“One Woman’s quest to ride her own bike.”

I am not sure when a person should start riding a motorbike, but I do know; you are never too old to start. This is a very delicate matter; it involves a lady (my wife) and her 50^th Birthday. Now when most women are sitting back, knitting and cooking, my wife decided to learn to ride her own motorbike. Her aim was to have a bike licence before her 50^th Birthday; she had less than a year to do this. As a hardened BMW fan, I had only two “musts” (1) it MUST be a BMW and (2) my wife MUST be able to pick the bike up off the side stand on her own. The search was on!! Like the glass slipper, every bike was sat on, every bike was tugged, and nothing budged. At the launch of the new RR, I even said a soft prayer, but it too would not move. The reason for all this tugging was that my wife is vertically challenged, although she will not admit it.

It took around 2 months to find a bike willing to be coached out of the lean to the upright. It was a yellow GS 650 single. Perfect condition and low km’s, the ideal learners bike. True to my word, I bought the bike for her. The dealer lowered it a bit more by pushing the forks through and cutting the seat down to a lowered seat, which had one problem, it leaves very little padding between bike and butt. The heat from the engine also seems to know that some of the padding has left the area below your butt; I swear it centres all its heat displacement in that very area. Great for winter but hell in the summer.

Next mission – training. It is never a wise move to try and train your own wife, daughter, son or any part of your immediate family (I learnt this when I was a professional horse trainer). So it was off to the BMW training Academy for Anne – where else? I took off the two days from work to witness this and take photos. I did not know what to expect and what I saw was amazing.

It started off with one person pushing the other around on the bike with engine switched off, then “walking” the bike with engine running, then feet up and riding. This, in less than an hour or so, most impressive. I can honestly say that the women actually did better than the guys and that most of the woman learning were middle aged. It was not long and they all took off around pits area, following each other like geese migrating south, or is it north, never sure!!! Seeing ones wife on another bike, riding and controlling the bike, it frightening for the first time. I vowed not to interfere nor stand close to the training area (a move I can advise all those guys out there) luckily I had a telephoto lens handy.

By that afternoon the students all took to the top training area to ride the cones etc. This space was bigger and my breath had to be held more often than a diver doing deep dives. Not something I can advise for the chaps with bad hearts. We always think that we are the only ones that can ride a bike and that our wives/girlfriends are not able or won’t be able to ride. Let me tell you chaps – given half a chance most of the ladies would be riding their own bikes. This would double the sales, maybe BMW should look into this, for promoting sales, free training for woman, just a thought!! Not sure how to explain the thoughts and feeling that ran through my head at the time, nerves, worry or plain fear!! But as the day grew to an end and the students had ridden without a hitch ones stress level also subside, for that day, the next day they would start up again.

The next day was “bring your own bike day”, again the panic set in, not for my wife but for me. What if she dropped it, what if she could not handle the bike, what if…..? There were hundreds of scenarios going around in my head of what could happen. By about 10h00 the time came to get on your own bike. Now a 650 may not be big, for most riders, but to go from a little 250 to a 650 for the ladies (as they were the only ones that brought their own bikes) was a BIG step. My heart went out to the one lady that was presented with a brand new GS800 to ride, with 1km on the clock. No pressure girl!!

I honestly did not know what to expect. I had confidence in my wife, but she had never ever ridden her bike yet. The Academy chaps had done their work, they set the nerves straight (mine) and assured me it would be okay. Like watching your child walk for the first time. You want to help but also want to see the child walk, the same with the biking, you want to hold the bike up (in case) but also want to see the person ride. So to do this I again made full use of my telephoto lens and kept my distance.

It was not long and I could see the riding improve with every pass. All the students did great. I had witnessed the full two days of training and to go from push the bike to riding like this was absolutely amazing. I will recommend that every learner first goes for riding lessons at the BMW Academy at Zwartkops. It is money very well spent. Think of it this way – just drop a BMW once while riding, it will cost you more than all the courses you could enrol in, it is cheap at twice the price. Once the person has the basics, we, the husbands/boyfriends can take over and take her to the next level of riding skill, which is if the husband/boyfriend can ride himself. Money and time well spent.

A knee operation, a day after my wife got her learners licence, put a stop to her riding. This set her back around 5 months. Before I let her back onto the bike, I again booked her for a refresher course with the BMW Academy. This time only a one-day course. Luck was on our side, we got to Zwartkops and Anne was the only student, the other had cancelled. That meant two trainers, one student. Now please tell me, where else do you get that attention but at BMW. It was magnificent, this time the nerves where much better (mine) and the lens was the normal one, no need for the telephoto lens this time. Except that the bike was a brand new GS 650 (twin), the only km’s on the clock some 1 000 odd had been put on by me to run it in. I was a little apprehensive but did not show it as much, I think, as the first time.

