“
With logs, steep rises and big descents (to my novice eyes anyway)
it was nothing like I’d ever experienced before on a motorcycle
After the 30 minute lesson I was sent
off on my first loop of the beginner course
for the day. It felt like it was 20km rather
than 2km! With logs and steep rises and
descents (to my novice eyes anyway), it was
nothing like I’d ever experienced before. I
was made more nervous by the fact that I felt
like I was holding people up. It’s amazing how
you can work yourself up over something as
small as a 2km dirt bike beginner loop!
But I did.
At the end of the first lap I had to have a
breather after the stressful ride around the
first loop – I didn’t really understand how
physically demanding riding off road is!
But after the first lap I managed to get
54 KIWI RIDER
myself into a little bit of a rhythm and we
went round again. I have to say, the second
time around I did feel more comfortable with
the bike and the way it was sliding around
underneath me, but the positioning takes a
bit of getting used to and I was aching already!
Having Ben following me felt like I was being
pressured, so I sent him off to do a loop
of the larger course and leave me to it so I
could go round myself for a while without
worrying about holding him up. I went round
again, but this time I fell off! It was nothing
serious, the front end tucked under on a
slow speed, dry sandy corner and, being a
complete novice on dirt, I had no idea how to
stop it from happening.
>