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Summary: Inga signed up for a MSF class with the Evergreen Safety Council here in Seattle. She was unable to complete the class as the Instructor dismissed her as being unable to deal with the driving drills. We both felt that this was done in error and to get closure on this discouraging event, we both wrote letters. Inga wrote to several women rider's Internet forums to warn other women of the problems one can face with male instructors and I wrote to head of motorcycle instruction at the ESC. In the end, everything turned out great. Please read on!
Inga's letter, posted on the following websites: Ladybiker Worldwide, Woman Rider International & Women on Wheels
November 5, 2000 - MSF Class
If you choose to take a Motorcycle course: Choose an instructor by word-of-mouth, preferably from other females - nothing but a personal reference to a particular instructor is relevant. Then go to your class with the attitude of a consumer. Do not switch into "good female student" mode because then you'll be too vulnerable to censure as well as general instructor crankiness.
We had three female newbies in the class I took and the instructor seemed confident enough in the classroom. But when we were out on the range the next morning he was obviously out-of-sorts. One newbie had no end of trouble with shifting her bike into neutral while the instructor glared and checked his watch. Finally (after the third time he embarrassed her) he had another student check her bike and confirm that there was indeed a problem. He switched out her bike and we moved on.
While doing the ride-around-the-rectangle drill, my bike was "surging" erratically. I went around a couple of times thinking it might even out and then pulled out of the line to check with my instructor. I said I thought I was having a problem and he snapped - "You certainly are." He then insisted the issue was my throttle control without even looking at the bike. Then he said I was obviously not up to the class and needed to take it later! The upshot is: I was dismissed from class with no chance of recourse or rebuttal. I was too stunned to even respond and I left and called my husband to come and pick me up.
Now... I didn't drop a bike, endanger anyone, get frustrated, angry, whiny, nothing! I can only assume the other newbie had set us far enough behind the timeline that he couldn't even be civil to me. If I was doing something weird with the throttle, clutch, choke or fuel switch might it not be because I needed instruction? Isn't that a good reason to be taking a beginner course? Great attitude, great way to treat a student, a customer, and a voter of funding of state sponsored programs! Yes, I'm being cynical!
I expect a certain level of verbalization, like "I feel like were totally behind from that last episode and I can't deal with your issue right now, move off to the side and my assistant will help you." or "Switch bikes with one of the guys and see if he can handle it." or "I can't take the time for this now, let me give you a credit for the next course." Whatever!
I assume this instructor is committed to the MSF training program and preparing riders for the street but his actions in this episode were clearly out of alignment with that commitment as he alienated an enthusiastic motorcyclist from getting proper training. I'm still going to ride and yes, I need training but I certainly won't risk this kind of humiliation again.
Scott's letter to Dave Wendell, head of motorcycle instruction at the Evergreen Safety Council in Seattle, WA
Dear Dave:
I returned to motorcycling in 1998 after a 15 yr. absence. In the past two years, I've taken both your MRC:RSS and ERC and driven 20,000 miles. Due to my successful return to the street and based on my motorcycle training with the Evergreen Safety Council, I have become an outspoken proponent of the MSF classes and your organization. I have referred at least a dozen riders of varying skill to you and I've gotten great feedback until this past weekend.
My wife has a motorcycle learner's permit and we've been out practicing over the course of the summer. During her teenage years, she drove a
Sportster. She's been doing very well but I convinced her to take the
MRC:RSS. So I put her on standby at Renton Technical and she got into a class. She was really impressed with the instructor Thursday night and was quite excited about getting on the course Saturday morning. At 10 AM, I got a phone call from her asking for a ride home as the instructor had dismissed her.
I'm not bent about the $50. I am really cranked about the fact that an instructor having what sounds like a bad morning invalidated an enthusiastic novice rider over equipment problems and ran her off. Not cool! She still needs training. How do I talk her into trying it again?
I've included her account of the episode below. She did not write this for ESC. She instead sent her comments to several women rider forums on the Internet to warn other riders of the potential pitfalls of MSF instruction. She did not specifically mention ESC or the instructor as she does not want to get into a he said/she said battle.
I taught scuba for 5 yrs. so I understand about tight class outlines, malfunctioning equipment and struggling students. I can empathize with your instructors but we always had a way to handle the variables and keep the student/customer engaged. I'm not worried about sending guys to your courses. They can deal with twitchy equipment and the occasional cranky instructor. So I need some coaching here. What do I do about my wife and other women that need training? Do I have to prep them before sending them over to you? I'm open to suggestions as my commitment to MSF education is real and I need a reliable, consistent source of training.
Thanks!
Scott Bruce Duncan
Dave Wendell's response to Scott's letter
November 6, 2000
Dave Wendell called Scott at work and said that if Inga was willing to try it again, he would transfer her registration and fee to his next class that weekend. Inga accepted Dave's offer and attended the class, this time using her own
Honda Helix scooter.
Inga's post-class follow-up letter, posted on the following websites: Ladybiker Worldwide, Woman Rider International & Women on Wheels
November 17, 2000
Here is my report on my 2nd MSF class: I not only passed the course but I had a great time! We started out Thursday night as a class of 12 with 4 women. On Saturday morning 2 men didn't show so we went on with 10.
There were two instructors from the Evergreen Safety Council in Seattle: Bruce Thomas and Kathy Spitz and a mentor-instructor, Dave Wendell, who was evaluating and they were all excellent. My husband, Scott, took his first class from Dave two years ago and recommends him to any woman needing MSF instruction. They all three watched us like hawks and gave each of us a ton of feedback - but all in a positive encouraging way! No one got dropped out of class, embarrassed or hurt. When one woman dropped a bike in the slow, tight turn, the incident was used as a way to show how to pick up a bike. She was a little rattled but she decided to stay and she passed the course.
I choked on the test and had a much harder time than I did in the practice time. First, I looked down at the cones and then put my foot down to get my front end lined up right again, then I felt so sick from screwing up that I cut the inside line on the tight corner. Then I had to recover enough points on the rest to pass with a margin I felt good about. One woman and possibly one of the men didn't pass. She was not discouraged but was already planning how she would practice before taking it again.
Scott took the course with me so I could ride my own bike. I'm really glad I did, I learned so much about my bike and its handling characteristics that I felt competent and within my limits even on the wild ride Scott picked to lead me home. All the way home I kept my back straight and eyes up so I could look like Kathy on the bike. Then, on every turn of that twisty route, I saw Bruce's pantomimed head-turn looking through the turn!
I highly recommend these instructors! The time I spent with them has definitely made me a better and safer rider. -- Inga Duncan Thornell
Conclusion: Inga says it's not about which MSF instructors to avoid. It's about which MSF instructors are recommended to you by other women riders who can vouch for the instructor's skills and
temperment.
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