BRC

For the BRC

See the notes below for more information on what to bring & expect on Range days (on-motorcycle practice). Additional info is also available on the Connecticut Rider Education Program (CONREP) site’s FAQ section and their info page for the Basic Rider Course (BRC).

Class starts at 8am, but aim to arrive before 7:30.
This will ensure that you’re not late if you hit traffic or have trouble finding our range (see below). It also gives you a chance to make sure your gear is appropriate, you select a bike that works for you, and ask any questions you might still have.

On-time attendance is mandatory — this includes returning from breaks & lunch.
If you are not on site and ready to go when we start class you cannot continue and you will not be refunded. In genuine emergency situations we may try to accommodate you, but there is no guarantee that there will be open spots in future classes.

Required gear / supplies:

Long sleeve shirt or jacket — make sure it is appropriate for the weather.
Long, sturdy pants — should go down to your boots with no exposed skin (no holes or tears).
Over-the-ankle boots or shoes — stiff leather is best; no canvas high-tops. Preferably laced or zipped.
Sturdy, full-fingered gloves — leather riding or work gloves are best; no rubber or insulated, winter gloves.
A DOT-approved motorcycle helmet — MCC no longer provides student helmets.
Eye protection — helmet face shields, sunglasses, eyeglasses, and safety glasses are all OK.
Water — at least double what you think you need, consider an electrolyte drink (Gatorade, LiquidIV, etc) for hot summer sessions.
Lunch and Snacks — there are nearby restaurants, just make sure to plan ahead as we will have an hour for lunch at most.
Rain gear — including jacket and pants. No loose-fitting ponchos.
Sun Screen

Check the forecast and come prepared for the weather:
Class continues regardless of weather and temperature, so dress appropriately — that applies just as much to the heat & sun as it does to rain & wind. Class only stops for lightning or ice on the range then resumes as quickly as is safe. Classes for the season book very quickly, so a canceled class likely means waiting until the following year.

Heat Related Illness is a particularly serious health concern for motorcycling, as some of the first symptoms are cognitive impairment and loss of coordination.

Note on gear:
Other than the helmet, our required gear is not recommended street riding gear. Our requirements are written to balance cost-of-entry, comfort being exposed to the sun & heat all day, and safety as best we can. Please wear a full set of motorcycle-specific gear (helmet, jacket, gloves, boots, pants) when riding on the street.

If already you have motorcycle gear please feel free to wear it; just remember that riding gear is designed to vent and keep you comfortable at street speeds. This class is mostly slow-speed maneuvering on a large blacktop parking lot, so please check the weather make sure that your gear will be comfortable in that environment. Thick leathers or GoreTex suits will probably be too hot on sunny and/or humid summer sessions. Make sure to bring a long-sleeve shirt and breathable pants as a back-up plan.

Finding the Range

You can navigate to the range by searching for “MCC Campus Motorcycle Range” in Google Maps. Please park on the right-hand side of the access road perpendicular to the range, facing the range.

Additional Resources

The BRC is just a starting point for your riding journey, and unfortunately there’s a lot we can’t cover in the brief time we have in class. The first few posts are designed to give some additional information before the hands-on range exercises, then the remaining articles cover topics that we don’t get a chance to deep-dive into during the course.

Please note that any opinions in these posts are mine and mine alone, they do not reflect the official position of the MSF, CONREP, or any other instructor from those organizations. Motorcycling is a high risk physical activity and it is up to you and you alone to manage the potential dangers involved.