The reason for changing the bike was for handling and ease of riding. The first bike was an amazing bike, but was not a factory lowered bike, it was dealer lowered. Like I mentioned the forks were pushed through, this made handling very difficult and as Anne said “feels if it wants to fall over as you go into a corner”. You can’t imagine dropping the front end about an inch or so could affect the handling so much. I ordered a factory lowered bike from a dealer and had all the extras fitted before it left the floor. An amazing bike that handles out of this world. I can honestly say this bike is underrated, especially by the chaps riding the GS1200’s, most think it is a “small” bike, but is quite capable of keeping up the big brothers, at pull off and top end!! When a bike is ordered “factory lowered” it is lowered back and front and handling in this manner does not get compromised. Something you guys can think of when you buy a bike for your wife/girlfriend and she is on the short side. Don’t push the forks through; you won’t want it done to your bike!!! Order it from the factory already lowered it’s is no more expensive than a standard height bike.

The training for that day was faultless and I think Anne learnt more in that one day than all the other days rolled into one. I could see the confidence grow with every passing minute. On the odd occasion I had to shout some encouraging words though – “slow down” came out of my mouth more than once. I don’t think anything could have put a bigger smile on her face that day as she rode her new bike for the first time.

The trainers showed her how ABS works, how to stop n’ go, cones, slow riding and how the various things on the bike functioned. By just standing with them, I learnt a lot. I have to admit these chaps have patience and experience all rolled into one. They did not skimp on the training just because it was a woman learning, in fact I think they make and extra effort. Helmets off to you guys, thanks for what you taught my wife. Again I cannot emphasise enough the importance of training a beginner, by the proper people. What you learn here will save your life later, of that I am sure. It is advisable, in the beginning, to do refresher courses as often as you are able to. That’s if you are not riding as much as you should. Now it was again my turn to try an impart some of my knowledge and experience to my wife with regards bike riding.

If you live in Gauteng a quite road with little or no traffic is virtually impossible to find. You need a few things to take someone out on their first “outride”- tar, good roads, few cars, not too many stops and distance. I started looking at the maps. Now I could travel a few hundred kilometres and I was bound to find a place, but you don’t want to travel for longer than the ride would be. I settled on the Blockhouse as our starting point. First things first. Get a set of Blue Tooth intercoms that can do up to around 500m, install these in either helmet and test them first. Armed with these and a trailer you are set to start the lesson. First load your wife’s bike (not yours), the wife tows her own bike and you ride your own bike, having ones BMW towed, for seasoned riders, is a no-no, frowned upon by other BM riders. We set off to the Blockhouse, offloaded the bike. Had a good breakfast first and then set the GPS, on my bike, at this stage you don’t fit a GPS to the wife’s bike. The route was 150km and was done without stopping, except at stop signs (well most of them).

What I did was explained to my wife, via the Blue Tooth, what the road ahead looked like, with the aid of the GPS. I could see what the turn was going to be like, how far the next turn was etc. I kept telling her what gear I was in, when to change down, when to start slowing down etc. Things we take for granted, as seasoned bike riders, the learner has never experienced. One thing a person must not do while training someone, is to slow down to the learners speed. Ride the speed limit and make the learner catch up to you, if they lag behind. This I must say has worked wonders with Anne’s riding. The ride went off above all expectations. Ride over, bike loaded and back home, no stress about riding in the traffic yet. We did this route once more, in the same manner. The next ride we rode to Kroonstad and back in one go, a total of 400km. This ride started from home, on the Highway to the Blockhouse, joined up with some friends and off we went. Again using the Blue Tooth intercoms the whole time. I honestly think this is the best way to teach someone. Also, in the beginning, always let the learner follow you; remember they must ride your speed, as long as you keep to the speed limit. This does wonders to your fuel consumption, you will see. This ride done, you now need to keep looking for more challenging rides. The ride around the block is not good enough anymore!

We decided on a sleep over ride, Anne’s first. Leave Saturday come back Sunday. The problem is where do you go? Out came the maps – Clarens was where the dart hit, so a route was planned and loaded onto the GPS. This time Anne’s GPS was fitted to her bike, it was time to start teaching her to use it while riding. For those that think it is an expensive toy, well you are half right, it is NO toy. The GPS is used not only to show you where you must go, but if zoomed in correctly, lets you see around the corners. Great for those twisties, you can see how sharp the bend is and what comes after it. You must zoom in so that you see about 100m to 200m ahead of you. I do it all the time and I can assure you it works!! Even a first time ride on the twisties is easy by using this method.

