Fast forward … as a birthday present a friend gave me a book: The Total Motorcycling Manual; 291 Essential Skills. I’ve mentioned this friend before (CEO and chief instructor for the Canadian Motorcycle Safety Council) and I know I didn’t get that title correct so I’m not even going to attempt the other credentials he has … let’s just say he knows his shit about riding so I read the book.
I loved the organization of the book, it is colour
coordinated, I’ve spent my life getting organized by colour (red is gear, blue
is riding, and orange is repair) and it is easily read by numbers (it starts at
1 and ends with tip 291.) It’s a serious book for motorcyclists but an easy
read interjected with some off side humour. There were a lot of sections that just
screamed ‘common sense’ folks, some that said … ‘that’s why I carry a CAA card’
and then others that made me think ...
Fast forward again to tip #82 (Become a better rider in 12 steps.) Okay, so they cheated and
squeezed 12 tips into one: #1 PAY ATTENTION (common sense) #2 RIDE A DIRT BIKE: ”Nothing teaches you about
traction and body positioning like a dirt bike. You’ll also learn what to do
when you encounter water or sand on paved roads.” (Really, have you been paying
attention?) ... and the list goes on, but I stopped at #2. If you know me, you know I hate dirt...
Fast forward again to tip #82 (Become a better rider in 12 steps.) Okay, so they cheated and
squeezed 12 tips into one: #1 PAY ATTENTION (common sense) #2 RIDE A DIRT BIKE: ”Nothing teaches you about
traction and body positioning like a dirt bike. You’ll also learn what to do
when you encounter water or sand on paved roads.” (Really, have you been paying
attention?) ... and the list goes on, but I stopped at #2. If you know me, you know I hate dirt...
...and if you really have been paying attention you may have made the
connection between where I started and where I’m headed.
Tomorrow, I'm off on another adventure.
Woot a starin the mud! Gave fun in the dirt! PS puddles are fun!
ReplyDeleteDar, there are apt to be puddles since it has rained every day for about the last week.
DeleteMy fave part was swooshing through monster puddle! Wear black socks, because you'll never get the white ones clean ever again.
DeleteCool! I can't wait to hear about this!
ReplyDeleteRichard, I can wait - I hate dirt but it's time to learn something new, time to conquer the fear!
DeleteHow does that go, without pictures it never happened. ;-)
DeletePlaying in the dirt is fun. Add some water/rain and it gets better. But, in my experience dirt leaves marks and I always lost a little blood. Good thing skin is cheap.....it grows back!
ReplyDeleteI'm going try to have a little fun but I'll be trying harder to keep my skin on and my blood inside I think.
DeleteI play in the dirt with bikes that weren't made for it, e.g. my Vespa, ok that was by accident, but it really helped getting better on the road as well. Enjoy getting dirrrty.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sonja.
Deleteuh oh. you'll be hooked like me and have to add a dual sport to go along with the VStar!
ReplyDeleteNot sure about a dual sport - hard to find one that I wouldn't need a step ladder to get on ...
DeleteI wonder why there are exactly 291 essential skills?
ReplyDeleteGood question!
Delete