MotoVixens

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Are you ready to ride?

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Hopping on your bike and taking off spontaneously is great, the freedom of just getting lost and being in the moment…there is nothing quite like it right? Sure if everything goes as planned and you return safe and sound, but how about we take a moment to do a pre bike check for whatever type of riding we plan on doing? If you are planning on a long trip, chances are you’ve put some thought into the trip, the schedule, etc. so why not put some time in checking over your bike to make sure everything is working properly and there are no loose nuts and bolts? Checking your lights, blinkers, brakes (making sure they aren’t too spongy), Oil level, fuel and tire pressures the night before you embark will allow you to rest peacefully before your ride. This also applies to just a quick jaunt around town, if the bike hasn’t been ridden or even looked at for a while, it may require a little attention to get it ready for the riding season. Maybe even a little maintenance at the shop…so before you get on and try to fire it up only to discover that it won’t turn over, get it ready before you plan on riding again so you won’t be frustrated. Now if you are planning on hitting the track, please be mindful that while you think you may pass tech, if you come with less than 50% wear on your tires, you will not be riding or you will be at the mercy of purchasing whatever tires they have at the track in order to continue your day. I know this can be irritating, but remember this is not about you, this about the safety of everyone out there. You are not riding that track alone which is why it is important to know what it will require to pass tech and if there is any question, have your bike serviced within a month or so of the track day and you should be good to go. When you have large groups of people going around the track together at a very spirited pace, it is important not to ride over your head and show off because if you should have to maneuver quickly to avoid someone/something, you may end up being “that guy” that sends out the red flags and stops the whole session. The reason there are requirements are because we all have families and jobs we would like to return to the following day/week so let’s each do our part in making sure we are being safe, not just for ourselves, but considerate to the others we are sharing the road/track with.

That being said, just knowing and being confident that you are good to go can allow your attention to be on the task at hand, riding, and enjoying it. I ride with tunes through my Sena SMH10 (which I personally love) and yes there are plenty of other brands out there, but I have to say for ease of use and clarity I really love it. I have also placed an order on their newest generation of the Sena 20s which you can read about through www.sena.com. It links your music, gps, phone and intercom, allowing multiple applications to be open at the same time. “Sena 20S Audio Multitasking™ technology allows you to have an intercom conversation while simultaneously listening to music, FM radio, or GPS. No longer do users have to deal with the frustrations of interruption-based audio functions of past Bluetooth communication devices. Now audio features won’t interrupt each other but simply overlay for a smooth listening experience.” The SMH10 can intercom between 4 users, now the Sena 20s can link up to 8 at a 1.2 mile range as well as be used with other generation Sena units and non-Sena bluetooth units. This versatility will be groundbreaking as it will allow groups to communicate with each other and keep track of everyone…no more herding kitty cats! I am really excited about their new design which is lower profile and sleeker than the SMH10…look for a review when I finally receive mine, they are due to be released beginning to mid-June. In the meantime, enjoy the beautiful weather!

Vixens Ride!

Bad Advice

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When I started out riding I asked everyone I could about everything, minute details and treated the pearls of wisdom like gold. Then when applying those little pearls of wisdom I realized they were flawed, that I didn’t fully grasp the concept or process because what I did wasn’t working. What I did do was not dwell and went to many different schools to hear what concepts they could teach me and apply it to myself. In doing so I learned a lot, that there is not any real right way to do it, that if it is uncomfortable you will not do it well and that knowledge is key. There are many schools of thought in how to ride but the main thing remains true…keep two wheels on the ground. Now that could mean straight up and down, leaned over in a turn and unless you are pulling a wheelie or frontie it is really that simple.

