Two days later
Monday
The Farm
Chloe was very nervous.
Bag of nerves, might be a better description!
She was wearing her full motorcycle leathers, with boots and her helmet.
I had taken a quick turn around the marked out track that I had laid out in a field at The Farm, to show her what to do. Now I pulled up on the Honda CRF100F and climbed off.
..._...
"Your turn!" I said.
Chloe tentatively climbed on and I took her through the Honda's, very basic, controls: ignition switch, clutch lever, front brake, throttle grip, engine stop button, rear brake pedal, gear shift lever, fuel valve and kickstarter. Currently the engine was running and the gearbox was in neutral, so we could ignore some of the controls for now. I showed Chloe the positions of the gear shift lever; horizontal for neutral, first gear, one notch down and then second to fifth gears above the neutral position.
For now Chloe would probably stay in first gear! I explained how the clutch operated and let her pull the clutch lever, then push down on the gear change lever.
"Ready?" I asked, smiling encouragingly.
"Yes..." Chloe said, sounding anything but positive!
"Let in the clutch gently. Remember, when you stop you must pull the clutch lever or you will stall. Ignore the front brake for now. Use the rear brake, down here. Twist the throttle backward to go faster, twist it forwards to go slower."
"Okay..."
"Don't look at the front tyre, try to look ahead and don't worry if you fall, okay?"
Chloe nodded, still very apprehensive.
"Apply a little gas, then let in the clutch gently! Try and follow the course, keeping it slow!," I said, encouragingly.
I watched as Chloe twisted the throttle gently and let in the clutch... She moved, jerkily, but she moved and kept moving. I gave a thumbs up to Jack, who was filming Chloe with a camera; he smiled back. Chloe managed a full, but shaky, circuit, before coming to a halt beside me, pulling in the clutch.
..._...
The look on her face was priceless! Her smile went from ear to ear!
"Was that good?" I asked, laughing.
"Wow... That felt awesome!" Chloe stammered.
"Well keep going then. Go around a couple more times and then we'll try second gear!" I said. "Just keep it slow; I'm the speed menace, not you!"
I had brought Chloe up on the back of the BMW, this morning, keeping it slow and steady, as I didn't want to put her off. She was building up her confidence well... Oops, she took that turn a bit tight and came off onto the grass.
I ran over.
"You okay?" I called and could hear giggling!
"That was cool! I let it get away from me, then fumbled things a bit," Chloe explained getting back up.
The engine had stalled, so I righted the Honda and held it for Chloe to remount.
"Okay, put the gears into neutral... That's right... Now clutch and kick-down once, just here... There we go, engine running. Now off you go..." I said, and walked away.
..._...
Chloe pulled up beside me after another two laps.
"Ready for second gear? Or do want a break first?" I asked.
"I'll take a break!"
"Press and hold that button, till the engine cuts out... Now push the stand down and dismount. Ignition off. Perfect," I said, smiling.
Chloe pulled off her helmet, as we walked over to the house. Jack was still filming and followed us up to the house.
"You enjoy that, Chloe?" Jack asked.
"It was totally awesome!" Chloe replied, still smiling insanely!
"You looked cool!" Josh said, encouragingly.
I had advised Josh to keep out of the way, in case he either inspired Chloe to do something stupid or otherwise distracted her! The course I had laid out covered about a quarter mile, or four hundred and fifty yards. It should give Chloe plenty of space to get used to the motorcycle and the controls, especially the gears. Jack offered to film her learning, so that Dr Bennett could see the results. I kept my helmet on during the filming, as I did not want to be filmed at all and Jack respected this!
I let Chloe spend some time with Josh, while Jack's wife Natalie, got lunch ready. I called Dave to let him know how things were going.
"Hi gorgeous!" Dave said, on answering the phone.
"Hi lover!"
"Chloe broken her neck yet?"
"No, Josh is checking her neck out right now! She's doing really well; only came off once and started giggling!"
"Good! Oh, a large, long parcel has arrived for you. Damn heavy!"
"My compound bows!"
"More toys!" Dave groaned.
"Stop moaning, ass!"
Lunch was over and was very good!
I'm glad I had my leathers zipped up tight, Josh had his hands everywhere!
I was now back on the Honda and it was an awesome feeling. I managed to start it and move off, without any help. Now I just need to pull the clutch lever and flip the gear selector up two notches for second gear... Well here goes... Wow... I'm going faster... Too fast... Twist throttle forward... Slowing down... Better!
I managed a circuit in second gear!
Mindy and I were wearing our concealed comms, for ease of communication.
"You're doing well, keep going and keep looking forwards. I'm right behind you, ignore me completely, I will keep out of your way," Mindy said, in my ear. I glanced to my right and saw Mindy about ten yards back, on the BMW and following me around the course.
"When we get around the next corner, shift into third, one notch up, okay?" Mindy said.
"Okay!"
I turned around the next corner and pulled the clutch lever and flicked up the gear change lever, one notch, then let the clutch lever out, gently. Cool... Third gear!
"Josh find any damage, when he checked you over?" Mindy asked and I almost lost control of the Honda, so my response was not very lady like!
"That was totally uncalled for!" Mindy laughed in response.
After another eight circuits, Mindy guided me through slowing and shifting down, back to second and then stopping. It felt brilliant, I could now ride a motorcycle! I knew I still had a long way to go, but it was an impressively good start!
I turned off the engine and wheeled the Honda into the barn and secured it to a post, with a thick chain. I gazed longingly at the other Honda, currently under a tarpaulin and similarly secured. Marty had been round and equipped the barn and surrounding property with security measures, so we would know if anybody went anywhere near the motorcycles. Mindy had warned me, very seriously, to never ride the motorcycle if she wasn't here with me and I promised.
"You are one smart young lady!" Jack said.
"She is that!" Mindy acknowledged pulling off her helmet.
I felt my cheeks warming up and knew that I was blushing at all the praise.
"You do look lovelier when you blush!" Josh teased, grinning.
Josh's comments didn't help either, they just made me warm up in other places!
That evening
Morton Grove
"What the hell!" I exclaimed, as the front door burst open and a tornado came into the living room.
"I did it!" The tornado yelled, happily.
The tornado turned out to be my daughter!
"Had sex!" I responded, facetiously.
"No, better!" Chloe said, smiling from ear to ear. Oh, she has so much to learn!
Thankfully Mindy came in and calmly passed me an iPad and I pressed play, on the video.
"I see!" I said, impressed by what I was watching.
Once the video was finished and I could no longer put up with Chloe bouncing up and down on the couch, I turned to her.
"Congratulations!" I said, feeling genuinely proud of my daughter.
"I got up to third gear!" Chloe squealed.
"Simmer down Chloe!" I said.
"Sorry, Dr Bennett! I tried to calm her down, but..." Mindy tried.
"You'd have more chance holding back a tsunami!" I laughed and gave Chloe a big hug. "Go email your father."
Chloe was gone in a flash!
"Well done, Mindy! That can't have been easy, I am surprised she was so successful!" I said.
"Your daughter is a very intelligent girl and a very fast learner," Mindy said. I was starting to feel embarrassed at all the praise Chloe was getting!
"Thanks Mindy, you're a brilliant influence on her!" I said and watched as Mindy started to blush.