The morning came and armed with GPS and Blue Tooth we set off, with some friends, to Clarens via Golden Gate. The road up to Golden Gate is ‘okay’, surface is good and distance great. As you end up doing the last leg the reason for the trip becomes apparent – Golden Gate. On a few occasions I heard, via my Blue Tooth, some screams of pleasure. This was Anne’s first experience of twisties. I knew then it was not going to be her last either. This was only the start. It was then that I knew I had lost my pillion to her own bike, sad thought, but great to see Anne riding her own bike with so much confidence. Time and money invested in her training had just paid for itself in that first pass through Golden Gate. I always said to Anne that I would only let her join a club ride when I thought she would not hold up any of the other riders. This trip showed all of us that she was not going to do that. She maintained a pace that would put many a guy to shame, I never looked in the mirror and wondered where she was, if I passed a vehicle she was right there behind me. Anne was ready to be involved in a club ride.

Her first club ride was sooner than planned, I was handed a Sunday ride at the last minute and this caused a mild panic with Anne. What I decided, and recommend, for a first time rider joining a club ride, is to do a recce ride the day before the run. So the Saturday afternoon we set off on the exact route to the Sunday venue. GPS’s on, Blue Tooths connected, off we went. Got a little rain, just to show Anne what could happen. The ride went off well and Anne was a lot more relaxed, also gave me the chance to check the condition of the road before the actual ride. Two birds with one stone!

Sunday morning was upon her far too soon, the nerves again reminded Anne of a first time club ride, even after the recce, the actual ride is a bit more hectic. The meeting spot was not one of the quietest spots as a 100 or so bikes gather there every Sunday morning to start their runs. It was a mix of BM’s, Supers and HD’s and all the riders that go with them. What made it even more nerve racking is that Anne would be riding second in the group as I was leading the ride to Omaramba, no pressure just 30 or so bikes on your tail. If you have ever been to the Pinehaven Sasol garage you will know what I mean. For a learner to start off in front of so many people is like opening night at your school play. I was recently told – Animals sweat, Men perspire and Woman glow. Well if that is the case, Anne was glowing like a 100watt light bulb and then I am not sure what you would call the moisture running down her face. But with all that pressure the take off was smooth and faultless. The ride went off perfectly, one thing I must admit, Anne has made me ride more legal speeds than in the past, so it is actually a blessing in disguise, what with this new system where you loose points for every violation and ultimately your licence. For those that did not know Anne, they would not even have known this was her first club ride. Well done Anne, another feather in your cap!!

Now what do you plan for someone that is that keen to ride, simple, look for a “Long Way There” ride. Now what is daunting for a lot of riders is regarded as a hurdle to get over by Anne. We planned to ride to Phalaborwa and back in two days. Does not sound far, but take alternate routes and you touch on 600km one way.  Make that a weekend ride, Saturday there and Sunday back and that doubles the height of the hurdle. This did not put Anne off at all; she actually looked forward to the riding.

A small group of bikes, 5 in all, left at 07h00 the Saturday morning and headed North on what was to prove to be a great road to ride. We had straight roads, bends, twisties and a few potholes to keep us awake. The ride was faultless even with a Blue Tooth that failed to work. The ride started off without any communications between Anne and me, the system just refused to work. So the first leg was in silence. I do not know if Anne was nervous, I can however tell you I was sweating and nervous. It was hand signals left and right, not sure if Anne understood everything and what the drivers in their cars thought of them. But through all the traffic and two toll gates it seemed to work. I do however think it was Anne’s persistence and eagerness to ride that made it so much easier for her and me. The first stop was two hours ride away. So for two hours Anne had only her GPS and some lunatic waving his arms around to help her, well done Anne, put another feather in your cap.

After our first stop the Blue Tooth, now fully charged by the bike, worked again, so it was communications from there. I find it very relaxing being able to talk to your partner, once a pillion, now a rider. You are able to point out various things en-route, discuss maters and simply chat. What I often do is ask Anne to explain what she sees on the GPS, what gear she is in, how she will negotiate the turns she sees on the GPS etc. You will be surprised how much easier she finds riding with the aid of the GPS, guys don’t think it is only you that understands GPS’s and that is only you that needs them, if your partner rides, get her one also. Don’t be like the Supers, the rider is kitted out in the best leathers and the pillion is in hotpants and stilettos, they fall just as hard as the rider. Likewise your partner also wants to see what’s happening. It makes for a far safer ride. We started off being bike four and five, but at one time Anne egged me on to pass the bike in front of me and in one move we had a new TEC and that is how it stayed to Phalaborwa. Near Gravelot Anne even decided to pass me and try and catch and pass Tony, the 2^nd bike. Tony was not having any of this and maintained his position at all costs and speed, which I might add, was in excess of the legal speed limit. There are a few things in a husband’s life that makes him proud, seeing my wife riding her own bike and riding it well is one of them. We arrived at Phalaborwa mid afternoon after a great ride. The B&B was great, pool and plenty shade, relaxing was not an option it was the most natural thing to do and was done. The day was discussed, the ride was dissected and inspected, no faults found and there and then it was decided to do that route for the winter run next year. So Phalaborwa and the same B&B will be seeing us again next year.

