When I first thought about this motorcycle thing, I wasn't aware of how complicated it was. Actually change that, I wasn't aware of anything to do with a motorcycle. I thought it would be like a bicycle with a motor. It is more like a helicopter. Helicopters are insanely complicated and only work based on some bizarre form of physics magic. And that's a good description of motorcycles too.
I'm really glad I took the course and recommend that to anyone else who wants to learn too. Here's how I've been practicing, since the class.
I started in the grass of my yard getting comfortable with the controls. Once I felt good with that, I ventured to a school parking lot (when school is out). Luckily, I live close to multiple schools and don't have much road time at all to get there. Once I was good with the controls in my own yard, I went over there. I spent a lot of time there, getting more familiar with the controls. I planned really well because I was on vacation from work and school was on a break, so I got a few full days in a row at the school parking lots.
From there, I worked up to riding on lower speed limit roads. And then worked up to 30 MPH and driving to get gas. The first trip down to the gas station felt like such an accomplishment. After that, it was more roads, getting comfortable with 35 MPH and higher. Then my first trip across town. And then here lately getting comfortable with state highways at 55 MPH.
Thus, basically stepping up as I gain experience and confidence. I always repeat each level until I'm very certain I've masted that level. That was one thing bad about the class, you start to get the hang of something, not really mastering, more like the hang of it, and then its time for the next session. (Though in defense, it is a whole lot to learn in a short time.) Thus, in my own practice, I don't just get the hang of something before moving onto the next challenge. I want comfort with it.
The starting challenge is to get used to the bike controls. After that, the life long challenge is analyzing the road situation and what other people are doing. It doesn't take much to ride down a road. But it takes a lot more to keep a watch out for every moron who can't drive and might turn into the road at any random point.
I've been reading a lot on motorcyling. I will post some longer reviews of what I've been reading. I've picked up some really great advice: in an emergency you will do what you do out of habit, you feel less fast the further away you can keep your main focus, and so many other things. As I said, I want to write up reviews (and re-read these books.)
The riding season may be coming to an end. With the daylight savings time shift and seasonal change, now the evenings are dark and cold very early on, so my riding in the weekdays may be at an end. I still probably have some more weekends. We'll have to see how it goes. But I've got a long list of books to read and re-read and memorize, so I think I'm going to have plenty to do in the off months.
I also notice I drive a car differently now. I'm a bit more aware, more defensive, and probably a better car driver. I also think about what if I was on a motorcyle right now when a tricky piece of road comes up or there's some situational danger in the road. Oh, and keep finding myself wanting to manually shift my automatic car.
This last Sunday I was out on a long trip down a divided median state highway with light traffic and good scenery. I was going 55 MPH, and I felt comfortable and in control. Later that day, I was exhausted from all the riding, but I man oh man I told myself "Damn I had some fun today."
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