MotoVixens

Ride Confident, Hard and in Control

You are here: Home / Archives for Carol Carpenter

Pre-Ride Checklist

By

We are all guilty of it, we are busy and at the first sight of sun, we grab our helmet and go…but if it’s been a month, even a week of not riding your bike you should check your tire pressure and do a quick walk around your bike.  I recently was asked if I knew what tire pressure I was running and when the last time was that I checked, honestly, I think it had been two weeks…my tires should’ve been inflated to 30-32 lbs., but I was told that they came in at 20!  Yeah, I was both surprised and embarrassed.  Considering I spend so much time on my bike and safety is paramount, it was a wake up call that I need to be much more on top of checking them weekly.  Needless to say, every chance I get I wipe down or wash my bike after a long ride and do a quick check of everything in order to have it ready to go for my next trip out.

Whether it is a day or weekend trip just some basic precautions can make your trip go smoothly, a little preparation can make all the difference.  Firstly, check your tire pressures (check tire manufacturer and look for your tire type to get the recommended pressures to run) and look at the tread-wear indicators near the center of the tire, if they are even with the tread surface, it’s time to buy a new set.  Also look for cracks, splits and separation of tire compounds all these things mean it’s time to retire those tires.  Next, look at your wheels, if you have spokes tap them with a wrench and listen for a ting, if it thunks then it could be loose.  If there is a crack in your cast wheels, you are pretty much grounded until you order a replacement.  Take a quick check of the axle nuts and bolts too and if you should need to tighten them a quick look up will give you the torque specs on your specific bike.

Check your oil, your dealership should have shown you where the window is located and where the oil level should be.  Most bikes need to be straight up and down and not leaning on the side stand in order to properly read the level, then look around the engine and on floor for leaks.  If you see bright green drops of coolant under your bike, wipe them clean asap, pets are attracted to the ethylene glycol which is sweet tasting and poisonous, then find the source of the leak.  Also, check your brake and clutch fluid, if it’s been a while since you’ve changed it and it is starting to get an amber hue it is time to flush it out and put in some nice fresh fluid, nothing feels better than the feeling of confidence when you squeeze that lever and it delivers a perfect bite as it brings you to a smooth stop.

Quick look at forks and rear shocks, just run your finger around the forks to see whether or not the seals are leaking and use a flashlight to check the shocks for any leaks.  Inspect your chain and if you haven’t cleaned it do so to make sure that there is no rust on it.  Lube the chain and check how much give there is in the chain, if it’s more than over half a tooth’s distance (and the chain adjusters are all the way back) then it may be time to consider a new chain, otherwise you are good to go.

Get on your bike and have someone stand in back and front to make sure your lights aren’t burned out and functioning properly, they are our only means of communication to drivers so they need to be in working order.  Make sure the headlights, turn signals and brake lights work then hit the high beam and horn to make sure everything is working.  Check for any loose nuts and bolts and tighten and then if you are adding accessories like racks and luggage, make sure they are secured and nothing is dangling that could get caught in the rear wheel or sprocket.  Then lastly, but certainly not least, make sure you are gassed up, geared up and ready to go!

Vixens, get out and ride!

Ride for Kids

By

In the spirit of giving back and for those of us who are fortunate enough to have healthy and happy kids, please consider joining us at the Puget Sound Ride for Kids sanctioned by the AMA on Sunday, September 8, 2013 at Remlinger Farms located at 32610 Northeast 32nd Street, Carnation, WA 98014.  Registration opens at 8am and closes at 9:30am, kickstands up at 10AM sharp rain or shine.  Walk up registration is $50 and if you register online it is $40 per bike, for more information  call 800-253-6530 or visit www.rideforkids.org.  For every bike entry you will be entered into the drawing for the Honda Motorcycle and other great prizes.  All participants receive free beverages, a light breakfast and lunch as well as meet the RIde for Kids “stars”, the local children they help.

