrassing to give that to some guy and everyone looking. Ay naku! Anyway on crutches I can't do just yet.
The only thing we couldn't do was wet riding (no rain here for another 8 weeks) and I wanted something on what to do when you know a mulcting traffic cop has stopped you to extort and you had no violation. Easiest to pay him off i guess after haggling! Happens all the time here. When I filled out the questionaire I suggested these.
Really this is an excellent course and I'm glad Big G made me do it.
It is an international standard course so I think it's OK to post about it in England.
G stayed away he was busy anyway, good because I would be a bit nervous if he's watching me. I'm a bit proud, not so many girls ride bikes and I know I have improved. Now he has to buy me a better bike got to be that HD Sportster LOL!!! Really I loved it. And thanks Jake for 3 great days, so patient with us silly girls. Big kiss to you from all of us (he got a red face hehe!) A
And thanks to BIG G for getting me riding and for your faith in me. Biking is terrrific and I'm hooked. You always said you knew I could be one of the boys and you were right. I love you Big Boy.
It helps me understand now the discipline our group always does before a Sunday ride. The leader is appointed we take turns. Everyone must have one small H20 in their jacket, tire inflation aerosol, copies of registration papers, helmets of course, cellphone, ride plan, I mean we know where will stop for drinks lunch gas etc.
We always meet at a McDo's or a Starbucks and all riders are expected to eat right before we leave and show up with full gas tanks.
Alcohol only at the end of the ride..........................he likes his Jack, hard work to keep him straight but what to do.
Our designated ride leader will also say a small prayer for our safety before we head out.
.Now I know. If only car drivers would be so organized!
If he gets enough interest Jake will run an Advanced Course for Ladies later this year he said. That has a day on the Batangas Racing Circuit on rented big bikes. Wow, scary. Maybe later.....
Any girls out there want to ride with your man, take such a course I recommend it! lot of fun. Also I feel our relationship has benefited and is stronger.
Thanks all. See you (I wish.....) at the Handle Bar in Makati any Sunday for big steaks and big bikers! He says it's like the old Ace Cafe when he was a teenager on his Bonnieville, but I don't know about that. Not born then anyhow.
www.handlebar.com.ph
We also have the Libis Bike Show this weekend, but mainly Ducatis and BMW's and stuff. Not so interesting like those big Hogs. He doesn't want to go. Says all those plastic fantastics look the same! I agree, boring compared with the variety of HDs.
Best wishes, sorry for the long post. G he will give me a hard time when he sees this. He teaches English occasionally so I will get a printout of this with red lines all over it! Plus lecture about bandwidth.. I have never been to UK, perhaps one day.
Thanks HJ and moderators.
Cathy.
|
