Sunshine, Motorcycles, & Sculptures ??Spring is here??!

    Weekend 3 morning class grads.

Motorcycle season teaching season is well underway, we have had 3 weekend courses so far this year and I have taught two and a refresher session as well.  It feels like winter is finally starting to retreat and spring is starting to take hold.  Mother Nature has been more than  a little confused as of late, she has been throwing rapidly cycling weather changes at us.  The old saying about Victoria is "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it'll be different."  It is true! 

My poor students were experiencing torrential rain, freezing cold winds and frosty parkinglot conditions, all of this makes for a very challenging learn to ride experience, particularly if they haven't figured out layering and waterproofing. This weekend was no exception with frenetic weather. Saturday it was so cold I had multiple layers on, and at one point I looked like a Gangster Smurf with my blue hoody pulled up over my ballcap to keep the wind at bay. I will say that motorcycle instructors are an intrepid breed, we are out on the lot teaching when most would be snuggled up in their cozy homes sipping coffee on an early Saturday or Sunday morning and not traipsing around the lot hollering "Head and eyes up, look where you want to go." The next day it completely different, it was warm  and brilliantly sunny, and I was trying to figure out what that yellow blob was in the sky.  At one point I was standing there basking in the sun's warmth. I know this is going to sound weird, but I actually kind of like when the weather is being difficult, because it helps students understand what they are facing in the real world of riding, and it is not all sunny zen-like days of twisty nirvana. 

At the end there were 9 smiling new riders who all passed their MST on the first try, they're now onto further adventures with traffic classes and road tests.  I'm pretty happy, I feel the same joy at teaching as when I've been out on a great ride, it's a kick seeing them go from wobbly tentative riders to riders gaining confidence and competence. To  reward myself I took the long way home and enjoyed the sights and smells and being in the moment.

     Beach Art Sculptures at Esquimalt Lagoon

I  buzzed by the beach, it was the perfect day to stop and soak up the sun. I've been missing the feel of the sun on my face for about 7 months, it has been grey and dark since October.  There is a magical thing happening at the beach at Esquimalt Lagoon, a beach art sculptor Paul Lewis has been creating these beautiful artworks of local and migratory birds. Esquimalt Lagoon is a bird sanctuary and is teeming with birds; seagulls, herons, trumpeter swans, and Canadian geese as well as sightings of resident eagles.  To understand the scale of most of these beautiful sculptures they are almost as big as my bike. 

Every couple of days a new sculpture seems to pop up, there is one in progress with another nest being built.  I will have to run back there during the weekend to see what it is. 

I was particularly enchanted with the crow, in her nest guarding her cache of eggs.

           Canada Goose

I loved the rendering of the Canadian Geese, their eyes where sparkling in the sun and it was so life-like. Did you know that Canadian Geese are monogamous and mate for life?  Apparently in the bird world they are stick to it kind of birds and if a mate passes they sometimes do find another mate.

It was  such a bonny sunny clear day, you could see the Olympics in the distance when looking out over the Straight of Juan de Fuca towards Port Angeles.  I am hoping the season has changed and that we will continue with this beautiful sunny weather, I had almost forgotten what the sun looked like.

 

Pop back in a few more days there are more sculptures to see!

It's that time of year!

Winter is starting to reluctantly lose it's grip on the Island, but just when you think it's over -  BLAM it gets cold and rainy and a little snow and frost thrown in for good measure. This is the time of year on the Island when people start pulling their moto beasties out of winter hibernation from their moto lairs.

I have already taught one full Novice class and am just finishing up a second. This group is all my girlfriends who ride, and belong to my riding group the Moto Mama's.  My BF instructor friend Debra and I proposed to our riding school a 4 hour skill refresher course to shake out the winter cobwebs from the bikes and riders skills.  The skill levels of riders varied from very new to long term riders.

All of this was done on the Moto Mama's own bikes, which is a wonderful way to build skill on your own ride.  We had everything there from Honda CBR 250's, Honda CB500x, Vintage Yamaha 750, Triumph 900, BMW650, BMW 310, Suzuki TU250, Suzuki Gladius and a fully dressed Harley Davidson.

Getting ready to launch into an exercise which entails riding a figure 8 within a circle.  This involves good clutch/throttle control and killer sightlines.  I love doing this particular exercise and I got a chance to put the Duchess through her paces demoing the exercises, I could do this particular exercise all day long. 

                                                              The Moto Mama's

There is a mother/daughter duo in the Moto Mama's, I loved watching the interaction and how proud mom was of her girl!  I love the diversity of the bikes the Moto Mama's ride and it's so funny how each bike suits the rider so well.

