Thank you Helen for sharing your early riding experiences. I've often thought how I would handle dogs-at-large running into the road, or kids playing. As I drive my car and things happen I think "Hm, how would I handle that on the bike?" MSF class will likely shed light on safety issues.
What Helen wrote about the night riding hit a nerve. I've ridden as passenger on Harleys at night and felt anxious...I have no plans to ride my bike at night. A friend from TN came to visit me. He has a $30,000 Deuce show bike. I rode as passenger with him to the North GA mountains. We stayed late. We took GA 400 highway home. He was speeding at 80 mph when suddenly we came upon plywood sheets in the road. We went right over them with some jostling. I was panicked. I was squeezing the heck out of him (as passenger my "I'm scared slow down" signals are slapping lightly with the left hand or intermittent squeezing), but he gave me a head toss as if to say "we're fine" and kept going 80 mph.
I don't give in to peer pressure often. I have many people who are eager to ride with me as soon as I get out of MSF class, but I will not ride at night or high speeds or do anything I am not ready for.
Helen, when you dropped the bike and it hit the Pumkin and then Dave yanked up the bike and made you drive it I would've cried all the way home too. I have wondered what I'd do if I dropped the bike driving it alone in public. A couple of people showed me techniques for lifting the bike, but I'm petite and so far can't do it alone. If no motorist helps me, I'll likely sit on the roadside and cry. Oh, won't I look cool in my leather chaps, Harley boots, and jacket crying like a little girl, lol.
I bought the Harley (well, you all read why in my blog about Dirk, lol) because I've always wanted my own bike, but also for socializing. So, I will likely ride with at least one friend everytime.
"what I did was let of the brake on a incline and it just rolled under me and fell over..." I worry about inclines and stopping on hills. I can barely control the V-Rod's weight "walking the bike" in a circle. I'm so glad that you mentioned it. I need to practice.
Have a great day everyone! Julia/BHG