What irks me is the fact that many people don’t even maintain their bikes to be ride ready and most importantly safe (for themselves and others around them). Considering we are two wheels short of being completely stable we owe that to ourselves and our loved ones. Tire pressure, I wish people would just take the time to check that basic thing and while today the tires are manufactured to be way more forgiving with this screw up, you are taking a risk. Check with the manufacturer for recommended tire pressures (which will vary from street to track). Check fluids, brakes and look for anything loose (nuts and bolts that may jiggle off during a long ride) and tighten them. Always bring a few tools you might need just in case and top off your tank so you aren’t that guy that holds everyone up (when riding in a group). OK done bitching…

I’ve been privy to many a conversation about riding, I’ve listened to good advice and bad advice being given and it worries me that there tends to be more bad advice than not. When asking for advice, realize this person may ride way above and beyond how you will ever ride, but to him this is normal so it may put you in a “seeing God” situation. It is however good to take this kind of advice and file it away for later when you progress and can apply his/her concepts with control and confidence. What I have noticed is riding brings out the hooligans in all of us and at times egos get too big to contain, the talk of dragging knees, leaning the bike over so far that the pegs drag, blah, blah, blah. The fact is sure it can be done, it is just how comfortable are you in doing it? I’m comfortable dragging my pegs, yet I know people comfortable enough to drag bodywork even knees and elbows and not have an “Oh Crap” moment. It is all about comfort and understanding that any quick panic moment can lead to dire consequences for yourself and others around you. If you aren’t truly comfortable doing it and are riding well above your “talent” then back off. Sure it’s OK to push a little everytime you go out there, but trying to show off and prove to everyone you are the s*#t is a bad idea because sooner or later your ticket is going to get punched.

Knowledge is key. Take classes…lots of them if you can and ask questions, there are never any stupid ones, just stupid people who don’t ask. Consider the source and if that person is bragging about everything they do or have done, overly share their knowledge and seem cocky…move on they will not be a good resource. Ask people you admire, people you’d like to ride like everyone in the riding community is generally very warm and inviting. Some people may overshare others may be shy, but by and large there is a wealth of information out there and it is yours for the taking! Some of the best little tricks and tidbits came from just hanging out and everyone talking, that is where the best information lies. Always be open to hear the most amazing advice in the strangest of places and never stop asking questions and learning…it is never ending. Keep two wheels on the ground and ride!

Vixens Ride!

Rider Tuneup

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Rider TuneupFor those of us in the PNW, we get excited as the temperatures rise, the rain lets up and the sun graces us with her presence more often…that means perfect riding weather. At the first sight of sun in the forecast, we eagerly tune, wash and pull our warmer gear out (I mean that relatively speaking of course) and head for the road. Only problem is that after a long hiatus, we aren’t fully “tuned” ourselves and we need to treat ourselves like our bikes. Even if you’ve been riding through the winter months, chances are you’ve been more hesitant due to the inclement weather while being lazy about your skills, since traction can be tricky on rain soaked or icy roads. I am a huge advocate of continuing education or refresher courses, whether it be advanced courses or specialized ones offered by track schools, it all helps you become a better and safer rider. Riding style is important too, if you ride in groups you must understand a group dynamic and that every decision you make impacts the riders around you, so join a group start in the back and work your way up as your confidence and skills grow. If you ride on the track, take a course from the track day company to just retune your mind and give you some new tools to put in your toolbox should you require them. This is just like anything else, the more you put in the more you get out and being informed is invaluable.

KNOWLEDGE = EMPOWERMENT = CONFIDENCE = FUN, FUN, FUN!

Did you know that the highest number of at-fault crashes resulting in death and injuries involved males between the ages of 41-50? And out of that 75% of motorcycle crashed involve experienced riders? You would’ve assumed that the highest at risk would be younger riders being hooligans right? Nope, sorry guys. The “experienced” rider who hasn’t been in an accident for a decade or so thinks it is because of his years of experience, yet he could be just lucky or better…rides to his ability (which might be limited). However, would this individual who is “experienced” be able to foresee or avoid an incident should one arise? We can become complacent or even just arrogant that we don’t need any more training, we know all we need to know right? Everyone thinks they are better riders than they truly are, it is human nature to believe that, but that belief is not going to help you when you encounter a situation you aren’t equipped to deal with. That is why it is important to take a course to challenge your abilities and if you are lucky to get a few/several choice tidbits that will help you navigate the urban jungle and backroads. There are continuing MSF courses offered by various safety schools for those who can ride or haven’t ridden in a while, as well as courses on cornering, street riding courses and advanced rider courses.

