MotoVixens

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Visibility

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Even for the skilled rider visibility is always a concern, as riders we are constantly faced with being seen by drivers. It is however, our responsibility to make our presence known by doing a few things to ensure our own safety. As many a street riders knows, riding on the street can be dangerous if you go in with the mentality that drivers are aware of you, big surprise, they don’t. You must be able to make yourself visible, predict scenarios and keep yourself away from potential danger and deal with hazards if and when they occur. Riding on the street was once described to me as being in a real life video game and I do have to admit, it truly is. This is even more important as the weather changes and the daylight hours decrease, having the knowledge in making your presence known is paramount to your safety.

Being visible is the most important part of your riding strategy, from the moment that helmet goes on, it should be your main mission. “See and be seen” is the common phrase most schools will use and is the most important part of any riding strategy. The most common comment by motorists about motorcycle accidents is that they didn’t see the motorcyclist until it was too late. Motorcyclists being smaller than cars can make it harder for drivers to judge their speed and truth be told we are small enough that the brain (when looking in the mirrors) may just see us as part of the background and not as a potential hazard. This coupled with technology and drivers being distracted by their smartphones can lead to disaster, so ride aggressively by letting your presence be known…(i.e. not riding in blind spots, with high beams on, signaling when changing lanes, lane positioning, using a horn should the driver drift in your lane, flashing your brake light before stops, etc.).

Always wear protective gear, whether it is bright, light, whatever…just wear proper gear. That gear will save you in the event of an accident, so don’t think that just because you are going around the corner for a quick ride nothing can happen, it can and probably will so just be prepared. Riding with your headlight on high beams during the daytime can help, but remember to turn it off in the evening hours so as not to blind drivers. Also, use your flasher at night if need be to let your presence be known, drivers may not see you and the brief flicker will get their attention pretty quickly. Communicate your intentions clearly, don’t be wishy washy, know what you are planning to do and execute it precisely so there is no confusion to the actions you are about to take. If you are changing lanes or turning always remember to signal and cancel them after (talking to those of you who leave those blinkers on). If you are stopping, a quick little squeeze of your brake before you fully brake will let drivers know you will be stopping. Use your horn if necessary, but honestly most drivers can’t hear our horns over their stereos so avoidance is a better strategy.

Scanning is our best line of defense when it comes to safety. Seeing the things that might affect you is key to your best defense and that requires scanning, not just the things ahead of you but surrounding you as well. Never let your attention be fixed on any one object for more than a split second and the general rule is to scan a 12-15 second path of travel, meaning that you need to see ahead to an area it will take you approximately that time to reach. If you are traveling at a higher rate of speed, you will cover a lot of ground and you must be able to maneuver your way around hazards that much more quickly. Gathering information about road conditions, traffic ahead, behind and beside you as well as vehicles that can cross your path of travel are especially critical, not to mention pedestrians and animals. Checking your rearview mirrors and physically turning to check blind spots are all essential when changing lanes, turning or stopping. Determining what is important during a scan involves practice and experience, but the basics are the same. Focus on your intended path while maintaining a nice cushion around you (we have the benefit of speed so use it), if you feel squeezed in then get around the obstacles and provide yourself a safe cushion around you so your attention can be used on road hazards vs. cars surrounding you. Check your rearview mirrors often and what is beside you, as they will not always be aware of you being there and make sure to stay out of drivers blind spots (moving within the lane, lane positioning, helps drivers know you are there). Keep your eyes up, don’t look down or your response time will be cut dramatically. Getting good visual information is very important for riders because everything that follows involves decisions is based on that information.

