Wow! What a year (of riding)!

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#1 Post by **KarateChick** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:23 pm

It struck me this evening as I was reflecting on the trip to Canmore with 6 Edmonton riders, 1 Red Deer rider and then meeting 5 TMW cohorts from Calgary over this weekend that one year ago this same weekend (yes, 2005) I was taking the m-c course through the Alberta Safety Council and then successfully passed my skills and written tests.

Wow! What a year! It's been unbelievably fun and exciting since I was introduced to the world of m-cycling. I knew absolutely NOTHING about motorcycles (they have 2 wheels and ran on gasoline) last year and as of today, I had put 500 km (well, 497) on my first bike before selling it and the ZZR250 just clicked over 5,800 km as I rolled into the garage on my return this evening from the Canmore trip.

Not only have I added km of riding but added new riding buddies (from riding solo all last season) and made new friends and found so many sources to read up on m-cycle info (like this site and forum).

So WOO-HOO!

everyone!! Looking forward to the next 12 months!!!

Ninja Geoff · #2 Post by **Ninja Geoff** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:35 pm

a-freakin-men. It's amazing how riding MC's change your life. I've yet to get any riding buddies here in maine though. BUT once i get moved in with my friend back in MA, i'll have a few. I think i've come a long way from dumping my stepdad's KX early last summer/late spring to where i am now. Hell, now i'm dying to hop on that thing and wheelie it down the road.

sharpmagna · #3 Post by **sharpmagna** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:20 am

Congrats on your first year of riding! I'm hoping to make it through my first

#4 Post by **bok** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:02 am

woohoo KarateChick it's amazing how much riding you can actually do even with 9to5 getting in the way eh?

jstark47 · #5 Post by **jstark47** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 3:44 am

Congrats, KC!

My Bonneville was one year old last Thursday - 7,282 miles in the first year. "9 to 5" is responsible for most of that mileage - 65-mile-commutes rack up the numbers in a hurry. Beats not riding at all, I guess.

Sev · #6 Post by **Sev** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:02 am

She's lieing, doesn't even own a bike. Just posts here.

Okay, just kidding. I ahve to agree, it's been an AMAZING year so far. KC and I seem to have fed off each other's love of riding, and it just gets worse and worse. We've been called fanatics and I don't think that's even the half of it.

I think the best part has been watching her skills develop over the last 4500 km. It's amazing what can happen when you have a passion for the sport. I wouldn't hesitate to take her down any road I've ever seen. And I doubt I'd have to wait very long to see her come out the bottom end.

Thanks in no small part to KC's efforts we've also assembled an Edmonton TMW based motorcycle club that is continually expanding. Somehow she manages to find all the good riders and invite them to come with us. It's been such a great year.

Thanks for everything KC!

rapidblue · #7 Post by **rapidblue** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:07 am

congrats, keep it up.

It's been about a year for me as well, although I haven't riden(sp?) as many klicks as you. That what I get for a having semi-unreliable POS.

Wheelie fever · #8 Post by **Wheelie fever** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:17 am

I stopped at a friends house on my way home from a ride on sunday and he still owns my first bike. (an FZR400) It was under a tarp and covered in dirt but it brought back memories.

I sold it to him after 3 years of riding and about 45K on it. He rode it till it broke down at 87K and now it's wating for an engine rebuild.

Posthumane · #9 Post by **Posthumane** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:34 am

Hey KarateChick, congrats on the year of safe riding. Reading this, I realised that it's been almost exactly a year since my Calgary Safety Council course (less a couple days). In that time I've certainly learned a lot, and my bike has become my primary mode of transportation (sold my car). I haven't met any of the TMW crowd in calgary yet as I'm usually too busy to come to any of the get togethers, but I have logged 18000km on my bike in the year or so that I've owned it. It's amazing how fast the kms add up, isn't it?

Keep on it and enjoy your ride. Maybe I'll meet some of you guys in the near future (anyone up for a MC camping trip in august?)

Jacob

#10 Post by **KarateChick** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:07 pm

bok wrote:woohoo KarateChick it's amazing how much riding you can actually do even with 9to5 getting in the way eh?

Yep - 9 to 5 most definitely gets in the way - like tonight I am still at work so no riding

....but those on again off again storm clouds and rain didn't exactly look appealing either. Karate seems to get in the way too altho not lately cause riding gets in the way of karate....

Sevulturus wrote:She's lieing, doesn't even own a bike. Just posts here.

Okay, just kidding. I ahve to agree, it's been an AMAZING year so far....

....Thanks for everything KC!

You're gonna PAY for that first comment...

Glad you agree it's been a great season so far

and you're welcome!

:motorcycle:

So any other year one/first season riders wanna share?