New riders

New riders

by Kim Bourbonnais
(Sycamore, IL)

I just purchased my first bike and extremely excited. However, I am a novice as a rider and trying to learn. The safety classes have not been too helpful since all the instructors are men, the class is full of men and men do not understand that women have a different learning style. I am frustrated and just want to learn to ride, safely.

Comments for
New riders

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Aug 25, 2008

Keep your head up
by: Jessica

I'm also a new rider. I picked up my first bike a few weeks ago. I haven't had much time to ride, but my husband and I play "hookey" from work and ride when it's nice. He's been taking me to the local school parking lot for practice, especially my turns and figure 8's. There are a lot of groups around, one that was advertised in my licensing class was WOW, Women on Wheels. I'm sure they're online, as well. Another idea is to check out your local dealerships. They usually have community boards up where charity rides and groups are listed.

Personally, there's a few ladies that I know that either already ride, or plan on riding soon. Once everyone is outfitted and comfortable, we're starting our own ladies group. Good luck and ride safe.

Jul 05, 2008

Resource for new riders
by: Kirsten

Kim - congratulations on your new bike! I'm new rider too and looked around for ways to get more experience with a group who was patient with women first-time riders. I found www.meetup.com and it's got like 4-5 active groups that welcome new riders. They are well organized rides, with caring people and lots of opportunities for rides at my level. I'm in the Phoenix-Metro area, you can check out our area clubs as examples.It's too hot in AZ to ride right now, so I'm cage-bound till Sept...just the opposite of my cold-weather sisters!

Keep the shiny side up!

Jul 05, 2008

New rider
by: Joan

Hi Kim:

I'm single and I just purchased my first bike. We have an excellent outfit in my area (west central Florida) - Ride Like a Pro. It is run by husband and wife teams. If you "google" ride like a pro, it will take you to their website. They have other schools around the country too and instrucitonal videos for sale. I took the Beginner Rider Course sanctioned by the Motor Cycle Safety Foundation (MSF) - make sure you attend a school/class sanctioned by MSF. After my class, I bought a bike and then arranged a one-on-one lesson with one of the instructors from the class I took to help me get used to the feel of my new bike. I plan on scheduling another one-on-one after I have some more miles under me and then I'll take their Experienced Rider Course. If you email Marianne Hamilton at Ride Like a Pro (hmton@aol.com) she may be able to help you depending on what part of the country you're in. Best of luck and you go girl!

Jun 25, 2008

Thanks
by: Anonymous

I have been looking for female rider groups...none in my area, YET. After I get a little better at riding my goal is to try and get a group of new female riders together so we can support one another and also practice together and not feel the pressure from the men.

Jun 24, 2008

new rider
by: gina

Hi Kim I just bought my bike last month, so I feel you sister. I think we all should try to build a support system. I would go by your local dealer see if they have a ladies rider seminar you can join. There is one in my area (portland or)next month so maybe they will have the same type of thing then you can join meet other ladies riders. Also another idea is to go to events, I just ran into one at the dealer, when I was dropping my bike at the shop this last sunday met alot people talked to other riders. I would do a search in your area just go an meet other riders. Good Luck. Keep in touch. If you like to email me as new rider then drop me a line gwizzgina@hotmail.com

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