MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Marines with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron’s motorcycle club geared up for a quarterly ride aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Oct. 25.
The ride provided first-time riders and veteran riders with an opportunity for extra practice on their bikes and to encourage them to make safe decisions when they ride on their own.
“We have a couple of riders here who have never [rode] in a group before, so we are planning to teach them how to ride with other motorcyclists,” said Master Sgt. Chris Rosenfelt, the H&HS motorcycle club vice president and a Philadelphia native. “We are teaching them how to go from single file lines to two file lines and back, how to take curves in the road and other necessary skills that will keep them safe on the road.”
During their rides, the club usually goes to new places each time to keep riders from becoming complacent. During this ride, the club stopped and ate lunch, then continued to Ramona, their final stop, before refueling and coming back for the day.
Each ride takes up most of the day, but for the new riders coming into the club the practice is worth it.
“[These rides] give me the chance to observe how more senior motorcyclists ride, how they take turns and how they interact with each other,” said Lance Cpl. Nicholas Lopez, an H&HS motorcycle club member and a Grand Prairie, Texas native. “I would recommend any rider come to this, whether they think they are good or not. Squadron rides are fun, informative and everyone stands to learn something from them.”