Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126421
" Student Russel O'Quinn (holding helmet) picks up advice from co-instructor Carl Mauger before joining other beginners on the "sidewinder" training spend a lot of time on the road because . cold slows down reflexes, "When you get on a bike, forget fashion. Put horns on your helmel if' you have to, but make other drivers aware of your presence on the road," he warned. LaPay describes scrapes and abrasions suffered in a street spill as "asphalt rheumatism" and said there's only one cure, proper clothing. "Wear some kind of covering over elbows, even if it's only a shirt or windbreaker. Protect your shins with boots. Wear gloves and a helmet," LaPay said. "These are the areas of the body most prone to asphalt rheumatism." . Riding tips are repeated during every class. "Always ride in the right hand lane when going up a hill. You'll never have to worry about a drunk or speeder coming up the other side over the yellow line in your lane." "Never bust (jump) a yellow light. It may be okay in a car, not on a bike." "Never travel in large groups or a pack. Three or four bikes together is the maximum, and stagger your bikes." "Attitude is important. ,Accept the fact that you don't have any rights. Give up the right of way, Don't argue with the driver of a car. You'll forget. what you're doing, Besides. you can't win. He's bigger dian yo are." Towards the end of each lecture, students armchair ride through thefollowing day's course following an outline on the board. LaP'ay and Mauger use cones to construct lanes, obstacle courses or intersections depending on the day's riding objectives. Cones also are used to indicate speed and gear required at any given place. "We try to teach basic and advanced riding techniques with emphasis on safety and skills," Mauger said. During the first three riding clinics, riders never get out of first gear. "We stress slow, controlled riding," Mauger explained. "The less momentum a bike has, the harder it is to control. If they can handle our third week 'sidewinder' course, they can handle anything." The fourth lesson is divided into two segments, braking afld simulated around-town ridil)g. Mauger demonstrates rear and front brake panic stops and· coordinated braking at 40 mph using the same set of cones as a signal to brake. It doesn't take students lopg to realize the benefit of using 100% braking power instead of 30% or 70% . "S.eeing what happens at higher speeds often makes more of an impression than anything we can say," Mauger explained. Students run through the same sequence of braking techniques three -or four times at 20 mph. "It's not fast enough for them to get hurt," LaPay said. "But the Lurch ora front brake stop and slide of a rear brake stop teaches them to rely on both brakes or what we call 'the' bread and buner stop..., Local Suzuki, Yamaha and Honda dealers each donated ['\vo 125cc bikes for students to 'use. However, anyone who Wishes to take the class on their own bike may do so. . During the April session, one longtime Harley rider looked at the sidewinder' course and called it a breeze. When he attempted to take his full dress hog through the narrow, winding pathway, ~e took out every cone. A women in her sixties who had. never been on a bike before successfully traveled the same pathway while her husband applauded and smiled. Participants in the pr.ogram range in age from 18 (minimum for the class) course, to 70, come from as far as 70 miles away and have from zero to 20 years riding experience, Their major common bond in the past few months has been a desire to use a bike as daily transportation to beat the gas,crunch. Forty students who were questioned during the final riding clinic of two separate sessio~ gave different reasons for taking the LBCC course. Some had been talked into it by friends. Others read about it in a local paper. A few had called motorcycle dealers within a 50-mile radius looking for just such a class and found LaPay's is the only one around. One comment, in essence, was made by all 40. "This class should be given in high school, possibly as early as junior high. Why aren't young drivers taught about motorcycles? They climb behind the wheel of a car and think cars are all that exist on the road. God help them when they decide to buy bikes or mopeds to beat the gas prices. I am a better driver behind the wheel of my car, more aware of everything around me than I was before. I wish I had taken something like this years ago." LaPay and Mauger feel every slreet rider should wear a helmet, but add that helmets make riders safe, they don't make safe riders. Only education can accomplish that goal. • 21