for awhile now, i have been a passenger on the back of #1BB's Yamaha V-Star Classic (not pictured.) I have loved being a passenger. I remember the first time I rode on the back of a motorcycle and how open the road felt. Everything was accessible and seemed closer to me. Other cyclists had told me this before: that you notice more, that you are moving through the world in a way that's closer to it. Suddenly, being a passenger in a car seemed so closed off from everything. I couldn't hear the birds. (I was surprised to find that on the back of a bike, I could hear birds chirping!)

Recently, I've read a bunch of books having to do with long motorcycle rides and I got it into my head that I wanted to get my Class M license and get my own bike and learn to ride before my 32nd birthday (which is coming up fast!) So, I decided in April to enroll in the Maryland MVA Basic Rider Course ($175 for the 17 hour class) that would get me started on a bike and at the end of which, I could get my license and be ready for the road. I didn't get into the May or June classes and so last week, I applied again and got assigned to the one weekend in July when I have late night gigs and cannot make the classes. Dealing with the MVA is never an easy task. Is it laziness or lack of funding that makes these people continue to resist technology and logic that could make their life easier (and mine)? Anyway, I'm not taking the class. I've decided to take the bike by the handle bars and use my in house personal tutor and learn the book stuff in the next few days, get my permit and start learning to ride.

In fact, I had my first lesson tonight in the parking lot of the Target in Towson. I was able to guide the 1150cc up and down a long strip of concrete and learn how to get from a dead stop and stay in first gear. I made some excruciatingly slow right and left turns. But after about 45 minutes, I actually was able to lift my feet off the ground and cruise along at a whopping 5 miles per hour. But it was freaking cool and once I got going, I could really feel what the bike was trying to do: go forward.

I dumped the bike once on my left side. I bruised my leg, but I managed to follow my instincts and do the right thing. Get out from under it before it fell and also to hit the kill switch in a reasonable amount of time (it might have been on it's side for about 2 seconds.) This is a massive bike for me to handle and so I'm looking for a smaller one to purchase. (The one pictured above is my favorite in the looks department and also, Ted Simon rode a Triumph. But the seat doesn't look good for long rides.) Anyway, #1BB's bike is too heavy for me. After an hour, my hands and legs were exhausted and it was exacerbating the problem I've been having with my wrists....but no matter--it was thrilling and I can't wait to do it again.