Instructor shares passion for riding

From the mid-life crisis to the lifelong dream, the first stop for anyone with a need for speed and the open road is Kalispell’s only motorcycle course taught by the city’s lone instructor.

After a day working at a local law firm, Lisa Pooler doubles as leather-clad biker, spending her evenings cruising the county on her Harley with her canine companion, Harry, strapped in behind her.

Pooler’s love of motorcycles has led her to devote weekends to teaching others the skill and safety necessary to ride on their own.

The two-day classes are offered from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and cost $175. However, with 13 years of experience teaching and as Kalispell’s only instructor, classes fill up fast, booking up to three months in advance.

Pooler takes 10 students per class and spends the full two days teaching men and women, young and old the basics of operating a bike.

“People come in who have absolutely no clue where the clutch is or how to ride, saying ‘I’ve always wanted to do this, so I’m going to do this,’” Pooler said. “They start out real shaky and you get them calmed down. Then before you know it, by 10 in the morning, they’re riding a motorcycle.”

Pooler said she began teaching courses in 2005 in New Hampshire where she was recruited by a friend. After getting certified as an instructor, Pooler said she fell in love with teaching.

“Just watching students have that “Aha!” moment when everything just all of a sudden clicks is just amazing,” she said.

After several vacations to the area, Pooler moved to Montana seven years ago. Her reason? So she could ride her Harley through Glacier National Park whenever she wanted.

“You actually feel how small and insignificant you are in the world on a motorcycle in Glacier National Park,” she said. “On a bike, you hear everything. You smell everything. All of your senses are involved.”

To date, Pooler has shared her passion for motorcycles with around 1,000 people.

Her primary goal is safety.

The courses teach riders how to watch out for the may dangers they’ll face on the road, primarily from other vehicles.

Intersections consistently prove to be one of the biggest threats for motorcyclists. Drivers often don’t see the single headlight or will misjudge the distance and speed of an oncoming motorcycle and turn left in front of them without sufficient time, Pooler noted.

“We’re vulnerable,” Pooler said. “You do just one thing wrong in your vehicle and we’re injured. And we’re not just a little injured, we’re hurt bad.”

Pooler said she fell in love with motorcycles at a young age and has continued to love them despite the danger and opposition from her own family.

“When I was having my midlife crisis in my early 20s I came home from work and told my mother, who I was caring for, that I was going to go out and buy a motorcycle and she was like ‘Over my dead body.’”

She bought the bike, anyway. However, as she promised her mother, she took a safety course and passed with flying colors. She always wears a helmet when she rides.

As riding season gets into full swing, one of the most important tips Pooler has for motorcyclists is to be as visible as possible to other drivers. She also advises “full gear, all the time.” Safety gear includes sturdy, over-the-ankle shoes with non-slip soles, jeans or chaps, a jacket, gloves and, most importantly, a helmet.

In 2016, there were 371 motorcycle crashes in Montana, according to the Montana Highway Patrol’s annual report. More than 300 people were injured and 17 motorcyclists were killed as a result. Of those 17 fatalities, six were wearing helmets at the time of the crash.

In Montana, there is no law that requires motorcyclists to wear a helmet if they’re over 18. However, Pooler said she never gets on her bike without one.

“I can do my day job in a wheelchair,” she said. “I can’t do my day job without my brain. I need my brain. I will always wear a helmet.”

Pooler says riding a motorcycle is an inherently dangerous sport. And, yes, she says, it’s a sport.

According to Pooler, riding a motorcycle burns around 350 calories per hour. However, most people don’t ride for a work out.

“I think the biggest draw for most people is the oneness you feel with the road. You don’t get the same sensation in a car that you get on a motorcycle,” Pooler said. “For me it’s a stress reliever. If I’ve had a stressful day I can go home, get on my bike and I’m just calm. All of the world has just gone away, and it’s just me and the bike and the road.”

One thing Pooler said draws so many to her classes is the fact that anyone can do it.

“The smallest person can pick up the biggest bike if they have the skills and know how to do it,” she said.

Pooler has taught all types, including three of Kalispell’s motorcycle police officers.

She said most of this year’s May classes were booked before March. Some slots are still open for August classes, but they’re going fast. She advised anyone interested in signing up to do so as soon as registration opens. Standby seating is available. On average, Pooler has about one unsuccessful rider per class, but they almost always come back to try again.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.