                                                        Fierce women kicking cone butt!

We started right at the beginning working on rusty friction zone skills practicing slow speed slaloms, the dreaded U-turn, 90 degree turns and a weave. I always find the skills that suffer the most with most new and returning riders are the slow speed handling skills and sightlines. Some of the ladies even commented on this themselves.  The U-turn box in particular elicited a lot of groans and "Oh no way can I do that", but with a little coaching they were all whipping off U-turns like butter on a hot griddle - they were SIZZLING!

Then it was onto  brisk starts progressing through smooth up and downshifting. We worked on solid stops with good braking techniques.  Just as in our novice classes we used a building block approach layering one skill on top another. 

                                                       Look, Lean, and Believe!

After we honed those skills we worked on counter steering, getting a little speed and lean on. This is were the fun begins, everyone loves doing this particular exercise. This prompted big smiles and usually cries of "More!"      

As an instructor watching the gals put their bikes through their paces and working on skills, I could see the confidence creeping in and skills smoothing out, and that's a good feeling! I am so proud of these women, they are fierce! We had an excellent day, everyone was so happy and feeling ready to ride. 

 

Wondering what to practice to blow out the moto cobwebs? I suggest working on slow speed skills, go practice some figure 8's, U-turns, slaloms, brisk starts and quick stops, getting used to the weight of your bike and waiting for that old muscle memory to kick back in.  If you really want to go to town hook up with your local riding school for an experienced riders course or skill refresher. 

 

                                       Have fun and keep the shiny side up!

 

I'm putting the Duchess through her paces early in the riding season.  I love working on slow speed skills, for me it is not about going fast, I love the precision of slow speed riding. 

2011 A Momentous year for Princess Scooterpie

2011 has been a momentous year for me.  In January of this year I made a fateful decision to start riding a scooter without formal motorcycle training - which turned out to be a bad decision.  I had a rather tumultuous start to my scooter journey with a crash on the test drive. (Believe it or not I actually got up off the pavement and finished the test ride) My biggest mistake was getting on the scooter without professional training and not telling my hub, who I affectionally call Motorcycle Man, that I had wiped out. I was pretending to myself that everything was 'fine',  but in reality I wasn't fine.  I have to say in my defense and shock filled state of mind, I was worried that Motorcycle Man wouldn't let me buy a scooter as a result.  It seemed logical at the time.

I called Motorcycle Man at work 6 hours later to come and take me to the ER or clinic because I had hurt myself and was in shock and much to Motorcycle Daughter's utter fear I almost passed out on her several times and she was not very happy with me at all. It is amazing what happens to you several hours after an accident when the adrenalin finally dumps out of your system, you start shutting down from the shock which was worse because I ignored the symptoms. After being checked out and having one hell of a bruise on my thigh, needing some serious pain killers and help just being mobile, I survived. My entire right leg was purple from the crest my hip to down below my knee on the front and back. Luckily I hadn't broken anything, but it hurts like hell when you hit pavement.  I could hardly walk and my leg is still suffering the ill effects of my first encounter of the scooter kind, some 11 months ago.   I still don't know how I managed to talk Motorcycle Man into purchasing my beautiful sapphire blue 50cc Vino scoot two days later.  I was in a rush to get out on the road on my scooter and can't help but think if I had done this properly with professional training I wouldn't have dumped the scooter in the first place.  Hindsight is as they say 20/20.  So if you are a little myopic, I will lend you my 20/20 hindsight vision and say "GO GET TRAINING"

After my initial rough beginnings I took to the scooter like a duck takes to water.  I was in love with everything two wheeled.  I thought I would be content with the 50cc's, but after a few scooter adventures out into the country side I knew I needed something bigger, my little scoot is great for in city commuting, but did not allow me to venture onto higher speed roads, which in hindsight is a good thing due to my lack of formal training. After several months of riding I wrote the motorcycle learner's license test and passed.  That was September 1st, and it was the day my 2 wheeled life changed, I was elated.  I can tell you from firsthand experience that there is a steep learning curve with scootering and motorcycling.  Not being prepared for the 3,000 pounds of rolling car death coming your way is a big mistake, they win, you lose and this reality is what made me decide to get professionally trained.

As a fledgling motorcyclist I needed skills that would help me survive in the chaos of traffic and give me the street smarts to know what to do and act reflexively in traffic situations.  One bad decision or misjudgement can cost you dearly and for that reason I signed up for a Novice motorcycle course and  Traffic Safety course.   I chose to do my training with Vancouver Island Safety Council (VISC).  It has been the smartest thing I have done since getting on 2 wheels.  

