Mentor in Portland, Oregon area?

by Laura
(Portland, Oregon)

Wow, so happy I stumbled upon this site. It is by far the most supportive and informative group I've come upon.

I'm a new rider, having passed the TeamOregon course recently and received my endorsement. I ride a 2009 Sportster 883L. Yep, not the perfect bike for a newbie but I can flat foot it, and I got a great deal on it.

I've found a fantastic parking lot to practice on just 2 miles from my home, and I'm there several days a week, working on drills (still need to master those slow, tight turns). I also do a lot of toodling around on the neighborhood streets, which is great practice for being aware of what's going on around you, because not everyone understands that at an intersection without a stop sign, you should yield to the vehicle on your right.

I'm gaining confidence, and soon I will want to venture out on small excursions, maybe 1-2 hours worth. I wonder if there is anyone in the Portland area who wouldn't mind taking a ride with a newbie periodically to help me build my street confidence? I'm sure that on our precious sunny days here in Portland, spending time with a newbie doesn't sound that attractive, but it would be really helpful to a new rider. The Oregon WOW group is too far away, there is another group called Portland Oregon Women Riders (POWR), but they're more of a Meet-Up and not a real club. I've heard they're understanding with new riders, but I'd really like to build a tad more confidence with one or two riders before I burden an entire group ride with my inexperience.

Yeah, I know. This all sounds REALLY attractive. Kind of like, "Come on over for dinner, and make sure you bring dinner!". But, if there's anyone out there in my area who remembers what it was like in the beginning and wants to pass on the love of the ride, let me know. Thanks!

Laura