This ride is to support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization that seeks to find the cause and sure for childhood brain tours by supporting medical research, increase public awareness, aid in early detection and treatment and provide educational and emotional support for children and their families.  Every dollar counts so let’s get out there and raise some money for this event, your employer’s matching gift program may be able to help too so check with your human resources department to find out.  Look forward to seeing you all out there!

Distracted Drivers

By

I’ve spent a lot of time lately on the street thanks to our amazing weather up in the Pacific Northwest and have noticed the increasing number of distracted drivers out there.  As riders, we are constantly scanning our environment for danger, but it is difficult to predict when someone will suddenly maneuver into us or our lane.  I can understand why some individuals are excited to join us in becoming riders, but why they end up giving up the sport completely when they either encounter a near miss or something much more severe.  It is dangerous, purely because every trip down the road is completely new, no two days are the same and we are faced with arming ourselves with the knowledge and skills necessary to allow us to continue doing the thing with love.  I stress over and over that training, constant training is important.  Just like in a job, you are constantly training to keep on top of your game, the same should be true when riding.  We tend to get lazy and just ride, but even a seasoned vet can learn a few new things to help keep his/her mind sharp to have the tools necessary for those “just in case” moments.  Here are a few sobering facts that we should all keep in mind when we get ready to go out for our rides:

For drivers 18-29:

Accessing the internet on a cell phone while driving increased from 29% in 2009 to 48% in 2012

Reading social media while driving increased from 21% in 2009 to 36% in 2012

Updating social networks while driving increased from 20% in 2009 to 30% in 2011

Checking email while driving increased from 32% in 2009 to 43% in 2012

For all age groups:

With smartphones growing in popularity people who report webbing while driving goes down with age

Accessing the internet while on cell phone increased from 13% in 2009 to 21% in 2012

Reading social media while driving increased from 9% in 2009 to 15% in 2012

Updating social networks while driving increased from 9% in 2009 to 13% in 2012

As you can see, the facts are sobering and especially in regards to the younger age group with the combined inexperience of their driving skills.  The interesting outcome of this study was that drivers strongly agreed there should be more stringent laws prohibiting texting and emailing behind the wheel, but 66% believed that those laws are enforced to little or no degree.  The fact is it is up to us to make sure we are safe, no law can protect us from being a casualty, so be aware and ride defensively.  Make your presence known, they can’t avoid you if they can’t see you.  Lane position is key and keep out of blind spots, we have the advantage of speed here, let’s use it to get out of situations and continue to ride for many years to come.

Hope to see you out there!  Vixens Ride!

On Street Riding Course

By

When I first heard of this concept, it intrigued me…not because of the fact that it would be taking students out in real life ever changing conditions, but because it would save lives.  My biggest concern with motorcycling has and will always be safety, the fact it is ridiculously easy to get our endorsement and a free ticket to ride any displacement machine we wish…  It is almost a joke that we learn the basics of motorcycling in a parking lot where we don’t ever cross the threshold speed of 30 mph or ever encounter traffic, cars, pedestrians, animals, and cyclists.  Then we are given our endorsements where we face these real life conditions on a daily basis and may not have the necessary knowledge or tools needed to be able to ride competently.  I’ve ridden like I am invisible to drivers from day one and it has saved me numerous times, but this class was a concept based on how to be seen by drivers, making my presence known, now that caught my attention.  This was something I truly wanted to be a part of and to change riders attitudes on the road and improve their odds of making it home daily to their families safe and sound.

I took this course with two other instructors (Hines Staylen and Tracy Jeffries) and we learned how to communicate our thoughts concisely into words through a push to talk system that would allow us to be heard by the students.  We went through routes practicing various road challenges, how to convey those thoughts, what we would use as a strategy and then explain why we chose to execute that plan.  It was revolutionary in the way the class would be taught and while I played student for part of a day, it made me realize, that this would provide those much needed tools so many riders lacked when putting on their helmet to negotiate the roads daily.  I learned the hard way, lots of seat time and basically through survival (being small you have to demand to be seen), I learned how to make motorists see me and am always hyper aware when riding, these are things that are learned through time, but I was shocked at how much more I learned through this concept.

