We first met Madeleine back on April 22, 2012. I’m doing a bit of a remix of her profile since some things have changed and she’s updated some of her answers. I also wanted to share that Madeleine is going to embark on another adventure this summer and is looking for a rider to join her. She will be riding to Alaska starting on Friday June 28, 2013. Details will be posted on her site. Madeleine is looking for only one riding companion, not a group of riders. This rider needs to be able to pull their own weight because it will be a budget ride staying in hostels/motels and some camping when necessary. Madeleine rides between 300 to 500 miles a day depending on weather and road conditions. Now back to the profile!
Madeleine from Worcester, MA is our next lady rider! She has taken some long adventurous trips. You can find Madeleine on Twitter @mvelazquez57 or on her blog Miss Rider which is filled with stories and pictures.
How long have you been riding a motorcycle? Around 25 years
How did you learn to ride? Chasing my son around the trails riding dirt bikes. Love motocross!!!
What was your first motorcycle? Street bike, Kawasaki Vulcan 500 (hated it). Dirt bike, Yamaha 125 something, don’t remember any more.
How many have you owned? 9 including dirt bikes
Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? The thrill, fresh air, freedom, excitement (too many fun words to describe why)!
Tell us about your riding. Commute to work, mostly on a 50cc scooter now. Pleasure riding. But mostly, long distance touring, like coast to coast alone.
What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Get on two wheels and ride, ride, and ride some more so you can get so tired and sleep at night.
What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? My longest ride was the summer of 2012. 24,140 kilometers (~15,000 miles) with a ride from the Boston area to the Panama Canal round trip that included Sturgis, South Dakota and Canada, 9 countries, 23 American states. (Check out the details on her blog.)
Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? No, I am a solo rider now. I do have a membership to the American Motorcycle Association and love reading the monthly articles posted by other riders.
Do you have a favorite riding story? Yes, read about it here in my blog. (Check out the pictures too!) I have so many wonderful riding stories, but this one is my favorite because it involves the animals.
What do you do when you’re not riding? I ski in the winter and teach high school students.
I don’t know how I found and started following @diamondgirlzmc but I saw her tweet, “Launched DiamondGirlzMC.com one year ago Nov 2011 and we’re over 93,000 visits! http://instagr.am/p/SrNJLhESmH/ “ and I retweeted with my congratulations. Then the lightbulb went off … here’s another lady rider to profile, I just need to ask!
I am pleased as punch to introduce to you Courtney a.k.a. Mz Pink co-founder and President of Diamond Girlz MC – an all female motorcycle club out of Boston, MA.
Courtney and PINK!
How long have you been riding a motorcycle? 9 years
How did you learn to ride? I always LOVED motorcycles but only knew one rider … my Brother who lived two states away. One day I just bought a bike, called my brother and asked him to come down one weekend and teach me. He did and after 4 hours or so in a parking lot I was ready to hit the streets and never looked back!! It was not long until I started meeting many biker friends in the streets. After that it is history!!!
What was your first motorcycle? Kawasaki Ninja 250- Yellow
How many have you owned? I am currently on my 4th. I spent one summer on the 250 and then thought of it as a scooter — LOL – and upgraded to a GSXR 600 which I customized all white and pink. Don’t get me wrong, the 250 was a GREAT bike to learn on but I was soon ready for more power! After the GSXR I got a R6 which I customized Pink and now I have had my 2003 Kawasaki 636 for the past 4 summers; this is my baby and she is ALL custom- Pink of course with Diamonds on her. She has won many, many shows and I love her!!
Winning with PINK!
Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? It looked fun and had a sense of freedom!!
Tell us about your riding. I love riding. I ride practically every single day in the summer. Unfortunately I live in Boston so we really only have 7 – 8 months of good riding weather. I seek great pleasure in riding and love being in an all female motorcycle club because we have a sisterhood and a very tight bond that no one can break. We travel and make a lot of weekend trip plans over the summer. We go on many trips together and have a blast.
What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? That you only live once and why live it “wanting” to do something … live it “doing it”. I tell every female that who wants to ride: You can do ANYTHING you want and put your mind to!!
