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Thursday, September 27 Dear VTwin Mama, I TOTALLY messed up my calf. I was trying to look damn cute and comb my hair in the mirror after I got off the bike and I leaned right up against the hot pipe. You should see my leg -- see what happens when you try to be cute! Vanity will get you nowhere and payback is hell!!!! Well I don't know what to do with this burn. Was thinking I might just cover it with a tattoo lol when it heals, IF it heals, damn it hurts, plus my husband yelled at me for not watching what I was doing. Oh well, that's life with a husband of 23 years. What's a lady to do!!! You have a great website and its fun
reading all!!!!! Smiles to ya. Debbie from San
Francisco I don't recall that I was trying to look in the mirror, but I'm sure I was doing something equally nonsensical and it's just one of those lessons that you learn the hard way. I'll bet you donuts to dollars that more than half of the women reading this column today are going to grimace as they remember there own experience with the big, bad, boiling hot pipes. So don't feel alone -- we share all sorts of the trials and tribulations that a biking woman faces. Welcome aboard! Mama Wednesday, September 26 Fund Raiser Notice The AMA is selling special T-shirts to raise funds for two specific organizations that are helping disaster victims in New York. Go to: http://www.amadirectlink.com/index.asp and click on the September 19th article that tells you all about it. Wednesday, September 26 Rally Notice (Australia) The 15th annual MOONDYNE rally sponsored by WIMA Victoria is coming up this November 24th and 25th in Australia. Here's the website address for more information, maps and stuff: http://www.wima.org.au/vic/. Tuesday, September 25 Dear VTwin Mama, I think you should have told Brandon to take the MSF course and if she failed it to take it as many times as necessary and not give up or let anyone talk her out of riding. Find a road or parking lot with little traffic and practice, practice, practice!!! Bobbye P.S. Also I would love to have a big
motorcycle flag similar to the ones that people hang out on the side of
their houses. I know you are in the know of the motorcycle world and
thought you might know of a company that makes such flags. I want one that
is not brand related, just a generic motorcycle. Your response is much more caring and understanding and I appreciate that you took the time to set me straight. This is how we learn. As for the motorcycle flag question, I found this one:
Readers, do you have any other sources for generic motorcycle flags that hang from the house? Mama Monday, September 24 Hi VTwin Mama, I looked up where they were from and it is very very close to Manhattan so I know their lives were affected and they were just looking to get away. I didn't ask any questions, I think a lot of folks will never forget, they just need to find some quiet places to heal from all this sudden shock and trauma. I hope we can provide that whenever we meet up with these folks, that need help~ reassurance that our lives have changed, yes, but there is still good old America out there with us all standing shoulder to shoulder, to provide, protect and honor. (Note later that day) I just had those two ladies (Tina and Sharon) in for coffee, they brought up the events that have changed all our lives~ the two of them are policewomen and also Blue Knights. First they were manning boats to get people across the river~ then they were there lugging buckets, and watched in horror as people wandered into the site picking up "souvenirs" (and got arrested, YEAH!) it was then made into tight security, it is hallowed ground, not a tourist attraction with only police, firemen and other secure authorities who prove their identity getting in. Our conversation was very moving and my mom and I both wept. We will all go on, like these ladies, never forget, but learn to live again~ just differently, more securely and with a ear to the rail Now that we are going to war, those quiet
places will be harder to find, all the more reason for us to help on the
homefront, to clothe and feed, to look out for anyone who needs
anything. Our humanity is our only hope. Ride safe, ride strong.
Jes Friday, September 21 Hi VTwin Mama, Just email Dave at av8rdave@earthlink.net and he'll give you more info. Thanks Alana for bringing this to our attention. I think that anyone who listened to the President's speech last night will agree that both eagles reflect everyone's feelings. Mama
Thursday, September 20 Dear VTwin Mama, In all that everyone does, may God Bless us all in this
terrible time, and may we keep on giving to all in the rest of our
lifetimes. Vicki Webb, aka Webbhead Our President is speaking tonight and I hope that everyone takes the time to hear his message. I know that I may have to make tough economic choices to stretch my money in the coming months. The ranks of the unemployed is going to grow horribly and it is scaring me. Meanwhile, it's chin up, brave smile, watch over yourselves and your families and we'll make it through this. Mama Wednesday, September 19 Dear VTwin Mama, Tuesday, September 18 Think wrongly if
you please, but in all cases think for yourself. Monday, September 17 If you can't be a good
example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning. Friday, September 14 Dear VTwin Mama, When riding in our HOG group on day, I watched one
experienced female rider ahead of me on a very steep hill. That's it!!! I
realized after she stopped, she put her right foot back up on the brake.