The next day started off later than normal, we only left at 09h00 and headed home, via another route. Don’t let anybody tell you the road home from Phalaborwa is boring. Anne was as keen as ever to do the return trip, I thought she may need to be pushed a bit, after the long ride on Saturday. There was no pushing her though she was ready to ride with the rest of us. Take the route to Bosbokrandt through all the challenges it brings, turn right to Graskop, conquered Kolman’s Pass in a blink of an eye and then headed to Sabie. I am sure that not too many people know this route, am so glad about that.

While doing this section Anne and I made up new terminology for the types of roads on the GPS. There are Bends, Sweeps and Squiggles. You negotiate each of them at a different speed and riding line. Let me explain, a Bend can be sharp to hairpin and demands respect, you slow down before you negotiate it, keep to your side of the road and go. Sweeps are when the fun begins; you sit back, twist the throttle up a notch, lean and smile. Squiggles are much like Sweeps, but are those left-right short Sweeps that come at you at an enormous rate of knots. You lean, smile, lean, smile (in that sequence depending on how many Squiggles you come upon), the throttle too is kept open and the riding lines swop left, right, left…. They are great fun. All this is made so much easier with the aid of GPS. What you find is that the roads department only had two signs, one for S’s and another for Ninety degree turns. The GPS shows the actual degree of the turns.

At the stop in Sabi, Anne had a slight mishap, as we have all had sometime in our biking career, and still do. She “put” her bike down in the garage forecourt. I have done this on the odd occasion, the only damage is ones ego, bikes can handle this. All I can recommend that you fit decent protection to any bike. Now for most learners this would rattle them to the extent that they would not ride any further, Anne stroked her ego (with some help from me) dusted her butt off, got on here bike and gave me the thumbs up. I think what lay ahead of her was more daunting than what had just happened. Like horse riding, you have to get back on the beast and ride, biking is no different. Anne showed me there and then, that she had what it takes to be a great biker. (Add a handful of feathers to your cap)

Now for all the bikers out there, the words “Longtom Pass” have different meanings to different bikers. But for most it is the Pass to do before you die, not to die while doing it. This pass has claimed many a biker; it is some 50km of Bends, some sharp and some even sharper. I was extremely nervous for this part of the ride, so much that I told the other bikes to go ahead and wait for us in Lydenburg. Much to my amazement it was a good ride and not as slow as I imagined it would be. 80km may not sound fast for those that don’t know Longtom, but for those that know the pass it is not too shabby, it is actually impressive for most and fantastic for a first timer!! Thanks GPS, even I use it to its fullest, every time I do this pass. We stopped at Lydenburg some 5 minutes behind the rest, not bad at all. There were a few high fives given to Anne and congratulations. It is a big thing to tick off ones list. “My first Longtom, done and dusted” it will definitely not be the last time Anne does that one. I think she has the taste of the excitement of doing this type of riding now.

The road back to Gauteng from Lydenburg is normally Dullstroom, Belfast then that boring highway. Not when you ride with David though, it’s Lydenburg over Stenkampsberg Pass then onto Roossenekal R577 to Middelburg R555. The first leg is a fantastic road with tons of Sweeps. Even had some pretty hard rain thrown at Anne, this was handled with the greatest of ease. The R555 to Middelburg is a nightmare. This tested Anne’s skills to the limit. Potholes, Coal trucks and a narrow road. With some minor coaching via the intercoms, Anne passed this final test with flying colours. “Well done girl, you can ride!! Just don’t let you guard down.” Home could not appear fast enough, even for me, my butt was sore. For Anne and me it had been a ride of over 600km, with every type of road and condition thrown into the mix. This has not put Anne off in the least. Another feather can be added to your cap. Any more feathers and you will resemble a Red Indian chief. Now you have to put km’s under your butt!!

Next trip has already been planned and paid for, Swaziland with the Club on the 16^th to 19^th December and again on the 26^th December to 2^nd January with a few friends.

So as you can see Anne started this quest less than a year ago and has maintained her eagerness and enthusiasm for biking ever since. She now rides her own bike, so what is stopping all those pillions and non bikers from doing exactly what Anne did? If you put your mind to it, a person can achieve anything. All you have to know is that it is dangerous out there, that you must be aware of everything around you. If there are any of you learning to ride out there, keep it up and take care.

I would like to thank all those that helped Anne with encouragement and joining us on those maiden rides, always easier with more than one bike. You all know who you are.

Congratulations Anne, I think you have amazed many people. Keep it up. I am very proud of you.

Written by Wymoth