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Throttle Control

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A lot can be said about throttle control and how crucial it is in riding and cornering.  As riders we have the ability to make it easier, harder, smoother or scarier based on how we control our throttle.  I learned from an instructor in an MSF class that you should treat your throttle like “Barry White” (SMOOTH) and you won’t be surprised by a choppy and unpredictable ride.  This also rolls into rider input, the fact that if we do not relax our hands and arms, it can lead to disastrous results.  Today’s machines are so perfectly balanced that if you let go and just rode, the bike would right itself, we are the cause that things go wrong when we ride.  Try it and see, don’t death grip your bike, gently roll on and off (the bike immediately responds), push on the bars (gently) and see how easily it turns?  You have so much more control and it required way less effort.  The trick is being confident in your abilities and to relax, but to relax we need to have confidence in our abilities, yeah it is always a catch 22 isn’t it?

When coming off a stop I personally like to be in that friction zone, that place where you can pull in the clutch a bit to roll back and if you twist on a bit of throttle you will roll forward, either way it keeps you from stalling your engine.  This is so important when you are stopped on an incline, so mastering that technique is important.  Then there is the turning the key hand position so as not to fatigue your hand.  If you hold your hand as if you are turning a key in a door your hand doesn’t get tired and cause you to reposition it often and have an unpredictable position on your control that requires adjusting often.  Your hands should have a firm, but gentle grip on the throttle (relaxed) and it should be easy to engage and release the throttle with little to no effort.  This will allow you to ride for lengthy periods of time without your hands going numb or tired, it is all about a light touch.

Cornering is where throttle control can cause you to either panic and have that “Oh Shit” moment or that feeling of absolute exhilaration as you hit that throttle and nail that corner.  Cornering is something we all want to be confident in and be able to take confidently at speed, but many of us can be intimidated by it.  Just seeing that turn up ahead can cause us to tense up and then give the bike way too much input.  Just relax and loosen your grip on the bike and know that you can do this, practice, practice, practice.  Taking a class with a racetrack school where everyone is learning how to corner and corner well is a safe place to learn how to corner precisely and gain that confidence you will need for the street.

I distinctly remember an “aha” moment at a school I was attending where the individual who was reviewing my video of my laps asked why I wasn’t cracking on my throttle earlier?  I remember thinking, “I don’t know, I think I may run wide?”  He was quick to say that I would run wide only if I didn’t crack my throttle on early enough.  He made it very basic for me, he said upon entering a turn you brake, that breaking creates instability for your bike which you need to get it into position to turn. Once you have gotten into the lean position (which should have started before you entered the turn) and are in the trajectory you intend to go, you hit the throttle to stabilize your bike to complete that turn.  In every corner crack on the throttle as soon as possible (not too early though as it will cause you to run wide) and keep a light acceleration through the middle of the turn with the most aggressive turn on at the end to exit.  It was at that moment, I realized that my own fear was keeping me from initiating and completing that turn smoothly and precisely.  It was all about throttle control, when and where to apply it and how much.  Once you get throttle control mastered or at least partially mastered, you can ride knowing that you have the skills necessary to take on any situation and that is powerful.

Throttle control is the key to enjoying your ride, so master it and you will find out how much more enjoyable your riding experience will be.  For some reading during the off season, try Twist of the Wrist and Twist of the Wrist II from Keith Code or get the DVD’s and brush up on your techniques before the season starts again.  Please check out the forums under riding techniques where I will be posting some subjects to discuss.

Under Armour Outlet – Reduced prices

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Just a reminder for those of us crazy enough to ride in this weather, Under Armour has lowered it’s prices in it’s outlet. Click onto the UA banner on the right side of the website and start shopping, there is free standard shipping for all orders over $49 and free next day on orders over $150.  Look for great deals to keep you warm in this frigid weather, I know I couldn’t live without my cold gear and UA Base gear (3.0 is great under your cold weather protective gear). I was out with my compression UA cold gear leggings and UA Base 3.0 1/4 zip top under my riding pants and jacket (yes they are also insulated) and while I felt a little bit like the michelin man, I was nice and toasty.  As long as you prepare, you can ride year round.

I guess I should also state though, if it starts snowing and you are on a sport bike, it is time to high tail it home and drive.  Stay warm and just ride!

