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A New Female Motorcycle Rider Shares Her First year

Monday, 14 June 2010 11:57

Hi – I am a novice female motorcyclist. I have been riding a motorcycle for just shy of a year. George asked me to write about my perspective as a novice female motorcycle rider. I agreed. However, writing on the female perspective quickly turned into writing of my feelings and experiences over the last year, my first year as a rider.

Motorcycles, to me, are a symbol of freedom and rebellion. The draw and appeal of riding a motorcycle had been simmering inside of me for a while. Not only the motorcycles themselves, the whole culture surrounding them.

My riding history begins on June 27, 2009. I finally took the plunge, this was the day of my first riding class. Not wanting to go alone my mom and I had signed up together. The class was a weekend class, which meant two full days of learning how to ride. I was so excited. I couldn’t believe that within hours of starting my lesson I was riding a motorcycle, and two days later I was on the road on my own. It was everything I had dreamt it would be. There is an indescribable sense of freedom, the window blowing past me, landscape flying by. I took a couple short rides with my dad and my brother, and of course just rode around town. Before I knew it winter was here and I was tucking my motorcycle away for the winter.

new female women motorcycle rider

The snow started to disappear and my dad suggested we go on a couple group rides this year. In fact he said there was a ride coming up in late March. I admit I was nervous. Were my skills up to the test? At the end of last year I was still slowing down to go around corners, I had to remind myself to look past the turn to where I wanted to go. Most of all after a couple months of not riding was I still able to ride after so little time as a rider? Was riding a motorcycle like riding a bike, would it all come back to me?

A classic procrastinator I put off getting the motorcycle out of hibernation until the day of the first ride. The morning of the ride (March 27, 2010) I woke up early, nervous. I wasn’t sure I was ready to put my novice skills on display for a group of seasoned riders. I insisted on going to a parking lot and practicing my turning, emergency braking etc. After a few minutes I realized I hadn’t forgotten how to ride. My confidence was high and I was ready to go riding!

So away we went to register for the first ride of the year. It was Grizzbee’s Ride for Special Kids. As we went up to register I asked for two forms, one for me and one for my dad. I was told that we only needed one form; passengers didn’t need a separate form. With a sense of pride I informed them I was a rider, riding my own motorcycle. Somewhat taken aback the organizers handed me two registration forms. Was it really that rare, a female riding her own motorcycle? I looked around, there were other females there, I couldn’t possibly be the only female riding her own motorcycle! When it came time to start the ride I looked around, all the females had saddled up as passengers.

I rode out towards the rear of the group. I was giddy and a little intimidated, but ready to ride. The group, about a hundred riders, was escorted out of the city and onto the freeway by police, lights and sirens going. It was the perfect start to my first group ride. I settled into the pace of the ride. The air was crisp, the scenery beautiful. Before I knew it the ride was over, I had a great time.

I realized, whether a novice or a seasoned rider, riding a bullet bike or a Harley, we were all there for the ride, to enjoy ourselves and have fun.

My second ride of the year was The Fallen Patriot Ride. After my successful first ride I was ready to go. When we arrived at the starting point we pulled in behind several other motorcycles. I realized there were a lot more riders than at the first ride, for some reason this triggered my nerves. Once again I was wondering if my skills were good enough to be riding in a group.

Waiting for the ride to start I stood by my motorcycle. I had parked behind two motorcycles being ridden by two couples. While the men talked the two women turned around and we started talking. They asked if I was riding my own motorcycle. I told them I was. They stated they had always wanted to learn to ride, but up until recently women riding motorcycles was unheard of. As we continued to talk I learned the two had been riding as passengers for over twenty years. I also learned that the fears they had were the same I had when I started riding. For instance, how can we learn to ride when we don’t even know how to start a motorcycle? I talked about my learning experiences and the class I had taken. By the time the ride was starting to pull out the women told me I had given them the little push they needed and they were going to learn to ride. They told me to have a good ride and they hoped to see me at the end. Their husbands, having listened to our conversation, also told me to have a good ride and to enjoy it.

Just as suddenly as my nerves had appeared they were gone. Talking about my experience had calmed my nerves. The ride went through downtown Salt Lake. There was a lot of stop and go, a lot of turning, speeding up and slowing down. I looked at it as an opportunity to test my skills, and I have to say I did awesome! Towards the end of the ride the group got split up at a light, suddenly I was leading the second group of riders. Thankfully I had looked at the map prior to the ride and knew where we were going. I successfully lead the group until we joined up with the first group of riders. Admittedly I only lead the group for about ten minutes, but I did it and I felt awesome!

As the group pulled into the ending point of the ride I was sad that the experience was ending. A barbecue followed and I ran into the women I had met before the ride. They told me they had seen me along the ride and that I had done well, they couldn’t even tell I had been riding for such a short time. Wow! As I rode home I simply enjoyed the ride. Since then I haven’t suffered any nerves.

I still slow down around corners and every once in a while have to remind myself to look past the turn and to where I want to go. Ultimately I am happy when I ride and enjoy the experience. If I go slow around the corners, you are more than welcome to pass me.