Thanks again for a memorable weekend. First class accommodations, delicious meals ,and good conversation. I feel I am a better rider after attending, but more importantly you gave me the theories and techniques to become a really good rider. On my ride home,after having some time to digest what you taught us, I understand how keeping the mind and the body focused on the ride will lead to the precision needed to really ride well. I understand that these skills are not acquired easily, but with constant practice and execution, can be raised to a level that makes the ride more than I realized possible. You have raised the bar and I am now on a mission that will last as long as I am able to ride. I feel that I will be back to your workshop for more instruction.    Thanks again, Sam Mead Princeton, IL

B

“Thank you Jim, for a what I must refer to as a “life-changing” weekend. I have been around and on bikes for most of my life so when you can have a noticeable impact on my bike handling skills and cornering confidence – in just 2 days and about 600 miles – you get my sincere gratitude!  

You have enriched my life with an adventurous perspective on riding back roads and enhanced my riding skills in a way that is dramatic. What a pleasure to ride with you and the others! I really enjoyed getting to know you. Seeing your smooth cornering and seamless bike handling skills made me want to learn what you had to offer.” Brand Convis, Director of Marketing for Coleman Powersports Falls Church, Virginia

Tom Callahan with 100,000+ experience from Alexandria, Virginia

Dear Jim,

I can’t thank you enough for the Rider’s Workshop last weekend.  I hope you don’t mind if I go on a bit here with a few specifics that you can share with others who are thinking about taking the course.  Please also feel free to pass along my name and number to anyone who would like a “live” testimonial.

I am an experienced rider of 30-plus years and well over 100,000 miles.  This is just some of what I learned or improved in your two-day workshop:

• Choosing gears more effectively for better control, confidence, and smoothness in curves
• Reading a road better, looking to the “vanishing point,” and taking in the full picture of the environment
• Using my GPS to anticipate curves beyond visual sight
• Using a trailing rear brake in a curve to enhance stability, particularly in descending terrain
• How to get a tactile feel, while riding at speed, for the traction of the road surface under varying weather and surface conditions
• How to up- and down-shift more smoothly
• How to ride with more precision, attention, and awareness
• How to identify and seek out the countless lightly trafficked “invisible roads” that are outstanding for motorcycle riding

But the whole of the workshop was much greater than the sum of these parts.  The experience reinvigorated me and my love for riding.  By taking your approach toward riding as an art with a focus on precision and smoothness, every road and curve, no matter how familiar, becomes new and fresh to me.

Ten years ago, I paid about $700 for an Aerostich riding suit (they are $847 today).  The suit was a good investment, because it makes riding safer and more enjoyable in varying weather conditions.  For about the same money, your workshop is an even better investment in riding safety and enjoyment.  I know that it will pay me dividends for many years to come.

I look forward to riding with you again soon.

With best regards,

Tom Callahan
Alexandria, VA

Wow! My second workshop was even better than the first, and I had thought that one tons o’ fun and tremendously beneficial (and make no mistake, it was indeed).  However, what I know after my second workshop—2 years and 20+K miles of twisties after my first—is I had quite a bit more to learn.

Though I went this time ready to challenge myself, I was shocked by how much improved I was and how effortless the change seemed. Jim quickly recognized what skills I needed, and simply showed me a better, more efficient way of riding the mountain twisties as well as invisible roads. He showed me what true mastery is of a motorcycle and that there is yet far more for me to learn.  For now, there are skills I need to continue practice to make my own.

That said, my riding has changed already.  Gone is the mental fatigue I was experiencing due to allowing myself to become somewhat lazy about my visual habits and posture.  Gone are the “Oops” moments I had actually grown accustom to by over-riding my skill set by over-focusing on speed (the habit of grabbing handfuls of throttle for a “cheap thrill”).  Gone are former worries and concerns about gravel and poor traction.  I can now say without question that I have grown significantly as a rider.  I have re-embraced the efficiency, power, and thrill of riding smooth, which is already increasing the joy my riding experience.

For me, Riding Smooth is about riding with grace; maintaining a heightened awareness, striving for precision of action, and seamlessly responding to conditions of every moment of every ride.  I’m grateful for Jim’s course and am certain I will attend again next year (if only one of the one day courses).

