Planning Conga III

I have not been gettin any riding in these days at all. One day this week to work and back, that's it. So, I have to accept the fact that the season is over. I have been busy working on the 2010 Conga III, where we will all be riding to Cheyenne Wyoming. Don't forget to check that out!! Just type in Conga III to face book and it will get you there, or go to the Conga Forum and join in on the fun of planning this cool event. 
For those of you who don't know it is a MIM( meet in the middle) in Cheynne. 
 Woman Who Ride and Vancouver Island Lady Riders. We have all gotten to know each other on these public forums over the past few years. It all started when I bought my first Harley Davidson from Donna Palladino from Ride Like a Pro.
I flew to Florida, took the Ride Like a Pro course. Became best friends with Donna and was escorted across the USA by women and men I had never met before except on line. The second year, which was this year, my DH bought a Ride Like a Pro bike and I again rode it  home with some of the same folk and alot of new ones raising over $12,000.00 for Breast Cancer with the help of all these wonderful people.
Who wouldn't want to do this again?? Well, bottom line, we can only buy so many bikes..lol But I do need to see my Sista Miss Donna every year if possible. Of course many were only able to ride with us in Spirit, so we have a new route and some new riders..
I hear throught the grapevine I may even meet my new friend Harris, who I have been talking about lately.. There could be a Ride Like a Pro demo happening in Cheyenne....You wouldn't want to miss out on that, so if you can swing it...Plan your Holidays from the 4th of July, to ?????

Friction Zone in Harri's words

The partial application of power to the rear wheel caused by "slipping" the clutch.

That amount of clutch usage that allows any amount between 1% and 99% of the power the engine is producing to continue tot he rear wheel.
A common problem that causes riders to "lose" the friction zone is that they use the wrong part of their fingers on the clutch lever. Although it seems like it would be easier, and thus better, to have the lever between the knuckles of the fingers, you'll actually get a better feel for the lever, and thus better control of the lever, if you use your fingertips. Look at your left glove. If the wear pattern on the fingers (from the lever) is close to the palm, you're gripping the lever wrong.
Because of the confusion about engaged/disengaged (or clutch/de-clutched in Britain), I use the terms "relax your grip" and "increase your grip". This makes it understandable. I say "relax" rather than "release" because release would mean to let the lever go, and that of course gets you out of the friction zone.
Harris

Wobbles

This is BikeD/Wobbles, she develop here name in the parking lot shortly after attempting the 16ft cone weave. She rides a Road king like me, which of course, I think is pretty cool. She is determined to ride like me she said, so of course I look forward to that challange. Business was really slow as usual so I took a lunch break and off we went to the parking lot. She seems to have the friction zone down pretty good. Of course she still needs some practise, and we only had a short time. But those APES...they got to go.. She was wobbling all over the place, crunched all forward. I know it can be done, but crikey comfort has to come in somewhere. I took it for a test and although I could do it, it felt horrid and reminded me of when I had a little bit of  apes going on with mine. So she is going to have the bars pulled back for the next attempt in the parking lot. She's a fun gal, and excited about learning,and lives  in Campbell River, so it's all good. I'll have her scraping figure 8's in the spring time and her name will go  from Wobbles to Scraper. It's always great to find another person to practice in the parking lot. I look forward to updating her progress.
It was kinda funny because it was a very cool day, but in the first 5 minutes she was sweating, so was I. So we still have time to practice before the insurance runs out.

My friend Noel from NWMS

This is my friend Noel from NWMS. He lives in Langley on the mainland, so he was my fellow Canadian bud. The rest were Americans. Anyway, it appears we have the same goals, as I just recieved and email, saying he is taking the BC Safety Councel Course and is becoming an instructor.

His goal is to ride with the Cossacks!! How kewl  is that, maybe I am not to old to apply...lol

Good luck Noel, and I look forward to the updates of the course.

The weather here is nasty now, so I am not sure when I can get out again. I am itching to go play in the parkinglot.

