Born to ride

ABATE course revs up 2-wheel enthusiasts

May 8, 2007

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman

MAT-SU - Class is in session for beginning motorcycle riders in the Valley. Safety, risk management and general beginning motorcycle skills are the curriculum, and the Valley branch of Alaska Bikers Advocating Training Education is the school. If you are a new biker, this is the class you need to take.

Nineteen students gathered Friday night at the Boys and Girls Club in Wasilla for the first of their four-class sessions - two in the classroom, and two out on the motorcycle range in the parking lot at Wasilla High School. A varied group of young men, older women, fathers and sons, brother and sisters and husbands and wives were ready to swing their legs over a motorcycle and learn the basics of becoming a safer and more aware rider.

The Stiehr family was there in full force. For the husband-and-wife team of Marylee and Tracy Stiehr, it all started when Tracy volunteered to ride a friend's bike from Arizona to Alaska. Before Marylee knew it, her husband had purchased two BMW motorcycles. One is here in Alaska, and the other is in Arizona waiting for Marylee.

Older brother Chuck Stiehr was there because he said he had been bitten by the motorcycling bug after his brother, Tracy, bought the new bikes. Chuck's son Jesse was there because the family signed him up. He has had a motorcycle but no license.

&#8220I figured I could get my license and learn some good habits to replace my bad habits,” said Jesse, a 27-year-old truck driver.

For Big Lake resident Lyndeen Knapp and her friend Wendy Strohmeyer, from Palmer, getting their motorcycle license was for a different reason all together.

&#8220I am tired of riding on the back of my husband's bike,” Knapp said. &#8220I want to ride on the front.”

Strohmeyer said that was her reason as well. Neither had riding experience, and both were a little anxious.

&#8220I am excited but nervous,” Knapp said. &#8220I know you have to be coordinated, and at my age you have to be sharp as well.”

She said she plans to buy a bike after she completes the course.

Valley ABATE offers two levels of classes - the beginning rider course and the experienced rider course. The experienced course consists of five hours of riding time. The class is meant to sharpen riding skills and teach advanced

techniques.

The beginning course concentrates on skills development and managing the risk that comes with riding a motorcycle. All instructors are Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified.

D.J. McBride has been a rider coach since 1996. She has helped develop two class curricula, one of which is used to teach instructors. For her it is both for fun and learning.

&#8220I learn as much from you as you learn from me,” she said Friday, as she introduced herself to the class.

McBride is not the only one in her family who teaches. Her husband and her son, Joe Elliott, are also riding instructors. For Elliott, an instructor since 2002, it is his love of motorcycles and the desire to help riders form good riding habits and stay safe on the road that keeps him teaching.

&#8220To this day, I see a lot of uneducated people when it comes to motorcycles, and I hope to change that.” Elliott said. For the instructors, safety and good riding habits are themes throughout the course.

&#8220The worst,” Elliott said,” is when a family member tries to teach another family member how to ride, and they end up teaching them all their bad habits. Then they take those bad habits on to the road.”

Good riding habits are important to staying safe on the road. The on-range drills provide the chance for students to learn and practice those habits before venturing out onto public roadways.

Students get first-hand knowledge of proper riding posture, proper braking techniques, slow maneuvering and high-speed cornering. The bikes they use are all in the 250 cc size and are donated by local motorcycle shops.

The class starts at a slow pace. Letting students get used to the bike and its handling characteristics.

&#8220I am still a little nervous,” Knapp said. &#8220But I like the way they are stepping us into it.”

Chuck Stiehr was impressed at how organized the class is and what he learned.

&#8220I am amazed at how they prevent chaos with 12 riders riding around in this parking lot.” he said. &#8220I was pretty much self-taught, so there were a

lot of concepts I was not aware of. It is definitely all good information.”

After two days of on-bike training, the students are ready to take the skills test and be evaluated by the instructors. The test consists of everything that was covered in class. After successfully completing the skills test, students receive a certificate, which they can take to the Department of Motor Vehicles and get their motorcycle endorsement.

Contact Robert DeBerry at 352-2266 or robert.deberry@ frontiersman.com.