Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet She’z a.k.a. @Shelina93

I’ve got another great gal for y’all to meet! She goes by She’z, is from the small town of Petaluma, CA, a friend of Jen’s (we met her back in July), and another motorcycle racer! You can catch She’z on twitter @Shelina93 and check out her web site She’z Racing!

Catch her on Twitter: @Shelina93
Photo courtesy of Seppes.com

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? I’ve been riding motorcycles my whole life. My dad put me on bikes before I could walk. I have a photo of me on his old flat track bike when I was a chubby toddler.

How did you learn to ride?  My dad (and mom) taught me to ride the ranch quads as soon as I could walk so that I could learn how to bring in the cows from the fields (dairy kid). Growing up on a ranch meant we had chores to do, and so we learned to ride more as a responsibility than for fun… though dad probably saw us out there spinning donuts and popping wheelies on his 4-wheelers in between working  😉

What was your first motorcycle? My first motorcycle was a Kawasaki 80 that my brother and I saved our “wages” for. Dad matched what we had saved so that we could buy it together. It’s quite the memory actually. I still remember us going to pick up that bike and getting used to the snappy throttle! And the love for Two Wheels Began!!

My first streetbike was an old Kawasaki Ninja 600 that I snuck home with… Mom and Dad wanted to KILL me!!

How many motorcycles have you owned? Well… I still have that 80, though it doesn’t run anymore. I had upgraded to a KDX 200, then a 125. Now I have a Honda CRF 450 and a little 100 that I ride flat track on. I also have two Streetbikes, a Kawasaki zx636 and a Brammo Enertia (electric motorcycle). Plus my racebikes… a Harley XR1200 and a Yamaha R6. Jeez, you make me feel like I need to clear some bikes out of here…. [Pam says, No way!! Keep the bikes!]

She’z sitting with her Kawi
Photo courtesy of 4theRiders.com

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? Because my dad rode a motorcycle, and raced a motorcycle (and still does). Because I saw two guys pop a wheelie through an intersection when I was a kid and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Because even at 4 years old on a ranch quad, I felt like the world was at my fingertips when I was on a motorcycle. And at 12 years old I felt like I was unstoppable when I was on that dirtbike. And because for us, it was a family thing, something we got to do with my parents, and it has had a major impact on how close we are as a family.

Tell us about your riding. Commuter, pleasure, vacation, racing, or ? All of the above. The reason I started racing was because I had “too much fun” on the street, and I wanted to see what I could do with my skills that was productive. I still ride on the street, for fun or to get to a meeting with the Parker Hannifin guys. I love to race, I love to train to race, I enjoy instructing at the She’z Racing and FIM girls camps now, and I consider the trails with my dad and our friends one of my favorite vacation destinations.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Go for it. Don’t do it because you think you’ll look cool, or for any other reason, ride if you want to ride. Learn How. Wear proper gear. Listen to the motorcycle, it will teach you a lot. Don’t get discouraged when you are working on improving, we all do, just keep learning. And come to one of my Girls-Only camps! I’ll teach you, and you Will have fun learning! You can actually find out info on our schools at www.ShezRacing.com and Check out our Video

What is the longest trip that you have taken on your cycle? I don’t do a lot of adventure riding, so not terribly long distance, usually 100 miles in a day is a good ride for me. However… At Indy this year I think I rode quite a lot of “Distance”… I raced the Harley and the Brammo, back to back all weekend. Literally hopping off of one and onto another. That was a ton of riding.

Shelina Moreda with the Brammo / ICON Spec 32 – Eboz Edition
Photo courtesy of Brammo

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? I actually just joined forces with the newly formed Women’s Coalition of Motorcyclists. It’s the strongest and largest organization of women riders in North America and they are working hard to promote motorcycling and grow the number of riders. I’m stoked to be a part of a group with the potential to help grow the sport of motorcycling so much. Getting more people involved in motorcycling (girls and guys) is something that is very important to me.

Do you have a favorite riding story? Seems like every time I go riding I have a new favorite riding story. A more recent favorite for me was when I was at an electric bike race earlier this year. I won my class and was standing on the podium with Eric Bostrom (my Brammo teammate, who I’ve looked up to for a long time) who had also won his class, we were 1st and 2nd overall! That was one heck of a day for me.

