A Ride that Dreams Are Made Of. (maybe)

Genevieve Schmitt, editor/creator of WomenRidersNow, an online women's motorcyclist magazine, just sent this out:

Several All-Women Motorcycle Tours Taking Place This Year

Now taking reservations to exotic destinations

India? The Himalayas? Timur? (where?) Makes an all-women tour of Alaska sound downright . . . tame!  However, these are all possibilities for some serious touring, if you're interested. This year is definitely out for me, but maybe in a year or two.  I can dream, anyway!

And that's what this tidbit is for: dreaming. Especially in wintertime. It may be more than you want right now, or ever, but just know the possibility is out there.

Cheers!

--Margaret

Hooray for Ice Melt!

Okay, it is still February, and the meteorologists promise that this break in the weather won't last. But, still, the weather finally turned in our favor, if only for a little while. This caused jubilation for the women at last night's General Meeting of the Buckeye State Lady Riders, and we have gone ahead and scheduled our first ride: March 12, to G&R Tavern in Waldo, OH. (Guess we should tell them we're coming, huh?) The departure site and time have not yet been figured out, and we didn't nickname this the Roulette Ride for nothing--the weather can be mighty chancey this time of year. But the opportunity for a group descent upon the best fried bologna in Ohio is not to be overlooked, and there is also some mighty fine pie to consider.

We had a good time last night, except that some of us were hungry, and Stauf's is a coffee shop with an emphasis on the coffee. BSLR has procured the community room at the Clintonville Panera Bread (4519 North High St)  for the next four months, and has changed the meeting date to the fourth Tuesday of each month. The time will remain the same, from 6:00PM to 8:00 PM (or whenever, but the officers are determined that the agenda will be finished by 8 PM at the very latest.)

Highlights of the meeting were: lots of great and friendly women, information on various WOW chapter events in the month of June, the merits of Parking Lot Practice and plans to implement it, local dinner rides and bike nights, and reviewing the best ways to get information out to our members about all of the above. The Facebook Fan Page and the Blogsite are the most used and the most effective, so look to these for your most current updates and musings. We'd like to fine-tune how these are working, so please use the "Comments" section in each, and if they don't seem to work for you, email us.

Looking forward to March 12!!

Now, about that MSF label

On February 10, 2011's blog, Margaret went on at length about the differences between various MSF courses. She used the old names, which were still used on the registration page, even though they didn't match the new descriptions. Motorcycle Ohio has since updated the registration page to reflect the new names, that match the new descriptions. In other words:

BRC is the same as it always was.

BRC-2 is now listed as BRC-RR. (Stands for "Returning Rider") Still use their bikes, still the same material, just a new name.

ERC is now listed as a hybrid: BRC-2/ERC.  It is the same course material as when it was just called ERC. You use your own bike, and need to have at least 1,000 miles under your belt.  Apparently, next year they are dropping the ERC part, and just going to call it BRC-2.

ARC-ST is simply ARC. "ST" used to stand for "Sportbike Techniques", but it applies to all bikes, and you need not have a sport bike to take the class. You do have to use your own bike, though.

Cheers, and hopefully, see you this evening at Stauf's!

Just A Reminder

Stauf's Grandview

1277 Grandview Avenue
Columbus, OH  43212

Tomorrow's general meeting is at Stuaf's Coffee Shop on Grandview Avenue, from 6-8 pm. There is parking both on the street and behind the storefronts. Margaret's buying your first drink if you ride a motorcycle (or scooter, or trike).  In addition to meeting the new directors, we plan to discuss rides: what we want from 'em, when we want to have them, and how best to communicate about them. Oh, and bikes. We just might talk about bikes . . .

PS. I can vouch for the chai!

News You Can Use...Now!

Heads up, everyone!  Motorcycle Ohio opened its online registration on Monday, February 7th. Someday, it might be nice if we can group together and sign up for a class, but this will not be the year. The Beginner Rider Course fills very, very quickly--it looks like the first 30 or so are already filled. If you have already taken that class, though, you may find the BRC-2 to be an excellent choice. It is a one-day class, taken on Motorcycle Ohio's motorcycle, and originally designed to help "eternal permit riders" take that last step to pass the test and get their endorsement. However, it is also a very useful refresher course, especially for riders with some, but not a lot, of experience. (I have personally used it as such.) The best way to describe the difference between BRC and BRC-2? BRC will teach you how to ride a motorcycle when you've never ridden one before (such as what all the buttons and levers do, how to manage that clutch-thingy, and how to safely get the bike rolling). BRC-2 bypasses the very beginning steps of how to ride, and thus is a shorter class. Notice that the BRC class requires one evening and two full days on the riding range. BRC-2 is one day only.

No need to stop there, though. Motorcycle Ohio also offers the Experienced Rider Course, and the Advanced Rider Course. The ERC is for someone with at least 1,000 miles of riding under their belt. It is useful for any of us that wish to brush the rust off our skills. This one is taken on your motorcycle, so it's an opportunity to perform some of the road test skills on your own bike, as well as a few additional features. Yes, the dreaded figure-8 box can be done on a bigger bike, and the instructors will help you get there!

The Advanced Rider Course? It's a step up from the ERC, but as I haven't taken it yet, I can't really say. :) I'm scheduled for June ...

Remember, too, that if the Franklin County schedule doesn't suit your needs, there are other counties. Delaware, for one, still had BRC openings in May. (At least, they did a few minutes ago.)

Let's be safe, and skilled, out there!

Margaret

The Newbies Are Here!

The new chapter co-directors, that is.  Dru and Margaret have agreed to take up the position (jointly) of director of the Buckeye State Lady Riders, the central Ohio chapter of Women on Wheels® . Christine has given us a good start, and promises to be standing by to support us as we muddle through the twists and turns of blogs, Facebook, emails and director forums, meetings, agendas, and some other gucky paperwork stuff we won't bother you with.

We both are under the impression that the BSLR Facebook page (see link on the left) will let those of you who "Like" the page to comment on it. Please test it out for us! Feel free to say "hi" and to wish us well! And to wish Christine well as well! (Pun!! sort of.)

We'd like to take a moment to thank Christine sincerely for all of her hard work to get this chapter going, and for her willingness to hang in there with us as we learn the ropes. She will be retaining her membership with BSLR, but cannot hold office locally while serving on the national Women On Wheels® Board of Trustees.  We are very excited for her, and know that her greater role in WOW will serve us well.