The Dirt Bike Gang

We spent a great day chasing the sun and finding dirt on a warmish Oregon winter day. The temperature was just right (or almost) and had been for a few days allowing some of the trails at Brown’s Camp, a popular OHV staging site, to dry out.  

Early on when I started dating Dave, my partner and co-collaborator in life, he mentioned that he’d like to have a dirt bike gang. That was early on and I had never been on a dirt bike and quite honestly I did not even love riding ‘bicycles’. I do love adventure and the thought of riding a dirt bike was both exciting and a little (or a lot) terrifying. 

The first time I rode was at Browns camp. One afternoon I pushed my fear back and reminded myself (over and over) that a little bit of fear was good and I needed to push myself. I was about to suggest that it’s important to push ourselves to try new things. I deleted that. It’s important for me to try new things. Ask my friend and hair stylist Katie, in one year I’ve had five hairstyles. 

I got on the bike.  

I felt awkward. It felt awkward.

I was scared.  

My grip unnaturally tight. 

I just kept asking myself that question over and over. Looking for a reasonable answer to why I was was riding a dirt bike for the first time, ever -- now?

 

Was it because Dave wanted me to? (yes, likely)

Was it because I wanted to impress him? (which I did not, impress him)

Was it because I did not want to be left out? (not really)

Or was it because I really wanted to. (maybe)

Whatever the answer—the one that I needed to know was— am I doing this for myself. Eventually, this was the answer I got. 

Yes, I was doing it for myself. I fell in love with someone who was adventurous. Someone who would teach me new things, push me to become a better version of myself. Me scared, hands too tight, talking myself through the beginners loop -- was what that looked like in real-life. And, I hardly had to wait to see the results. My son loved it. It provided us with a place to connect, an activity where he was more advanced than I was, where he could help me.

Conner would stand in the beginner’s loop when I first started riding to make sure I was okay. He is always the first one over to help me when I get in a tight spot. “ Mom, are you okay?” On an outing in January (2021), he told me that I had a great ride. There are definitely those moments -- that I think 'yes' this was worth it.

And, lastly it provided a great COVID-19 Safe Escape. 

It’s been one of the best ways to safely escape physically and mentally when the world is in lockdown. When I think about last year at this time it was not clear that we’d still be faced with COVID cases rising, new variants and online school. But, as my good friend mentioned, our kids are learning something different, perhaps not the traditional education -- and so am I.

[I bought a brand new Kawasaki 140 KLX for about $4995.00.  For me starting out I needed to feel like I could touch the ground -- and be able to lift my bike.  It's probably too small (not tall enough), but during COVID it was hard to find any smaller bikes.