What do you do when you’re not riding? Think about riding… 🙂  When I’m not riding I’m planning and working on chasing my next goal (mostly riding related). Working on sponsorship a lot of the time. It’s hard work to find sponsorship and grow a racing career.

When we are talking about non-motorcycle related activities, I have a lot of other hobbies too. I love the outdoors, I like going to the lake, kneeboarding, wakeboarding, I love to travel, try new foods, I enjoy time with my dog (Rampage), and I like hanging out with my friends. I also like remodeling old houses, my granddad is a contractor and has taught me a lot about fixing up houses. And one of my favorite things is making Halloween costumes.

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Carolynn a.k.a. @CarolynnSells

Some days I just sit amazed at how I get connected with these lady motorcyclist. My next guest was referred to my by @KHaylock. Thank you Ken! It seems like I’ve had a streak of racing women lately and about to add another to the mix! Strap on your seat belts we are jumping the pond to meet Carolynn Sells a.k.a. @CarolynnSells from Isle of Man! You can find her on Facebook and check out her web site CarolynnSells.co.uk.

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? Since I was about 12, although I’ve been around bikes & racing paddocks since I was very little.

Carolynn’s love of two wheels started early! Age 4

How did you learn to ride? My brother got an off road bike & I used to ride that around our back garden. I nearly took out the family greenhouse, first time out.

What was your first motorcycle? My own was a Black & Red, Yamaha RD50 with Micron exhaust, which got me on the open road at the age of 16.

How many have you owned? Not many, actually… about 6, I think, but I’ve ridden a lot more than that. The first one I owned was my RD50, back in 1989, the last was the only race bike I owned, which I sold to my dad after I packed in racing at the end of 2009… My Blue & White RD350LC was my favourite. I miss that bike.

Carolynn’s beloved 350LC

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? My Dad has built & ridden bikes since he was a teenager, then he started racing when I was 5, nearly 6. I spent my childhood in the racing paddock & travelling around the country in vans, going to race meetings. Then, when I was 12, we went to the Isle of Man (we lived in Lancashire, in the North West of England, at the time) for my Dad to race in the Manx Grand Prix on the TT Course. I decided that I wanted to race there too, one day…

Carolynn’s first race April 2000

Tell us about your riding. Initially messing about in fields, then commuting/transport & then eventually, my ultimate goal… real road racing.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Get out there & do it… Anybody can do anything they want to do, if they have the drive & the ambition. Being female isn’t an obstacle.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? Well… each race on the TT Course was 150 miles & I completed 10 of those. We did do 4 weeks around Europe (France, Germany, Belgium & Luxembourg) when I was a kid, but my mum & dad were on the bike, me & my brother were in the sidecar with all our tents, sleeping stuff, cooking equipment etc.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? Off or online? Both… I’m now a Director of the Manx Motor Cycle Club, who organize & run the Manx Grand Prix road races & am also one of two Rider Liaison Officers for the club & the event. I have set up a Facebook group & a page for the club too. When I first started road riding, I was a member of the BMF (British Motorcyclists Federation) and that is who I passed my CBT & road test with. I have also been a member of several Road Racing clubs (in order to get race entries) in the UK, Ireland & the Isle of Man, and of course, got my annual race licence from the ACU (Auto Cycle Union).

Do you have a favorite riding story? I have so many to choose from, but it has to be my win on the Isle of Man TT Mountian Course in 2009. 24 years after that first trip the Isle of Man and 6 years after my first race on the circuit, I became the first woman ever to win a race on the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, when I won the Ultra Lightweight Manx Grand Prix race by over 62 seconds from the 2nd placed man. I’m still the only woman to win on that circuit, in over 106 years of racing. You can read about it in my 2009 race Diary, here.

What do you do when you’re not riding? I’m a mum, who runs a home & works part-time as an Assistant Manager. I help organise road races & tutor newcomers in any spare time that I do have & get to play out, very, very occasionally.

P.S. One thing Carolynn didn’t mention was she is a Guinness World Record holder!