The learning experience aside, it was spectacularly enjoyable weekend. Although I know and have before ridden many of the roads we traveled on during this workshop (as I live in the area), the experience was completely different; at once less intense on the body and mind, and more intense to the memory and pleasing to the soul.  In a word … Zen.

Craig
Southern, MD

I started riding in 1974 and have been an active and avid student of the art and science of motorcycling ever since. I have been teaching Beginning and Advanced MSF courses since 1979. I have read just about all of the standard works explaining the techniques for riding “proficiency, safety, “smoothness, and excellence.”

I have evaluated and dispensed MSF and state licensing tests for probably thousands of beginning and self-professed “advanced” riders. However, never had anyone evaluate ME! How am I doing? Where am I making mistakes? Where could I make style or safety improvements? For decades those questions have plagued me. Sure, I thought about doing a ”track day.” But, I wanted to ride my own bike and making the necessary modifications like taping my lights and security-wiring various critical nuts and bolts didn’t seem attractive. Riding at high speed around a sterile groomed course (though educational according to riding buddies) didn’t sound like my cup of tea, either.

Alas, I found just what I was looking for – “The Rider’s Workshop” developed and presented by Jim Ford. I have now been on two of them. Jim brings together everything I was looking for: Breathtaking venues led by a master guide, roads chosen to present a wide variety of technical challenges with little or no traffic, great camaraderie, and most important, the opportunity to be coached via radio and earphones in real-time!

Tiger Woods, like all serious professional in their given field, have personal coaches. If you fly, the FAA requires that you take periodic flights with an instructor to demonstrate competence and ensure current knowledge. Motorcycling is no less serious. If you love to ride, what are you waiting for? Just do it! You’ll absolutely love it. It will forever add to your motorcycling knowledge, enjoyment and skill. Think of it as an investment in yourself.

And … who knows, it just may add years to your life as well.
Mike Dale, Maryland

Before benefiting fully from the use of each of the the three lanes as individual roads within a road, ever searching for the vanishing point, with energetic use of the shifter to keep my little F800ST in its power band, endeavoring to look really pro with velvet smooth starts and stops.  Fourty-five years of riding and just now do I find the zen of being one with my motorcycle. Thanks a lot!

Paul
Virginia

Eric and I both really enjoyed the workshop last weekend and have mentioned it to other folks we know who ride. I think the headphones and radio were an excellent way to coach; this way we could all get instant feedback.

I took it as another opportunity to challenge myself and improve my skills, along with becoming more comfortable with handling my bike in general. I think I have definitely become a better rider, have improved control and I am still applying the skills learned (smoothness, and yes, even pressuring the shifter!), even on my daily commute to work in DC.

Thanks again for everything, and don’t be surprised if you see us again at another workshop.

Heather St. Pierre
R1200 Phoenix

I’m mostly a city rider. Motorcycling is about navigating city traffic and parking easily: practical, but not euphoric. My weekend with Jim Ford’s RW brought motorcycling into a new dimension: it’s all about curves and grace and smoothness.

Jim transported us to some of the most beautiful country imaginable – weaving through hills and hollers over single lane bridges, winding up and down mountains of Appalachia and through farm valleys so lush and fragrant that I found myself taking second breaths to confirm the sweetness of the first one.

Jim offered helpful mantras about intentional riding and showed us how guide our machines with the slightest pressure – less is more – it was like becoming dance partner with my motorcycle. Excellent and awesome!

Christine
Brooklyn, NY

Jim,

I have to tell you I had a great time at The Rider’s Workshop weekend. You were a gracious, patient, and informative host that made me feel very welcome. It was the best weekend I have had in a long time and worth every penny.

I learned some key ideas from you to make riding my BMW safer and certainly more enjoyable. I have never seen such beautiful roads for riding and was amazed that we got down there and back without getting on a major highway. (over 500 miles!)

So thank you for a great weekend and I hope to join you again soon.

Paul Burke

Jim, I am going to work hard this year at being smoother.

I felt a little hampered because I only have about 3,000 miles total on the VFR. I think you are correct in your assessment that it takes 50,000 miles to learn a new bike.

I have 24,000 on the LT and I feel much more comfortable on it, but still feel that I have a lot more to learn from it. Overall, I enjoyed the two days very much. I fully intend to come again next year, sometime in May, hopefully a better rider. 

Thanks again,

Randy