5 Reasons Why Learning to Ride Should Be Every Woman's New Years Resolution

As a lifetime member of the "Doom Generation," I tend to reflect briefly on how remarkable it is that I've made it through another year.  Although, to be fair, I've only made it through a calendar year.  Another lifetime year (which I think is more important, anyway) is still about 6 months out. While I don't normally pay much attention to New Years, this year I'm thinking maybe I'll at least participate in staying up until midnight.  I will probably be closed up in the garage, wrenching on the bikes and having a few drinks whilst listening to the chorus of gun-fire and fireworks (and trying to discern between the two).  I don't normally make resolutions, but I listen to everyone else as they make theirs. I've only known 1 person to be successful at it and in my words: "You made 2013 your bitch!"  So if you're like my friend, and you knocked every item off of your resolution list with success, then congratulations to you!  You've definitely beat the odds!

According to some statistics produced by the University of Scranton Journal of Clinical Psychology, the top 10 new years resolutions are (in order of rank):

Rank	Top 10 New Years resolutions for 2014
1	Lose Weight
2	Getting Organized
3	Spend Less, Save More
4	Enjoy Life to the Fullest
5	Staying Fit and Healthy
6	Learn Something Exciting
7	Quit Smoking
8	Help Others in Their Dreams
9	Fall in Love
10	Spend More Time with Family

Not really surprising, I suppose.  But if you note elsewhere on that page that only 8% of people who make resolutions are successful, I'd say maybe we should start really honing in on why these things are important enough to declare, but not quite pressing (or meaningful) enough to commit to.  But that's really not the point of this post.  In fact, I only really mention it because I am part of the 36% of people who never make resolutions... and given the success rate of those that do, I'd say I'm on the right track.  I don't know about you, but I feel pretty damn good about that; being on any track really, but especially the right ones. 

But I digress...

Instead, I've decided that I will start my new year by making a New Years Recommendation instead of a resolution.  Thus, the focus of this post is to actually take resolution #6 on this list and turn it into said New Years Recommendation for women far and wide; specifically the women, like my hair-stylist, who are enamored when I ride up on the bike so they spend a good 15 minutes expressing how awesome it is to see a chick on a sportbike; how they would love to learn how to ride but they are unsure of themselves or any number of other reasons they find not to step over the threshold and throw a leg over a motorcycle. I'm here to tell you why your number one New Years Resolution should be to learn how to ride a motorcycle. We will start with what appears to be the number one ranking resolution: to lose weight. So without further ado:

Reason #1: You will become more aware of your weight/build/body size, etc.  This can be both good and bad but it's all in how you perceive it.  You'll either realize how short you are when you sit on a sportbike and feverishly flail just to get a toe down, or you'll realize how out of shape you are after that first good day of riding.  Either way, riding a motorcycle will make you aware of where you stand in the realm of shape and physique, and this will help you knock out not one, but two (if not more) of your NYR's.  If you ride a sportbike you'll become especially in tune with your physical areas of weakness. But trust me, it's worth it because...

Reason #2: You'll be spending less.  Yes gals (and equally inspired men ...  because I'm all about equality here), that's right, riding a motorcycle is one of the most economical ways to travel: whether you're jutting around town, or road-trippin' to a far off destination your pocket book will thank you.  That little 4.5 gallon gas tank between your legs will carry you about 120 miles (if you're on a sportbike) or more depending on your bike and your riding style.  Insurance is significantly cheaper as well (again, depending on the bike and your 'riding style') with discounts for folks who have taken an approved riding instructional school.  Extra cash is great... you can spend it on a pair of kickass riding boots, tools... or those new Laboutin (say it with me fellas: "Lah-boo-tawn) stillettos you've been swooning over. Of course, it might take you a while to save up because really, even I accept that cars are being made to be more efficient these days.  And that's nice, but I don't need to spend 30 grand on a car just to get decent gas mileage. Besides: travelling on two wheels also forces you to organize... after all, a girl can only haul so many pairs of shoes with her.  Pick only the best.

So economical, you can bring your family with you!

Reason #3: I can honestly say that I don't know a lot of motorcycling enthusiasts who smoke.  I'm not sure why that is and it only just occurred to me as I was drumming up the idea for this blog, but its true.  I think out of all of the motorcycling enthusiasts that I know, maybe 1 or 2 actually smoke.  I know a lot of riders so that's a bold statement.  Quitting smoking is definitely one of the healthiest decisions you can make, so why not replace it with something exciting where you are just too damn busy to smoke: like riding.

