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DC Dirt Camp: A street rider learns to be happy with less traction

Jun 15, 2021

I can’t tell you how many times my dirt- and dual-sport-addicted friends have told me, “You’re going to love dirt riding. The skills will really make you a better rider on the street blah blah blah…”

I believed them. I just didn’t fully understand what they were telling me.

Then, while everyone else was barbecuing and visiting family on Memorial Day weekend, I went to hang out with some new friends at DC Dirt Camp in King George, Virginia, which offers a variety of off-road riding courses for kids age six up through adults.

dirt bike class for kids
DC Dirt School offers classes for kids as young as six. Photo by Travis Howard Photography.
I took two classes back to back, the introductory MSF Dirt Bike Class, which DC calls "Clutch Capable" and aims the course at riders like me with street riding skills but no off-road experience, and "Intro to ADV," for riders who want to learn skills for riding bigger motorcycles off-road.

The main reason I took these classes is to prepare myself for a dream come true adventure, riding the Backcountry Discovery Route in Colorado with the legendary Pat Jacques in July. I’ve never had formal dirt training and I’ve ridden on dirt roads on my sport bikes over the years only when my digital maps have led me astray. Luckily, I never crashed, dropped my bike or hurt myself, but my confidence on the dirt was far below my confidence levels on the street.

If you’re a street junkie like me, then you know the feeling of all the traction our tires provide on fresh pavement, especially on warm days when they get nice and sticky. I love the feeling of a firm suspension underneath me, hugging smooth pavement and that solid feedback through a nice long sweeper or a tight hairpin. The minute a little dirt gets thrown in my path, I mentally start to panic a little because I know what the outcome could be: lose traction, possibly lowside.

So I was excited to get some actual training and learn how to manage traction where none exists!

coach and student at dirt bike school
A student gets some instruction on body position while performing a drill at DC Dirt School. Photo by Travis Howard Photography.

Sunday: MSF Dirt Bike Class

Both classes started at 9 a.m. and finished around 3:30 p.m. with short water and bathroom breaks. You have to bring your own refreshments and snacks since the location is a big open field with no running water. With the outdoor setting, I also wasn’t worried about COVID-19 exposure.

The introductory class I took costs $265 and that includes the use of a small dirt bike. I started out on a Honda CRF125 Big Wheel, which was super lightweight and easy to ride. I am so glad that I was able to sign up for both classes back to back. The dirt bike class on Sunday was the perfect setup for the adventure class on Monday. On the first day, I learned some fundamental dirt-riding skills, all while standing on the footpegs (yikes!):

  • how to stand properly
  • counterbalancing, how to shift my weight back and forth
  • stopping and starting
  • shifting and braking
  • initiating turns (weaving around objects)
  • cornering (including tight, short turns)
  • riding over obstacles

After a few exercises, I quickly graduated to a CRF150F, because I found the CRF125’s handlebar to be a little too low for me to reach comfortably while standing. I also learned how to mount the dirt bike without the side stand down, which would have seemed so strange and uncomfortable on my street bike.

I can’t describe the mix of thoughts and feelings running through my head the whole time I was doing the training drills. Instead of leaning into the corner even harder, I have to push the bike into the corner without leaning with it? And pivot my weight against the outside footpeg? What is this strange feeling? Am I doing this right? Do I look weird? Am I going to fall?

practicing riding while standing up
It may be second nature for experienced off-road riders, but for street riders just starting to venture off pavement, learning to ride while standing on the pegs takes some adjustment. Photo by Travis Howard Photography.

Many times, I had to do the very opposite of what I’d learned in all my years of street riding and track-day training. My brain was simultaneously screaming at me "This is so awesome!" and "What are you doing?!"

I could feel myself trying to step out of my comfort zone with every exercise, but I also trusted the helpful advice and training tips from the coaches, BJ and Marjorie. Being a former MSF (Street) RiderCoach myself, I had to keep reminding myself to trust the process. To trust what BJ was saying, and that I was safe, no matter what could have happened. It definitely helped that I also came fully geared up with everything head to toe.

I also have to share how awesome it was, as a woman rider, to have two women coaching me. They were both so skilled, supportive and incredibly easy to take instruction from. I know firsthand what it’s like to have a terrible coaching experience, and having the right instructors can make all the difference.

coaches hoisting Joanne
It can be a very uplifting experience when you have supportive coaches who are willing to do the hard work of education, even if it's a heavy lift. Coaches like Marjorie (left) and BJ, for example. Photo by Travis Howard Photography.

Monday: Introduction to Adventure

Sunday’s instruction carried me perfectly into day two, "Introduction to Adventure," which costs $295. You’re supposed to bring your own adventure bike, but I don’t have one. Lucky for me, Marjorie graciously offered to let me use her Yamaha XT250 for this class. Though the goal is to teach you to ride big ADV bikes off-road, all dual-sports are welcome in the class. The XT250 was perfect because I knew I could learn on this bike and have fun at the same time.

And boy was I right. Day two just cemented for me how much I am going to love adventure riding. I always knew that someday I would "grow up" and start riding dirt bikes after riding street bikes for so long. I just was putting off the inevitable, I suppose.

coach demonstrates riding over a log
A coach demonstrates how to handle an off-road obstacle by riding over a log. Photo by Travis Howard Photography.

"Introduction to Adventure" was very similar to the dirt bike class but now we added some other moves that, quite honestly, scared me a little bit. But in a very good way!

First we learned our bike’s balance point. We had to stand next to our bikes, side stand up, and walk around it while keeping it upright. That meant only holding the bike by one point as we carefully walked all the way around it. I ended up using this technique several times throughout the day so I could quickly get back to the other side of the bike without having to put the side stand down. As a short rider, this was really helpful.

We practiced most of the skills from the dirt day, like basic cornering, stopping (while standing), weaving and crossing obstacles. Having completed these techniques the day before, it felt completely natural and familiar to me to do it again, but this time on a slightly heavier and taller bike. Once again, I felt confident and comfortable because I already had a leg up, so to speak, and knew what I had to do.

At one point, BJ led us through a field up and down some small hills with rocks, dirt and grass. For the first time ever, I went up and down a rocky, dirt hill and felt pretty confident that I’d make it without a problem.

riding through a grassy field
By the second day, I was handling sloped terrain with rocks and grass and dirt with new confidence. Photo by Travis Howard Photography.

Ready for adventure

As a rider, I really love traveling on two wheels. Motorcycling has taken me to some amazing places that I probably never would have seen otherwise. Knowing that a little adventure riding opens up new and unfamiliar terrain, and that I feel comfortable doing so, is one of the most empowering feelings I’ve ever experienced.

One other thing I learned is that my body was not fully prepared for everything I put it through those two days! Anyone who rides off-road will tell you it’s hard on your body and that if you aren't in reasonable shape your muscles will scream for mercy at the end of the day. I feel like I used every muscle in my body and then some.

Now that I have some basic skills, I can’t wait to get my first adventure bike.