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Nadieh a.k.a. Shoots

I feel like I’ve only found the tip of the iceberg when it comes to meeting lady motorcyclists! I’m so thankful for all the women that have step forward and shared their stories. Each one unique, full of wisdom, and real life lessons to learn. Thank you!

Buckle your seat belts because I am headed to Rotterdam in the Netherlands to introduce you to Nadieh a.k.a. @Shoots40. Nadieh is a motorcycle racer! Check out her web site Nadieh-Racing.nl.

Nahieh a.k.a @Shoots40

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? 3.5 years, plus 4 years of pocketbikes

How did you learn to ride? When I started out racing pocketbikes at 14, my dad took me to a big empty parking lot to do braking and turning drills preparing for my first race. I didn’t get ride a ‘real’ motorcycle with a clutch and suspension (’97 Aprilia RS250 street bike) on the track until I was 18, and was dragging my knee, foot peg and exhaust by the end of the first day … using skills I mostly learned from reading books.

Pocket-bike

What was your first motorcycle? The above mentioned 1997 Aprilia RS250.

’09 Aprilia 250

How many have you owned? The Aprilia is the only one I fully paid for myself. But over the years I’ve had the pleasure of racing full seasons on a Ducati 749RS, Triumph Daytona 675R and Yamaha R6.

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? I was tired of always watching others ride! Instead of spectating at a race, or being the passenger of either of my parents, all I wanted was to ride a bike myself. Lucky for me we discovered pocket-bikes.

Nadieh on a Ducati

Tell us about your riding. I’m a racer through and through. I took a few lessons last year to see if I wanted to get my license, but did not enjoy riding the streets at all. There are so many things and people to watch out for, to me it’s more like a chore. Also I have a tough enough time staying out of trouble driving a car (I’ve perfected the racing lines on local roundabouts, frequently push 70-75 on small back roads, etc). My budget doesn’t allow for the fines I’d surely pick up riding a bike. One day, when my competitive streak doesn’t have the upper hand anymore, I do hope to go on a motorcycle vacation in the mountains of Italy.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Just do it and don’t let anyone tell you women are lesser riders for whatever reason, because that’s bullcrap! Other than that, always make sure you’re having fun.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? I suppose that would have to be my over an hour stint in the 2012 WERA Endurance race at Miller Motorsports Park, haha. Which so far is also the furthest I’ve ever traveled to compete in a race.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? Closest to this would be the BWMRC Racing Team. This team was founded very recently, and its purpose is to help promote women in road racing (road as in Isle of Man). I’m lucky to be involved with the start-up process, and will be competing in road races for BWMRC in the future.

Do you have a favorite riding story? It’s hard to pick just one. The absolutely amazing 2 weeks I had at Miller last year with SGA Racing, the awesome 6-way battle at Brno during my first year in the 3D Cup. When purely about riding though, I’d have to go with my elbow down story. It was my second season of racing, and the first test with my new Triumph Daytona 675. On the last day clouds and lower temperatures prevented any improvement of lap times, so I was thinking of something else to do when I realized my elbow was dangerously close to the ground in one of the corners. I asked some of the other racers who’d been behind me about the distance to the ground, and they immediately started making fun of me (“yea I got my elbow down once too, and then my butt, back and head followed”). The looks on their faces when I came by to show off my scraped elbow 30 minutes later were priceless!

What do you do when you’re not riding? Really everything I do has something to do with racing. I run my own team, and am in a transition year towards a full season of AMA. Most days are filled with contacting potential sponsors. I also work out daily, and have come to love riding my bicycle. In my spare time you can usually still find me at the track, hanging out with and supporting my friends. My other love is music! Whenever I do find a new sponsor, I can’t help but treat myself to a concert or new CD.

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Jen a.k.a. @JRod_70

See updated post on my NEW blog!

I love it when someone raises their hand, or in this case Tweet, wanting to join in with the other lady motorcyclists on my blog! My next friend is Jen “JROD” Dunstan from Southern California. Follow her on Twitter @JRoD_70 and check out her photos on Tumblr too. And if anyone ever says to me, “You ride like a girl” I hope they mean like Jen!