Thankyou

I would like to say thankyou Harris, if you are reading my blog. I feel honored you would respond.

It is just amazing to me, how things happen. I have always felt blessed to have met the Palladinos and been trained by Jerry and of course his wife Donna. Thank you for taking the time also. I remember you saying somthing to the effect..Who does'nt know RID LIKE A PRO, at least now I know, that they are indeed good DVD'S look at you!

I look forward to reading your booklet this week!!

Makes Money seem pointless!!!

So.. I thanked Harris for his booklet and all the free information, told him that I liked the idea to

"picture a rider a few seconds ahead of you in the exercise" Follow another rider.. I have been trying that with Vgirl, and it does work. But so far we haven't gotten that far in the 12ft biatch!

Jokingly, I said to him... I want to ride better than boys he said

Flo, I definitely agree you ride "better than the boys" anywhere.

Despite my nit-picking, it's clear you ride quite well,and you're putting the concepts into practice very successfully... Harris

We emailed each other back and forth all afternoon, and I felt like I was taking up his time, and asked him what he got out of giving away a free booklet and answering endless emails.. His reponse was...

What do I get from it?

Well, a couple of times a year - out of the blue - I'll get an e-mail. It will say something like:"I was at a stop light today, and because I'd read your booklet, I was set up correctly and watching my mirrors. I saw a pick-up coming fast, and realized he wasn't going to stop. I knew what to do and got out of the way. The truck hit the car that had been in front of me". "

I was at a bike event. I made what I thought was a simple "U" turn. Two guys asked me if I was a cop, and said 'only a cop can ride a motorcycle like that'. Thanks

"Beyond that, I have people all over the country, and even the world, that I consider friends. People who I've met because of the booklet, and have since met in person and ridden with. People I know ride well. That's what I get out of it. Makes money seem pointless, don't you think?

Harris

More advice!

You can definitely put my address out on there. If you're feeling you don't have time to make that transition, it's almost certain that you have "late head and eyes". (yup that is what MM says)

When an operator is having that problem, I have them first try looking two full gates ahead. This gets them looking ACROSS the next gate (you're no doubt noticing a theme here). The other tool that can help is to follow another rider through the exercise. It accomplishes the same thing, because you'll be looking at the other rider's head, rather than the cones. If you have a good imagination, picture a rider a few seconds ahead of you in the exercise. The advantage is it gives you "flowing" head and eyes, rather than point-to-point.

motorlessons@hotmail.com

Please tell him Flo sent ya!!

More Advice from Harris

I just took a quick look at your blog, and noticed something, that is a recurring problem with some of the guys I work with. You mention having difficulty with a pattern because of cones, vs. less cones. Two guys in our group had the same issue, as they had been using small cones, and then had a heck of a time transitioning to regular ones. If that is a problem, check your head and eyes. What's causing it is looking at points, rather than across them. A common way that riders learn patterns is "I enter and ride to here, then I ride to there, then I ride to the next spot, and then I ride out".

That WILL get you through the pattern, but it takes away from your ability to adapt to a changing situation, such as riding through a crowd of people, or getting in and out of a busy gas station. If you keep your focus above the pattern, looking across (over) where you want to go, the size of the cones, or the presence or absence of cones will cease to be an issue.

More advice from Harris

I just looked at your video of the 12 foot cone weave. I see an issue that you can work on in your next practice session. You're doing well on your motor placement, and getting your front tire out to the edge of the gate. This is what I tell people all the time "Use all the space you're given". Because of good motor placement you're getting through the pattern OK.