Riding a motorcycle is complex and involves perception which uses our senses (the reason we all love to ride). From the information we receive in our brain we have to quickly weed out and determine what is important and what isn’t in seconds. Bad decisions are made when we are impaired and unable to correctly process this information, which is why you shouldn’t ride when you are under the influence, emotionally impaired or are sleep deprived, as your reaction time is greatly reduced or you just end up making inappropriate responses that can lead to a harmful event. Always look where you want to go, yeah we’ve all heard this a million times, but it is true. Always look where you intend to go and your bike will magically follow where your eyes take you, ok it’s not magical but it does. That is why you don’t want to target fixate, where you focus on an object for longer than your should, your body tenses as it sees it as a potential danger and before you realize it, you are headed for the object you had ever intention to avoid. Look past it and be aware of it, but focus on where you want to be and you will end up on the path you are focused on. It takes practice and confidence in your abilities and if you are riding with the hair on the back of your neck standing on end, sweaty palms, racing heartbeat or even a death grip on your bars, you may be riding well above your means. Riding involves all of your senses, use them to your advantage, but stay relaxed and with smooth steady movements (your hands should be nice and slow). If your arms or hands are tired after every ride, you are too tense, learn to relax and give less input to your bike, it will thank you for it and you will enjoy the rides that much more. Seat time is the only way to feel more comfortable on your bike so get out there often and practice. Be safe and see you Vixens out there!

End of Season

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After the call from MJ of Ducati Bellevue on Sunday that the track day was cancelled due to the weather, I got calls, texts and emails about whether or not there would be rescheduling.  Judging from the drastic change in the weather…from hot and muggy to cold and rainy in the span of what seemed was overnight, I would be extremely surprised if it was.  However, I will keep you all posted should there be a freak warm spell and Mark lets me know he is putting one on (he’ll get cabin fever and call Rod I’m sure).  I will post on Facebook if and when it should happen (keep those fingers crossed) so like MotoVixens and you’ll be the first to know!

Speaking of Mark, not only is he the owner of 2 Fast, he is also an amazing racer, my mentor and a friend.  I tend to be self sufficient and stubborn, but when I needed him to show me lines and help me improve, he was always there.  This last year Mark was the #1 plate holder and even without racing every race this year he earned a spot as the #3 plate holder for next year!  I have enclosed the rankings of our top racers in WMRRA should you wish to check it out.

I know many of you are disappointed with how this season ended, but truth be told it might of been for the best since the weather would have been a factor of many a crash.  I know we all hate to discuss crashes, but the rainy day track days tend to cause a great deal of them and I wanted a beautiful day with dry, warm pavement where we could all really enjoy ourselves and get to push the limits a bit more while expanding our knowledge.  Next year we are discussing track days with the women’s school in the months we know tend to be sunny, in fact, I am hoping to discuss a combo school where we can do a co-ed school for those who wish to bring spouses, significant others, boyfriends/girlfriends or even friends.  Stay tuned as we figure out the details.

The weather is turning, but you’ll still see some crazy broad out there riding…that’d be me!  I suppose once you’ve developed crazy it’s hard to be cured, just be safe…it’s all about tires (make sure you have ones for the wet weather), check that tire pressure and most of all be smooth.  If you are putting your baby up for the winter remember to winterize your bike so it’ll be ready to go when you feel like it.  Check out Winterizing for Modern Motorcycles in our archived blogs and I will let you know should we do another winterizing/maintenance event.  Vixens Ride!

WMRA Standings

Novice Racing

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I have recently been asked by several women why I chose to be a novice racer and is it something they can do as well? The answer to the first question is I’m a little whacko and truth be told spent most of my life trying to make others happy while neglecting my needs. Becoming a mother in my mid-twenties and having been a part of corporate America since I was 18, I knew the ins and outs of that world, thus I became a corporate wife (sort of). As my boys were growing up, my marriage was coming to an end and I needed to find myself again and this is how my journey with motorcycles began. Having always wanted to learn how to ride and it having this bad ass kind of feel to it that was incredibly empowering (should I survive) I was game, again this is where the crazy comes in… The BRC class was my first foray into the world of motorcycling and after 3 terrifying and exhilarating days I received my endorsement. Then came the search for continuing my journey, my next step. I found that there were intermediate classes offered but most were after you completed some riding time on the street (since riding in a parking lot wasn’t real preparation to riding in everyday conditions). Not helpful. Then in searching for schools, up popped “track training”, 😉 hmmmmmm what is that? Well, that ladies is how it all began for me…The California SuperBike School (http://www.superbikeschool.com) was the catalyst into finding out about track schools like 2 Fast (http://www.2-fast.org) and OPRT (http://www.optimum-performance.org). Being a gal you certainly stand out in a sport mainly dominated by men, but I believe that walking into racing completely unaware was a blessing, the fact that I was so naive and genuine, those guys took me in, taught and have helped me along the way. By no means do I even know all I should, but now I’m much more aware if what it takes and it’s been a journey that I would’ve taken many times over exactly the same way.