Jen a.k.a @JR0D_70

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? 13 years

How did you learn to ride? Soon as I turned 16 I begged my parents to let me take the MSF course. I actually had my motorcycle license before my driver’s license, it was awesome 🙂

What was your first motorcycle? A 1985 Honda Rebel 250

How many have you owned? I’ve owned 6, still got 3 in the garage as of now. 1985 Honda Rebel 250, 2002 Suzuki SV650S, 1974 Honda CB360, 2004 Honda CBR600RR, 2004 Yamaha TTR125, and 2003 Honda CR125

Jen and her CR125

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? Both my parents are riders, my mom worked at Harley Davidson for a number of years too before I was born. Though they tried their best to hide their two wheeled adventures from me and my sisters as we grew up, Dad couldn’t resist and we always had at least one motorcycle in the garage.  Every spring he would fire one up, my sisters and I would coming running with our mom’s helmet and jacket and we would beg for rides all day long.  He’d ride us to the beach and back until the tank ran out of gas. He and mom would go out for rides and I would sit at home and just wish I too could know the open road like that. Super proud to say now that all 5 of us in the family have our M1 licenses!

Tell us about your riding. Commuter, pleasure, vacation, racing, or ? All of the above! Though these days I do much less on the commuting side – I find the freeways of California to be insanely dangerous compared to my small town roads on the east coast. I will occasionally street ride for pleasure but my main passion is now racing. I used to race my vintage ’74 CB360 with my dad back in New England with a group called the USCRA (United States Classic Racing Association). Now out here in California I race with the CVMA (Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association) on my CBR600. Racing motorcycles is an absolute thrill and the racing community is a tight family, one I’m proud to be a part of.  I’ve also really gotten into dirtbikes living out here in the motocross mecca and my husband just bought me a 2-stroke CR125 to replace my kiddie TTR125 (yep he’s a keeper)!

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle?

1) If it is your dream, then go for it!

2) Take a MSF or comparable learners course. It seriously makes a difference and is much better than testing at your DMV!

3) Learn on a bike that is comfortable for you. Some folks new to riding think they need the newest, biggest, baddest bike there is out there. Not true! Mid size and small size bikes are tons of fun and have way too many merits for me to count here. Point is; do your research, sit on as many bikes as possible, and buy what is sensible.

4) Ride with like-minded riders who are responsible. I once was stuck on a group ride with a bunch of hooligans and hated every minute of it. From then on I promised myself I’d only ride with people I know to be experienced and responsible riders.

5)  Try a track day! I think every rider should one day know the joys of an open track free from cars, pedestrians, cops, and other hazards. I had no clue track days existed until I was already a street rider of 6 years. Had I only known sooner!

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? Probably the trip from Orange County CA to the Laguna Seca MotoGP race in Monterey Bay northern California … just under 800 miles round trip.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? Off or online? Race organizations: USCRA, CVMA. Online communities- OCmoto.com, Socalmoto.org  and Girlclutch.com (racing) and I am a proud assistant to the annual Femmewalla Women’s Only track day event, happens every December at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Please check out the FaceBook page! 

Femmewalla

Do you have a favorite riding story? The best day of my entire life was the day I married the love of my life, Alexander Dunstan, on the start/finish line of Chuckwalla Valley Raceway on October 13 2011.

Best Day Ever!

We first met each other at a track day back in Loudon, NH, completely fell in love and we felt it very fitting that we tie the knot at a racetrack as well. Lucky for us we have some really amazing friends who made it possible for us to marry at our favorite race track and then share our combined passion for motorcycle and riding with a half day track event for all attendees.

Stunning!

Alex and I had a few laps all to ourselves that day and all the anxiety and stress of wedding planning melted away as we carved the corners together in unison.

Wedding Lap!

What do you do when you’re not riding? When I’m not riding I’m probably working, hah! Which actually turns out alright because I work at Troy Lee Designs (mx gear company) so I still get to think/talk bikes all day anyway! I also enjoy mountain biking, crossfit with Pandemic Crossfit of Norco, and doing some art projects on the side whenever I get the chance.

I’d like to give a special shout out to the female athletes competing in motorcycle racing. They are pioneers in the sport and they pave the way for future generations of female riders and racers worldwide. The more we promote our ladies in the professional level, the more young girls will grow up seeing that they too can ride and race. Please everyone, check out our female racers and follow them/like them/view them, show some support! Social media is now a legit metric companies recognize and every time you hit the like button, you are improving these ladies odds of funding for future seasons of racing.