What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? The longest I have ever rode was to NJ (3 times over the years) and to NY several times which NJ trip was about 260 miles one way … put it this way … I ride I bought my bike 4 years ago with 4,200 miles on it and today I have 36,071 miles on my baby!!
Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? I am the Co-Founder and President of Diamond Girlz MC an all female motorcycle club out of Boston MA that was established in Feb 2008. We started with 8 females and today we have 11 fully patched members and 1 prospect (of course members have come and gone) the 3 “original members” from day 1 who are still by my side are my 2 loyal sisters Teez my VP and Jewels my SGT at Arms – Thank you ladies!!!
Diamond Girlz MC, Boston
We have come a long way in 5 years and I am very proud of what we have accomplished! We do a lot of community service and have a very strong bond with one another. We also just put out our first ever 2013 Diamond Girl calendar which you can see on our website. Also all the details for our 5th year anniversary event the weekend of Feb 8th and 9th 2013 is all on our website, Please check us out DiamondGirlzMC.com Before Diamond Girlz then I was a member of a co-ed club Bikerz Finest in Boston. I saw a “vision” for an all female club in Boston and saw through it!!!
Diamond Girlz MC
Do you have a favorite riding story? Every 3rd Sunday of the month is Diamond Girl day- we meet up around 11AM plan a day trip and ride and hang out for the whole day. Diamond Girl days are ALWAYS my favorite!!!!
A friend on Twitter, @urbantweeter, thought I may be inspired by meeting a millionaire. She sent a link so I checked it out! Needless to say it was not what I had expected. What an unexpected delight to find a million mile female motorcyclist Voni from the Big Bend of Texas! Checking out her blog is a must and find her on Facebook too! I took a chance and sent Voni an email asking if she would join in the series Profile of a Female Motorcyclist. I am so honored that she replied YES!! It is with great pleasure I introduce you to Voni, a million mile rider!
Voni, million mile motorcyclist
How long have you been riding a motorcycle? Over a Million sMiles over about 37 years
Celebrating 1,000,000 miles!
How did you learn to ride? Trial and error – lots of trial and a few errors. My million miles have been accident free. Since the thought of traffic scared me, I rode my first hundred miles in my yard in rural Iowa. But once I got started, it’s been a collage of the most amazing vistas.
What was your first motorcycle? Yamaha RD250
How many have you owned? 15, more or less, mostly BMWs
Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? So my husband and I could take our two kids on family camping vacations. Something we could all share.
Tell us about your riding. Touring is my favorite. I’ve ridden in all 50 states, all of the Canadian Provinces, New Zealand and five countries in Southern Africa. Lately I’ve gotten the most fun on a Yamaha TW200 dirt bike I call TWouble on the rocky roads around our adobe here in the desert in Texas.
What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Just do it. Being scared is good because it keeps you focused. The joy the daring will bring is immeasurable!
What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? Since we retired, my husband and I live on the bikes at least four months a year. We tour all over the US and Canada and camp in some of the most beautiful and remote places. Before that, I often toured alone for weeks on end since Paul didn’t have the vacation time I did as a teacher. One year I rode 73,660 miles in 6 months just because I could. In 2003 I rode in and finished with bronze medal status the 11 day Iron Butt Rally.
Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? Oh, yes. Lots. When I’m not riding I love to read and share about motorcycles. I’m probably most active with the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and the Iron Butt Association.
Do you have a favorite riding story? Many! Motorcycles have colored my life in the most amazing hues.
What do you do when you’re not riding? I love reading. And photography! And visiting our grandsons. And music. And just living life to the fullest.
This past weekend was filled with lots of activity. I made this little guy.
Froggy
He has quite the personality for a crocheted frog!
The best part of the weekend is when hubby pulled the bikes out of the garage on Sunday for what maybe the last ride of the season! We headed out the back roads, found some twisties, and stop for a couple of Turkey Reuben sandwiches. It was glorious. On our way home we stopped at the grocery store to pick-up a few things and that’s when it happened. Hubby and I switched motorcycles!
