Hi folks. I’m happy to report that I just passed my MSF course today. The skills test went well–just a 1-point ding on the quick stop for distance.
Honestly, I didn’t learn much new in the class that I hadn’t already read in the online MSF material and in the books frequently recommended here (Proficient Cycling and Twist of the Wrist 2). But it still was plenty of fun and a good way to carve out lots of time for practicing slow speed maneuvers and bike control. It was particularly impressive to watch the improvement of folks who had never spent a minute on a bike before the class.
This was a Rider’s Edge class, so we had Buell Blasts, and boy did I miss my Ninja 250. The Blast isn’t a blast at slow speed maneuvers. Lots of torque that was inconsistent and very rough running at low speeds. The instructor admitted that he also really wasn’t a fan of the Blast (period, but particularly for new riders).
For folks getting ready for the skills test, the most consistent mistake I saw people make was looking down and where they didn’t want to go, instead of keeping their heads up and looking at their goal. The riding coaches didn’t believe that I’d only been riding a week and kept complimenting my technique–which was nice for the ego and all, but I think all the credit really goes to an autocross course I took several years ago. Imagine doing a circular slalom on a skid pad, over and over again, as a large German woman sits in the passenger seat and yells and thwaps you on the head every time she catches your head not turned sharply in the the direction you want to go. It really drove the point home, and it’s transferred extremely well to the bike (where it’s even more significant b/c of balance issues).
So, anyway, yipeee! I’ve taken tomorrow off from work, and so I’m off to the DMV in the morning and then plan to enjoy a long day of riding.
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