Saturday...Trike Safety Course

[Jolie]

You all will be proud of me....I've manage to put almost 1500 miles on the trike in 4 weeks. Yep, any excuse to get out on the road and I'm on Thunderstruck.

Today I decided to do 125 just to go pick up the turn signal cover I ordered from a Suzuki dealer. I'm holding it for a spare. My dealer ordered one and wasn't sure it was the right one. I knew I'd need it for the course. It ended up being the right one so I'm hanging on to the other in case I need it. So today I decided to put off housecleaning and laundry and go pick it up.

Yesterday I met a friend who rode 100 miles over to the Harley dealer and went riding and I got some pointers. Did about 160 miles yesterday and I am no longer scared of the interstate. I'm conquering all my fears. Also I was told I handle the trike really great and am confident when I ride so that made me feel really good.

Saturday is the trike safety course. Rain is in the forecast. I've been watching the weather for 2 weeks for Saturday and it hasn't changed. I've decided if its pouring when I get up I'm going to skip the course and take it another time. Its a 65-70 ride one way and I've only ridden in sprinkles. I really prefer not to ride in a downpour. I have everything ready that is required for the course so if the weather cooperates I'm going. I don't mind if it rains a little after I get there I just really prefer not to ride in it on the way there or way back. So I'm still watching the forecast.

Just to add..... I LOVE MY TRIKE!

 

[Trk Ldy]

You go girl!!!!!ThumbUp

 

[Gorilla]

Wow you are doing great. Now just a word of caution. You will always be learning. Keep an open mind. Most important RIDE LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. Ride defensively always and RIDE TO ENJOY

 

[DblTrbl]

Jolie,
Hope the weather improves for Saturday so you can get that class in.

I too have been eyeballing the weather for my trip to Nova Scotia...so far not looking good as rain is in the forecast for the first 4 days of my 5 day trip....heavy sigh

 

[Trail Blazer]

trike ride

ok Jolie I am all afraid you are on you way to being a ( HARD CORE TRIKER) keep up the good work.

 

[Jolie]

Well I woke up early this morning (I go into work at 2pm its my half day) and it was storming and pouring rain. The sun is out right now but storms coming again this afternoon and through the night. I called down to the rider program and talked to the gentleman there. There are usually 12 in the class and they had 8 scheduled and two have cancelled. I explained my situation that it's in the forecast to storm tomorrow and it's about 70 miles for me to ride there and I've never ridden in rain. He understood so when they schedule another class I'm going to go to it. If they don't get one scheduled this year I'm going to check out the ones at U of I, it's a two hour drive there but I can always stay over night and now that I'm riding good 2 hours is nothing.

I watch everyone, so many people are in a hurry anymore I have to watch out for myself.

I know it sounds like I'm a baby about the rain but I'd really prefer to not stress about both the rain and passing the class. :laugh:

 

[dbruce56]

Sounds like your doing great. And you have the right attitude. I wouldn't worry about not wanting to ride in a downpour. I'm sure most feel the same. I for one won't start out in one but, if I get dumped on while out,,so be it.

 

[stinger608]

You are doing frigging awesome Jolie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, due to naming your scoot "Thunderstruck" I just couldn't help but post this.

 

[Steve on 3]

Jolie

The majority of us on the board who have been riding forever don't like to start out in the rain. If we get wet enroute, oh well, that's riding. I think you made a good decision to opt out of the class. No need to punish yourself and add additional angst while trying to pass a test. The main thing you need is seat time and you can't get that in a classroom. Some things have to be experienced. Yes, they will teach you about riding safely and defensively, but only you can determine how fast is ok in a corner and how fast is tooo fast. Experience is a good teacher but the learning curve can be steep if oou cross over the edge.

Anyway, keep riding and smiling. It makes the cagers wonder what you are up to

Steve

 

[Jolie]

Wouldn't you know it the storms held off to about right now, 6pm but that's ok I'll go next time.

