Dear Diary,
Today was a terrible day...
Oh wait! Wrong forum... Seriously, this has been a terrible WEEK. No make that a terrible MONTH!


I have been waiting a month to take my driving test for my M endorsement. No kidding, there is a month's waiting list. I scheduled it for the 25th of June, thinking that was a terribly long wait! So I've been waiting patiently....

After we realized that the brake lights were out on my scoot, we took it in first thing on Tuesday (closed Sun, Mon) and found out it won't be ready until Saturday or Tuesday. Oh dear. So I quickly learn how to ride my husband's motorcycle.

So, I'm out practicing tonight, and I can't get the son-of-a-gun into gear. Come to find out, the freakin' chain is broken on it!! I'm wondering if God is trying to tell me something?

I don't even know anyone who has a bike I could borrow.

Looks like unless a miracle part comes tomorrow and they can get it in before 1:00, I'm waiting another month to ride.

Hey Peach,

If you want to come to Greene County, I'll let you use my Swing. At our little country DMV, first come first serve. No appt. needed. I am not to far of I-81 and the DMV is pretty close as well. All you'll have to do after passing the written test is go down the road turn in a parking lot and come back along with hit the horn, hit the brakes and show use of turn signals. If you're in a hurry to get your license, PM me if you're interested. I live exactly 45 minutes from the strawberry plains exit if you're on the North side of K-Town. Our DMV is open Tues,Wed,Thurs, Fri from 7:00 AM-5:30 AM. I happen to be off tomorrow as I am a teacher and am only teaching summer school on Tues, Weds, Thurs so I can do a Friday so you could be driving back to K-Town with an "M" on your license.

Hi Peach,

Take break and read a story. It's about, Ben a Silverwing and Vespa his lady. They just started their vacation when the story starts.

http://www.silverwing600.com/general-chat-f12/the-gold-of-the-marinette-t1063.htm

Update: Chain is on. Cycle is roaring. Hubby is on his way to pick me up to take me up to the testing center.

Darling Husband dropped my helmet off his bike.....

My test is in 1 hour... let's see if he can find me a new one before then....

Good luck as if that has anything to do with preparation, recall, and performance.

Well, it's official.... in spite of everything, I did it!!! I drove around the parking lot in one piece and used my blinkers when I was supposed to! I can legally drive a scooter or a motorcycle!!

Hi Peach,

Congrats, on the new "M" on your DL. It's a good feeling to kown it's there.

Yea! I'm glad you have gotten the license.

I agree with Bill - search for a local MSF sponsored course and then attend. The basic course is really good and provides a much needed foundation upon which you can build your skills. The experienced riders course is a bit more involved. Successful completion of either course is required at Redstone Arsenal (where I work) in order to register your bike on post.

http://www.krep-tn.com/

Hey Peach,

Congrats on your test and keep the rubber side down. When are you going to be able to ride your SWing?

Thanks everyone! I'm glad it's behind me.
The Beast will be ready to roll tomorrow morning.
I looked into the safety course, but with our work schedules, we couldn't swing it. I've talked to several people who have taken the local one and all but one said they took it only to bypass the test (ironically that I took today!) So the general opinion is that once you get your M they don't have much to offer. The one that disagreed quizzes me constantly and I always answer correctly off the hip. I figure it is the same info you get when you study for the written test, which I studied crazy-hard for! I wanted to get real experience and learn the same way I learned to drive my car 20 years ago. And right now, with my husband looking for a job, it's just not in the budget for both of us to take it.
But I appreciate the congratulations!!! We celebrated by having Mexican for dinner! Yummy!

I think if you take it you might be in for a surprise, they take you to another level in awareness and safety. It could save a life, YOURS.

The course is not so much about academics as it is about riding and riding skill. Certified instructors explain, show, then let you practice riding specific scenarios that all riders encounter. They offer advice on how to make your skills better.

I think I ride well, I've been riding for a good while, and I like to read about riding. Taking the course allowed me to practice in a controlled environment and find out about and correct some bad riding habits. I've met a lot of people who tell me it is a waste of time - they'll tell me how good they are on the bike and then I'll get a chance to ride behind them and observe first hand how "accomplished" and "skilled" they are (NOT). The Experienced Riders Course was a great boost in my rider education. Kim and I still discuss the strategies they taught us when we get out on the road. Helps us spot riders to avoid.

I did the Police BikeSafe course soon after I took my Test.
Not only did I learn loads of offical road-craft, the Police motorcyclists, all fanatical bikers, gave us hints and tips which are not in the book.*
We also got to know them as people, always useful.

*On my second observed ride - two students and one policeman - I stuck rigidly to the speed-limits....as one would when being followed and scrutinised by a policeman!
The last bit of the ride was on a dual-carriageway with a 40MPH limit.
When we got back, the policeman came over to me and said,
"What on earth were you doing along the last bit of road? You were going so slowly."
I said I'd been riding on the speed-limit.
He replied, "I have never, never been overtaken by a car along there. You are on a motorbike - make progress!"

Clearly he was not advocating abusing the limit but.......!

Hey Peach,

Congrats on the License endorsement! I know it is great to finally get it out of the way. A lot has been said already on the MSF safety course. Well.... I'll say a little more. After riding for a year, I went ahead and took the "Advanced" MSF course. The main benefit was insurance reduction, emergency maneuvering skills, low speed riding skills where many if not most wrecks occurr (figure eights in large and small boxes is really good for practicing counterbalancing). Another benefit to the "Advanced" course is that it is one day instead of two and cheaper and you will not be required to take the written test since you already have the coveted "M" endorsement. The skills though are basically the same as in the beginner course which is what I wanted to learn. However, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS....... that it helps you to think a little differently not only about your riding but about the driving of everyone esle around you and how to react appropriately. For example, leaving plenty of space between you and the car in front of you at a light or stop sign and keeping tabs on the guy coming to a stop behind you. This skill actually saved me from being hurt last year when I came to a stop at a light. The guy was texting and not paying close attention and locked up the brakes when he panicked and realized that he couldnt stop in time. I realized what was happening when I checked my mirrors and heard his brakes and because I had left space between me and the guy in front, I was able to swerve (a quick push on the handlebar and blip on the throtte) to the left and when I looked back, that guy was where my bike was. I probably wouldn't have been killed as he would have hit me at a low speed but I'm sure I would've been hurt some with a totaled swing. I guess what I'm saying is that it's not so much the skills you learn as much as the way it teaches you to approach your riding (and everyone else's for that matter"and think about all the what if's and how your going to respond to those "what if's" when they do happen. And the one they'll tell you in those classes is that they (the what if's) will happen eventually if you ride long enough. When they began our class, the guy used the following statement... "There are two kinds of riders.... those who have fallen.... and those that will". I feel like that it made me so much more aware of what is around me and what can happen and as a result, I can respond more insinctively to many situations that can occur as a result of the training. I was riding for a year before I took the MSF course so no rush. When the opportunity presents itself, consider taking it at some point. It will make you a better rider ultimately not only by improving your skill level but helping you to be mindful of what situations to not put yourself into and how to get out of situations that others put you into that you don't want to be in.