Being a complete noob, I put myself firmly at the tail end of the group of bikes when we pulled away in the morning. As I focused on the line of bikes in front of me, I could see the tarmac fall away and puddles of water began to speckle the roadway.  Before I knew it, there I was in the sandy mud.

The moment my wheels crested into the mud the bike started to gently squirm around under me. I felt like a new rider again. I was filled with fear, excitement and adrenaline. The fast guys up at the front of the line disappeared out of my view. I went into hyper “concentrate on what you’re doing!” mode.

There seemed to be more and more water coming at me. I would be lying if I said I didn’t find that completely alarming. I tried to focus on the tracks that had gone through ahead of me and to follow them. I opted to skip a big puddle that swallowed one of the KTM 950s and went around the outside through the downed reeds. This was when things got really shaky for me.

With only street riding to compare to, all that squishing and wiggling going on below me was setting off all sorts of alarms in my head. I had one goal, one focus – keep moving forward! Somehow that is what I managed to keep doing. I wish it was skill, I wish it was confidence but I think it was just pure luck that carried me out to the other side.

When I finally putt-putted my way to the end of the road, 3 of the guys were waiting. It’s funny how experience changes your perception of these moments. To those 3 guys sitting there, this wet, sandy loop was just a walk in the park. On the other hand I felt like I accomplished something big. I felt like I climbed my own personal mental Everest.

These guys were all patient and knowledgeable and made my day really fun. I really appreciate that they were willing to take a baby bird on the first flight out of the nest. I hope they’ll have me along again.

Things I Need to Remember

• I won’t always be afraid everything.
• I will learn to accept the bike moving around underneath me without panicking
• Sometimes slowing down isn’t the answer
• I won’t always be afraid everything.
• Eyes up!
• Get up on those pegs!
• I won’t always be afraid everything.

I was pleasantly surprised that even though the temps were in the mid 30’s it just wasn’t so bad.  I found that even when they aren’t plugged in the T5 gloves are quite warm on their own. I didn’t come home a frozen Popsicle. Of course I wasn’t cruising along the highway at 85 either. I mainly stuck to the smaller backroads. Maybe it’s the bubbling excitement of getting a new bike that’s keeping me warm?

Do you have tips on keeping warm on the bike without electrics? Let’s hear ‘em!

I decided to find out what it feels like to ride the DRZ on a road that nearly knocked one of my ovaries loose the last time I took the Speed Triple down it. The road is a mess of ripples, pot holes, lumps, bumps and gravel. At least that was the way that I remember it being. Today I felt none of that treacherous jarring. I just sailed along enjoying the quiet morning by myself. I know that it was nowhere near a workout for the bike’s suspension even it’s its stock form, but it was an eye opening experience for me to travel that road at speed, painlessly.

I came home from my road ride with a huge grin on my face. It was really fun!

To the seasoned offroad or dualsport rider those may sound like small and naive goals but that is where I’m at for now. We all have to start somewhere.

Suspend the Fear – Trust the Machine

Being that I know the mechanics of making a motorcycle go from point A to point B so I get to bypass “learning to ride”. Instead, I have to learn to ride differently.

One of the first and most important things that I think I need to learn is to not approach imperfect surfaces with complete avoidance. Of course there are limits to my skill and the equipment. But, I need to unlearn some of the things that have become second nature to me having strictly ridden street-only bikes up to this point.

• Its okay to go through the grass
• Its okay to go down the dirt road
• You can make it through the gravel
• A little mud never killed anyone
• A little snow? eh.. should be okay
• Dropping the bike in any of these places is ‘okay’

While I may have done all of these things on a street bike at one time or another, doing them with confidence is a whole other matter. That’s what I want: confidence.

I want to learn to do more of this comfortably:

Heading down a gravel road in California

Being out in the world on the bike when everything looked like it was covered in a layer of powered sugar felt amazing. There is a comforting silence that the snow brings.

Its clear that there are mental hurdles I will have to overcome, namely volunteering to ride through and over things that my years of street riding have taught me to avoid. But all in all, I felt very natural and very much at home on the new bike. I’m looking forward to continuing with the learning process.

$345 Dollars

I really don’t want for much. I am a very fortunate soul. The only thing I’d been buzzing on about for the last few weeks was a pair of shoes. They just happen to be faaaar too expensive and many might argue far too ugly to wear in public.

To me, that’s a lot of loot for a pair of shoes that don’t serve a special purpose like say, a motorcycle boot. I’ve toyed with the idea of buying these stupid shoes for myself. I’ve danced around the ‘add to cart’ button, come to my senses and closed the web browser on more than one occasion. I’m not nice to my things. I don’t covet them or give them special treatment. I break them, I use them up and I ruin them. That’s just my way. So $345 is out of my league.

Surprise!

Gift giving around the Fuzzmop house has often been about getting each other the things we know we wouldn’t buy for ourselves. As Chloe and Kenny exchanged knowing glances with each other over the last week, I settled into a satisfying guilt certain that they’d ordered those expensive shoes for me.

When I walked up to the front door after work today, my daughter Chloe was in the grips of a full wiggle-dance on the other side of the glass. I opened the door and she set off running with the words “Mom, you have to come to the garage!” trailing behind her.  I followed her in.

“Happy Birthday, Mom!”

The Best Kept Secret

My family bought me a 09′ Suzuki DRZ 400. Apparently just about everyone in my immediate universe knew this secret plan was in motion. I am amazed at how much effort the people in my life go through to make me happy. I was and am, stunned and humbled by all of this.

So How is It?

I don’t know but I can’t wait to find out! Of course I had to head out for a quick ride just to see what everything felt like. It’s a whole other animal than I am used to. My preliminary ride was across the front lawn and around the block. I’m  hoping this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I guess I’ll have to get myself some new boots after all…

Maybe the little yellow moped is trying to communicate with me? It could be trying to give me a sign. It could also be that I am sitting in my office right now in a paranoid state, reeling from a Carvel Cookie Puss birthday cake hangover.

Sure, lots of motorcyclists like to scoff at scooters and mopeds. But check out this banzai scootering around London. It’s not what you ride, it’s that you ride. Right?

Route 12 in Idaho and Montana is one American road that can boast such claims. Following along the Lewis and Clark Trail through the Bitteroot Mountains of Montana and Idaho, Route 12 sweeps through the Lolo Pass and the Lolo National Forest. It wriggles on alongside the Lochsa and middle fork of the Clearwater Rivers. Where there are rivers, there are wiggly roads.

No traffic, no people. Just you on your motorcycle in the warm glow of the rising sun. There you are just quietly cruising along; left, right, left, right – racing no one but the river running along side you. Can’t you just picture it? I sure can. Put a tick in the “Someday” column for me.

Photo Credit: John Paul James

Have you ridden Route 12? Tell us about it!

• Does anyone happen to know where the ‘Winding Road Next 77 Miles’ sign is located on the western end of route 12? I can’t seem to find it on Google maps. It would be a shame if I had to ride all the way out there just to find it. /sarcasm

For More Information:

• Route 12 & The Lolo Pass – Idaho Motorcycle Roads
• Lolo Pass Loop
• ADVRider – Winding Road Next 77 Miles Photo Thread
• View on Google Maps