Smoking: Ain't nobody got time fa-dat!

Reason #4: There are a few reasons why, indirectly, motorcycling can allow you and even inspire you to spend time with your family.  I was raised around bikes or cars of some sort so my quality time with dad consisted of hanging out with him in the garage as he wrenched on his bikes or fixed the family car. As I've gotten older I've bonded with my dad quite a bit over bikes over the years and I've learned a lot of great lessons in that process...  mostly that I should never under-estimate my dad.

Kawis are in the blood apparently 2007

But I'm not the only one... I sold my first bike, a 2004 ninja 250 only a year or so after owning it.  I was very sad to see my baby go, but once I talked to the buyer I knew it was the right family (literally) to adopt her out to.  There was a husband and wife and they came to look at the bike together.  My original understanding was that they were going to use it to teach their kid to ride on.  When I ran into them several years later at a stunt show, I asked them how it was going and they said: "Oh the bike is great! We've used it to teach several generations of our family to ride on." At that point, several years later, they still had that little 250 in their garage. I certainly can't think of a better way to bond with family.  But if your family doesn't fall in love with it, never fear, they can sit at home and be bored.  Any time you venture out with your friends on two wheels, you will certainly want someone to share your story and your pics with when you return home... to the nagging husband that you ditched in the garage to go riding with your girlfriends. 

Hey, his loss!

Reason 5: Falling in love...

I sigh a heavy heartfelt sigh as I imagine all of the different ways that love has manifested itself in my life through motorcycling. First and foremost there are few things that come close to the empowerment and freedom that riding a motorcycle entails.  It doesn't matter what you ride.  Women everywhere will tell you, with gritty smiles after long rides, races and track days; sometimes with scars and bruises, completely and utterly exhausted but with honesty: motorcycling is absolutely amazing.  It's exciting, it's invigorating, its an endeavor that will teach you more about yourself, what you're capable of, and what matters the most than most other hobbies; but you have to listen and learn from it... you have to be willing to be humbled.  You meet many incredible people (and a few pretty sketchy egotistical ones) but ultimately the world through the visor is a world through the proverbial rose-colored glasses.  I have fallen in love many times over; with people, with places, with bikes, and with life.  You'll find reasons to take the long way home, suddenly you'll pause at all of those forks in the road, you'll come to appreciate squiggly lines and country roads a lot more and if you're into sport-riding, you'll start looking for shit to sell just so you can do a track day. Of course, that could just be me. 

Oh... well now we know what was at the end of the high road

Neat random destinations: You ARE here

But even if random adventuring, total freedom, exilerating power (sportbikes)  isn't your thing, you'll still look like one hot badass chick when you roll up to a bike night on your own bike. But there's always that off-chance that you'll hate it.  In which case then at least you can say, "I learned how to ride a motorcycle."  And a lot of people think that's pretty damn exciting. So stop making excuses already, and sign up to take the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course.  That part won't be that exciting, but the part afterward... with the open road, the serenity, and the you-and-the-bike will be amazing.

Girls and Gear: An Appeal from One Lady Rider to Several

I ordered a new leather jacket the other day after going the better part of a few years without having updated my collection. I had been halfassing my street rides in a textile jacket that was less likely to bulk and pinch in all the wrong places, and I am lucky enough to have a pair of leather pants that fits me well enough to make safety tolerable.    In the 8 or so years that I have been riding, I am happy to report that there is finally some variety in the riding apparel market for us ladies who like to carve a canyon or hit a track day, or maybe even just drag some knee or pop some wheelies in a parking lot somewhere (not that I do wheelies... I'm not that cool).

At this point, after around 8 years of riding, I've really enjoyed seeing more women emerge into motorcycling alongside me.  Of course, women have been riding motorcycles since the dawn of time, but I'd venture to say that only in about the last decade or so have there been enough women for apparel manufacturers to really start paying attention to our needs.  Up until then, and even still today, there seems to be a bit of a stigma that lingers when you lump women and sportbikes into the same conversation:  "Oh, you mean the umbrella girls?" or "The girls who ride on the back of their boyfriend's bike."  Of course, with anything there is usually a barrage of presumptuous imagery that goes along with said stigma: scantily clad women either standing off to the side, or suggestively straddling a motorcycle as more of an accessory than a sentient person who actually knows the proper way to sit and ride a bike. Women who actually rode their own were likened to Harley Davidson riding gender-confused entities who were built like cave-men and cussed like sailors. Now I'll admit that I can cuss like a sailor, but I remember fondly rolling up to my first bike night, by myself and having several different guys point out their confusion at the fact that I just "didn't seem the type.":

"Is this your boyfriend's bike?" 

