WITW member

C= hristine Austin

What was your first bike? And why did you choose it?

My first= bike was a used 2000 Buell Blast (500cc). My husband suggested the B= uell Blast because it has a belt drive (no chains for me), and it had an op= tional seat that made it very low. Fortunately, when I went in to pur= chase a brand new bike, the salesman walked away and left me standing in th= e showroom so he could pursue a male customer who had just walked in. = I was so annoyed that I left the dealership and bought a used bike through= the Auto Trader which saved me about $2,000.

The Buel= l Blast had a short wheel base which made it very easy to handle and corner= . The plastic parts did not scratch or damage easily and replacement = parts were very affordable. I did not realize how easy the Blast was = to clean, especially the wheels, until I got my new bike. The exhaust= pipe ran under the center of the bike, so the heat from the pipes never ca= used discomfort or injury. I loved riding that little bike and stayed= on it for 3 years before it began to feel too small. The only drawba= ck was that the seat was really hard so I could only ride for one hour at a= time, but even that was handy because I still smoked.

When I d= ecided to trade up, I went shopping at the Edmonton Bike Show and sat on ev= ery bike I could. I read all the literature, double checked a f= ew bikes and made my decision. I went with my husband to a Yama= ha dealer to buy a brand new bike. The salesman had just switched fro= m another dealership and before I could say “I’ll take it”= ;, he walked away to help a male customer who had just walked in the door.&= nbsp; Yes, he was the same salesman. I waited 15 minutes for someone = to wait on me. My husband could not believe it and finally said ̶= 0;Let’s go”. We drove over to the other Yamaha dealer whe= re I was doted on. I ordered a brand new 2004 Yamaha VStar 1100. = ; I enjoy my new bike, but I my Buell Blast will always be my first love. <= /span>

What advice do you have for anyone just starting out?

Take a p= rofessional course to learn how to ride slowly and safely. Start with= a used bike and start with something that fits you. You can always t= rade up later.

Be alert= when you are riding for more than inattentive drivers. Heavy trucks = cause groves in the road. If your legs are short and you stop on top = of the grove, your legs may not reach the road.

What was one of your most memorable moments/rides (fun, exciting, = meaningful) and why?

My most = memorable ride was my first long ride on my Buell Blast about a month after= I purchased it. I practiced riding in the neighborhood for a week.&n= bsp; Then I went to Fort Saskatchewan for coffee and at 80 km/hr I discover= ed I would need a little windshield to reduce wind resistance. Then I= rode around the city for a week to get comfortable with traffic. Fin= ally I was ready for a big trip. My husband suggested a trip through = Rimbey (where my mom lives), over to the Glacier National Park and back hom= e through Jasper. We rode 1,100 km over the weekend. I drove th= rough pouring rain, had a black bear cross in front of me, walked on a Glac= ier, packed enough for a weekend in one little backpack, and generally had = a great time. I felt like a child rediscovering my world through all = of my senses. It was so invigorating, especially when the bike ran ou= t of gas right after passing a semi-trailer and I had the sense to get off = the road right away and the good fortune to have a shoulder to pull onto. <= /span>

What is one little known fact about yourself that you would like t= o share with the other members?

I served= 20 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. As a second career, I pursued= a lifelong dream of becoming a Chartered Accountant because nothing is mor= e fun to me than solving a mathematical problem. I have accomplished = a lot and overcome many challenges in my life, so when I decided to learn t= o ride a motorcycle in 2001, I thought it would be easy. Ha! No= thing could be further from the truth for me.

I could = already ride a bicycle and drive a standard transmission car, so it never e= ven dawned on me that it would be hard to ride a motorcycle. I almost= quit part way through the Alberta Safety Council’s Gearing Up course= . I felt overwhelmed by all the new information, the lack of speed an= d the amount of energy it took to balance the bike. It took me a long= time to understand the dynamics of the bike and I am still learning.

I share = this information because if I had quit, I would not have experienced the am= azing thrills and freedom that I get every time I ride my own machine. = ; So, for anyone who is struggling to pass a riders course or a riding test= , all I can say is hang in there because the rewards on the other side far = outweigh the challenges. And once you pass, ride your own ride. = That means: ride the bike, the locations and the speed that you are comfor= table with. Don’t let anyone make you feel wrong. Ride sa= fe and ride long.