I am proud to be a part of Chris Johnson’s, owner of WMST, vision in helping to educate riders and save lives.  When we offer this course, it will be through WMST and I will be teaching it with Tracy Jeffries.  We will be offering “Women’s only” courses so please join us in our continuing effort to educate and empower women riders.  I will be posting the schedule for this course later this year or early next year and we urge you to spread the word to other women riders that this class will save their lives.  Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned rider, this class is for every skill level.  As women we have our families and loved ones we want to come home to safely everyday, why not ensure that we have the skills necessary to make this possible?  Ride safe Vixens!!!

 

 

Night Riding

By

I was at the Ridge Motorsports Park last month for the races and made the unfortunate mistake of leaving my iPad locked in the safe when I checked out. I figured it would be gone and would have to replace it, I called Little Creek Casino and they actually had it in their safe lost and found, kudos to their staff. Seeing I was going be back again soon, I asked them to keep it and I would pick it up when I swung through next…which happened to be this last Sunday – Monday. It was late when I checked in and the person with the key had gone home but would return the next day around 8am. I informed them I was going to be at the track and was checking out around 6:30…they said they would have it at front desk for pickup later that evening. Yeah, you know where this is going…long day at track, tired, driving in a daze on way home knowing traffic is going to suck at 5:30 through base and Tacoma…totally spaced and got home before realizing I forgot to stop and pick it up. I called them and told them to hold it and I would be in the next few days. Good reason to ride and it would be a clearing my head type of trip. It’s been a busy month and seeing our industry is seasonal, it seemed the only way I was going to be able to get my iPad back would be to go really early or later after traffic died down. Spur of the moment decision so as not to disrupt the next day I geared up and set out at 7pm on Tuesday night figuring it would be light out late.

What I thought would be an easy drive ended up in me sitting in traffic in the carpool lane through Newcastle and Renton, finally clearing up by the time I hit I-5 South. However, the rest of the way was a breeze and it made up the time spent in traffic. Got to Casino and as promised they had it ready for me to pickup. Fueled, hydrated and ate a protein bar then got back on bike. The drive home was gorgeous, it was clear the weather was going to change in the next few days as clouds littered the sky. I had my smoke visor on and it was OK until about 9pm when things were very dark and sketchy, I rode with great caution knowing cars would have a harder time seeing me and I was lane changing to avoid clusters and stay clear of idiots. Portions of the freeway are lighted and others are not, where it wasn’t was much harder to see through the visor and required a lot more focus. I concentrated more on the bold reflective line of the carpool lane to use as my guide, but never traveling without my clear visor again for night riding. Also, deer was in the back of my mind and at the speeds we were all traveling it occurred to me that I needed to be extra focused. The kicker is that it is also hypnotic to focus on that reflective line and that you need to kind of snap yourself out of it and continue checking your surroundings, lane positioning, etc. It was about 3.25 hours of straight riding and I was pretty beat as I pulled in around 10:15, if you don’t need to do night riding, don’t I did see a lot of crazy out there and used my speed to stay clear of them. However, night riding when you aren’t on some mission is beautiful, just be cautious, that is when animals like to come out and people tend to be driving under a bit of influence. Ride safely Vixens, but just Ride!

On Staff at Optimum Performance Rider Training

By

Hello Vixens! I just got back from the track last night and while exhilarated, was completely beat. I was asked to join OPRT to help out yesterday through a friend of mine, Peter Drott (ironically he sold me my first bike). I was unsure as to how I could be of help, but was excited to jump on the opportunity and a day on the track, who could ask for more? Started out as all track days do bright and early, registration, tech, rider meeting, ride around and off we went! I offered help with registration and had the pleasure of meeting Jared one of the partners of OPRT who got me started on the process, he asked if I would do ride arounds and just observe. If I found someone who might need some help getting around the track after following them for a while, I would tap my tail and have them follow me. Basically I got to make sure no one was out of line and make sure safe passing was being observed by all, got to meet quite a few gals yesterday and got to lead them around the track most of the day, that was the most fun. Optimum Performance Rider Training is a 501c3 non profit organization dedicated to the enhancement of motorcycle skills, safety and awareness. Check out their site http://www.optimum-performance.org/ home for more information and for track days.

