Is It Just Me?

I am a worrier. Ever since I began riding motorcycles I have been very concerned with cornering. Usually a turn to the right is not much problem. It feels natural, as I am right handed, so my brain seems to go toward the right easier. When a sharp turn to the left comes in view, I usually panic for a split second and then maneuver through the turn. I have swung too wide on a few occasions turning left and have come a hairline away from going off the road. I corrected, in any event, and never went down.

I don’t know why it still alarms me when I approach an upcoming turn. The adrenaline pumps instantly and I instinctively guide the motorcycle safely through the corner. I am usually riding where there are a lot of cars and traffic to maneuver as well. The rules start going through my head all at once. “Look toward the direction you want to go”, “Shift down before you take the turn”, “Lean”, “Push on the left handgrip to go left, the right handgrip to go right”.

I am always more relaxed when I ride out in the rural areas, unless it gets very hilly. All you have to think about might be an animal jumping out in front of you along the way, and you can always slow down as you need to take a sharp corner in either direction.

I’ve decided that maybe everyone has a slight dread of one type of road condition, or type of route, or kind of weather to ride in. Practice is the answer so I’ve been trying to take routes that require me to corner and turn a lot.

I also have a tiny dread of riding on steep mountain roads, downhill. It’s the feeling of being out of control and can’t slow down enough. I have nightmares about it from time to time. I’ve avoided the mountains until now but will challenge myself this summer with those things I am most unsure of. That is the only way to grow as a motorcyclist, and I think you never stop learning. There are new challenges on your ride every day. That’s also what makes it fun.

Book Review – A Little Twist of Texas by Linda R. Moore

Shortly after I began my Biker Chickz Blog, I started looking for other female motorcycle related websites. There weren’t many, but one that I found right away was Raven’s Roads. The website is authored by Linda R. Moore, a British lady who writes books, articles, and who now has several blogs. She also uses her motorcycle as her main transportation.

As I became familiar with the Raven’s Roads website, I kept coming back to see what was new. I soon noticed that Linda had written a book about traveling from the Silicon Valley in California to a writers convention in Texas, on a motorcycle and by herself. It was called, “A Little Twist of Texas”. I ordered the book through Raven’s Roads right away, and received a personally autographed copy from Linda.

I began to read the book last fall, when I had only been riding my little Suzuki Boulevard S-40 for a couple of years. The concept of riding alone through the desert and facing the challenges of mechanical problems, weather, and other hazards was something that had never occurred to me. I began reading the book and was glued to it from the beginning. Linda described herself as an introvert, who is not really mechanically inclined. How could she put herself in such a scary and uncomfortable situation? The unknown lay ahead. She writes the book in a way that it seems you are right there with her. I felt that our personalities were similar as she describes her thoughts along the way.

Through many trials and detours from the original plans, Linda makes her way to the convention and back to the Silicon Valley. The book, ‘A Little Twist of Texas’ is an adventure waiting to happen, and opened my eyes to what I might be capable of doing. I developed a new attitude after reading Linda’s book, and have learned about other women who’ve traveled far away on motorcycles. I soon went out and bought a larger motorcycle, so that I wouldn’t be limited for any ride I planned. Now I believe anything I can dream of is possible, and I don’t have to analyze it and plan it to death. On my next trip I will go with the flow, see what comes along, and enjoy every day! Thanks Linda.

You can purchase Linda’s book through any of the Raven’s websites. It is also available from other book purchasing resources. The book is an inspiring read.

A Fun Read: Lois On The Loose by Lois Pryce

To alleviate my frustration of not being able to ride my motorcycle lately, I decided to do the next best thing. Read about it. I love books and owning books, so I went online to see what was there. I had a gift card for Barnes & Noble. For those of you who haven’t heard of, ‘Lois On The Loose’ you are really missing out. I thought the description sounded fun so I bought it. Was I in for a surprise?

I can’t put the book down! It is written by a gutsy British lady who decides to ride a motorcycle solo from the Alaskan wilderness to the very tip of South America; as far as the roads would go. She does this on a Yamaha 250cc Serow dirt bike. The trip is remarkably thrilling to hear about, and her writing is such that you follow along as if you are riding along with her. She has a sense of humor which really comes through in the book. I’ve fully enjoyed the read, which I don’t do much of, by the way.

The book only seems to come in hardback in the US, but I’ve enjoyed that feature as I’ve held it and read it. I will be reading it again and sharing it with others, so I’m glad now that it’s a hardback. Lois has inspired me immensely, and now I am planning a longer ride than I’ve ever done. She makes you realize that anything is possible with the right attitude and a sense of humor.

You can see photos and learn more at her website- Lois on the Loose.com. Since writing this book she has done another ride through the African Continent on a similar small motorcycle. She has another book coming out in June, ’08 about the African trip. You can find out more about what Lois Pryce is up to at her website.