The kids and I were having fun hanging out on this lazy Father's Day afternoon so I got the wild hair to take them for scooter rides. Now granted, I only have my learners and am not technically allowed to have passengers, but I only took them on my street (which is a culdesac and less than 1/10th of a mile in length). The Wife was not terribly thrilled with the idea, but after she saw how we were riding, she had no problem with it at all.
We had a great time! I don't have a motorcycle helmet to fit The Girl, so she wore her bicycle helmet. We never got above 10mph, so I figured it was ok. I took The Boy for a ride and he can wear my extra adult helmet with no problem. We toodled around the culdesac for about a half-hour with The Kids taking turns. The Kids were absolutely thrilled! Plus, it was good for me to get a feel for passengers in a safe environment.
The Wife didn't go for a ride with me today, but she said that she definitely would sometime. Yeah, come on! That will be fun.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Title....finally!
Lucia's former owner was finally able to get the title! They had to drive from Athens to the main tag office in Atlanta to get it taken care of because they kept sending the title to the wrong place. It's all signed and filled out with my new information. I'm going to the tag office tomorrow morning to get the tag and the title put in for transfer. Whew! Finally. Then I will be able to ride around legally. I've not had any issues with not having the tag on there, but it would only be a matter of time. After tomorrow, there shouldn't be any issues though.
I'm all signed up and confirmed for the MSF Beginning Riding Course on August 10th. From what he says, those classes fill up really quickly and they had had a cancellation for that date, so I guess I'm lucky to even get in then. I've got the course book and have been reading it. I just want to be as prepared as possible so that I can pass the course without any problems and get my license.
I'm all signed up and confirmed for the MSF Beginning Riding Course on August 10th. From what he says, those classes fill up really quickly and they had had a cancellation for that date, so I guess I'm lucky to even get in then. I've got the course book and have been reading it. I just want to be as prepared as possible so that I can pass the course without any problems and get my license.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Counter-steering
What, you may ask, is counter-steering? That's what I asked myself as I was reading through a State Motorcycle manual when it breifly mentioned that pressing on the handlebar on the side of the direction you want to go is also known as 'counter-steering'. Well, that didn't make any sense to me. Push the handlebar on the side of the direction you want to go??? huh? What did that mean?
Did that mean that you pressed the handlebar toward the ground on the side of the direction you wanted to turn? That sort of made sense because maybe that would help start the lean. I tried it and it 'sort of' worked. I was still interested in this term 'counter-steering' so I decided to do some research.
Through lots of reading and many semi-scientific explainations, I had a good understanding of what it was but found it hard to believe. The basic idea was that if you are coming into a curve that goes to the right, you push the right side of the handlebars forward! That's right, you turn the handlebars to the left! How could this be? I want to turn right, so I turn the handlebars to the left?
I was a little dumbfounded, but because of the promise of effortless cornering, superior agility in emergency situation, and a real increase in the control of your bike, I was very anxious to try it. I got out on The Vespa and started down a long straight stretch of road. I figured I would try it out on a straight road before trying to turn the wrong way in a curve. So I'm going straight and gently but deliberately pushed my right hand forward on the handlebars. WHAT THE HECK?!?! The vespa immediately pivoted on it's center of gravity and started angling to THE RIGHT!
I couldn't belive it. That went against all logic. Well, I decided since that worked, I would put it to the test in a corner I ride through every day. I approached the corner at a slower pace than normal, and when the curve went to the right, I gently turned the handlebars to the left. As if by magic, my vespa fell into the most perfect lean to the right for going through the curve. I rolled on the throttle and shot out the other end! PERFECT! I couldn't believe it.
I had to stop and raise my faceshield and regroup for a second. I had had an epiphany! I felt like I had just learned that I could fly! This was the single most important thing I had learned thus far in my journey to be a 2-wheeler. I proceeded to ride for another half-hour or so trying to find as many curves as I could. I was able to go through all of my familiar curves faster and with more control than I ever had.