Melissa Paris  @meligirl13 (AMA Daytona Sportbike #13 )

Elena Myers @elenamyers21 (AMA Daytona Sportbike #21)

Caroline Olsen @carolineracing (AMA Supersport #44)

Patricia Fernandez @lady_racer804 (AMA Supersport #804)

SHELINA MOREDA @shelina93 (AMA Harley Davidson Vance & Hines, Supersport)

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Rene’

I’m so glad my friend Rene’ and fellow Minnesotan is joining with her story! I’ve known Rene’ about four and a half years. I always knew she could ride, just didn’t own a motorcycle until … let’s let Rene’ tell her story!

I grew up in the “country” and we had mini bikes long before we had pedal bikes.  I started out on a Honda 50 before I even entered Kindergarten.  I have two sisters and we each had our own little Honda 50 … then as we grew, my dad replaced the 50’s with 70’s and then ’90’s … then as we were older, our friends had dirt bikes and so we usually rode Yamaha’s 125’s and 250’s.

Then my dad bought me an 250 Exciter and my mom a 650 Shadow which is what I preferred to ride because the 250 was a little small … then I “grew up,” went to college and got married.

I have always wanted to get back on a bike but money was very tight when we started out, then “life” came … kids, work … but I never lost the desire to get back on a bike.  I have been married 25 years with five kids. My husband finally agreed that it was “time.”

We purchased a Harley Davidson – 1200 Sportster full of chrome [can you say shiney?].  I have to admit, sometimes I just go out in the garage at look at it because it is just so pretty.  But then, riding it … wow.  I was nervous at first to get back on a bike because it has been so long, but very quickly, I thought, “Yep…this feels right!”  My husband also got a Harley so that we could go riding together as he really did not want to ride on the back of mine … plus, he wasn’t invited to ride on the back of mine 🙂

Rene’s sweet ride!

I enjoy riding because there is a sense of freedom with riding a motorcycle.  Freedom from “everyday thoughts”…. when I am riding, I am only thinking about the motorcycle, shifting, looking at the rode in front of me, thinking about how the bike feels, the wind, the sounds … everything else such as work, responsibilities … etc … goes “out the window” when I am on my bike.

I only have about five miles to ride to work and back, but yet, it is enough to change my mood.  I look forward to going to work because I get to ride my bike to work and then I find myself watching the clock for the end of the day when I get to get back on my bike.  Also, I find myself constantly thinking about the weather.

Riding a bike takes some thought … what can I wear to work today?  Did I grab my hair clips?  Will my lunch and work shoes fit in my saddle bags?  Do I need to stop at the grocery store after work today?  What is the weather like?  Do I have my sun glasses?  All that stuff – it takes longer to get going to work but it is all so worth it … just being on the bike, makes all the extra “thought” worth it.  I find myself smiling inside when I am on my bike. Other women usually say, “I just don’t get it” and I think … “Yep, if you have not been on a bike, then, yep, you probably don’t get it.” It’s something only other bikers can understand.  And I am glad to be part of this group.

Advice … I have not been back on the bike long enough to have any advice – maybe … it doesn’t matter what you hair looks like after a ride – all that matters, is that you rode!

When I am not riding, I am at work or home with my kids – and if I have any extra time, I love to read but those are rare times.

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Polly aka Buellbunny

My next guest stumbled across my blog and was totally excited about finding stories about other women motorcyclist! Yay! And she wanted to share her profile too. Fasten your seat belts we are flying to the other side of the world to Puhoi Village, Auckland, New Zealand to meet Polly Whimp a.k.a. Buellbunny … and yes, that is her really named!

Polly and her baby!

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? At least 10 years

How did you learn to ride? We have to go through a learner course to get a proficiency certificate, then a year (I think) learner license, a year on a restricted license (means you don’t have to have the L plate on the back and can ride at night and go over 70 km per hour!) and then finally your real license. It is all a learning experience … the way I learnt to ride was with my best mate and partner, an avid bikist for many moons.

Polly and her man – it is a rare occasion to find her on the back of a motorcycle!

