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The Rider's Workshop
A New Resource for Riders
By Peter Nevins #88834
(February Owners News) |
February 6, 2006 |
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Rider Workshop’s creator and leader Jim Ford. |
Great news for motorcycle riders in the mid-Atlantic states has recently emerged with the creation of The Rider’s Workshop, the brainchild of Jim Ford of Kensington, Maryland. Customers of Bob’s BMW Motorcycles in Jessup are already familiar with Jim and know him to be a dedicated motorcyclist as well as a very pleasant and competent former member of Bob Henig’s excellent sales force. Jim’s forte on the job was product knowledge and customer education. He never grew impatient and always treated you like you were his only customer. Now, he is building on that knowledge and his own love of riding, with a plan to offer workshops to moderately-experienced riders that stresses the pure joy of the ride and riding well.
What is The Rider’s Workshop? Jim’s vision grew from his feeling that there is something missing after the sale. Plenty of people will sell a bike to you and dealers will see that it is properly maintained. There are courses available from the MSF and the DMV to get beginning riders up and running, and there’s even an “Experienced Rider Course.” Not wrongfully, the thrust of those courses is strictly safety oriented. Jim recognized a need for a workshop for those riders seeking to gain more from the riding experience than simply proceeding from alpha to omega safely.
(L to R) Mike Dale, Lori Cardellino, author Peter Nevins and guru Jim Ford. |
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He believes there is a “Zen” in riding that many seek, and some find on their own, but most riders need to be nudged toward, then guided into, the correct mindset. As Jim told me when he first revealed his idea, he wants to teach the concepts of fine riding. This would include techniques for proper attitude, throttle control, turn carving, settling into a proper mental and physical groove, correct braking techniques, relaxing while alert (yes, it can be done), using the power band, seamless shifting, and overall, making time safely while stepping up to a whole new level of smoothness. In the process, the Workshop attendee will be guided over some of Jim’s wonderful secret (he calls them “invisible”) roads, his knowledge of which is surprisingly extensive and includes the entire Appalachian Mountain region.
It sounded very exciting and Jim asked me to ride along on the first Workshop to offer a comment or two. At 8 a.m. on the designated morning, I met Jim at the pre-arranged rendezvous site in Frederick, Maryland, replete with proper rider wear (required), my bike’s performance specs, and a helmet slick in which to tuck the radio receiver bud which will transfer Guru Jim’s comments and suggestions directly into my ear as we proceed. (Big brother is not only watching, he’s inside my helmet with me.) I have to admit, I was nursing a butterfly or two. I mean, this guy Jim is one good rider. Can I keep up? Am I way out of my element here? Maybe another 50 years in the saddle will prepare me? I recall riding on an optional day with one of the Edelweiss Bike Tours guides in Italy earlier this year. That guy looked at me and asked, “you are ready?” I mistakenly nodded yes. He nodded back and—vaporized! Disappeared around the Tuscan twisties swifter than a 10-Euro bill at a gas pump! I realized right then that, ego to the contrary, there’s a slim chance I might not be the greatest rider in the world after all. But, here I am on a new day. I shouldn’t have worried because Jim’s main thrust can be summed up not in speed but in one word: smooooth, with as many o’s as you’d care to insert.
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An “Invisible” Road in West Virginia. |
Two others joined us at the Frederick rendezvous for the start of our three-day teaching holiday: Lori Cardellino and Mike Dale, both proficient Washingtonarea riders and, it turned out, fascinating people with whom to travel. Travel we did! After a road etiquette and ground rules briefing by Jim, we set out westward towards West Virginia and a refreshing new look at how truly satisfying riding can be.
Space doesn’t allow for a detailed description of each day’s activity but, essentially, we spent the first day admiring the fall scenery and enjoying Jim’s extensive road knowledge. At rest stops we began to explore some of the finer points he expected us to master during the course. Throttle control, for example. Everyone knows what a throttle is, but when Jim gets through talking about it you will be treating your throttle as if it is attached to the fuel control by a slender silken thread. Again, we return to the ever present mantra—smoothness. It is the major theme of the entire course and you will hear Jim expound on it time and time again.
By the time Day #2 dawns over the Alpine Lodge in Davis, WV, you will be convinced that you have involved yourself in something very interesting and worthwhile indeed. This day necessarily involves less gawking at scenery and more concentration on the principles we are here to learn. Today each rider in turn will lead the group with Jim right behind making constructive criticisms and offering instruction. It is this part that I found most helpful and instructive. It’s one thing to talk about road position, downshifting, cornering and accelerating out of turns, but it’s another thing entirely when an expert who wants to help you is riding right behind and is able to insert real time instruction as you begin to put it together.
Thus it goes until the all-too-soon conclusion. In keeping with the fine tradition that the best should be reserved for last, the final night is spent at The Fort Lewis Lodge in Virginia, a wonderful country inn deserving an entire rave review unto itself (< href="http://www.fortlewislodge.com" target=_blank>www.fortlewislodge.com). This inn, and its very motorcyclefriendly owners, deserve a place on the “A” list of any discerning traveler. The food! Oh my! Prepare thyself because a worthy gourmet feast is coming after a round table discussion of the workshop over wine and hors d’oeuvres.
I don’t want to mislead you; this isn’t simply a riding school. It is an excellent one, of course, but it is also a grand tour through absolutely magnificent rural and mountain countryside over sparsely traveled paved roads with great visuals and some grand eating experiences included. I can assure you, no matter what your baseline skills, you will be a changed rider at the conclusion of the course with greater awareness of the road environment and a whole new attitude toward our wonderful pastime.
For more information and possible enrollment in The Rider’s Workshop, contact Jim Ford directly at (866) 767- 6900 or visit his website at www.ridersworkshop.com.
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