I am now on staff and will have the honor of leading riders around the track, so please join me when you can would love to see you gals out there! On a humorous note, I have to share a story…as you know a horn blows to notify riders of which level is about to go out, I obviously was either having trouble counting or hearing, don’t know which but it resulted in same outcome. I ended up riding in the 300 group, which was fine, but I was out for a while when I started getting buzzed by some really fast guys…thinking I was in the 200 group my first thoughts were geez our 200’s are getting f’n fast this afternoon! Pulled into hot pit to get ready to instruct the 100 group only to see the board say 200’s were up next, I asked the staff if the board was correct? It was then I realized that I was out in 300’s, about ready to go out in 200’s and would still have to be up to instruct the 100’s…Maybe skipping my morning coffee was not a good idea! I ended up on the track for almost and hour and was wiped out at the end of it, had me laughing that I couldn’t count the horn blows. Lesson of the story is, you definitely need to be aware and alert and know that one group could not have improved that drastically in 2 sessions. What can I say? Maybe a bit too eager to get out there and just ride, but it is for the love of the sport that I do it and I know that you gals can completely relate. Get out and ride!

Top 3 Issues for Motorcyclists

By

Many of us ride pretty much blissfully unaware that there are those who are continuously fighting for our rights as motorcyclists. I try to keep up with the issues that are being brought up and how they might affect us purely because I love riding and want to know how those decisions will affect me. Some of us are newbies, others more seasoned, but the decisions made on our behalf (whether we play an active role in them or not) will affect not only where, but how you ride. Those bringing up these issues tend to be individuals who are not riders and could care less about our rights. Here are the issues we are presently dealing with:

ABS (antilock braking system)-there is a chance that the federal government will require all streetbikes be equipped with ABS. First there is the issue of cost and then personal choice. Sure ABS is wonderful, my Monster had it and it saved my butt a few times, but learning to ride without ABS is a skill that should be learned (say in case of a malfunction). Advanced rider training and track days are places where riders can get a chance to learn how to safely test the limits on how to safely stop a motorcycle, it is a life skill that will serve you well.

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has made the statement that “Motorcycle crashes create a burden to society, consuming public funds for emergency room costs and insurance premiums.” All I can say is that is absurd! Sure there are tools that are constantly making most of us riders look terrible, but we have the right to share the road with cars and to be able to do so safely. The fact is cars are the biggest culprits, but we couldn’t very well say that could we? Let’s pick on the minority, which ladies happens to be us motorcyclists.

E15 (15% ethanol gasoline) has been approved for use in cars 2001 and newer, light truck and medium duty passenger vans. E15 is not approved for use in your motorcycle, ATV’s, boats, etc. so make sure when you pull up to a pump that you check you aren’t accidentally pumping this gas into your bike, it will void any warranties you have on your bike. Even if there is a pump with various options, don’t pump the gas find somewhere else or a dedicated pump where this gas is not mixed in. It takes 4 gallons of gas to dilute the E15 mixture and most of our tanks do not take that much gas which would mean we could be getting an even higher concentration. So look before you pump!

Those are some of the hot topics being discussed presently and it is our duty to make sure we support the groups who do fight for us and our rights as riders. If you haven’t joined the AMA, consider joining, no just join…they fight relentlessly for our rights and there are many benefits to joining including free towing. I have a link on my site, just click and join, you will feel secure knowing that your right to ride will be taken care of and they will continue to fight vigilantly for our ability to keep doing what we love. Ride on Vixens!

Why I Advocate Track Training

By

I recently bumped into some individuals who became members on my site and asked why I was purely a track related website…I had to correct them that this site was created to inform and be a resource to all types of riders. I only use the track as a training tool and heavily advocate track training purely because outside of MSF courses and even specialized on street courses, there is no where to really up your confidence at real life speeds. MSF courses are fantastic and teach you safety and maneuvering, but at very low speeds and as all riders know it is not realistic when applying it to everyday situations. It is like getting your graduation certificate and then getting that smack on the ass to say, “Good luck!” Scary as hell when confronted with a situation at speed and have to recall the training you received at say 20 mph. Having the confidence to know you can avoid these situations, corner with confidence and educating yourself (as you would in any endeavor) can only be a benefit to you. That is why I post so many track days and track school events, education and hands on learning are the only ways to improve your riding abilities and to gain the confidence you need to apply to your everyday street riding.