It is the first time I rode his bike. It was suggested by Lori aka Beemergirl when we met (check out her profile here) that I try riding his motorcycle. I never much thought about trading, but hubby suggested it on the way out of the store. We took the long way home with me in the lead. What an experience! It’s the same bike as mine only a couple of years younger, but did it handled a bit different than mine.
Let’s just say I turned a corner and was up to 80+ mph in a short distance. And then immediately slowed to the speed limit. >wink< Would I ride it again. You betcha!
Strap on your helmet, grab your jacket, gloves and boots because we are taking a trip to the other side of the world to meet our next lady rider! Pune, India to be exact so we can meet Firdaus Shaikh, nick name Dos, and on Twitter @EinsteinReload. She also writes for two blogs. One is an automotive blog and the other on topics Firdaus likes! Check them out: Autozing51’s Blog and TheWandererMind
Meet my new friend Firdaus!
How long have you been riding a motorcycle? I started riding a motorcycle at the age of 4. Back then I’d try the mini-bikes that my cousins would ride. Post that by the age of 7 I was riding scooters and then progressed to riding full-fledged motorcycles by the age of 10. However given that I come from India where women riding motorcycles was not a pleasant thought until a few years back, I managed to get myself a motorcycle only when I turned 22.
How did you learn to ride? I learned to ride via observation. No one taught me how to ride a motorcycle. I would observe my cousins while riding and one day just asked them what the various visible parts on the motorcycle did. Once my cousin told me what the functions of an accelerator and brake are, I was sorted. I soon figured things out and was riding without any guidance within 15 minutes of getting on the bike for the first time. I only faced one problem – I never learned how to brake well. I face that issue till date, but I am working on it
What was your first motorcycle? The Honda QR was my first motorcycle. I had to share it with my cousins though. But post that my Bajaj Pulsar 180 Classic is my first motorcycle. It took me a while to convince my mom to get me one, but I have loved it since the time I got it. In India higher cc motorcycles have been introduced legally just 3 years back, until then people would have to import higher capacity vehicles via the grey market. So for the longest time we Indians have been riding motorcycles under 250 cc. Back in the day when the Bajaj Pulsar 180 was launched, it was the most powerful machine one could get their hands on.
How many have you owned? I’ve owned two motorcycles so far- Honda QR and the Bajaj Pulsar 180 classic. However I like scooters too and have two of them. A 1987 Kinetic Honda and the TVS Wego. I prefer scooters during my daily commute to work as they are light weight and offer ample space while carrying groceries back home.
Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? A motorcycle is a symbol of freedom, expression, adrenaline and speed. And I have always been attracted to these things. Also motorcycling has been in the family for years, so it was pretty obvious that I would get attracted to it. Each time I’m astride my bike, it takes away all the stress. I guess it’s the dose of adrenaline that always works. Being rebellious, the motorcycle was also the obvious choice for me. Riding a motorcycle is like having a love affair with your bike, just that this affair always lasts a life time.
Tell us about your riding. I am a bit of all- commuter, tourer, stunter and racer. However commuter and tourer is where I focus more these days. Given the whether in Pune, touring is something most riders tend to enjoy, especially during the rains. And since in Pune, one cannot go places without a vehicle commuting also forms a big part of my biking. I don’t get to race very often since the race tracks are in another state down south and it is not always feasible fly down for the races.
What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? For women who want to start riding motorcycles, I think they should by all means pursue their passion. People may come and tell you that a motorcycle is heavy- well that is the case for men as well. A motorcycle is heavy only when stationary, when it motion it is as light weight as it can be. About your feet not touching the ground or you tip-toeing the bike- you don’t have to ride the bike with your feet down! Just shed these thoughts and inhibitions and follow your heart.
Always remember to choose a motorcycle according to your riding style and comfort level. Try to get to know your machine and always ride with proper gear and most importantly don’t get bogged down. Ever.
