Oh for platform shoes!

So after a long week the weekend finally dawns and it's time to test my new found skills on my F650GS. How lovely! our guests decide to join us at the carpark to practice along with me. So not only am I facing my bike properly for the first time but 3 very experienced riders plan to watch!

Now I must point out that not only am I short but I also have very short stubby feet. So buying shoes in the USA from a store is impossible and buying motorbike boots, well.... The boots I bought are nice boots and do up around my ankles (always helpful!) however they are of course too long. Now this wasn't a problem when I was on the course but when tiptoeing on large bike they give the false impression that I at least have my toes on the ground on both sides. This is a total lie, considering my toes don't touch the ground normally. Everyone says you only need one foot on the ground to handle the bike. This may be true for an experienced rider or perhaps someone with a reasonable leg strength but for a beginner lady rider I beg to differ. My bike laying on it's side with me partially underneath it also disagrees.

So another disastrous attempt and now I start to feel that motorcycling may not be for me. After that fun exercise we take our Swiss friends off to have lunch at the local casino and forget the days trials.

Sunday comes and we join up with the club for a barbecue at the local BMW dealers. No one can believe that I can't fit on a BMW and after I sit on the new F800GS with lowered frame and lower seat etc finally they all start to realise that yes I really am too short for BMW's.

Now to add salt to the wound of being unable to cope with one foot down riding on my bike we watch a one legged man hope onto his BMW and ride off. Now I truly feel inadequate.

So what's next? Watch this space as we try to find a bike for a vertically challenged total newbie!