[NSR] my tiny co-worker is a Woman Of Steel!
Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:04 am
One of my co-workers, an IT contractor from Mexico, came to me a few weeks ago, totally stoked because she planned to buy a Honda Rebel. She's thirty-something, about 5'2", maybe 110 soaking wet, and a bundle of energy. Just a hoot to work with.
Anyhow, I suggest the MSF class as she has no cycle experience. I told her that the class uses Rebels, so it would be good training and a good test to see if she really wanted that bike. After a couple weeks on the wait list, she gets into the class this past weekend. She was bouncing off the walls on Friday afternoon - couldn't wait to get started.
She showed up on time at 7am, went through all her pre-work, and got out on to the range with the class. She's comfortable with a manual transmission in a car, so she knew the shifting concepts. She got plenty of attention on the bike to get her started.
About two hours in, the coach tells her she's stopping kind of long, and that she needs to apply some more brake pressure. Unfortunately and somewhat predictably, she grabbed the front brake too hard and went arse-over-teakettle. She landed on her shoulder and banged her leg up while sailing over the bars.
The others help her up, and she's cradling her forearm against her chest, unable to move her shoulder. The instructor asks if she can wiggle her fingers. Yes. Check. A bit of probing, and they determine she's dislocated her shoulder. The instructor says, "you're going to have to drop out, you can't continue."
"NOOOOOOO!!," she yells, and shoots her bad arm forward with her good hand. Popping the shoulder immediately back into its socket and relieving most of the pain. She got right back on the horse, finished the day, came back Sunday although sore as hell, and aced the tests and got her card.
I had to stand up from my desk and give her a one-man standing ovation as she told the story this morning. What a trouper!
Anyhow, I suggest the MSF class as she has no cycle experience. I told her that the class uses Rebels, so it would be good training and a good test to see if she really wanted that bike. After a couple weeks on the wait list, she gets into the class this past weekend. She was bouncing off the walls on Friday afternoon - couldn't wait to get started.
She showed up on time at 7am, went through all her pre-work, and got out on to the range with the class. She's comfortable with a manual transmission in a car, so she knew the shifting concepts. She got plenty of attention on the bike to get her started.
About two hours in, the coach tells her she's stopping kind of long, and that she needs to apply some more brake pressure. Unfortunately and somewhat predictably, she grabbed the front brake too hard and went arse-over-teakettle. She landed on her shoulder and banged her leg up while sailing over the bars.
The others help her up, and she's cradling her forearm against her chest, unable to move her shoulder. The instructor asks if she can wiggle her fingers. Yes. Check. A bit of probing, and they determine she's dislocated her shoulder. The instructor says, "you're going to have to drop out, you can't continue."
"NOOOOOOO!!," she yells, and shoots her bad arm forward with her good hand. Popping the shoulder immediately back into its socket and relieving most of the pain. She got right back on the horse, finished the day, came back Sunday although sore as hell, and aced the tests and got her card.
I had to stand up from my desk and give her a one-man standing ovation as she told the story this morning. What a trouper!
holy cow, that's impressive.
Good on you for giving her a standing O. 