Emergency Card

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As I was filling out my forms to become a novice racer with WMRRA this year, one of the forms included a full medical information page which needed to be in your leathers in case of an emergency, I realized I needed to update my “In case of emergency” card I keep in my wallet while riding.  Not that we are tempting fate, but in the event that something should happen you should have this information handy for medics so they can get you proper care.  I am sure we all carry our ID when we are out riding, but all that changing from our everyday wallet to our smaller riding wallet, sometimes we forget, right?  I know there have been times when I got home after a ride and realized in my rush to get out the door or even being distracted by the kids, I had been riding without my license, oops!  It happens, life happens, so let’s be realistic and be prepared.  The card just provides the basic information, your name, DOB, blood type, address, phone numbers, physician, emergency contacts and a spot to put your insurance information.  I’ve included the document for you to print out, please fill it out and keep it with you in your riding wallet as well as your membership to the AMA (if you haven’t become a member, do, they are a great organization), they will tow your bike in the event something should happen.  It is that reminder from my girl scout days to “Be Prepared”!!!

It’s been chilly out, but I hope to see you all out there!  Vixens ride!

In Case Of Emergency

Need a Christmas gift? AMA memberships are perfect!

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If you are currently not a member of the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) and have been considering to join, click onto the logo on the site or go to resources and click on the bullet “American Motorcyclist” to get you started.  Memberships start at $49 and if you love our sport, the AMA fights to reserve our rights as motorcyclists and overturn unjust laws aimed specifically at our sport.  MotoVixens has registered with the AMA to be a provider so click on the link on our site and get started.

Why should you join?  They are an active participant in the war on distracted driving, AMA members get 24 hour roadside assistance (for no extra charge) on your motorcycle(s) and all the rest of your vehicles, discounts on rental cars, hotels, gear/parts, GPS systems, AMA Supercross and Arenacross tickets, fighting for our rights to ride in the HOV lanes, making sure we can’t be denied coverage for injuries resulting from a motorcycle crash, opposing the discriminatory practice of motorcycle-only traffic check points, improve motorcycle safety through conducting a national study on the causes of motorcycle crashes, keeping restricting laws about modifications to our bikes at bay, protecting our right to ride, etc.  This is only a short list of things that they do to protect our rights as riders and the benefits that they offer.  Join the AMA or renew your membership before December 31, 2012 and you will automatically be entered to win a 2011 Husqvarna TC449!

If you have a rider in your life who presently isn’t a member, click on the link and buy them a membership…it will be a Christmas gift they will thank you for.  In the meantime, stay warm and dry, ride frequently and enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones.  Wishing everyone a Happy Holidays!

Carol T. Carpenter

International Motorcycle Show – December 14-16, 2012

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The International Motorcycle Show will be held from December 14-16 at the Washington State Convention Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle, WA 98101. Show hours are 12/14/2012 from 3-8pm, 12/15/2012 from 9:30-8pm and 12/16/2012 from 10-5pm. Check out www.motorcycleshows.com/seattle for ticket prices and specials. The cost for tickets at the door are $15 for an adult one day pass, $6 for a child’s one day pass and children under 5 are free.

MotoVixens is planning on being there sharing a booth with Nels under the ECU Unleashed banner. Stop by, visit (discuss issues and topics of interest) and pick up a t-shirt, hat or license frame to support our ongoing endeavor to provide events and workshops that are educational and empowering. We look forward to seeing you there!

Vixens Ride!

2 Things You Shouldn’t Skimp On…

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This week is a short week so this will be my only blog for the week as we enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with our family and friends.  I wish you all a very happy and safe Thanksgiving and hope that the weather is nice enough to get out and ride.

At the Women’s Maintenance Workshop on November 14, 2012 I asked a question:  What are the two most important things on your bike, the things you should absolutely not skimp on?  Well, for one, tires.  That is the one thing that is gripping you to the road, without good tires it doesn’t matter how well you ride, eventually your luck is gonna run out.  You need good tires!  Traction and keeping both of those tires on the road are paramount, so check the pressure and wear of your tires regularly.  Check with your dealership or the manufacturers suggested mileage on the tires and if you even are questioning it, get them looked at for an opinion.