What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? The longest trip I’ve done so far is my journey from Delhi to Ladakh last year. It was 2000 km (approximately 1242 miles) long journey on a Royal Enfield which I organized with my club- The Bikerni. This ride was the first-of-its-kind in India, since never before has a ride of this magnitude with an all women biking club ever been done in India. We also registered the ride with the Limca book of records which is the like Guinness book of records for India. I was instrumental in planning, strategizing and implementing the plan with fellow Bikernis. It was a memorable ride since I had been wanting to ride to Ladakh for the past five years and the feeling of riding to Khardung-la, the highest motorable road in the world was mind-blowing.
Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? During my initial biking days I was a part of two motorcycle groups – RSA (Rubber Smoking Angels) this was a stunt and drag race group. I learned a lot about stunting here and it has helped in many ways over the years. The other group was Stunt Ride Gurlz, this was an all girl stunt group. I used to over see the events for this group. Unfortunately the group was dissolved a few years back.
I then co-founded The Bikerni with my friend Urvashi. In January 2013 The Bikerni turns 2 years old and this has been a major achievement for us! In the past year itself we have got tremendous response from the media and other biking clubs in the country. The Bikerni also represents the Indian chapter of WIMA (Women’s International Motorcycle Association). It is an online and offline club with a pan-India presence and over 120 members across India. We have regular club meets and rides and try our best to bring women with a passion for motorcycling together. It is our dream to make ‘The Bikerni’ one of the most popular and elite motorcycle club in the country.
Do you have a favorite riding story? Honestly no favourite riding story yet.
What do you do when you’re not riding? When I am not riding, I am usually working. I work as a PR and communications executive and handle quite a few automobile brands. Besides that I am an avid photographer, writer and a serial tweeter (pun intended). I love writing and motorsport. I make sure I don’t miss a single MotoGP or F1 race and actively tweet during the race as well. I love traveling and racing. I have worked as an auto journalist and during this stint have been extensively exposed to motorcycling. Have raced for dirt events, drag races and one-make events as well. I am one of the few women in India who have had the opportunity to ride almost all the superbikes available in the country – Honda, Harley, Suzuki, Ducati, Yamaha. I am yet to get my hands on the Aprilia, BMW and Triumphs though.
Below is the link to our TV show. This show documented the Bikernis ride to Ladakh. [Friends you need to take the time to watch this!]
Most of us know “R & D” stands for research and develop. Marketing people would say R & D stands for research and duplicate. Watch when new product hits the market, before you know it you begin to see their competition with a similar product. Yes. That is R & D. Don’t believe me? Snuggy. How many clones are out there now? Yup. That’s marketing R & D at its best.
So what’s my point? Have you been to Visited States Map? You click all the states you have visited and it generates a map that you can download. Here’s mine.
The States I have visited.
I would have created a map of the states I’ve been to on my motorcycle but that would have been lack-luster because it is only one. Well, I did cross the border into Wisconsin once, but I really didn’t “ride” the roads.
Back to R & D … this map thingy wasn’t my idea … I found it over on Adventurous Wanderings (I found Amy because she just started following my blog) who saw it on BikerMonkey who saw it on My Ride Blog. Kind of a blogging R & D. I now have three more blogs to check out and a desire to start a map with the states I’ve rode my motorcycle through!
How many states have you visited? Check out Visited States Map and let me know when you post your map. Cheers!
Hubby and I are home from our trip visiting our daughter, fave son-in-law, and grandson down in Georgia. What a wonderful time we had together celebrating the little guy’s first birthday. He’s adorable. My son-in-law and daughter are doing an incredible job as parents and in their marriage. Taylor Swift sings, “Life makes love look hard,” and those two are facing life and rocking it together! So proud.
Well, today my reality check is due … it is back to work. What makes this even more difficult (besides missing them already) is the weather. We left it was 80 degrees with lots of sun and arrived home to 40s. Yikes! My riding days are truly numbered with the drop in temperature.
Hard to believe this little guy is a year old!
Time to pull out the crocheting and my other cold weather projects!
I’m visiting my daughter, favorite son-in-law, and grandson this week. I’ve walked past this picture of Kermit the Frog before, but today I stopped and read it.
Live Your Dreams!
So I leave you with this thought, if Kermit can so can we!
I bought my bike 4 years ago with 4,200 miles on it and today I have 36,071 miles on my baby!!
