Jim Ford's Rider's Workshop is a perfect opportunity to do two things: take your riding skills up a notch or two, and enjoy some of the most beautiful roads in creation with guys who love motorcycling.
Jim will tailor the Workshop to participants' individual riding levels, but I think it's best suited for guys like me who have been riding for three or four years, are reasonably competent but not highly skilled, and who really want to invest time and effort in moving to the next level. Jim's riding is smooth and effortless; you can learn a lot just by following his line and watching what he is doing.
First he leads and demonstrates--rolling with silky smoothness and control through curves--and then he follows and critiques and coaches through a set of headphones. I don't know that I really picked up much new head knowledge, but three days of riding with intentional focus on--and frequent reinforcement of--proper technique
was extremely helpful.
Jim also introduced me to some out-of-the-way roads that blew me away. Some were challenging, with tight switchbacks and a fair amount of elevation gain or loss (here's where technique improvement was especially important to me); others were pretty gentle but incredibly beautiful two-lane rollers. One road in particular was as sweet a ride as I can remember: this was through a gentle, broad valley, alongside a stream that is the headwater of the Potomac. Rolling green fields, cattle and horses grazing. I came up over a small ridge and on the right were two fields dotted with sheep; in each field there were maybe a dozen lambs absolutely frolicking or gamboling or whatever it is that lambs do when they are just filled with joy and energy. It was an unbelievable gift just to see it.
If you're interested in riding better, a little faster and a lot
smoother, you'll be very glad that you experienced The Rider's Workshop.

Jim Wesolowski
2006 BMW R12RT