"You can handle this thing?"

One guy to another: "Dude, she doesn't have any chicken strips." 

In fact, I've pretty much heard it all over the years but the most frequent observation that I get is from coworkers, peers, and non-riders: "You just don't seem like the type!"

Since times are quickly changing and the number of actual female riding enthusiasts (and ones that are beautiful at that) increases dramatically, there is a new persona emerging of the badass leather-clad, fully suited biker babe draggin' knee while her pigtails flail wildly behind her; and for those of us gals who aren't cromagnon gender-mutants riding around on over-chromed, underpowered oil dispensaries, the options for good quality, good fitting, and yes... even sexy gear has dramatically increased.

Women's Frank Thomas Suit... not too bad for a cheapie off the rack!

Still, there are plenty of women out there who prize their vanity over safety and they opt out of gear; donning little more than a t-shirt and some spandex-blend shorts with their super cute girl shoes and freshly manicured nails because that's hot. Now don't get me wrong: I admire pretty bodies as much as the next person.  The female form is definitely something that should be celebrated tastefully and with dignity, but the human body is one that is also fragile. For those who are not yet familiar with The Road Rash Queen, take a few minutes to click the link and see her story.  Warning: some of what you will see may be difficult for sensitive audiences, but it will change the way you look at those pretty girls riding around in their shorts and spaghetti straps. And if you are one of these pretty girls riding around in shorts and spaghetti straps, then consider how you are representing us as a minority in the sport.  Also consider my appeal to what you think is sexy... or maybe more appropriately, what you think people think is sexy: 

Less skin, more gear!
Rev'it Allure Jacket, my favorite corset, and a cam sprocket from an 04 ZX6RR

In theory, and in a perfect world, we all love and respect our bodies and want to show off our curves and perfectly tanned skin and there are ways to go about it while still protecting it. You might be surprised to know that I am not only advocating against road rash, but also against the "weatherization leatherization" of your skin. Yeah you're young, pretty and your skin is in excellent shape now, but all of that sun exposure will eventually catch up to you.  When you ride without gear you subject yourself to a multitude of dangers that stretch far beyond the road rash and injuries that you are sure to sustain in the event of an off; but there is also skin cancer, insect and debris-related injuries (ever been hit by a rock, a bird, or something that fell out of a truck at 90 mph?), oh, and dehydration - which makes your skin look even worse when it can't keep itself hydrated during an epic day of baking in the sun while riding and perspiring. So even if you manage to avoid being seriously rashed and maimed at the circumstance of a crash (whether you're on your own bike, or on the back of your boyfriend's), time will take it's own toll. 

I don't want to sound preachy here but what I will say is that from one woman on a bike to another: you're missing the mark on "sexy."  Of course, we live in a society that doesn't necessarily share my views, but we also live in a society that has absolutely no concern for your safety, your autonomy, or even respecting you as the beautiful woman you are.  We live in a society that encourages women to exploit their bodies tactlessly and with as little clothing as allowable in social media.

Because full-gear selfies on your own bike in the garage where you do your own wrenching beats out the panty-clad 'duckface' any day of the week.

(Rev'it Allure Jacket and Marryl pants)

So here, ha ha! let me "exploit" my own body in an attempt to appeal to the fact that sometimes it's not a manner of parading around your scantily-clad body to showcase that you are a pretty girl on a motorcycle.  Sometimes its about celebrating and respecting the fact that you are a beautiful, sexy woman who rides a motorcycle and probably does it better than a lot of guys out there. You and your body deserve respect, and you deserve to be protected while not having to stuff your feminine assets into boxy, bulky men's gear. And that's what is so great about apparel manufacturers finally taking some notice of the fact that women want gear, and they are making gear that is flattering and protective. We finally have a choice.  We have the right to choose (and as we all know, that's a pretty hot topic of debate these days). I hope that many of you take something from this, buy yourselves some gear, and avoid becoming the next poster-girl for road rash prevention. Besides, leaving a little something to the imagination is part of what makes things so interesting.

Ride fast, stay pretty!

Maintenance

I don't know what flies faster: time... or miles.

It seems like I just replaced those tires!
Didn't I just replace that chain?
Has it been that long since my last valve clearance adjustment?

What day is it?

So many miles, so little time.