You can expand your knowledge to ride within your limits (which will increase with your experience), proper positioning in traffic to be seen and give you the out should you need to use it, read road conditions to help you make the right decision, choose proper gear and even be able to anticipate dangers before they occur. I often hear people say they ride like they are invisible and while that is good it is better to ride more knowledgable because are you truly invisible when they hit you? Sorry that is my sarcasm taking over. Being able to really see dangers far ahead is a skill and one that can and should be practiced on a daily basis. Rider training is where it all starts and continues. Did you know one of the leading causes of multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes is other vehicle drivers’ failure to see or yield to motorcyclists? With technology creeping into our cars in the fashion of smartphones people are surfing the web, texting, Facebooking, Tweeting, etc all while driving with little to no concern about us so it is us to be proactive. Check out the Motorcycle Safety Foundation site and locally there are several schools that offer rider courses including: Evergreen Safety Council, Washington Motorcycle Safety Foundation and Puget Sound Safety. If you are looking at doing track days, check with your dealer or 2 Fast Motorcycle Training and Optimum Performance Rider Training both offer performance training schools.

This is a sport we choose and love to do, let’s not let distracted individuals control our ability to truly enjoy doing it. Keep your mind sharp, as sharp as you keep your bike! I’ve been told by many instructors that gals are the ones that get the most out of rider training since they really listen and ask questions. So let’s really hone our skills and show those boys how it’s done. Vixens Ride!

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!

Cold Weather Riding

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As the season is mostly over up here in the Pacific Northwest, it is time to winterize your bikes if you plan on putting them away for the winter and a good time to inspect your bikes as you spend less time on them.  It is also a great time to recollect all the memories you’ve created with your ever faithful machine and baby it a bit by doing a more in depth inspection.  As always, check tires (condition and pressure, if they are iffy then get some that will work for your fall/winter riding) and do a quick once over on the bike before you go out in the cold.  Then make sure that you are adequately dressed in warm gear to endure the biting cold when you ride, for those of you that have heated grips (I am no longer one of those blessed few) it will be heaven, for the rest of us there are heated gloves out there to help fight off the bitter cold.  I am not a huge fan of plug in gear, but I’ve heard it’s heaven and makes riding very comfortable…I opt for the heated vests that now have little battery packs that you recharge and plug into the vest to keep you toasty on the ride.  I find keeping the core part of your body warm tends to keep the rest of your body from being uncomfortable.  As always, you fuel your bike so don’t neglect fueling yourself before heading out, don’t want to get dingy from lack of energy and making poor decisions, focus and being alert requires a lot more energy than you think.  And please if you start to feel tired or loopy stop, get a warm drink or some food and take a break, no need to push it and then regret the consequences…we are at the disadvantage of being on two wheels and unprotected by a steel cage so we have way more to lose.  Our families, friends and loved ones need us so let’s just be extra vigilant as we go out there and enjoy this sport we all share and love.  Have a wonderful holiday season everyone and I look forward to starting up again in early spring to get everyone excited about all the new track days and events for next year!

In the meantime, I will post every so often some health blogs to keep us primed and ready to go next season.

