I introduced myself on "Rubber Side Down", not knowing this was here, so if you want to know a little more about look there. Basically I'm a 53 year old guy with my first bike. I got the 2006 Boulevard I believe on the 8th of September, and after getting a new battery (which was nice and dead as soon as I got it home from the dealer), I started riding on the 14th. We have a local boat ramp parking lot, and I had my buddy ride it out there. I rode it there in the parking lot, for about an hour, and was still too leery of the whole process to actually ride it home the 8 miles. Well, as of today, that was just about 1500 miles ago. I followed the same buddy on his 1200 Sportster today 136 miles. About 3/4 of it was curves and hills. It was actually fun today doing the curves. I followed him the other day for about 100 miles of mostly curves, and I was a nervous wreck through most of it. I knew that if I could just allow myself to flow naturally through the curves, and not fight them tooth and nail from fear, that things would get better and the 100 miles of butt pucker would probably go away. I rode another time after that mostly on highways, and enjoyed it, but was dreading the curves again. I decided today, that unless my buddy's brake lights came on, I was not putting mine on. I knew that he was not going to blast through curves to start with if I wasn't there, and definitely not, knowing I was there. I had to get it through my head, that he is making through the curves at the speed he is going, so the curves can actually be taken faster than he is going. That means, that if I'm at his speed or slightly under, I will make it safely through the curves. What do you know, it worked! I actually enjoyed myself throughout the whole ride. That's the first time in these 1500 miles, that has ever happened. It was 74 degrees down here in Southern Ohio, and I doubt they'll be another one this year, so I made the most of it. Riding in a T Shirt at almost Halloween was special. I have been making myself ride through towns, and creep in traffic and all that, because I need that training, as much as I do curves. I told my uncle last night, whose been riding all his life, that the thing I was having the most trouble with, was making 90 degree turns on to a side street, or making a 90 degree turn to the right from a stop sign. He said "that never gets easier". So, that made me feel a little better. I started his 2002 Fat Boy in his garage, and that was a religious experience. Pure growling an roaring bliss! Of course,he said I could take it out for a spin, but I declined for now. I'm not ready for that much bike yet. Maybe never, I don't know. My buddy offered to let me ride his 1200 for part of the trip today, but I'm not ready for it quite yet either. But, if he asks me again this Spring, he'll probably get a different answer.
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