Newbies

Wow first weekend down.  You have to realize, a normal first weekend is wet, cold and dark, your lucky if it does not snow.  I was asked to cover the first weekend for a fellow instructor that had a death in the family...  what can you say, I decided to help even though I'm doing something every other weekend in May, this was suppose to be my one together with the family.

We (we always teach in pairs) got out there bright and early 7am on the saturday and were faced with 10 students, only 2 of which had ridden before but all had bikes at home already (or on order to pick up on the Monday following the course).  My worse fear was coming true, a bunch that wanted to ride so bad over the winter they could taste it...

It started off slow as it always seems to with the new riders.  balance issues, clutch issues, shifting issues, we can go on and on.  but by the end of the first day it was all coming together for them.  Only a few dropped motorcycle while waiting in line... note to self 'remind students that the motorcycles still need to be held up while they wait for thier turn behind someone'.

By the end of the second day we thought most were ready for the evaluation, we though some might not make it but we would give them all a chance.  9/9 passed....  (Oh I know what your thinking, I said 10 before...  well we lost one at lunch on the first day, never came back.  I don't think they realized how physical riding is, they passed out, and we heard later mild heart attack, not at the site with us but over lunch, last I heard they were doing well, resting and waiting to go home).

And then there was the weather...  wait for it....  18~20 c with sun on Saturday, and clouds on Sunday...  you could not ask for better weather.  Now lets hope for more of the same this weekend and maybe...  a couple more intermediate students.

only 11 days till PD13!

later
Paws