As for becoming a racer, it is actually fairly easy. Search for an organization in your area under road racing associations and if you live in Seattle it is WMRRA (http://www.wmrra.com), Portland it is OMRRA (http://www.omrra.com) and nationally there is WERA (http://www.wera.com) too, check your area for a local one near you. Visit their website, find out how to become a racer and start your own journey. There is one thing I wish someone would’ve warned me about though, it is that racing is great until you crash then it becomes expensive and a mad rush to get everything put together again before the next race. Be prepared to spend every free moment searching for parts, finding the right people to fix your bike and make sure you have great health insurance because everyone eventually will require some form of medical attention. Please be aware of the risks involved and don’t believe that you are exempt from falling, we all do and it happens so fast. There is risk in everything, but this allows us to race with controlled risk, every racer knows what they are getting into. We all have to go to work after the weekend is over, have families to return to, loved ones to care for so there is almost a gentlemen’s code that you don’t take out people intentionally, you race with dignity. Sure sometimes accidents happen, but when they do there is no hard feelings and it is funny at times to see one guy walk up to another and say, “Hey sorry about that man” and they shake hands and get busy fixing their bikes for the next race. This is the only place where I’ve seen one guy take out another and they will actually give each other hugs, yeah we are seriously twisted. I’ve found a place where I feel at home, where competition and camaraderie co-exist, feel like I’m a part of a huge extended family, part of a community…I finally found myself in this crazy place that I now call home.

Round 6 at the Ridge

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Nothing beats the excitement of the racetrack, the hoards of ez-ups, the smell of gasoline, the racers all lined up for tech inspections and the riders meeting to get the day started. Nothing can top visiting with friends, who are family at this point, as we all get ready for the upcoming weekend. There is a camaraderie that I’ve never experienced anywhere else, but we are all there to race fully knowing that your friend could be your stiffest competition. It is a strange dynamic, yet at the end of the day we all come together and recount the days events, the records broken and the personal accomplishments we conquered. The fact that you get the opportunity to be around talented racers who are more than willing to help you, loan you what you may have forgotten or even give you advice and encouragement is a plus coming into this as a novice this year. This was my last race of the season, I had made plans to get my bike fully equipped for next year so it was bittersweet. My goal was focused on coming in with a time I could be ultimately proud of and build upon that next year.

I started this year with a bike, minimal knowledge and a passion to do what very few women would attempt. My hopes were to show women just beginning or even those who had been riding for a while, that if you had passion, you could accomplish great things. I’ve had my share of spills, very lucky ones at that, but with those mistakes came a knowledge an understanding and respect for the machine that you man. Truth be told, your machine doesn’t make the mistake that causes you to crash, you do, whether it is a poor decision to pass, too much throttle, whatever it may be you are the reason…it makes you accountable each and every time. It is interesting to say that it translates to things in your life, I relive each and every crash in my mind for days to recount the decisions I made and what I could have done to avoid them. We are all in search of the perfect feeling…the lap around the track where everything seems to fall into place, where your body and the bike feel as if they are one and working in perfect harmony…it keeps us coming back for more.