On Tuesday, October 18th, I took my ICBC road test and passed.  I have had my license for a month!  I have also learned that you have to recognize your skill level and ride within it. Over time and experience your skill set grows along with your confidence with continued training.  Every time I encounter a situation in traffic I think about it and always wonder "Is there anything I could have done differently or better?"  When you stop asking yourself that question it is time to hang up the bike keys, there is always room for improvement and learning.

I am committed to continuing the motorcycle learning process and today I attended a Winter/Wet Weather workshop put on by instructors of VISC.  It was an informal workshop, but we covered everything from cold/wet weather gear to driving techniques.  It was very informative and helped me think of my riding in these conditions differently and always keep safety first and foremost.  We ended our workshop with a group ride and it was a cold and a brilliantly sunny winter day with the temp about 5 to 6 degrees celsius, it was cold, but amazing.  I can't tell you how happy I am that I went with VISC, the instructors are professional and their commitment to teaching students safe motorcycling is their first priority.  They answered the call of VISC alumni for this type of workshop and encourage us to continue  learning and upgrading our skills. 

The courses are comprehensive and give you the skills to be a proficient well trained motorcyclist.

See the frost, it was that cold this morning!

VISC Alumni after the classroom session, it was group ride time!

I am in the pink Helmet and my fellow motorcyclist Debra

If you are contemplating becoming a motorcyclist or scooterist, please value yourself enough to take professional training, it may just save your life or someone else's because 'you' won't put their lives at risk because of a bad driving decision you have made.  If you have been riding for a long time, it might be time to consider brushing up your skills by taking an Experienced Rider's course, it is never too late to polish up or learn new skills!  

For information on courses offered by  Vancouver Island Safety Council visit their website www.visafetycouncil.com, email: visc@islandnet.com  telephone:  250-478-9583

2011 Rider's For Safety - A Call for Concrete Barriers on TCH/MALAHAT

Malahat Fire Chief Robert Patterson with Riding Community Members during the moment of silence to commemorate ALL persons who have died on the TCH/Malahat.

Saturday, November 5th, 2011, Motorcyclists from across Victoria's Capital Region gathered at Ogden Point for the 2011 Rider's For Safety event.  Approximately 300 riders came together to ride to the Victoria Legislature to hold a remembrance vigil, one week to the day and hour of the latest crash on the TCH/Malahat.  Last Saturday a motorcyclist was killed at 3:45pm near the Shawnigan Lake Turn-off.   If concrete dividers had been in place it may have changed the outcome of the accident for the motorcyclist.  The purpose of the Rider's For Safety event is to raise road safety awareness on the TCH/Malahat and to commemorate ALL lives lost on this road; motorcyclist and vehicle driver.  This continues to be the RFS focus and will be until BC Government Officials choose to install concrete dividers and enhance safety on the highway. 

Vancouver Island is home to Trans Canada Number 1 Malahat Highway.  This is a gorgeous drive/ride, but also deadly when people become inattentive at the wheel engaging in things as mundane as, taking a sip of coffee, texting or using their cell phones, ipods, GPS units and other gadgets that are now routinely found in cars.  These devices are distractions to driver's and it is that fraction of a second that can and does change lives irrevocably, shattering the lives of other drivers and all too often motorcyclists.   Texting and handheld cellphone and device use is illegal in the Province of BC. Other accident factors such as speeding and driving while under the influence have played a factor in crashes in the past on the Malahat. 

Motorcyclists and scooterists are the most vulnerable of all highway users and more often than not when they are involved in a collision with a car the motorcyclist/scooterist is the clear loser in these accidents.  People who were otherwise productive citizens are no longer capable of reaching their potential due to debilitating traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and drastic decline in their pre-accident health status.  Some are lucky and are able to return to their pre-accident status as functioning individuals and others who are less fortunate require extensive rehab or care 24/7/365 for the rest of their lives.  These events alter the lives of everyone concerned; the victim, their families and the driver responsible for the accident.