I did ride 130 miles today and even 3 doses of spf 110 I'm sunburned. lol I'm over 1600 miles now! And I found a mini mini tail of the dragon ride near me, about 30 miles. It's a state park that I haven't been to since I was a little girl and it's got twisties and hills like you wouldn't believe! I did fantastic! I went through it twice. I'm going back. It just undescribable how the feeling is riding through woods and turns. The real Tail of the Dragon is on my bucket list.

I can see and feel so much improvement in myself. I haven't killed it at a stop taking off in the last few rides. I notice that after I've ridden awhile my left wrist gets weak with the clutch, it's the wrist with the pin and fracture not quite healed yet so when I start feeling the weakness I head home. I should really ride with a wrist support but just lazy. I'm definitely turning into a Hard Core triker. LOL

Oh and I love the AC/DC video. I crank up the sound when I'm riding and that comes on my playlist.

 

[Mick]

The twisties part kind of sounds like Starved rock in that one road section. Glad you had a great day. Me and the Missus got out and did about the same mileage and just beat the storm in by about 15 minutes. It was a beautiful afternoon for riding. On your clutch lever you could check and see if maybe your pivot bushing and pin could be needing a cleaning and regreasing. It might help with your issue.

 

[flyswatter]

Where might this mini-mini tail of the dragon be? If it is 30 miles from you can't be much further for me...I have ridden Deals Gap on a 2 wheeler and it was fun; however there are many roads in that area that challenge the rider...

 

[Jolie]

Where might this mini-mini tail of the dragon be? If it is 30 miles from you can't be much further for me...I have ridden Deals Gap on a 2 wheeler and it was fun; however there are many roads in that area that challenge the rider...

Well, since I'm a new rider and I've never been to the Tail of the Dragon and only watched videos, to me this is a very very mini version, it challenged me with the steering of the trike and controlling my speed. An experienced rider would probably just laugh at me. It's Ramsey Lake state park. I've only been riding my trike (besides parking lots) for 4 1/2 weeks and in those weeks I've put 1600 miles on it highway, interstate, in town but I've never been challenged with turns etc so to me it's a very mini tail. It was a beautiful ride through there I haven't been for over 30 years. I hope to find more state parks like that to ride through or areas. Where is Deals Gap that you're talking about? Is it in this area?

 

[Sully]

Jolie, sounds like your doing it right. Good for you. ThumbUp

 

[Zammy]

Basically it's in N.Carolina Jolie, here's a link for you to read:

Tail of the Dragon (Deals Gap)

 

[jaxbobg]

,

.............. Where is Deals Gap that you're talking about? Is it in this area?

It's about 530 miles south of your location. Not sure you're quite ready for that kind of road trip.

But when you are, there are miles of good riding in Tennessee, North Carolina and North Georgia. Besides Tail of the Dragon, there is The Snake, The Diamondback, and The Gauntlet (in N. Georgia).

You'd better plan to spend some time because you'll want to tour The Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, visit Maggie Valley, and visit roads and POIs too numerous to mention in one post.

Hope you have a lot of vacation time to draw on, because you could take a year to see it all.

 

[Jolie]

,

It's about 530 miles south of your location. Not sure you're quite ready for that kind of road trip.

But when you are, there are miles of good riding in Tennessee, North Carolina and North Georgia. Besides Tail of the Dragon, there is The Snake, The Diamondback, and The Gauntlet (in N. Georgia).

You'd better plan to spend some time because you'll want to tour The Blue Ridge Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, visit Maggie Valley, and visit roads and POIs too numerous to mention in one post.

Hope you have a lot of vacation time to draw on, because you could take a year to see it all.

Sounds awesome! I'll put on my bucket list. Not enough vacation time yet. I retired from my previous job and only been at the new one since October so haven't built up time. Guess I'll keep my fingers crossed for winning the lottery or a rich husband who also likes to ride. :laugh: I'll be a long time waiting. LOL

 

[DblTrbl]

" winning the lottery or a rich husband who also likes to ride. :laugh: I'll be a long time waiting. LOL"

DON'T WAIT.....RIDE!!!:Trike1:

 

[Rod69]

Keep up the good work Jolie your doing great. Like Gorilla says take your time and learn.