Motorcycle, motorcycle...

[spacebug]

It was me and five other mostly-newbie riders, and it was Girls Only. Yay! The weather was ever so nice to accomodate us after I kept hearing about scattered thunderstorms that were supposed to happen today. We went up, through a windy highway route, through Isante and Princeton, MN, and probably clocked about 150-200 miles or so in all. Went by lots of farmland and lakes on the way and it was really pretty. I've now ridden at prolonged highway speeds and it went okay and was able to keep up pretty well, though it's still a little bit scary. I can really tell my helmet is too big when the wind picks up, too. I'd like to fix that. I'd also really like a summer riding jacket instead of needing my winter leather... Unfortunately for me, the pit stop of choice for lunch was a steakhouse. I had a perfectly servicable grilled cheese, and then after I ordered it, three of the other girls got the same. Heh. A couple of us stopped at Bob's Java Hut after we got back to the city, where I can now Officially Hang Out, I guess, though I'll still prefer the spyhouse. My hands are pretty tired and I'm really hungry. And my brakes were kind of squeaky on the way home. :(
It was really fun and I'm feeling a lot more confident with the bike now. Yep. I hope I don't have a meeting for the radio drama tonight, as I feel much more in the mood to chill out and watch some sci-fi.

Comments

[jmutate.livejournal.com]

You're already in a bike gang? I remember when you were such an innocent girl.

[spacebug.livejournal.com]

I know! I blame echoegami. And sarendipatree. They were such a bad influence in my formitive years...

Re: Bikes n stuff.

[thaadd.livejournal.com]

Damn, that sounds like fun. Much jealousy. I think the learning curve for driving suggests I get another year under my belt of 4 wheels before I go for 2 wheels. Does that make two of them training wheels?
I think I am ready for a manual though. I have found the nice mindset, where I no longer get mini-stress panics about oncoming traffic, I feel like I can sort the flow well. Hells, Mr. Cabdriver roommate himself complemented me today.

I think if this car craps out, I would aim to get one of the super cheapie Hyundai that worm was ranting about. The Accent. Seems that they have a college grad program, with no down as long as you have a job, get a letter saying that you are going to graduate in 6 months, or have graduated within the last year or so.
Something to think about, anyways.

Re: Bikes n stuff.

[spacebug.livejournal.com]

Actually, just going through the MSF class taught me a lot more about driving and being aware of what's going on and what's around you than Drivers Ed did, in a lot of ways. They don't concentrate on rote memorization of how far away you should park from fire hydrants and crap, they're telling you how to ride and not get squished. But that said, yeah, driving for a while is a *good thing*, and so is being used to how a clutch works. Probably the best practice for a would-be biker, other than a dirtbike or a scooter, would be a lot of practice both riding a bicycle in traffic and driving something with a manual transmission.

I've had friends with Hyundais who've been really happy with them. Driving a stick is much more fun and it's a lot better in the snow, too. I wish I still had the little Honda I had in high school.