Well, I'm sold. I still have a lot of practicing to do to make 'counter-steering' second nature, but it absolutely works! There is alot of explaination on counter-steering that quotes scientific reasons such as Gyroscopic Precession and centrifugal forces, etc., but this is how I sum it up myself in very non-scientific from my brief experience. When you perform counter-steering, what it essentially feels like is that you are steering the bike out from under you in a controlled manner which makes it fall into the lean that is appropriate for the curve, lane change, or evasive manuver you are performing. Another interesting feeling you get when doing this maneuver is that the bike's line of travel is tied to it's center of gravity, not to where the tires touch the pavement. You can feel the tires pivot one way, your body pivot the other, but the path of motion is somewhere in the center of the bike, where the center of gravity is.
Anyway, this is not a very good explaination of how to do it, nor of why it works, but it is just my tale of experiencing it for the first time. Also, I know you experienced riders have known about this and been doing it for years and are thinking "what's the big deal?", but it was a beautiful thing for me to learn this. Below are some links that help explain it more thoroughly and scientifically.
Did that mean that you pressed the handlebar toward the ground on the side of the direction you wanted to turn? That sort of made sense because maybe that would help start the lean. I tried it and it 'sort of' worked. I was still interested in this term 'counter-steering' so I decided to do some research.
Through lots of reading and many semi-scientific explainations, I had a good understanding of what it was but found it hard to believe. The basic idea was that if you are coming into a curve that goes to the right, you push the right side of the handlebars forward! That's right, you turn the handlebars to the left! How could this be? I want to turn right, so I turn the handlebars to the left?
I was a little dumbfounded, but because of the promise of effortless cornering, superior agility in emergency situation, and a real increase in the control of your bike, I was very anxious to try it. I got out on The Vespa and started down a long straight stretch of road. I figured I would try it out on a straight road before trying to turn the wrong way in a curve. So I'm going straight and gently but deliberately pushed my right hand forward on the handlebars. WHAT THE HECK?!?! The vespa immediately pivoted on it's center of gravity and started angling to THE RIGHT!
I couldn't belive it. That went against all logic. Well, I decided since that worked, I would put it to the test in a corner I ride through every day. I approached the corner at a slower pace than normal, and when the curve went to the right, I gently turned the handlebars to the left. As if by magic, my vespa fell into the most perfect lean to the right for going through the curve. I rolled on the throttle and shot out the other end! PERFECT! I couldn't believe it.
I had to stop and raise my faceshield and regroup for a second. I had had an epiphany! I felt like I had just learned that I could fly! This was the single most important thing I had learned thus far in my journey to be a 2-wheeler. I proceeded to ride for another half-hour or so trying to find as many curves as I could. I was able to go through all of my familiar curves faster and with more control than I ever had.
Well, I'm sold. I still have a lot of practicing to do to make 'counter-steering' second nature, but it absolutely works! There is alot of explaination on counter-steering that quotes scientific reasons such as Gyroscopic Precession and centrifugal forces, etc., but this is how I sum it up myself in very non-scientific from my brief experience. When you perform counter-steering, what it essentially feels like is that you are steering the bike out from under you in a controlled manner which makes it fall into the lean that is appropriate for the curve, lane change, or evasive manuver you are performing. Another interesting feeling you get when doing this maneuver is that the bike's line of travel is tied to it's center of gravity, not to where the tires touch the pavement. You can feel the tires pivot one way, your body pivot the other, but the path of motion is somewhere in the center of the bike, where the center of gravity is.
Anyway, this is not a very good explaination of how to do it, nor of why it works, but it is just my tale of experiencing it for the first time. Also, I know you experienced riders have known about this and been doing it for years and are thinking "what's the big deal?", but it was a beautiful thing for me to learn this. Below are some links that help explain it more thoroughly and scientifically.
- Counter-Steering
- How Counter-Steering Works
- Counter-Steering
- Motorcycle Riders who Zig
- Counter-Steering: Push Steering the Easy Way
- Counter-Steering - Question & Answer
- Countersteering at WikiPedia (Lots more links here)
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Patiently waiting
In retrospect, this was probably not the best decision, but when I bought Lucia, the previous owner did not have title in hand, but did have a notorized Lien Satisfaction affadavit from his loan company and he told me that he had done the request for title and should be getting the title in two weeks. Well, next Tuesday will be three weeks. I spoke with him last Tuesday and he said that he had called about the title and they said that it had been sent, but it had been nearly a week and hadn't received it.