However, if you can exaggerate the "teardrop" of your turns, you'll find it becomes much easier, and you will be able to run the exercise more smoothly, and consequently faster (speed is never the goal, smoothness and control is the goal. Speed will naturally occur with smoothness and control). I hope you understand what I mean by exaggerate the teardrop. If you were looking straight down at the exercise, your turns would have a teardrop shape. Your going through each gate on the video before the center of your teardrop turn. If you can adjust a little, and get it changed so the center of your curve occurs as you cross the gate, you will find you have more room, and a better set-up for the later gates in the exercise. You can see what I'm talking about if you look at my sidesaddle off-set cone weave versus my other one, with the feet where they belong. In the sidesaddle one, my curves are late (about like yours). In my regular one they are where they belong. Unfortunately the camera angle on the regular one doesn't bring this out as well as I'd like, but you can see it in the gates closer to the cameraman. I am at work now, so I have a scanner available. I made a little drawing that will hopefully illustrate what I'm saying (attached file). It's not the best, but you can see how if you can make a "fatter" curve before the gate, you'll get a better set-up for the next gate. In both the off-set cone weave, and the intersection, if you have a problem, don't look where you have trouble to fix it, look a gate or two earlier, for where you got out of position.

Now this is exactly what Motorman has been trying to get me to do. sounds simple and I know it is, it is just doing it.. It doesn't feel like I have enough time to do the fast left right transitions and get that dip/teardrop big enough.

Harris Denver Colorado

I think the way I got talking to Harris was ...he subscribed to my videos and then I did the same. He had made a comment so of course, I was totally interested, as I could see the course laid out so well just as in the last course I took. Even better actually. I asked him if he would mind me posting it on my forums and blog, and he said to me....

"You can definitely post about anything. I ask one favor and that is that you not post the lesson booklet. I'm always willing to send anyone a copy, but I never allow it to be posted to a site. The reason is that I want anyone who has it to feel comfortable e-mailing me with questions. I would be happy to help you with the police course dimensons. My understanding of the RLAP course is the dimensions have been relaxed somewhat from the police dimensions. The dimensions in my booklet are all police dimensions. Have you ever tried the 2x4 exercise in my book? It's another excellent friction zone primer, and gets riders in the habit of only putting one foot down, and not having a foot off the board on a moving motor. "

Now I have not had time to read it all yet what with Thanksgiving weekend and all. I will be doing that this week, but as far as practising, it is going to rain all week.

Sidesaddle Slow Cone and Off-set Cone Weave (Motor School)

Check this out!! this guy Harris, teaches the Motorcops! I was blown away that he didn't use rear brake at all. I email him, and we have had a fair bit of conversation. He has an on line 40 page booklet to give you for the taking for improving your skills. Just contact him through Youtube!! Very helpful!!

Attitude adjustment

''I've never done anything infront of people and succeeded'' ''sometimes I think I'm just a big fat loser'' (That's how I think sometimes)

That's my problem right there. If I believe I can't do something... surprise... I can't. I give myself a poor self image reputation, and then live up to it.

Do I cut people's hair in front of them? But of course!! Do I forget how to cut hair and have to be re-trained every time? Of course not!! I know I can cut hair blind folded and just do it without thinking about it? Why do I make a big deal out of nothing. I don't know why. Maybe I should talk to a shrink about it. It can't hurt. I have the will, the skill!

Why I can't use the skills I've learned and practiced a million times, every time, all the time, I don't know. I know that when I do go out to show off just a little in some parking lot somewhere, with Vgirl, doing follow the leader, my stomach starts churning. I force myself to do it from time to time. But it happens every time. Maybe I am thinking that the people that are watching are thinking...There she goes again...she sure thinks she is somebody.. When really, I am practicing in front of a small group of people to see if I can build up my confidence enough to ever, put on a show of RLAP. No one has any idea what it takes for me to do that.

Now I think back to the time in Leesburg, where I was allowed to ride with the Pro's. Sure I was nervous as heck but I did it.

If I take my little bike to Mexico this winter I would that way I could keep up with my skills. Heck, I don't know if I will be going, so might have to insure that pink thing and go out on any dry day, till I can do 15ft figure eights blind folded in a phone booth ;)

So basically what I am saying, is I need an attitude adjustment.

