Dot the i's and cross the t's.

Last year the idea came up to repeat the things we learned during the improved bikertraining, with some of the group that had done the second improved bikertraining with us. Huite was aquainted to the KNMV-instructor, so we asked him to arrange things. Recently he called us that a date was set...

Tricks...
Well, the tricks you did with your learner bike during your lessons, you usually don't do with your own bike. No dangerous things, because every scratch will give you lots of comment or cost you a fortune to get it fixed again. In fact you need to be able to do these things, if only to give you the confidence that you have bike-control. That's why Roel and I left home early last sunday into the direction of Harlingen. At the harbour Huite had just arrived. We just started talking when George arrived as well. Only one had cancelled, so the group was complete now. But Johan, our instructor arrived nicely on time as well. First some coffee and a briefing. Johan was our instructor during the 2nd improved bikertraining two years ago. He did remember that I kissed the tarmac then.

Break swet...
Johan asks us, what part of the tricks we would like to have repeated and we come to an agreement. We start doing the slalom. Being able to make an evasive manouvre is a very important aspect when you ride a bike. The pulling engine, with slightly your foot on the brake-pedal has to be caught up first. We didn't use that technique anymore, ever since we finally had the intensely desired pink piece of paper. As soon as Johan is satisfied about our performance, we go to the next trick. Turning on the road, the left and right way round. You already know that you have to look where you want to go, but that orange pilon is very attractive. I still can avoid touching it and every next time I have more space. Then we move on to the emergency-stop. The men all three have ABS on the bikes, but are not allowed to use it. The brakes of George his Triumph are smelly by the time we go for lunch.

performance in traffic...
In the afternoon we hit the road. First we take a part of the highway, riding in formation. Johan drives as last man. He wants to know what place we choose on the road. Then we take B-roads, everybody gets a turn to drive as leader, Johan on the second place. Underway we stop now and then to talk situations and dangers over. Johan calls it "the language of the road". After leaving the village of Oudega Johan tells us why these roads with all those trees on the side are so dangerous. Here we have the wings-effect. You can't see any traffic coming from the sideroads or exits and the traffic that wants to come onto the road can't see if there is any traffic coming. So a cardriver will always put the front of the car halfway on the road to have a peek. So we have to pay attention on the bright spots on the road. There will probably be no trees so it can be an exit or sideroad.

It's getting late...
This is how we cross the whole province of Friesland. Have an ice-cream near Hemrik and move on by Wijnjewoude. Every time we've had a stop, the next part of the tour is explained. Every leading biker has to find its way by the traffic-signs. That's how we end up at Boschlust in Appelscha. Or at least I think it is called like that. There we end with coffee and it is near half passed five before we leave for home. We came to the conclusion, that this was a good idea and worth to repeat every two years or so. It's not only good for your confidence, but slowly you get strange habits and now someone tells you so.

Betty Smit, Motormeisje.nl