I have teamed up with 2 Fast Track school, Ducati Bellevue, OPRT (where I will be one of their new rider instructors) and WMST to continue my quest to educate and empower women riders. I hope that you take the opportunity MotoVixens tries so hard to provide when we bring these special events to you at discounted prices. Every time you sign up, you show the schools and dealerships you are serious about learning and they will continue to give us the opportunity to provide these events for you. Track days and events are not just for racers, many individuals sign up to hone their skills and new riders sign up to gain the confidence they need to street ride competently. I commend those individuals because they take their riding seriously and quite honestly most who try track days get hooked, they get to go way above speed limits and not worry about getting ticketed as well as not worrying about some car coming at you unexpectedly. If you never have tried a track day, join us (look in the event section) and if you have, I won’t have to twist you arm you already know it is a blast. In August I will be receiving my certification for On Street training and will be able to help you ladies in the future through WMST and possibly through private instruction. I will notify you of the details and hopefully see you out there with me soon. Vixens Ride!

Group Rides

By

If you have never joined a group for a ride, it is an experience that can either bring you back for more or turn you away from it altogether. Trick is finding a group you will not only want to ride with, but socialize with as well, the reality is you start to become an extended family and a place you know where you are accepted. Searching for a group can be challenging and there are plenty of sites that you can peruse to find them, but join with caution, some groups are testosterone driven free for alls and will not only dare you to push your limits, but could very well end you in the hospital. Ask to ride with the groups a few time to view the dynamics, the organizers and their safety protocol. I think the biggest test in a group is how they organize their rides, how well all the organizers and assistant organizers communicate, safety briefings (especially in big groups) and the general vibe you get from everyone. If you don’t feel that they get along, time to bounce, you know that once you are on the road you may be dealing with egos jockeying for position and you don’t want to be a part of that.

Safety when riding in groups is a challenge and of extreme importance, there are always varying degrees of skill level and you want to be in a group that will cater to all and keep them relatively happy. The organizer should have a video or before every ride a pre-ride safety meeting to go over hand signals (which for the most part is the only way you are going to be able to communicate to the other riders), formations and answer questions . A good organizer will have posted the route, the gas/food breaks and basic eta from one point to another. Chances are times will vary depending on size of group, but generally speaking it runs pretty close to the times posted. There should also be a clear blueprint of what to do in an emergency (benefit of riding in a group, plenty of help) and everyone should be sporting and I.C.E. card (in case of emergency card). If you aren’t a member of the AMA, you should join up (you can find the link on my home page), it is beneficial in many ways. One being that they will tow your bike for free, but check out their site for a list of benefits. Your group should also have a list of requirements for gear they expect you to have, trust me when you go down jeans are not protection, basics should include: Protective jacket, pants, DOT approved helmet, gloves (preferably gauntlet) and boots. Most importantly though is how you will fit into the group, most groups have a core group and many other groups within sometimes bound by skill level, friendships, etc. But they should all be able to mesh together cohesively when on a ride and it should be about having fun and doing it with people you actually want to spend time with. Many friendships come from joining groups like this which is why finding the right group is so important.

I am part of several groups, but there is one that I hold very dear to my heart (Eastside Sportbikers) and I play a very active role in every chance I can get. They took me in as a rider who could barely keep her bike from tipping over (while standing on tiptoes) to being my fans as I entered my novice year of racing. They encouraged me when I was a newbie and they gained my loyalty in return, I love this group and the people in it, the friendships that have developed and the camaraderie. Those are the feelings you should get when you decide to join a group, if not, move on. There are plenty of them out there and just like finding a mate eventually you’ll find one that is “Just Right.” Meetup is a great channel to find groups in general so give it a try and find out how much fun riding in a group can be. Ride on Vixens!

