Kelly’s Korner: Thirsty for Firsts
Last Updated: December 1st, 2020
A couple of weeks ago I watched two of my nearest and dearest race in their first flat track event. Talk about hilarious. Their heats were fraught with bike mishaps and rider error but underneath it all ran a palpable exhilaration, the kind of high that only comes from a new riding “first.” And that got a couple of us thinking about those “firsts,” the ones that make us feel so alive and solidify our love for motorcycles and the riding lifestyle.
I want to know your stories; but since this remains a one-way conversation at the moment, I’ll share some of mine that stand out and remind me why I continue to choose two wheels even in those off times when I’m not actively riding.
First Road Trip
About a year after I started riding, my husband and I joined several friends for a summer trip to and from a rally in Ute Bluff, Colo. That was my first long trip and it tested my endurance and stamina. I found a second wind, though, on Wolf Creek Pass, rejoicing in the twisties and cooler temperatures.I arrived at our destination exhausted and delighted. I fell sick with the flu the next day and missed out on almost all of the week’s fun before we had to leave. From there, I remember a restorative ride alone, once I was mostly recovered, to the small coffee shop in town and a dinner out with all of the people at the rally. I don’t remember much about the ride back to Phoenix. Ha!
First Solo Road Trip
Read more about that adventure here. One takeaway? That trek proved to me that I can do more than I think I can, and that taking a risk now and then is essential.
First (Enjoyable) Track Day
My first-ever track day was terrible. I was a brand-new rider and, obviously, opted for the slow group. But the organizers for some indefensible reason allowed fast riders into that class. I got stuffed into corners so many times I finally quit, terrified, angry and feeling like a failure. So it was with trepidation and wariness that I later agreed to take part in a different track day, one that turned out to be more of a weekend-long clinic and whose leaders enforced rules that allowed slow riders like me to enjoy ourselves and learn new skills. I had a blast. And, since then, I’ve done more track days with groups I trust. Each time I emerge with a bigger smile, particularly since deciding to ride my CRF230 instead of my beloved Triumph. Find out why.
First Dirt Biking Outing
I got hooked on dirt biking after a track day at Willow Springs. Lee Parks had us stay at his place in the California high desert and took me on my first dirt bike ride. I had never been on a dirt bike before (I wasn’t one of those lucky girls raised with bikes) and suiting up without the very protective layer of leathers was a bit daunting. But I soon lost that care. Bumping across the tumbleweed desert, crashing and getting back up, laughing, figuring out how to navigate sand — I had more fun that evening than I could remember, even with the track day just behind me. I discovered that I love the thrill of the unknown. You have no idea what you’ll encounter on a dirt ride or whether your bike (or you!) will make it. That ride gave me my first taste of something healthy and energizing that I really, really liked, one that has helped me to keep pushing my limits and has broadened my philosophies. In 2014, I sold my beautiful Ninja so I could buy my CRF. Totally worth it. No regrets.
So there you have a small sampling of my riding firsts. When is the last time you experienced a life-changing “first” on your bike — one of those moments that cements your joy of living? Tell me!
Oh, and as for that laughter-riddled night of flat tracking? Well, one rider came away with a shiny third-place medal; the other still has to fix his bike that died in the final round. Both, however, grinned all weekend long. And isn’t that the whole point? (Ed note: The editor would like to point out he beat Kelly’s husband in the first heat and led him every lap of the main event until an electrical issue took him down. SO THERE!)
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