The second thing is suspension.  Why suspension?  Well, as women we tend to be lighter and shorter than our counterparts so suspension is key to being able to feel confident on the bike.  If a bike is set up from the factory for an average 175-200lb. guy who is 5’11”, I don’t know about you, but that bike is going to be hard for me to touch the ground, it will ride like a brick, and forget about  confidence at a stop.   I always joke that riding isn’t the hard part, when it comes to being height challenged, it is the stopping.  Truth be told though, it is the stopping and the backing up, I find it incredibly hard to back into a parking space when I have no leverage.  Suspension helps with all that, it helps to allow the bike to sag when you sit so you can touch the ground.  When you are new to riding, not being able to touch the ground can be intimidating and will keep you from enjoying riding to the fullest.  You have a bike, why not have it set up to fit you so you will want to ride it more?  You wouldn’t consider wearing an outfit that didn’t fit properly right?  You would get it altered to fit you and look good on you.  Same applies for the fit of your bike except for it comes down to feeling confident on your ride.  It is not very expensive, in fact quite reasonable, it depends on the type of bike and what it will require, but talking to a suspension specialist will give you an idea of what the total cost may be.

If you don’t do anything else to your bike to start with, these two things are huge!  Of course, I could go into dynos, new exhausts, etc., but having good tires and a proper suspension setup will go a long way into you enjoying your ride.  Everything and anything else you choose to do would be like icing on the cake and what girl doesn’t like icing?  We are looking into a maintenance event that Nels puts on at his 2 Wheel Dynoworks shop in Woodinville, WA with Fluid Suspension Science for suspension sometime in January.  If you are interested, shoot me an email with your name and kind of ride and let me know.  We are trying to gauge how many women would be interested in this.

I will keep you posted as things come up and look forward to seeing you out on the road, Vixens ride!

Carol T. Carpenter

 

 

Maintenance Event – 11/14/2012

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The Women’s Maintenance Event on Wednesday at Ducati Bellevue was a huge success! Thank you ladies for your feedback, we will definitely have to make this event something we offer either once or twice a year. The next maintenance event will be focused purely on maintenance, as requested by you ladies.  It is apparent that this is a subject you all want to know more about.  I think what we tried to tackle that evening was very ambitious for the time allotted and Nels didn’t get the opportunity to really tell you in detail what he really does.  It was, however, an introduction to suspension and dynos which I hope you will continue to research and learn about.  It isn’t just for racers, but it is the reason they can ride like they do, so when you think about it why shouldn’t it apply to everyday riders?  If you look on on previous blog posts, there is a more comprehensive article/blog on suspension and dynos.

I hope that you all learned a lot and as overwhelming as it was, you took away some knowledge you will use for yourselves.  It is my mission to provide you with content in workshops that will be interesting and helpful to you, so please let me know if there is something specific you would want covered and I will make sure it is addressed.  There will be more events to come so I will keep you posted.  In the meantime, ride safe and most of all just ride!

Carol T. Carpenter

MotoVixens

Maintaining Weight

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The winter months are here, the holiday season is ramping up, it’s cold, we’re with family and friends and it’s just the perfect recipe for us to gain a few pounds. I’ve been writing a lot about moto stuff lately so I thought now would be a great time to discuss a woman’s issue: Weight.  BTW- This doesn’t mean you should eat fat free, your body needs fat to function, just the right kinds of fat.

As riders, those of us who have had our suspension setup, should be careful about too much weight gain as it will require some adjusting for our ride (later), the feel of our ride, fit of our gear, never mind the self loathing alone should deter us. The key to enjoying this season is plain and simple, portion control and moderation. This in fact should be year round for all of us as we do have the potential of more fluctuation then men do.  There was an article in the Marie Claire magazine in October 2012 that basically spoke about this and broke it down by age group.

For women in their 20’s (you lucky dogs) have a higher metabolic rate, but it can drop 5-10% by your early 20’s because of a rise in your reproductive hormones.  This means that as your body gets ready to have kids, estrogen level rise and increases your body fat.  The table they suggest is 40% carbs, 30% protein, 30% fat.  The suggested exercise routine is at least 30 minutes of cardio 3 – 4 times a week.

For women in their 30’s, the hormones responsible for muscle and bone growth have either leveled or fallen off and the growth hormones that used to help with burning off fat, decrease significantly making it that much more difficult to lose weight (thank you mother nature).  The table suggested is 30% carbs, 35% protein, 35% fat.  The recommended exercise routine is full body conditioning, like cardio with weights, which will burn calories and build muscle at the same time.