What was your first motorcycle? My first bike was a Yamaha FZR 250… I hated it and thought it would kill me.

How many have you owned? I have owned 4 bikes. The Yamaha FZR 250, Honda VTR 250 (I got rid of the Yammy and got this one … FAB bike to learn on), a Buell 500 Blast and my Buell Firebolt XB9R.

Polly and friend Suzy

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? I have always wanted to ride, but my parents said no, then when I got older my mother didn’t want me too, so I capitulated.  She was frightened for me … then I had a baby, so I had to put up with the responsibilities rant … and then finally I decided enough was enough and off I went! I actually was a pillion for a while until the chap I rode behind nearly killed us by speeding and almost splatting into a turning truck. That was when I decided that I would rather be in control of my own bike and there was the beginning of my life as a motorcycle addict!

Tell us about your riding. I used to commute because it was the cheaper option, although, even on the bike it was always stressful being in motorway rush hours every day.  My main use is pleasure and holiday riding now. My partner and I LOVE heading off camping … loading up the bikes with all manner of gear. The best ride was to the South Island of New Zealand … great roads, weather and places to stop!

At the start of a trip to the shores of Lake Rotorua

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Go for it … but you have to be confident and make decisions quickly. Its not a thing for women who are timid on the road.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? It was 3 weeks down to the South Island of NZ. My dream trip is the US and Canada.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups?  I do. Kiwibikers.co.nz and Fat Bikers Motorcycle Club for fun.

Polly at Arthur’s Pass

Do you have a favorite riding story? Every ride I have is great … but the South Island trip was the best … except for the day after crossing the Cook Straight and the weather turned foul. We got SO wet that we had to find a warm place to just get our stuff dry and warm up … we looked like drowned rats!

What do you do when you’re not riding? I am a designer and illustrator of kids books. We live on a rural property so another cool thing we like doing is getting out on the deck with a wine or sitting in the spa watching the stars.

Remix: Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Madeleine

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.

Madeleine standing on a motorcycle!

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Chris a.k.a. 2vette2camaro

I’m so excited about having another profile of a female motorcyclist to post! My next guest stopped and left a comment here on the blog so I reached out and asked if she’d like to join. I’m pleased as punch she said yes!! Let’s get this post rolling.

I’d like to introduce to you Chris or as she is known on most sites, 2vette2camaro. Chris said she choose that handle because when she first set-up profiles she owned two Vettes – a `75 and `81 and two Camaros – both `78s. Chris and her hubby live in Harrison, Arkansas. She says, “I don’t do Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, or most general social sites – too much DRAMA. Instead you will find me on SlickDeals, FatWallet, Motortopia, and some of the chopper and hotrod forums.” Check out her web site, Got Hedgehogs?! and her blog AMAZING Cheap Life.

One of Chris’ Pinto Hedgehogs

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? Since I was 16. I learned to ride before I learned to drive!

Chris at 16 yrs old on a Yamaha 185 Exciter

How did you learn to ride? My brother and his friend rode whatever bikes they could get a hold of for cheap. Usually an old dirt bike or something. I remember having fun with them, riding on the back and jumping ditches and stuff and I knew I wanted to ride. Then I started learning and eventually after buying the two Camaros, while in college, used my money to buy myself a bike instead of buying a third Camaro. As a little kid, I collected Hot Wheels and mini motorcycles so the fascination has always been with me.

What was your first motorcycle? First bike I learned to ride on was a Yamaha 185 Exciter. First bike I bought for myself was when I was 19 (over 20 years ago) and I got a Yamaha DT Enduro.

Chris and her rides!

How many have you owned? 10 total (I’ve owned more motorcycles than I have cars)1989 Yamaha DT, Suzuki 300, Yamaha 250 Exciter, 2 Yamaha Viragos, 1970 Ironhead Sportster, and presently 1986 Yamaha TW Enduro, 1981 Ironhead, 1956 Panhead (kick only)  and a “secret” project (I always have one I am building in secret).

Progressing on her ’56 Panhead

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? For the independence, the fun, the freedom. Usually when I see something, I know right away if I want to do it. Riding a motorcycle was like that for me, so was drag racing. You get this incredible feeling in your gut and it almost KILLS you until you can do it yourself. I am NOT a spectator of life – I am a doer. I want to live and live good and enjoy all life has to offer, and one of those things, very very important to me, is riding. I fell in love with motorcycles about 4 years ago and have now become all but obsessed with them, the same way I was with cars.

