Girls on bikes go 'round and 'round

Riding motorcycles has long been considered primarily a "men only" activity. But the times ... they are a changing. According to statistics from a 1998 Motorcycle Industry Council survey, one out of every 12 motorcycle owners in the United States is a woman, and 25 percent of new bikes sold in 1998 were purchased by women.

"Although there are many women riders who have been riding for as long as men, there's a new, fast-growing group of women who want to experience the thrill of the open road, and the speed and freedom that only a motorcycle can provide," said Keith Code, founder and techinical director of the California Superbike School, which is headquartered in Los Angeles.

"Why should men get to have all the fun?" he asked.

With the surge of women riders taking their rightful place on the highways and the track, Code said he couldn't help but recognize the need for an "all women" class.

Consequently, California Superbike School, along with Mota, LLC, and Kawasaki, are providing women riders with their very own class to teach them how to ride and corner like the pros do.

Keith Code advises California Superbike School participant Monica James during a one-day session held at Streets of Willow Springs in Rosamond.

The first-ever California Superbike School for women was held last Sunday at the Streets of Willow Springs, according to Code, is one of the best tracks around and the former professional racer should know; after all, he designed three sections of it.

The school demonstrates a variety of useful biking techniques along with California Superbike School's one-of-a-kind braking rig, which is usually used only during the school's two day camps.The braking rig simulates what it would be like to brake hard on a regular roadway, but without the threat of crashing.

Code said the turnout for the first women's school was amazing. "These women came here focused and ready to learn." he shared.

Sheryl Bussard, 41, of Laguna Beach, was one of the women who attended the school. Bussard has been riding a motorcycle off and on since 1983, but calls herself a re-entry rider.

"In the last couple of years, I've started riding a lot more," she said.

Bussard had previously taken some beginning courses through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and said she signed up for the school to improve her riding and gain confidence.

"During the training, I learned to relax and have the correct riding position, while allowing the motorcycle to do what it's supposed to do," she explained. "I believe the school has really helped me and I think I'll be a better street rider because of what I've learned."

And Bussard only has one regret. "I wish I'd learned this stuff 10 years ago."

Lisa Bostwick, 35, of San Francisco, had her school day cut short Sunday when she crashed during the first exercise. During the first of five instructions, another rider passed Bostwick on the inside lane without allowing the required 10 feet of space, and Bostwick went down hard.

"I totally wiped out and got taken away in an ambulance," Bostwick recalled. "I was so pissed off because I was so pumped up to come to the school, and then I missed finishing the rest of it."

Bostwick's exposure to motorcycles came early on in life; she began riding when she was 12. However, she stopped at the age of 16 and didn't begin riding again until she purchased a bike in January of 1999 when she was 33 years old.

Bostwicks interest in biking was piqued, she said, because most of her women friends were riding and she was jealous.

"It's a blast. It's definately a high. I get really happy when I ride," she exclaimed.

Due to the overwhelming response to the "women only" school, Code forsees holding several of the classes across the country in the future.

"Once a person has the basic technical tools for riding, she can focus on learning skills like cornering," Code said.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Back in 1976, Code was competing on the superbike racing circuit when he had an epiphany.

"I realized I had no idea what I was doing out there," he explained during a recent phone interview from his home in Glendale. "I was just out there thrashing around."

What Code needed was some sort of training manual to help him learn the basics of motorcycle riding and racing. "So I asked myself, How do I improve my riding? What do I need to know?"

He began asking questions and doing lots of research. "I started writing down stuff on little pieces of paper everywhere," he said, compiling information that he believed rider should have.

Soon Code began taking on private students in the off-season and continued to compete during the racing season. In 1977 he became a licensed motorcycle safety Riding Coach.

He retired from competitive racing and 1979, but decided he wanted to stay "in the mix." With help from Kawasaki and other sponsers he founded the California Superbike School in 1980.

The school was unique in that motorcycles and riding apparel were provided. Of course, participants were always welcome to bring their own bikes.

The school was originally held at Riverside Raceway, which no longer exists. "We slowly expanded into the midwest and the east," Code explained. This year the school put on 56 one-day sessions held at 14 different race tracks throughout the U.S.

TIME ROLLS ON

At 55 years old, Code's superbike racing days are long behind him. However, the thrill of riding has lived on as he and his staff of expert riding coaches continue to train racers from all over the world, along with novice riders, at his California Superbike Schools. OVer the past 20 years, more than 50,000 riders have been trained at the schools, which are held throughout the United States, Austrailia and the United Kingdom.

"My overall approach to rider improvements isn't hard, and certainly works just as well for women as for men," he said. "Just simplify the actions of riding by defining the basics and by investigating the decisions you must make to ride well. Additionally, one needs to apply these techniques under expert supervision to gain experience and confidence they can take out onto the roadway."

Women who participated in the California Superbike School for Women either rode their own bikes or used the 2000 Kawasaki ZX-6R, which Code said he considers to be the best engineered and well-built brand in the world.

Riding, to Code, isn't about talent or pure skill; it's about achieving a mindset that allows for success, that conquers negativity, and focuses on one's own performance regardless of anyone else on the track.

Code said he belives safety is of tantamount importance while riding. "Even with the most rudimentary of safety training, the number of injuries and deaths on motorcycles decrease. So if you understand how something works, your chances of survival go up significantly," he explained.

Code's inventions include the panic-brake trainer and the lean-and-slide training bike. He has also written "The Soft Science of Road Racing Motorcycles" and "A Twist of the Wrists, Vols. 1 and 2."

"Riding a bike is a million times better than a Prozac!" he said. "You may get hurt, but you'll have lots of fun in the meantime."

HOW IT WORKS

There are four levels to choose from at the California Superbike Schools. One-day courses are held from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. When two-day courses are available, riders can take one level on the first day, and move on to the next level on the second day.

LEVEL 1

Level 1 (cornering school) gives you a complete rundown on the six most common errors a rider makes. Included are ways to correct and control observable errors such as uncertain corner entry speeds, rider generated instability, intermittent traction, sloppy turn entry positioning, imprecise steering and poor bike/rider interface. Then riders are teased with a taste of Level 2 drills like vision and corner positioning.

LEVEL 2

During Level 2, the ability to rapidly process visual information is examined. Some of the subjects covered include target fixation, corner familiarization, defining a corner and organizing space to suit your riding. Riders are then introduced to Level 3 materials with the traction mastering drill.

LEVEL 3

Level 3 addresses five more proactive and technical points on riding: how you interface with the bike, your body position choices and how that affects the vornering process. Since stability starts with the rider, her input dramatically affects control over the bike. The Flick-Flick drill will instantly locate all of the rider's strong and weak points. The tools learned here give a whole new approach to cornering. Passing and mental planning are touched upon.

LEVEL 4

Level 4 asks the question "What needs to be imporved?" By this point, the rider has made it through three levels and practiced 15 different riding skills, after which a program unique to the rider is designed.

COST

The cost of a one-day session at California Superbike School is $350 per rider using own bike, or $575 per rider if using bike and apparel provided by the school. Helments are not provided by the school.

This article originally appeared in the Thursday, September 14, 2000 issue of Desert Post Weekly. It is reprinted with their permission.