Fact or Fiction

By

We are all looking for ways to stay healthy and there seems to be conflicting reports about what to eat and drink. Red wine is good, fried food is bad, gluten is bad, only organic produce will do, the list goes on and on. We could drive ourselves crazy just trying to figure out how to stay healthy right? Here are some facts to help you make wise decisions in your choices to leading a healthier life.

I love to imbibe every so often, but I am not a red wine drinker, my drink of choice is Vodka preferably a martini, with olives of course! Red wine, gets to be the saint of the liquor world, it was the drink of the gods and it has health benefits, blah, blah, blah. Well, here is the lowdown, alcohol (any kind) is what boosts levels of HDL or “good” cholesterol which lowers your risk of developing blood clots, good news to those of us who choose to drink liquor. But if you throw back more than two a day, you’ve just negated the health benefits, moderation is key.

Since we just spoke about alcohol, we are going to discuss fried food since this is what you end up eating while sitting at happy hour or munching at a meal. Believe it or not, deep frying can be just as healthy as sauteing. If food is properly deep fried, food soaks up minimal oil and the added calories are negligible. The oil though needs to be at the right temperature in order to be intense enough to cause the moisture in the food to evaporate and create steam pressure that blocks oil from entering. So stop feeling guilty and enjoy the moment, once in a while is just fine.

Is wheat really our enemy? So much has been brought out by the media about gluten-free diets, but wheat is packed with nutrients including folate (a B vitamin). In fact, unless you are truly an individual with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity going without whole grains may even cause you to gain weight! REALLY! Whole grains boost serotonin in your brain helping you feel full, without this you would end up snaking throughout the day not getting the signal you are satisfied. I need my carbs to function so this is happy news to me, plus I tend to become a diva when I’m hungry.

Salt, ah yes, salt tastes good, it flavors food and it should be used sparingly. Here is the problem, unless you cook from scratch at home and you can monitor your salt intake, chances are you are getting more than you think. 90% of the sodium in our diets come from processed and restaurant foods, even ones that don’t taste salty. So read labels and remember that 2,300 mg of sodium is the daily recommendation. And even more reason to take a cooking class to help you and your family eat healthier.

Chicken or Burger? Surprise, the burger is better! Why? Chicken can tend to be injected with a salt-water solution to keep it moist so that chicken sandwich can have more than double the amount of sodium than a burger. The chicken also has more calories than the plain hamburger, so don’t feel guilty about having that hamburger, enjoy it.

Organic or not? We all think organic is far superior than the conventional grown produce, better taste, more nutrients, closer to nature. However, research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that they don’t have any nutritional advantage. Less chemical residue, sure, but the issue of pesticides leading to disease was based on farmers who were subjected to huge quantities. If you still prefer organic, spend it on produce with peels you eat, like apples, carrots, tomatoes… Also remember that while fruit is high in vitamins and fiber, it is also high in sugars and calories. A banana has about the same calories as two chocolate chip cookies! If you are trying to lose weight, have 4 servings of fruit (1/2 cup) a day and a serving of protein to slow down digestion and keep blood sugar steady.

Is high-fructose corn syrup getting a bad rap? It is being blamed for causing obesity in America, but it really is no different from sucrose or table sugar. It is the same number of calories and your body processes it the same way as table sugar, it is just extremely cheap so manufacturers add it to the majority of their products. The fact is that people eat more processed foods which in turn means eating more of these sugars, consumption of any added sugar in excess is bad for you and leads to weight gain. The only way to solve that is to cut back on processed foods and read labels, limit the amount of sugars including “dextrose, maltose, beet sugar and fruit juice concentrate.” It’s all about moderation.

I hope this helps in some of the choices you make while dining out and getting you bikini ready for the summer months. For some of us, it is just to keep us capable of putting on those leathers and not feeling like a stuffed sausage. The cost of a suit, keeps me thinking about what I choose to eat. 🙂 Ride on Vixens and remember to wave at the gals who are rocking it on their rides!