First Ride of the Year

by Jeanne
(Oswego, IL)

My bike came out of storage this weekend so I decided I should go for a ride. I went to the little school by my house and practiced in the parking lot. I seem to have a little trouble turning into traffic from a stop, so I thought practice would help. After practicing a bit my husband I and decide to go to a town about 20 miles away (Sandwich) to see some friends. While turning off of the side street onto the main road, for some reason I panicked! I cranked on the throttle and could not make myself hit the clutch. I sped across the road, hit a curb, which flung my butt up in the air and adding more throttle! Then over one of those berms that are around neighborhoods, right into someones back yard. All this and I never fell off! I just turned the bike headed back over the berm, onto the sidewalk, then back to the road. When I came over the berm, I saw a few cars stopped and were looking concerned. I waved to them and went home! One of the cars chased down my husband, who pulled out before me and missed the whole scene and told them they thought I needed help! How embarrassing! I went home, put on tougher boots since I had squashed my toe and got right back on and rode to Sandwich! I almost had the same thing happen a little later, but I kept my cool, stopped and started over. I don't have problems going straight from a stop, but turning (especially right) I always pop the clutch and the bike starts jerking all around, causing panic which leads to mayhem!

I need to practice, practice, practice, but I will get the hang of this!