No motorcycle show for me

The Cycle World motorcycle show is this weekend in Chicago.  I have gone to a few of them over the last few years.  However, this will not be one of those years.  When I look at my budget and try to be reasonable, I just don’t need to spend the money to get there, pay for parking, pay for admission, then the temptation to buy stuff that I really don’t need.  Coupled with that, Neil is going away for the weekend and it’s only been 3 weeks since Abigail knee replacement.  Instead I will take Abigail out to the show to see the King’s Speech that she has been wanting to see.  The show is part our celebrating her 57th birthday.

Additionally, I just do feel like I need anything right now for my motorcycling.  New helmet for Christmas, rain jacket, one piece rain suit, and another mc jacket this winter doesn’t mean there is anything else to replace or upgrade.  There is only one upgrade left for the Concours, Denali LED auxiliary lights from Twisted Throttle.  But that will happen after I have some extra money coming in from the MC classes.  It’s funny, in a way my motorcycling has lost “it’s a whole new world” feeling that I was experiencing when everything started back in 2005.  I enjoy riding, but I don’t seem to obsess about it like I did, which also included spending lots (or charging) of money on everything that I thought one needed to be a cyclist.  Maybe a better term to describe the mc facet of my life would be that it has matured, like a good relationship.  Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly can’t wait for the snow to melt and take the Concours out for a 30 degree ride.   I am even excited to know that my MC classes that I will be teaching will begin in less than two month.  I held back just a little bit and will be teaching 26 instead of the crazy 36 classes that I did last year.

Other wheels in winter

During the winter, I still get to enjoy 2 wheels.  Except for a handful of days, I have ridden my mountain bike to the commuter train stop.  This includes half walking and half riding the bicycle home the night of the blizzard in Chicago.

Lacking enthusiasm

Got the email from Gil yesterday letting us know that the instructor signup system would be live in a few days. Did I get excited? Not this time. There will be many classes that I teach this year and I will enjoy each of them. However, this will not be another year of 37 classes. My signup will be in moderation (still ranging around 20 classes). My passion is leaning toward getting in more of my own activity. Some of it will be on the motorcycle. Other time will include another triathlon, an ultra-run, and at least one bicycle event like a touring ride. I have created a master list of possible events that I am supposed to review with my wife this weekend. She is more level headed on will help me narrow down my selections. Once that is set, I will fill in the left over weekends with the motorcycle classes. Not only will I enjoy teaching them, teaching them is a key part of my getting out of debt plan. This time 3 years from now I should have freed up 1200 a month in consumer debt payment (hence my wife is helping to shape my consumer moderation, okay yes she is holding my credit cards).

I particularly am experiencing some wanderlust. Some national park should have my name on it this year.

#37 and 38

Finish the first weekend of my 37th and 38th MC classes of the season. One more weekend and the season will be finished. I am sure that withdrawal will set in. This weekend two instructors came by the site just to hang out. They were already missing the teaching.

Nice teaching weekend

Half way there

Finished my fourth weekend teaching Motorcycles class Saturday/Sunday 7-7 in a row. Four more to go and the teaching season is over. Believe it or not, while a little tired, this is such a blast. My encourage this weekend came during the wrapup of the classes. During the sharing the last bit of information, one of the students interjected with "Jeff, I you are the man. You really know how to teach this stuff. I am going to tell everyone to take this class and try get you" I turned a little rosie in the cheeks and see thank you.

7 weekends to go

The motorcycle teaching season won't be around much longer. I teach morning and afternoon from 7-7 Sat and Sun for the next 7 weekends. Then the season will be over. It's been a heck of a long season but all for a purpose. I am so blessed to be able to earn extra money doing something so fun and important that has also helped me to make a dent in my consumer debt. In the end, I will have taught 38 twenty hour basic motorcycle classes this season. Come November, the Concours will be paided off as well.