Vixens Ride, even when it’s freaking cold!  😉

PeachesMag.com

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I recently had the privilege to write a post for www.peachesmag.com about my mission for MotoVixens.  Palmer Davis, founder of peachesmag.com, was at the last Ducati Bellevue Women’s track event and did this brief video about our day.  Peachesmag.com is a sexy site for women by women and their main focus is to empower women in every aspect of their lives.  The following is the article I wrote:

A year ago, the idea of racing around a track would have seemed completely absurd and truth be told not even on my radar.  Yet, here I am today not only racing in my novice year, but just getting my head around all the details of what it takes to be competitive.  My introduction into motorcycling has been fairly current and it started as an escape, doing something that I feared, yet I knew would be empowering should I ever find that “zen” place so many motorcyclists speak of.  There was something mysterious and intriguing about that and I started my journey only to seek that place of peace.  Motorcycling was my escape from hardships I was facing, personal struggles that required and sucked every ounce of energy I had, it was the one place I could be that required full focus and concentration and forced me to leave all that “stuff” behind and be in the moment.  Motorcycling helped me reconnect with myself and allowed me to see things differently, with more clarity and patience, it made me a better in every way.  

I started with taking an MSF course, which I strongly suggest to anyone who wants to learn to ride, this will give you the “basics” of riding.   However, those basics will only get you so far and won’t prepare you for the road conditions you face on a daily basis.  I also encountered difficulty in finding gear and spent a great deal of time surfing the web and buying/exchanging items to find gear that actually fit.  There are a few brands that carry gear for women, but they vary drastically depending on your body type and sizing is confusing.  Male riders can pop into any shop and try things on, but women don’t have the same luxury since many stores don’t tend to carry much women’s gear, making it a challenge to find gear to try on for sizing purposes.  Helmets tend to be easier, but boots and gloves are also an issue as most stores are limited in the sizes and styles they carry.   Since I advocate all gear all the time, I bought whatever fit when I first started, but have since found which brands fit me best and tend to stick with those manufacturers.  However, sizes do change from year to year, so what fits this year may not necessarily fit the next model year.  Being female in a male dominated industry definitely does have its downsides.  In my frustration, I decided to start a website for women riders, www.MotoVixens.com in hopes that uniting women riders would allow for us to one day have a larger voice in what we demand from manufacturers, schools, dealerships, etc. 

 I started the site as an educational resource with links to sites I found particularly helpful and had great success with in terms of gear, linked schools for continuing education and blogs pertaining to riding.   I worked with Ducati Bellevue in hopes to open up an avenue for women riders to learn how to ride more competently and with more confidence.  Since starting my website, we have been fortunate enough to collaborate with some of the best companies in the Pacific Northwest.  Ducati Bellevue welcomed the idea with open arms and has been instrumental in hosting Women’s track schools in conjunction with their track days as well as clinics to educate women about their bikes.  2 Fast Motorcycle Instruction and Track Days has been responsible for the performance school provided by Ducati Bellevue for the Women’s Track Event.  WMST is an instructional school that provides MSF, cornering classes, intermediate and advanced motorcycle training and I have since been certified as an On Street instructor (classes for women to be announced next year).  In addition to the educational aspect of riding is also the technical and mechanical portion we tend to take for granted.  Women riders face a greater range of issues from physical height and weight issues to not fully understanding proper maintenance of a motorcycle.   We are only on two wheels, it is even more important for us to make sure those stay in contact with the road.  Suspension is key to a secure ride, whether on street or on track.  I would suggest that you have your bike setup to you to make your ride not only more comfortable, but safe.   There is a resource page on my site that lists various companies that accommodate whatever needs you may have, take a moment to check it out and feel free to call them with your questions and concerns, they are always willing to help you any way they can.

 My mission is be a strong voice for women riders, bringing their issues and concerns to those who can make the difference.  This is why partnering with Ducati Bellevue and 2 Fast to provide a track school was so important…I hope in bringing events like this to women riders they walk away learning more than they could’ve imagined, sign up with their girlfriends, make new friends, gain confidence and feel empowered.  The beauty of this event is that you can sign up as many times as you like and walk away with new knowledge every time.  There is so much information being taught you couldn’t possibly digest it all in one day.   I continue to learn something new every time I get on my bike, new ways to do things differently and more efficiently…turning, gear selection, positioning, etc.  Take the school as often as you like, it can only make you a better rider and what can be better than that?

