Andrew Baldock: TEAM Arizona Rider of the Month March 2016!
Last Updated: December 1st, 2020
Millennials get a bum rap in the media these days. They’re not enough this…too much that…a warning for the future. We couldn’t disagree more. Millennials are as interesting and eclectic as any generation that arrived before it. We welcome the men and women of this generation as we know they will play a large part in the success and health of the motorcycling community for decades to follow.
Which brings us to Andrew Baldock. It was a chance meeting; a quick stop at the local Dutch Bros for a caffeine fix. What else to talk about with the gentleman behind the glass? Motorcycles of course! In a brief, five minute conversation, we knew Andrew’s story needed to be told to our TEAM Arizona fans.
Here it is…in his own words:
I recently graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) in May and decided I wanted a lifestyle change after what felt like four fairly repetitive years of college. I still had my first car and it was finally giving out on me. Before it died I figured I would start looking into getting a motorcycle. I had never ridden before and didn’t even know if I would like it, so I looked first into motorcycle riding classes in the valley which is where I came across some information about TEAM Arizona. The reviews were all positive and many riders said that the class completely changed their riding experience going forward. I got excited thinking about what it would be like to own my own bike and the freedom it would bring. So I quickly signed up for a Basic RiderCourse and got my sights set on getting my motorcycle license. The class was extremely fun and engaging and I walked out after one weekend with my certificate in hand and went straight to the MVD to get my license.
The next week I sold my car for a grand and put that down on a 2009 Suzuki TU250 with 2,800 miles on it. Since then, every day has been an adventure and an adjustment. I learned how to grocery shop without a trunk to put my groceries in, how to store everything I need for my day in a backpack, and how to look presentable at work after wearing a helmet for twenty minutes and having the wind whip my face at 60 mph. But every challenge has been worth it and they all have increased my confidence on my bike and my love for a life lived on two wheels.
I cannot wait to pay off this bike and get something with more power that I can take on real road trips. Real adventures. With the open road ahead and the city life behind. I hope to ride for the rest of my life and have stories to tell for decades to come about what it feels like to ride a motorcycle because there is truly nothing like it.
We love Andrew’s passion for being on two wheels. And he brings up valid points about motorcycling. Riding requires dedication, commitment, and a desire to explore. Do these character traits match the ones we often hear about Millennials? Nope. And yet here we have Andrew Baldock exhibiting all of these positive traits. For this reason and many more, we’re happy to have Andrew carry the motorcycling torch well into the second half of the 21st century.
Riders, we want to honor YOU! Do you know someone who should be TEAM Arizona’s Rider of the Month? Entering their name is SIMPLE.
- Email Bill (bill@motorcycletraining.com )
- In the subject line, type “Rider of the Month”
- In one paragraph, tell us why this rider deserves the title TEAM Arizona Rider of the Month!
Let’s have some serious FUN with this gang! There are some great stories out there and we don’t want to miss them, so tell us about yourselves!