I'm really not worried as the guy I bought the scooter from seems a very decent guy and I don't think he is trying to pull anything, but it is a bit inconvenient. I have the scooter insured, I have my learners permit, I just can't get a legal tag until I get the title...ugh. Anyone know of a way to get a legal tag without the title in Georgia?
Had a nice 20 mile ride today (all within my neighborhood) to keep up with my practice, but I'm wanting to get out on more main streets and am hesitant without the tag. Well, gotta go to Palmetto and play bluegrass music for a wedding.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Working out the details
I got signed up for the MSF Beginning Riders Course today at Earl Small's Rider's Edge. Everything I've read say's you really really REALLY need to take the MSF course. It's one of those courses where you learn the things that you didn't even know that you needed to know. Apparently their classes fill up pretty well in advance so I'm just hoping to get in in June sometime.On another note, I'm still waiting to get the title for the scooter because I can't get a tag without it. Without a tag, I have to really limit my riding to within my neighborhood... not that I should be riding much further without more experience.
When I got home from work earlier I happened to notice the cool reflection in the chrome cap in the engine of my vespa and decided to take a picture of it... Like it?
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Baby Steps
Another day, a little more confidence a little longer ride. This morning I rode a little over 13 miles. I went through most of the neighborhood streets in my area. Good practice stopping, signaling, turning, etc. Plenty of curves, dips and manhole covers to keep you on your toes in a fairly controlled environment. It's amazing how much differently you view things on a scooter than in a car. I was noticing the shape of the road that I had never seen in places that I have driven over every day for the last 3 years.
Maybe I'll get a chance to take her out this evening again.
Maybe I'll get a chance to take her out this evening again.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
First Rides
After getting my learners permit yesterday, I took Lucia for a ride last night and just got back from another ride this morning. I have a great neighborhood for learning to ride. There are lots of curves and hills, the speed limit doesn't get above 45mph (mostly under 35) and there are very few cars.
The hardest thing I am finding to get used to is remembering to turn the blinker off! I'm starting to get more comfortable leaning into curves and starting from a stop on an incline. But overall things have been easy and fun!
I've got an open face classic style helmet and and full face helmet. This morning I rode for the first time with the full-face helmet. It's a cool spring morning and the full-face is definitely nice. Lots less wind noise, no watery eyes, just more comfortable overall.
The hardest thing I am finding to get used to is remembering to turn the blinker off! I'm starting to get more comfortable leaning into curves and starting from a stop on an incline. But overall things have been easy and fun!
I've got an open face classic style helmet and and full face helmet. This morning I rode for the first time with the full-face helmet. It's a cool spring morning and the full-face is definitely nice. Lots less wind noise, no watery eyes, just more comfortable overall.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Yeah, I'm legal!
Ok, now I can leagally drive my italian sweetheart! I got my motorcycle learners permit this morning and got my insurance all set up. I guess now I can burn up the hot metropolis of Smyrna. . . Look out!
You know, the DMV is a great place to look at a cross-section of life in your area. If they had a coffee shop there, it might be my new hang-out. I was behind an immigrant who was trying to pass off a tax id number as a social. The DMV worker looked at the person as if she had seen this attempt 1000 times.
I'm 5'11" and was behind an african-american woman who was probably 4 inches taller than me and out weighed me by about 100 pounds. She had on biker boots, skin-tight jeans, a see-through top and spiked out hair that was hot pink. I think that might be a good look for me. . .hummm. . .
You know, the DMV is a great place to look at a cross-section of life in your area. If they had a coffee shop there, it might be my new hang-out. I was behind an immigrant who was trying to pass off a tax id number as a social. The DMV worker looked at the person as if she had seen this attempt 1000 times.
I'm 5'11" and was behind an african-american woman who was probably 4 inches taller than me and out weighed me by about 100 pounds. She had on biker boots, skin-tight jeans, a see-through top and spiked out hair that was hot pink. I think that might be a good look for me. . .hummm. . .
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