For women in their 40’s (I am one of them), for us lucky ones, our metabolism drops more and so should our calorie requirements.  We are also approaching the M (I just can’t say or write this) word and have less estrogen which means that fat goes right to our tummy, not the hips or thighs (yippee!).  The table suggested is 25% carbs, 40% protein, 35% fat.  The recommended exercise routine is the same as in your 30’s complimented with resistance training to help with the age-related  loss of muscle mass.  I will give you an example of my own routine:  3mi run with my dog every morning, 2-3 times a week power yoga (more if time permits), CMS (Body Evo) once a week and if my boys are busy with sports, another 3 mi with the dog in the afternoons on those days.  My routine isn’t complicated and it works for me, find out what works for you and stick with it, do it daily, you’ll end up looking great and feeling better.

The basic reason for this blog is just to keep in mind it is easier to be vigilant than try to work it all off later.  We can enjoy the holiday season completely, we just have to be more mindful of our choices and key words: Portion Control.  Indulge, but in little portions, that way you can have your cake, eat a bite or two and still look and feel fabulous!  I hope this has been helpful in some way, please let me know, I would love to hear from you.

Vixens Ride (although a little less since it’s gotten so damn cold)!

Carol T. Carpenter

MotoVixens

About MotoVixens

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MotoVixens was founded by Carol Carpenter after discovering that education and resources for women riders is not only difficult to find, but scattered throughout various online resources.  Once a rider finishes their (BRC) Basic Rider’s Course and receives their endorsement, it’s basically up to you to put your seat time in and learn on the fly.  The fact is that learning in a parking lot is no match to what you are about to encounter on the street.  Women riders have a burning desire to learn and excel so it was only natural that MotoVixens was created to fulfill that need.

We are an online resource where you can learn about subjects women face as riders that can be quite diverse including websites that carry women’s gear, choosing motorcycles, riding schools (beyond the BRC), track days/schools, special offers for members, health and safety, links to special events (currently only in Seattle) and articles related to women and motorcycling.

Stay tuned as we work to include your state onto our website.  We will not list or review any business unless we have attended or checked them out ourselves, when we tweet we are in your area and the business under review, please let us know your personal experience as it will sway our decision to list them on our site.  This is your chance to help other women make well-informed decisions, have a voice and for businesses in this industry to be accountable for their actions.  It is our mission to help empower women to become more confident and proficient riders one woman at a time.  Our motto is Ride C.H.I.C. – Confident, Hard and In Control.

SO VIXENS, LET’S RIDE!!!!!

Carol T. Carpenter
MotoVixens

Adventuress Skin Care Collection

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Ladies, we love our beauty products, but one specifically designed for a woman rider?  So awesome!  I just had to give it a try.  Michele Carter, the founder of Adventuress, is a highly active woman and developed a skincare line to fit her lifestyle.  Her skincare line is naturally derived and perfect for those with skin sensitivities or allergies.  Michele sent me a trial size sampler pack that included the cleanser, skin purifier, moisturizer, a sunscreen wipe and facial wipes.  As this is October, I have yet to use the sunscreen wipe and facial wipes, but immediately opened the other items to try.

I placed a small portion of the cleanser on my Clarisonic (I just love that thing) and went to town. Then I used my own toner (I suppose I could’ve used the facial wipe, but am saving it for a particularly sweaty day to freshen up with) and applied the skin purifier, which is this silky gel that glides on to your face and makes it feel so smooth.  I then followed up with the moisturizer, which was nice and creamy, absorbed quickly and was not at all greasy.

I am on the third day and my skin feels smoother and I have to admit that I do see a difference in my skin’s texture.  Despite the fact I cram my face in and out of helmets daily, subject my poor face to the bitter cold running and riding and basically living an active lifestyle, my skin looks remarkably hydrated.  My hands down favorite of all the products, and mind you this will and can change at any given moment, is the skin purifier (which is actually more like a serum).  I love how it feels going on and how it feels as it absorbs into my skin.

A sunscreen wipe is a great idea.  Not having to worry about your hands being dirty as you swipe it on, brilliant!  Anyone at a track day with nothing but port-a-potty’s knows what I mean, yeah, ick!  Just a side note off the subject, wet wipes are a girl’s best friend, carry a pack with you in your backpack or luggage.

I am coming close to the end of the products and while the trial sample pack is great to get your feet wet, it would also be great for a weekend get away, around 3-4 days, 4 days if you are really frugal.  I highly recommend you try her products, I honestly think you will see a difference in texture on the first day and it only gets better each day after.  I am placing my order in for a lifetime supply of that serum though so if she runs out, chances are it was me!  Go to our resource page and link to her store directly.

Ladies should always put their best face forward before shaming those boys…Vixens Ride!

Carol T. Carpenter
MotoVixens