Pre-Ride Checklist

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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!

Night Riding

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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

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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!

Everyone Wants to Find the ‘Right’ Position!

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After the much awaited debut of Marc Marquez to the MotoGP circuit, one can’t browse the social media networks or open any respectable magazine without hearing or seeing all the commotion over his infamous form and extreme lean angles.  Regardless of which school of thought you subscribe to on such drastic lean angles, one absolutely cannot dispute; …the kid has got talent!   While the rest of us mere mortals will never ride like Marquez outside of our dreams, (despite one or two chaps strutting around the club paddocks claiming this of course), we can learn much from his example.

Body position is typically the first area of focus instructors and riding coaches work to improve on with students, and often for most, one of the most challenging skills to develop.   New riders are notorious for a gamut of poor techniques that can potentially cause very big problems as their pace improves.

Some of the most common hot ticket items are:

*Sitting too upright (Think Driving Miss Daisy vs. Crouching Tiger)

*Shoving the bike underneath you (‘Motocross style,’ baby! Potentially the most dangerous)

*Not getting that booty off the seat (A hot button for coaches)

*And my favorite, the “crossed up style.”  (Everyone has seen this guy; he looks like he is falling off the bike and trying to climb back on with his shoulders at the same time.)

 

I will be the first to admit, my track photos from my NRS are the perfect example of what not to do and I’m surprised I didn’t tuck the front every lap through T9 with how I was shoving the bike down.  My riding coach used to scold me for this regularly.  There is much literature available on this topic broken down step by step scientifically, but the simple idea behind this being that when you drop your head and shoulders and get off the bike, you’re able to push the bike back up and away from you onto the “meat of the tire,” enabling you to get on the gas sooner and minimizing the chance of high sides.

Keith Code breaks it down for us, “Conceptually, hanging off couldn’t be simpler. Lower the combined center of gravity of the bike/rider and you go through the same corner at the same speed, on the same line with less lean angle. It’s a brilliantly utilitarian racer’s tool with huge residual benefits, chief among them an accurate, on-board gauge for lean angle.”  He also describes the tendency and detriment of riding crossed up.  Code says, “True to most evolutionary progressions, function now rules the look of roadracers. Riders are low and inside of their bikes. More and more we see them perfectly in line with their machines, not twisted or rotated in the saddle. The bum off/body twisted back across the top of the bike, which many Phase 4 riders had used, remains an interesting piece of self-deception. Having their torso on the high side of the bike not only neutralized the mass of their hips being off the bike, but actually raised the combined bike/rider center of gravity; thus defeating the technique’s main purpose.”

Mark DeGross, of 2Fast Trackdays & Instruction has developed the “Lean Machine” tool to help teach students proper form in the classroom sessions of his Performance School. DeGross explains, “We feel body position is foundational to riding, so we built the Lean Machine to work with riders.  By replicating the motion of a bike going from straight up and down to leaning over in a corner, we can work with students in our schools helping them to achieve an optimum smooth transition and body position.”

Professional racers at higher levels practice some downright astonishing techniques manipulating the center of gravity on their machines, but on a less complicated level, one school of thought suggests riders should utilize this concept by dropping their shoulders with their booty half off the saddle.  (We all have a handy little halfway gauge just for this.)  Riders lower their head below where a mirror would be with their outside arm stretched out over the tank and essentially “taking a bite out of their inside forearm” thus forming a more stable “triangle base” in which to maximize the contact patch of the tire.  Ladies, you will always feel much lower than what photographs will illustrate, so rock some Lil Jon in your helmets and “Get Low!”  …whatever it takes!

I have found that when you consciously make the effort to drop your shoulders, you’re better able to read the feedback of your tires and chassis at any point in the corner.  It also seems to slow things down a bit in order to better process your surroundings, which will be reflected in your lap times.  With a little practice and some seat time with your riding coach, you’ll see this too.  So get those shoulders down and ‘drop it like it’s hot,’ Vixens.