The Trans Canada Malahat requires concrete barriers to be installed from Goldstream to Mill Bay.  The purpose of the concrete barriers is to keep cars in their lanes and stop them from crossing the centre line. Unfortunately this happens several times a year on the Malahat, often with deadly consequences or lives so shattered that human potential has been damaged beyond repair.  Malahat Fire Dept Chief Robert Patterson is a strong advocate for concrete barriers on the Malahat.  He and his fire fighters are the ones who are called away from their homes as first responders.  They are the ones who scrape people off the pavement, they are the ones who hold the hand of someone who is dying and they are the ones who live with the memory of what they have witnessed.  They are the ones who know that a concrete divider will make a difference in accident outcomes on the Malahat.  Just this one single act of installing concrete dividers will change the scope of accidents on the Malahat.  There still will be crashes, but at least drivers will not be crossing the centre line into on-coming traffic.  The cost of a barrier would be minimal compared to the human cost in tragedy and what the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia would pay out for medical expenses, i.e. rehab, disability and claim settlement.  Honestly why do we continue to let the carnage happen?  How many more people have to die?  We deserve to have safe highways, our fire fighters, paramedics and police officers deserve better, they should not have to witness the carnage knowing that it could have been different, because of the installation of a concrete median.  

I call on everyone in the driving community to do their part, drivers put down the cell phone, stop texting, stop diverting your attention from the road, keep both hands on the wheel.  Engage in road safety habits, don't speed, stop being an aggressive driver.  Motorcyclists/scooterists take motorcycle training courses, you will be a better and safer rider. Promise yourself you will be a better driver every time you get behind the wheel or on your bike and if you can't - don't drive.

The human price paid from motor vehicle accidents is just too high for this to continue and it is up to us to let politicians know we demand a safer Malahat highway.

I urge you to write a letter (not email) to the 

Provincial Minister of Transportation & Highways:  Honourable Blair Lekstrom, 

PO Box 9055 STN 
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, 

VICTORIA, BC, V9W 9E2

**PLEASE SEND A COPY OF YOUR LETTER TO YOUR       MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (MLA). 

To find your MLA visit www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-7.htm

Vancouver Island Safety Council Motorcycle Safety Instructors 

Rider Kristy Falconer leading Chief Robert Patterson into Ogden Point 

Estimated 300 Riders from the Vancouver Island Motorcycling Community

Motorcyclists parked their bikes along the driveway of the Provincial Legislature -
*At the time this picture was taken all riders had not arrived, they continued to stretch the entire length of the driveway right to where you see the white bus parked curb side.  It was an awe inspiring sight to behold.
The ride was completed without incident and ALL riders followed road laws.

Many riders including myself wore Caution signs on the back
of our riding gear to show who we NEED to come home to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19NyvhrffcY

www.youtube.com
Wayne Williams shot this video of our event it shows how big the event was, note that as he walks with his camera he shows the motorcyclists coming up the driveway, they a wrapped around the side street still waiting to enter.  300!

VISC Traffic Safety course October 15 & 16th, 2011

Good ole #20 a 250 Honda Rebel - this was my course bike, I was too short for the other ones :(

This weekend was beyond words in description.  I was a student in the Vancouver Island Safety Council Traffic Safety course.  I found the course very comprehensive and it added to my knowledge  base and skill set that I learned in the Novice course.  

When I first started out my two wheel adventures 10 months ago, I never dreamed I would be riding a motorcycle.  In looking back on my journey, there are some things I definitely would have done differently.  I know they say hindsight is 20/20. I guess I was destined to do it, at first the hard way and lastly a better way.  I am pretty one track minded at times, when I set my mind on something I do it and that resulted in me having a scooter wipe-out when I was starting out.  What I would have done differently would have been to take the Novice Motorcycle course and Traffic Safety course before I even touched the scooter.  In fact I think our laws in BC need to change with respect to 50cc scooters, I think that it should be mandatory that people take a basic road course that teaches them how to stay safe and be a competent scooter rider.  I look back and realize I was doing some things incorrectly. But in the end I have come full circle and have graduated to a BC class 6 motorcycle license.

I have taken the training wheels off so to speak, but I will always be a life-long learner with regards to the motorcycle.  I feel that there are three important things in regards to motorcycling 1)  Motorcycle Training with an accredited company 2) Safety  3) All The Gear All The Time - ATGATT.  If you live in Victoria, I highly recommend the Vancouver Island Safety Council Motorcycle training courses, you come out of these a well trained competent rider.  www.visafetycouncil.com.

Instructor Jim and my classmates

We are having a road side conference about our ride so far.

Some folks we met along the way.....

Another pumpkin head......

This beauty was hanging in the Roadside Cafe where we had lunch (I think I would rather ride it than look at it)

Final part of our day.

This is the fun part after we have 'graduated' we get to try all the different bikes - my classmate fell in love with the
250 Ninja, I have a feeling it is going to be her next bike.