Just a Girl

[acalliste]

Lauren, Bill and I headed over to Bike Week today to see what new there was to be seen, and to do a demo ride or two. Lauren and Bill were already there when I got there, so I signed up for the same ride window Lauren did, both of us riding the Z1000. Our turn was at 2pm. We hung out there for a bit, chatted with the Kawasaki people and generally had a fabulous time. I joined ROK a week or so ago, and was able to sit in the ROK tent and enjoy the goodies. We took an hour or so to walk around and check out the other manufacturers and vendor tents, then came back and waited for our turn to ride. We noticed that they were announcing a few free bikes with every group, as all the slots hadn’t been taken. Why not bump up and get in an earlier ride? We both managed to get a Z1000 at 12:30, which was 5 minutes from when we signed up, so we got our gear and headed over to the canopies where the riders meeting would take place.

In the riders meeting, they went over the same things they always do, no passing, obey all traffic laws, the sportbikes have front brakes that actually work so please be careful (directed at the people who usually ride cruisers), etc, etc. Then they told us to go and choose our bikes. Lauren made a bee-line for the Z directly behind the ride leader, and of course I want to be near her. But an older gentleman made it to the bike behind her before I did, and his friend behind him. I really want to ride next to Lauren, and there was no passing allowed, so I asked the gentleman if he would mind letting me have that bike as I wanted to ride by my friend. To my complete surprise, he got a bit of an attitude with me and said “I guess so!” and started to walk away. Then he turned back to me, frowning, and said… “I hope you ride fast.”



At this point I need to stop and let you know that I was raised to never be rude or disrespectful to my elders, almost without exception. Someone older than me really has to cross the line before I will let them have it verbally. This was not one of those times, so I did not say the first thing that popped into my mind, which was “Yes, I think I can ride fast enough FOR A FIVE MILE DEMO RIDE AT BIKE WEEK”, dripping in sarcasm.

Instead I bit my tongue and muttered, “Yeah, I think I will be all right”.

Plus, you never really know about old-timers. Many of them can ride the snot out of any bike, especially if they are so bold as to question you about your riding ability, so the last thing I wanted to do was smart off to some ex-racer and end up having my ass handed to me on a demo ride.

Whatever, I forgot about it soon enough. Just the thought of being able to ride the Z again, even on a five mile demo ride at bike week, was making me giddy as a school girl. My God I love this bike! We got on the road a moment later, and the ride leader being on a ZX10, I was hoping for a nice run. She did what she could, but there was quite a bit of traffic, and we couldn’t really get moving for longer than 30 seconds or so at a time. But Lauren and I still had fun, hitting enough curves to be able to get off the bike a tiny bit. Apparently Lauren intimidated the ride leader a little, but I’ll save that story for another post.

After we pulled back up to the Kawasaki tent, and turned our machines off, I went to talk to Lauren to see how she liked the bike. The next thing I knew, the two older gentlemen were walking over to us. I looked at them, thinking, oh boy… what did I do wrong now? Were they on my tail the entire time, was I holding them up? I didn’t remember seeing anyone in my mirrors most of the time. But they surprised me again by saying “We are sorry, we didn’t realize… you ladies can ride”.

I told them what we both ride, and that we are trackday riders, then we chatted about the Z1000 briefly before going our own ways. At first I was kind of annoyed by this exchange, but the longer I thought about it, the more funny it became. Another one of those things you wish you had on video.

[binx_19]

the looks on the old mans face must have been priceless.

[NeedinJustice]

Silly old men.

[binx_19]

stupid old men, probably had a great view, and their biggest complaint was can you ride fast.

[Joe]

Ac's teasin the old guys

[GreyWolf]

One time at Buttonwillow at about the third or fourth time out on the track for the day, the sun was shining high and the asphalt was getting those waves coming off it that tells you your tires are stickin' now! Came out of the paddocks out of the "starting" line and hit the first couple of corners pretty hard. Started working my way through the pack and after about four laps had worked myself behind this one bike that I just couldn't get enough umph to go past. Watching that body ahead of mine twist off the seat before the corners, setting them up. Pretty good lines and always, always hitting it hard on the throttle coming out. Never did pass that rider. But saw them later in the pits pulling off their helmet and out fell a cascade of hair. Damn! No wonder why I never passed her! Ever been behind a lady rider? Woof! And I mean a double Woof! And she rode damn fast, clean, and fantastic! I went up and said I was trying like crazy to get around her but never could 'cause she rode so damn good.
Mon, I love ladies at the track! Puts us old farts in our place! Hahahaha!
Great story, Tammy! Wish I had been there......

[PhilB]

Although, to play devil's advocate, I have had a couple of group test rides get spoiled by being stuck behind someone who just couldn't ride, making it even more difficult to get any feel for the bike, and I make a definite effort now to get a bike as close to the front of the group as possible.

PhilB

[kevin_stevens]

You can ride directly in front of me anytime, Tammy!

KeS

[MEANGREENER]

YouTube- No Doubt - Just A Girl

YouTube- No Doubt - Just A Girl

[acalliste]

^ that's the song that was going through my head too, Meanie!

Yeah I know it sucks to be stuck behind a slower rider, so I don't really blame him there. Maybe he had that problem already the same day & that's why he was so grumpy about it.

While I was getting us signed up for the earlier ride, there came a revving sound, then a skid & a thud from the area where the demo bikes were parked. Kawasaki staff started running towards it. I looked and saw a bike being picked up that was now facing in the opposite direction. Someone had somehow wiped out the KLR he was about to demo.

So, I can understand the concern about riders you don't know. But the old guy did stereotype me (and probably Lauren) a bit.