Several Milpitas High School teachers share an unexpected hobby outside the classroom, riding motorcycles.
English teacher Sheldon Hentschke was first interested in learning how to drive a manual transmission car, with a clutch and gear shifting, he said. Instead, he started driving motorcycles because he could not afford the car he wanted, he said.
“Motorcycles were cheaper, and most of them are manual, so I figured I could still learn how to use a clutch that way,” Hentschke said. “I really started because I wanted to drive stick, but cars were too expensive.”
Social Studies teacher Benjamin Ravey has always liked loud engines and owned several classic Chevys in high school, he said. However, he started riding at the age of 45, Ravey said
“During COVID, I took up biking, like my pedal bike over here, and that was fun,” Ravey said. “I figured, let’s add an engine to a bike. And I got a gas bike, and I said, You know what, let’s just go for a motorcycle. So at 45, I said, Let’s just go for two wheels.”
When a car hits a car, it’s not that big of a deal, and they just walk away, Ravey said. When a car hits a motorcycle, it becomes serious, he added
“When I ride, I have a picture like my necklace has a picture of me and my wife, and kind of morbid, but I have my dog tags with phone numbers, so in case I can’t speak, they know who to call,” Ravey said.
English teacher Kent Mitchell first started riding a motorcycle when he was 14, he said.
Mitchell now rides a Yamaha FZ1 and uses it to commute to school, he said.
“Even if I have a bad day at work, I could still have an enjoyable ride home,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell’s students and coworkers are often surprised when they see him arrive on his motorcycle, he said.
“Some students think it’s cool, but others kind of look at me funny,” Mitchell said.
“A lot of people don’t expect their English teacher to ride a sport bike,” Hentschke said. The same thing happens to Mr. Hentschke.
“People are surprised when they see me get off the bike in the parking lot,” Mitchell said. “They don’t really picture teachers doing that kind of thing.”
Ravee gets similar reactions, he said.
“Most people think it’s awesome,” Ravey said. “But a few think I’m crazy for riding something so loud to school.”
Those reactions make him laugh, Ravey said.
“I just tell them it’s my peace and quiet time,” Ravey said.
