OOOOHHHHH…. today, I got the chance to try out Dave’s Triumph Tiger 800. He ran out to where it was being stored, rode it out to Hueston Woods, our nearby state park, where we met in the giant parking lot for the beach. Winter in Ohio, we had it all to ourselves!
And, as if I were starting from scratch, I tiptoed my way into a new beginning with a significantly bigger bike. I brought Competence-to-Confidence principles to bear. I slowly scooted myself along, without using any throttle, getting the feel for the weight of the bike, it’s center of gravity, how much of my feet touched the pavement. Then, slowly, I rolled on a little bit of gas, then stopped, over and over again, feeling out the brakes. I tackled a slow curve at the end of the parking row, sorting out her turning radius. Then, a little more gas, more turns, braking, more gas, more turns, more braking. Stop and go, stop and go.
Then, I told David, it was time to go. I had him follow along behind me, just like he had with Vivie, so that I could get comfortable being out on the road. Made an easy loop of the whole park, then hit the road coming out the south side – OMG!!! Tagged 70 mph in a heartbeat!!
I’ve named her Evvie – after that very first mistress of temptation, Eve! And, boy, does she live up to her name!! I’m HOOOKED!!!!!!!!!!!
Smarter-Not-Harder U 