Ride Like a Pro

RIDE LIKE A PRO -Click on that link!!!
Do yourself a favor, if you would like to ride like that gal in Leesburg, mY FRIEND DONNA... Motormans wife....
check out the site and order up a DVD..That is where I started out and believe it or not am still being trained by Jerry Motorman Palladino himself.. Even though we live thousands of miles away, he continues to advice, encourage and correct and give me shit, when needed. He knows my goals, and is my teacher, my mentor. Hell, if a 54 year old woman can get this far in a year, you know you are missing out by not having these DVD'S.

Docdonna rides Like a Pro with the cops in Leesburg

This gal, is not only my best friend, but my inspiration!!! I was filming it this year!

I've been thinking things over!

I have been thinking about things.

The NWMS course wasn't difficult because of the cones. It was still 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. When I said the first day that I was scared because there were 6 men in the school and I was the only woman, I was done. First mistake!!

I might as well have gone home right then and there. I had a complete defeatist attitude from the start. It's all about attitude!! I repeated the motavational words I was given, but I never believed them. I would actually say them, I believed them, but maybe not believe enough in me.

With all the practice I've done, I should have been able to sleep walk thru that course. I should have been showing the 6 men how it's done. I know Marrianne, Donna, or Stephenie would have never been intimidated by having 6 men in the class? I remember the day that Donna jumped in with 5 0r 6 cops and Rode Like a Pro in Leesburg. Hundreds of people around.

None of them would have fallen apart and have been shaking and crying? Of course not. They would have been having a good time showing up the men. I failed myself. It wasn't the cones or the bike or the men or the course, it was me. Now.... What am I gonna do about it? That's the question.!!!!!

Western States Motorcycle Police Officers Rodeo Elk Grove 08

I want to ride like this!!!!!!!!!!!!

More cones

I'm sitting here bored at the barbershop as usual. So what do I do if I can't ride, watch riding, beit me or anyone else. I had just told someone about the course, and how I was so suprised that I had any trouble. Anyway, when I took this course in the youtube, I swear there must not have been proper measurements. Not to mention, there are hardly any cones!!! I really want to have this course set up the proper measurements, with lots of cones. On the Queen!

Flo Ride Like a Pro Police Course

Now I know why the NWMS course was more difficult!!

Friend from Hawaii

It always amazes me, when I look to see where people are watching me from. This is Dave from Hawaii, that I took the course with in Renton. He was the first guy that passed. I remember, asking him what my problem was.. Attitude Flo... Attitude goes along way... That was when I was beating myself up, for making any error. Then when it didn't matter, I was asking him how he entered the obstacles.. his words were... you know how..just do it... I did it, decided, I did know how, and just rode, like no one was watching me.. I never knocked over cone, even though they wobbled. Thanks Dave, for being there, and for following along. Hope to see you on your travels, don't forget to look me up in Campbell River, when you hit this Island!!

No Fairing!!

Easy desicion!!

Why would I put a fairing on the R/K classic. It doesn't go with the nostalgic look of the leather bags and the two tone paint scheme. It would be like putting a cowboy hat on the Mona Lisa. Plus, the fairing doesn't offer much more wind protection than the windshield and the lowers.

LMAO...NO FAIRING!

Season nearing end.

I have been getting lots of riding in,well on Sundays anyway, but hardly any parking lot practice. The season is is nearing an end, and most of my closest riding buddies at least in CR have run out of insurance. So I am good to go till December, and not really into going out alone to the parking lot. Imagine that??

I got a new seat on my Queen, which was actually her seat anyway.

I want to take a passenger sometimes and not to mention,

practice the excercises with a passenger. My next challange.

I will soon be taking the old girl apart to remove a dent f rom when I forgot to put the kickstand down. Get rid of some paint chips from flying rocks. Fix her roter, and give her a damn good cleaning, Put on her Road Queen Bling.

.. I am seriously thinking of putting a fairing on her.. My man says he is going to buy it for me.. What to do??? I'm thinking it is a pretty easy decision.

Pinkkat Passes Road test!

I'm pretty happy and proud I might add. The first gal I taught to ride last year and have been working with in the parking lot has passed her exam this week with flying colors. She is already ready to upgrade her bike. Congrats Pinkat!!