Tell us about your riding. I mostly use my bikes for transportation. My Vette gets about 13 mpg and my `78 Z gets around 8 mpg, so riding a bike with a backpack allows me to save more money. I obviously do a lot of pleasure riding too. My husband and I are both addicted to bikes and ride as much as we can. I like to go into town and go to thrift stores on my bike. The ladies there are QUITE impressed with how much I can stuff into my tiny leather backpack. When I bought a pair of 100% LONG cotton jeans there, it was all I could do to get them to fit into it, but I did!

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Learn to ride on something small. Do it because YOU want to, not because your husband, boyfriend or someone else is wanting you to. Too many women try to learn on a large Harley dresser because they are too “embarrassed” to learn on a 125 or smaller. I think to learn to ride on an Enduro or dirt bike is best because you get more comfortable with the terrain. Have a good teacher or take a reputable class. Everyone has to start somewhere. Also, pray each time before you ride.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? When you ride a rigid Hardtail, with scissor springs that do NOT move at all, the rides are kind of limited! Also, my `81 Ironhead has Fatboy solid wheels and if you have never rode a bobber with Fatboy wheels in the wind, you are missing out! Mostly we ride 100 or 200 miles at a time if we go out on the weekend. I ride almost daily when the weather is nice. We are not long range riders, don’t claim to be. We ride old vintage bikes and like I say “Old Iron Never Dies”.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? No, we are not club oriented.

Do you have a favorite riding story? All riding is good when you come back in one piece…….

What do you do when you’re not riding? I have been an extreme couponer for the last 5 years (saving approximately $45,000 a year) and I raise hedgehogs. I am one of 35 breeders in the whole US and right now I have 25 of them. I like to drive my cars when I’m not riding and I am the Arkansas State Representative for the Worldwide Camaro Club, one of only 5 women. I like entering (and winning) all kinds of competitions from  bike shows, car shows, burnout contests, to Halloween costume contests, writing contests and tattoo contests. I have even entered my hedgehogs in a Hedgehog Show and won! I also like getting into magazines and on BLOGS!

Chris winning another Best of Show trophy

I will be featured in the magazine Throttle Gals in February. I have been in The Horse, All You, Thunderroads, Barnett’s Harley Davidson and several well known blogs. I play the “credit card game”, making thousands of dollars a year just from sign-up bonuses (this is what buys my Harley parts). I am constantly reading self help books, am into natural and alternative therapies, I tye-dye and I am learning to weld. I like to hunt mushrooms in the Spring and deer in the Fall. I also like to shoot guns, help my husband build bikes and work on cars and I like to play with my Am Staff, Solomon. I like to ride with my husband in his old vintage JEEP. I pick berries on the sides of the road and am always looking for ways to get things for free or super cheap. I even got my tubes tied for free (I am child-free by choice). I LOVE being frugal so that I can spend my “real” money on my bikes and my cars and I love being able to share what I know with other people to inspire them. If you put your mind to it, with determination you can do ANYTHING.

Chris doing a burnout in her ’78 Z, shooting a Springfield Armory M-14, Chris and hubby Gabe

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Emily a.k.a. Em

We are jumping the pond over to Teford, England (seems appropriate since the Olympics start this week in England) to meet Emilie, or as her friends call her Em! You can find her on Twitter @emilie_rose46 and check out her Facebook page too!

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? Since I was 17, so about 3 1/2 years now.

How did you learn to ride? I bought myself an old 125, took my CBT soon as I hit 17 and then was unleashed on the open road! I didn’t bother with a 50cc when I was 16 as none of my friends had them, and they aren’t too fun when you’re on your own!

What was your first motorcycle? A 1994 Yamaha TZR125 RR Belgrada. Loved that bike so much, it was perfect to have as my first bike as it was a challenge to ride! Things would break on it fairly often, and it did have a lot of quirks, which has meant as I’ve progressed to better bikes I appreciate it more!

