#5- The first dropping of the bike. It's Friday night, I am finished working, I am ready to climb on my first ever street bike - A 1982 750 katana. I'm ready to take off when a couple of customers take a peek at me and my ride ready to attack to road. I rev the engine a few times, to get everyone's attention, put it in first gear and leav . . . stall the engine. However, the bike jump forward and I lost my balance. The Suzuki leaned on its left side while I was trying desperately to bring it back up right. One thing for sure, I did not need any help. Noooooo! Pride was hurting pretty bad here. I did manage to pick it up, and leave the place without looking at anyone. Few days later, I learned that keeping the steering straight helps keep the balance. I never forgot that one.
#4- The bike lock. To a certain degree, this shouldn't be that embarassing. I had few. Never fell. I was begining to believe I had a sixth sense for it. Until the day at the mall. Sometimes it is not just the action that is making you wish you could disappear into thin air, but also the surrounding, what you're wearing, who's looking and so on. For starter, it's a jam packed mall with tons of people around. I am wearing only shorts and sandals because I am young and invicible, and once again I make sure as many people as possible know that I am about to go. The car parked in front had just left so I could forward instead of backing off. The way I took off, there would be no stalling. So I thought. As the bike fell on my naked leg, my right hand twisted the throttle which not only kept the engine running, but also drew the attention of everyone in the vincinity. Oh, you think it's enough, well after the I manged to get my leg out, try to put the bike up (now I'm hurting physically as well) I just can't. Between the "Are you ok?" and the "That served you right" I got help and put the bike on its 2 wheels, took the lock off and vanished. The lesson, never get cocky. Nobody is immune to mistakes.
#3- Pay attention to the instructor. This is before all this. I am taking a motorcycle course because it is mandatory in Québec in 1990. But of course, I knew everything since I have been riding without a motorcycle license for over a year, I had dirt bikes all my life and I was 22. So listening to the direction or chatting with the chicks? Since I wasn't going to learn anything, I decided to shout the breeze. When it was my turn to go, I took off with the Honda125 and I went straight, then around the cone. The instructions, which I was reminded after, was to turn BEFORE the cone. Because there was sand behind it. Well, I figured it out when I ended up on my butt. When someone with more experience than you speak. . . LISTEN!
#2- Would you look at . . .! I included this one, even if it is a bicycle incident because it fits. It all began when I was going to college. I arrived in my class late. I am covered with dust and my knees and elbows are bleeding. The professor asked me what happened and I told her I just got hit by a car on my bicycle. "What?" "I was riding in the parking lot when this lady backed off of her spot, without looking, and ran over me." Advice and reccomendations poured from all sides on what to do. Although what I just said was true, there was an important part missing. Right! The car driver did not see me. But, neither did I. Why? Because I was looking at that blond bombshell with a short skirt CFM boots going the oposite direction. Most likely, she knew I was looking at her when I hit the car. I just picked my bike and left without looking at anyone, swallowing my pride. Lesson, hot chicks, cleavage, etc are like eclipse: you can have glance, but don't stare.
#1- A chain is as strong as it's weakest link. Back in time again, this time, we are at the second day of the practice part of the riding school. I'm late. I don't really care, but I don't want to draw too much attention either. The way it is set up, you come up a short entrance with a chain to block the cars from entering. The entrance goes up and opens up to the road course. The instructor and the students are discussing at the top, while I try to join unnoticed. When I arrived at the chain/gate, I graciously leaped over the chain, just like a balerina, when my foot caght into the chain. The momentum I gathered in the rotation around the fence was phenomenal. My hands hit the pavement so hard that everyone turned around and looked at me, melting slowly.
The moral? Well, don't be affraid of to make fun of yourself. As for people who are worried of ever seeing me on the road, rest assure that I am not that kid anymore. I miss him, though. He was fun!
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