Well I am suprised so many men like to see lady bikers lol..... I just love the freedom of it.... and also cus my ex never let me near one, so after the split - bike was in the garage after a week !! yee ha!
Don't fret Andy, once they read your comments they will probably give you a wide swerve, that should save you loadsa money
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PML @ Brumax comment re: make up
I'm always amazed at how many women say they have been riding/passed their test for 25-30 years.
It was very rare that I ever saw a woman on a bike 25-30 years ago, in fact only ever saw three, one had a xs650 and the other two were together and turned up at a rally on 125's (they got loads of attention )
How come they have suddenly came out of the closet these days????
I know of loads of women that ride - the problem I find is that they only ride with their partner, or ride a few miles on weekends to a rally or on a ride out with mates or partner. I have yet to find another female who rides long distances solo or willing to ride long distances and/or ride into the unknown and take on new challenges
I grew up around bikes, my Dad always had one and i was riding it with him since i was old enough to sit up on my own (yes seriously!).
I have always been more interested in bikes & cars than dolls & make up so when i was 16 i begged for a bike of my own, saved up and after much persuading and agreeing to buy whatever Dad chose for me i got my first bike, a used bright yellow Honda Melody 50cc scooter. It was slower than a kid on a BMX but i loved it, even if the other requirement was wearing a full hi-vis suit whilst riding (yeah Dad thought it would put me off with the shame).
When i was 17 i wanted to get a geared bike but after ructions with Dad i gave up and passed my driving test instead, opting for 4 wheels and a quieter life.
Last year at 34 i suddenly felt the overwhelming urge for 2 wheels again and a "proper" bike that i rode instead of sit on.
I thought my partner would think i was having a mid-life crisis but after 5 minutes browsing Ebay i found my bike, a 125 cheap chinese cruiser and my partner bought it for me.
Took my CBT 2 weeks after getting the bike and i was in heaven. I used this bike to do all the shopping, go to rallies and visit friends way up north and i always went alone riding upto 120 miles in a day on L-Plates.
12 months later and i wanted and felt ready to go the DAS route, saved up some serious pennies and started looking for training schools. A mate in Yorkshire wanted to do his as well then my partner joined in so all 3 of us went to Blackburn for a 3 day course. Part of my funding for my DAS was the sale of my beloved 125 which i rode to Preston and sold the day before my training started. I had already bought a bigger bike, Kawasaki Eliminator, so if i failed now i had no wheels at all.
I was the only female at the training school but i didn't care, i even beat the boys at the slow control excercises which gave me confidence and the 1st week in September 2010 i got my full licence!
I am actually very shy and wouldn't go to any meets where i didn't know anyone, or speak to anyone i didn't know, but getting a big bike has given me that confidence and i often now go to bike meet ups and rideouts on my own. i kinda feel worthy of talking to someone now LOL.
(Partner failed his MOD2 so until he re-takes next year i am still solo riding).
The best part of all was i didn't tell my Dad i was taking my CBT til i turned up at his on my 125, he loved it and after 14 years off a bike he had a quick go on mine, he grinned like a Cheshire cat. It seemed a good idea to not tell him about my DAS or big bike either so when i passed and took my Eliminator over he was really proud of me.
My Dad passed away suddenly in November and it means a lot knowing how pleased he was that i'd passed the full licence and also rekindled his love of biking too.
Thanks for that post shazza. am thinking about having a go at learning to ride a bike in the new year as it is something i have wanted to do for a long time but my ex hated bikes and only interested in cars. was wondering if am a little too old to start now and dont have a lot of confidence but reading your post has made me think i should go for it, am quite shy too until i get to know people so it is a good way of meeting others and i suppose once you have achieved it a few times it gets less scary lol
Do it Snowdove!
Biking has given me a lot of confidence that i can do stuff instead of just dreaming about it.
Whether you are riding along by yourself or turning up alone at a place with a load of bikers, once you get those nods and smiles as you ride past and return a nod or park your bike to go get a brew it's like nothing you have ever felt, I still get a buzz starting my bike up just to go to the shops. Even more so when you see people admiring your bike or coming over to talk about it.
The first rally i went to, BMF May 2010, i was meeting a load of forum friends for the first time I went alone 93 miles on my 125 and made myself ill with nerves but once i got there i had a fantastic time and couldn't wait to do it again. I managed 2 more rallies this year and next year am planning on charity runs as well as rallies, just got my entry in for the Ride of respect as well (going alone).
I never want to look back and wish i had done something that i am now not able to, so i say, live for today as we never know what tomorrow will bring, have no regrets.
good if hey do do only women riders but its not something that apeals to me. It don't matter if male of female - a bker is a biker and a friend is a friend - I'm with the whistlestop bike club and there are some fantastic people in there - male and female.
Brill club - luv ya !! x
Funny you should mention that Shadow, cos' i thinking the same thing, i've been riding 33 years this year and I don't remember any girl's who had bikes back then..
Stopped to help a girl in south london on a fizzie once in about 1981/82 when i was despatching, but thats about it...
But it's good news perhaps we'll see a few more Boxhill way this coming summer then