How many have you owned? I’ve had 3 Yamahas, my TZR, an FZR400 RR SP which was my first “big bike” that I rode once I’d passed my full test, and my current bike, a 2002 Yamaha R6. Been riding my R6 for a year now and I love it to pieces, it’s a great fun bike!

Emily a.k.a. Em

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? It’s never been a case of why really, I was brought up with 2 wheels being the most important thing in my life so it was always going to happen! My granddad raced in the GPs and at the Isle of Man TT in the 1950s, and Doran’s Bend on the Island is named after him. So it’s very much in my blood! I always used to go on the back of either my Mum or Dad when I was a kid, so it was just natural that as soon as I turned 17 I got my own bike.

Tell us about your riding. Pleasure these days. Spent two winters commuting to and from work on my bike regardless of the weather, and it does take the enjoyment out of riding a bit. So I reluctantly learnt to drive for boring journeys, so the bike comes out when I want to play now!

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Just go out there and do it! Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t ride for any reason, and don’t be daunted by the fact motorcycling is mostly male dominated … once you get your confidence you’ll find that it is the best part about it! I’ve met so many interesting people through motorcycling that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. It is the best feeling in the world riding through the countryside in the sun shine, you can leave all your troubles behind and just have the best time. I would always encourage people, especially women, to learn to ride, it really is so rewarding.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? I’m yet to go on a big expedition to Europe, that’s next on the list as the roads there are meant to be incredible! And also the weather’s better than England’s! Furthest is probably a couple of hundred mile round trips riding in the Welsh mountains … I don’t tend to go for epic distance, just good roads!

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? Off or online?  No, I kinda like doing my own thing when I’m out riding, and socially I spend loads of time with like minded people when I’m away racing.

Do you have a favorite riding story? We rode to Assen for Moto GP a few years back, and at the end of the day, instead of shoving the bikes down random roads to not disturb the locals and the day to day traffic, the police directed us all (when I say us all, there were thousands of bikes that day) straight through the town. Outside every single house, the whole family was outside, picnic tables, bbqs, the lot. They were all cheering, waving, taking photos, and filming the procession, and having these huge gatherings on their front lawns. And people who didn’t live along the streets we were riding down had gathered along the side of the road by the cannel, cheering us all like we were the main attraction of the day! It was amazing, I’ve never experienced anything like it before … the atmosphere is something which is so hard to describe, but it was incredible.

What do you do when you’re not riding? I’m a mechanic for CN Racing in British Superstock 1000 and British Supersport Cup. So I spend most of my weekends away at racing, which has been my dream for as long as I can remember, I’m so lucky I’m getting to do what I’ve always wanted to so young.

Em living her dream!

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Scooterchick

Ladies, I’m still taking names for profiles! Leave me a comment letting me know you are interested in joining in with your story.

I found my next guest when reading Bobskoot’s blog, Riding the Wet Coast. Bobskoot met up with Scooterchick and her hubby Scootard and mentioned in his post she recently started blog, Adventures of Scooterchick. So I shot her an email and she graciously responded with her profile! My new friend Scooterchick is from BC, Canada.

How long have you been riding a scooter?  Three years

How did you learn to ride?  Self taught with the help of my patient husband “Scootard”.

What was your first scooter? Yamaha BWS 50cc

How many have you owned? Four including the one I currently own, a 250cc Bet and Win Scooter.

Why did you want to ride a scooter? Don’t want to be bothered with learning the gears, clutch, etc on a motorcycle.  Just twist and go!

Tell us about your riding. Just for pleasure with my husband.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride? Be patient with yourself when learning. Never get a bike because “someone” thinks you can handle it or it looks good. Do research, shop around, ask questions, wait a week or so and then make a decision. Impulse buying leads regrettable purchases, quick sales, a loss of money, and a bad taste left in your mouth from the whole experience. Get the bike that works for “you”.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your scooter? Rode from British Columbia, Canada to Portland, Oregon

Do you belong to any motorcycle/scooter groups? Off or online? Yes

Do you have a favorite riding story?  Check it out on AdvRider.

What do you do when you’re not riding? Spending time overseeing a ministry, Global Impact Ministries Centers and spending time with my husband, “Scootard”. We also own a business, Timely Toner.

Scooterchick and Scootard