Safe riding habits begin before a motorcyclist gets on his or her first bike, and early education about how to handle a bike on the road can mean the difference between a good rider and a potentially dangerous rider. Wally Eddy is one of a handful of certified motorcycle instructors in Western Canada.
By day, he is the regional director of Investors Group in Cranbrook, B.C. In the evenings, he donates his time coaching new, intermediate and advanced motorcyclists who are preparing for road skills exams or who are taking the laudable step of learning better riding habits.
Old dogs, new tricks
Eddy’s conviction that every rider needs early training starts with his own history. When he turned 50, his wife asked him what he wanted for his birthday. After a lifetime of devoting their income to raising their children and subsidizing their education, Eddy had an answer for her. “I said, ‘You know, I’ve always wanted a motorcycle,’ ” said Eddy. “I always wanted to ride—but it’s not brain surgery to realize that it’s dangerous. Four-wheelers don’t see the two-wheelers.”
So Eddy looked everywhere for a qualified instructor who could show him how to handle his new bike. He travelled to Kelowna and Vancouver, Calgary and Red Deer, all in his quest. His dedication to safe riding eventually led him to take courses, and three years ago, he became a qualified instructor. The money that he charges for the courses is donated in full to charities of Eddy’s choosing—including Big Brothers & Sisters and the Canadian Mental Health Association.
“This is my hobby,” said Eddy. “It’s not something I do for a living.” Eddy has coached motorcyclists from 20-70 years of age and everything in between. He dedicates as many hours to coaching as each individual rider may need in order to gain “C&C”: control of the motorcycle and confidence of the rider.
Additionally, Eddy believes that partners of riders have something to learn from a motorcycle safety program, such as how weight and balance can affect the bike’s performance. Using a variety of techniques—including having riders follow a leader through tight, slow turns in a hypnotic, rumbling chain of cycles—Eddy helps riders discover their bike’s personality and capabilities.
Satisfied customers
Participants in Eddy’s program have definitely seen the benefits of his coaching. Arnie McCann is in his early 70s, and described himself as someone who has “been riding for 20 years and two weeks—with a 20-year break in between.” McCann learned about Eddy’s skills training course from the dealer when he recently purchased a 2007 Honda Gold Wing.
“I haven’t ridden in 25 years, and this was a bigger bike than I was used to,” said McCann. “(The most important lesson is) vigilance—paying attention to what you’re doing.” Skye Mackenzie agreed with McCann. After buying her 1996 Honda Shadow, she happened to see Eddy teaching a course and signed up immediately. Mackenzie said Eddy’s coaching has improved her skills immensely.
“The slow moving control and balance and safety techniques—I wouldn’t be riding this confidently today if it hadn’t been for Wally,” said Mckenzie. “I would recommend it to anyone.” For more information on Eddy’s courses, call him at (250) 417-4069.
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