Anyone who has had the opportunity to ride my bike has said it is a solid and happy bike and I tend to agree. I also understand that there are changes I must make on my bike in the off season to even be competitive, things that I honestly had no idea about until I took the leap to racing. Equipment, feel, knowledge, hard work and determination are key to being competitive and just the desire to race doesn’t make everything else work in your favor. However, having a trust and bond with your bike, as odd as that may sound, is very important. I’ve ridden bikes before that make me nervous (break out in a sweat), that you just get this strange feeling that something isn’t right and you can’t wait to get off of it. My little R6 has given me some very happy memories even before it came to the track and to have those to take into racing is an awesome experience, with that being said, my season ended with my best lap time to date at 2.01 with no upgrades made to it whatsoever. I have plenty to work on for next year as I came hoping to break under 2.0, but with the improvements I hope that I can do that within the first two races. Keep checking in this fall and winter as I will continue to post the improvements on the bike, the new design and sponsorships for the upcoming year. Come join me sometime next season at the races to cheer us gals on or a track day…I am looking forward to seeing you out there!

2 Fast Track Day at The Ridge

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In preparation of the race weekend, I signed up for 2 Fast on Friday, August 30th to get some laps in and to have some fun before the races.  There were quite a few gals, which I love to see and one gal in particular who has attended a few track days who I’ve come to know…such is the nature of the sport, you start to see the gals who love riding so much that they start to become regulars at the track.  I hope that women riders know that this setting is far from intimidating, it is an incredible opportunity to learn and ask questions you may have about riding, gear, etc…

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Track days are not about racing, it is about riding your own ride and improving your skill set, gaining knowledge and getting to go as slow or fast as you wish to your comfort level.  Speed and skill come with time and that is something that just can’t be rushed without consequences.  There is a wealth of information to be sought in the pits alone, caveat being not all information is good information, that being said everyone is extremely willing to help all you have to do is ask.  Also, if you have never ridden two up with one of the guys, take the opportunity to do so.  It will teach you how hard you can actually break, show you better lines around the track and give you pointers on gear selection, it will really open your eyes!

Sullivan has a track day coming up on Thursday, September 5th at Pacific Raceways and currently has openings and OPRT has one coming up on September 9th at the Ridge where I will be instructing.  Also, don’t forget Ducati Bellevue has their Women’s Track School coming up on September 30th, sign up for the first time or again, you will learn something new every time.  Come on out and join us track rats!

On Street Riding Course

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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!!!

 

 

Top 3 Issues for Motorcyclists

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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

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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

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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!

Controversy on E15

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As many of you may have heard, there has been a new fuel introduced and is awaiting approval for mass public use, E15. The current fuel on the market is E10 and while it states at the pump that the fuel contains up to 10% ethanol, the truth is it is not consistent and can be either less or more than 10%. The current use of E10 is actually damaging not only to automotive engines, but smaller engines ranging from garden equipment to boat and motorcycle engines. The alcohol and blends that are used do not mix well with plastics, polymer and rubber and with all the parts in a car or bike that actually come into contact with the fuel on a regular basis is it safe to say that this could be ultimately detrimental to all our vehicles? There have been several manufacturers that have stepped up and started developing additives that can be safely used in two and four stroke engines although these do come at a higher price. It is maddening that we have to spend more money just to protect what we own from a fuel we don’t want and on top of that pay ridiculous prices for said fuel.

Automotive manufacturers, foreign and domestic, have already stated publicly that the use of E15 may void new car warranties and you know motorcycle manufacturers would follow closely behind. If manufacturers of new cars and motorcycles are against this new fuel knowing what it could potentially do to the engine and its components, can you imagine the damage it could do to a vintage car or motorcycle, would you want to put that stuff in your valuable assets? While ethanol-free gas may cost a bit more per gallon than regular E10 gas, it is worth the peace of mind knowing that there would be no damage to your engine and treasured assets (our motorcycles are our babies). For a list of stations that sell ethanol free gas visit www.pure-gas.org. Let’s stay aware of the issues that arise and could potentially harm our sanity on wheels, we don’t need crazy people driving around because their babies are in the shop due to the fuel we are being asked to put in them. Keep two wheels on the ground ladies, Vixens Ride!