She held her bike in place with the foot brake, which freed up the hand
brake, so all she had to do was give it gas and ease off the foot brake at
the same time. It took some practice, but now when my husband tries to
help me, I smile and say, it's o.k., I'm fine. (By watching experienced
female riders, I realized what I was looking for). Your website is cool,
keep up the good work. Teresa You've shown us another method for handling the stops at the top of a hill, any hill, which women riders can try for themselves. I think the main emphasis should be that every women rider needs to practice and coordinate steep hill stops on level ground first, gradually moving to inclines and trying out their new techniques to see if they "hold water." Consistency is the key here -- if you have a plan in mind exactly how you will stop and get going again, you can eliminate (for the most part) the worry (as Teresa is now demonstrating to her husband!). It's just like deciding what to do when a semi truck is approaching on a two lane highway -- most of us move to the far right of our lane and brace for the wind shock if it happens and possible flying dust, pebbles or other debris. This is just common sense to know the obstacles and challenges and meet them head on with a strong, consistent plan. So here's to Teresa's hubby who stuck by her while she found her wings on steeper inclines, to the woman she happened across who visually showed her what worked, and to Teresa for having the smarts to practice, practice, practice and prevail! Mama Thursday, September 13 Dear VTwin Mama, Wednesday, September 12 A day following national tragedy Dear Readers, A day after a national tragedy is
always so difficult I think. You wake up, and for just a moment you dont
remember the horrific events of the day before, but then it comes slamming
into your brain. It feels, and is, so personal on so many levels. It
forces you to get
back to the roots and essence of life and things. I visited and talked with my Mama
often yesterday and will do so again today. She is reliving the horrors of
the devastation of Hamburg during WWII. Papa is stuck in San Francisco
with virtually no way out, and while it is not especially
frightening, I would just prefer that he were here. And so today Im going to make sure
to take five minutes during the busiest, most hectic time of my day and go
into my garden and bow my head in silence for those who lost so much
yesterday and to remind myself of what is important. The other thing a tragedy like this
brings out is memories of all those riding buddies Ive
lost over the years and can still feel their ghostly presence riding next to me
some times. You are missed. Wednesday, September 12 Dear VTwin Mama and Leslie: My husband (who has been very supportive) tried to get me on a Honda Shadow 1200? (the bigger Shadow), but it felt top heavy and I was not comfortable with that. I love the Sportster and will keep it for a year or two, then maybe move up to a Dyna Wide Glide. Practice is the best medicine for the jitters. Like you, I was nervous
at stops on hills and some turns, but keep working on getting the kinks
out. I have the confidence now to ride the 26 mile round trip to work, and
my riding ability has greatly improved. Keep up the good work.
VTwin Sister, Mandy Tuesday, September 11 Dear Mamma: Monday, September 10 Hello again VTwin Mama! Had an unusual experience at a gas station. A woman
proceeded from a van, which was filling gas, and thanked us for riding up
on our motorcycles. She told me her little daughter was amazed to see a
lady driving a motorcycle and thought they only rode on the back. The
mother said this was a life changing experience for her daughter because
now she knows girls can drive motorcycles! That was pretty cool to
see that a woman rider may have made a difference in someone's life.
Thanks for a super cool newsletter! Deb Dear VTwin Mama, But quite frankly, if your skills are that rusty, I'd be more worried about knowing where the front and rear brakes are than anything else! Go dig out the owner's manual to review where all the crucial controls are. Practice far, far away from anything you could run over or in to, dress like you might fall and then go for it! You might want to consider taking private instruction to relearn the mechanics or riding and then a motorcycle safety course -- that's about riding safely at all times and learning how to handle yourself and the bike in a wide variety of situations. Gosh Brandon, I hope this was the type of info you were looking for. Don't hesitate to write in again with more info on what your situation is because we certainly are here to help. Consider checking out the Women on Wheels organization for the name of a woman rider in your area who is willing to give moral support. Mama Thursday, September 6 Dear VTwin Mama, Sidenote: My husband is so supportive, when I got home with the news, I got lots of hugs, kisses, and tears from him. Thanks a "bizillion" for having such a great website where female motorcyclist can share their lows, highs, and everything in between. So when and where is the VTwin Mama rally? Be safe
TuG A VTwin Mama Rally? Hmmmm. . . well, let's keep that one in mind and some day our efforts may grow to a crescendo and we'll have enough for . . . a really big BBQ! Let's dream really big and envision a worldwide event where women post their journey to the "rally" via the Internet . . . it's just so juicy to think about. But we're worth it. Mama Dear VTwin Mama, I wanted to stress the importance of choosing that first bike. Like many ladies, I relied on the advice of my brother and a male friend, both of whom had ridden for 20 years so I figured they'd know best what a novice would need. Right? Male friends, brothers, spouses, etc. don't face the same challenges that we novice women do - inseam length, upper body strength, experience are factors which, if lacking for a woman rider, can end her up on a bike which isn't right. Case in point: on their advice, I purchase a 1982 Honda CB450T Hawk in mint condition - "the perfect bike for me" they both chorused. After 24 hours of training, a successful license test, I hop on the Hawk and drop it over on my drive way. Beginner's bad luck, right? Ha! I put 100 kms (I'm in Canada so that's about 60 miles) in the Hawk praying that I don't drop the bike at every stop. Long story short, the bike was too tall (even after lowering it), too top heavy and was generally too much of a bike for a novice. I traded it in for a new Honda 250 Rebel (cruiser-style) and sit
comfortably with feet flat on the ground at stops. I'm still clumsy in my
movements, but at least I've got the confidence that I can keep the bike
upright and lift it myself if I do drop it. If you're into a motorcycle
that makes you REALLY nervous, consider stepping back into a smaller bike
for a season to gain skill and confidence, then move up. Thanks for the
great site .... Leslie Tuesday, September 4 Dear VTwin Mama, If we messed up, we practiced the technique again. If we
were having specific problems, he would hold you out for a little of your
lunch break and work with you one-on-one. But I have heard there are some
instructors that are like Marine drill sergeants in their teaching
techniques which can be extremely intimidating to potential new riders. My
advice would be to check in your local yellow pages to see if someone
teaches riding privately and then try the course again. I noticed that TuG
was from Georgia, as I am, and I would be happy to share my experiences
and information with her. Mama, you can share my e-mail address with her
if you wish. Thanks. Sharon If others are looking for sympathetic women in their area to help get started, solve a riding issue or learn more about riding, visit the Women on Wheels organization. They have a listing of women by state and city that are willing to help. Mama |
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