Well… It’s October 2nd and I have been riding my motorcycle now exclusively for about 3 weeks. It’s been fantastic, but I really need a car… Let me explain.
In 2004, I bought a motorcycle, a 2001 Suzuki Savage 650, she has a tag “THNG2″ this is in reference to ‘Thing 2” from Cat in The Hat. When I was married, we always said if we each had a motorcycle it would be Thing 1 and Thing 2, ta da. So… I have been riding THNG2 for quite a while, I stopped briefly between 2008 and 2010. I have ridden with other people, but not on my own. A few months ago, I had the bike serviced thinking I was going to sell it, then when it was up and running again, I got on it and it was like a light switched on, I LOVED RIDING!
I started off on small journeys around my neighborhood and then ventured a bit farther, I had never ridden solo [and I mean not tandem, with another rider beside me] but still nervous, thinking that I wasn’t ready for the major roadways or highways, but I knew I wanted to ride her to work at some point. Someone asked me to go to the movies, I thought this would be the perfect excuse to see what I was made of. We met at a movie theater about 25 minutes from me and I had to take a local highway, RR Pkwy. The speed limit is 50, I was perfectly fine with that. The other reason I wanted to take this road was that it was on the way to work, how would I do going to work in the mornings. I had been on this roadway before and I was a little nervous, I got on it, and away I went, and it wasn’t too bad, I started to feel my confidence building with each turn I took and the nice thing about this road is, it has a bunch of turns, I learned a lot about the bike, the road and myself that day. It was fantastic! I only hope that you can imagine what I was feeling as I rode that day, the exuberance, the exhilaration, I know I wasn’t taking on the “Tail of the Dragon” or a race track, but I was winning!
A while later, it was time to take on a major roadway, my senses were alert and I my nerves were tingling, but I got on that major highway just like I would any other road, I was aware of all that was going on around me, checked my speed and went forward, I didn’t have a choice, either get on the highway or don’t go out with my friends, not an option. As they say, “I put on my big girl panties and dealt with it!’
I started riding to work every once in a while, about 1-2 times a week, it is something when people you know find out you ride a motorcycle. Someone actually thought I rode a scooter the other day, throwing my head back and laughing heartily, you silly fool! ha ha [you must, at this point, imagine a hearty, throaty laugh of a cheesy villain from a Disney movie] I tried to get a scooter first, a Vespa, specifically, but dear readers, I was too short to fit on one, hence, the bike was better for me, ain’t that a hoot?
It’s even more interesting to encounter the reactions from co-workers. They see you one way, as a professional, I would hope, and here you come, all decked out as a motorcycle momma [well, if you’re a guy… you get the point] apparently they are impressed. It seems that people, and I think I am probably in this category, are impressed with a woman who can ride a motorcycle, even in 2010, there seems to be an air of mystery surrounding that concept. Some women just don’t “look” like they ride and conversely, there are some that do.
So, back to my story. I have been riding for a few months and then, sadly, my beautiful baby beetle, another post coming, caught on fire after an accident [hankies needed] and I don’t have renters insurance on my insurance policy, so it was motor city for me! I am not complaining, by any means, it has been FANTASTIC! the weather was perfect, I will admit that there were a few days I thought I would melt, as evident by the wet seat of my jeans when I would get off the bike, but that was still all good! Even riding in the rain is not terrible, if you are on your way home…
I have been riding to and from work for a few weeks and it’s been fun. I wear jeans and a jacket, I think it’s funny, people at work have asked me how I wear a skirt and ride the bike… I have saddle bags, the skirt and “grown-up” shoes go in the saddle bags and then I change at the office. I go to lunch with my old boss on occasion and it’s fun when we can both go on bike.
The best part has been watching the odometer change, I bought the bike with 4000 miles on it and to date, it has about 7500 on it! I think the first year, I put about 1000 miles on it, but since I’ve had to ride it, it’s been bliss, I watch the odometer change each time I get on it and I think it’s a great goal I set on my list to reach 12,500 miles by next year, piece of cake!
The other best part, is that possible… is what it has done for me, I know there are times that I have a different walk when I am bike mode, someone said a swagger, but riding has given me a new sense of confidence and freedom that I thought I had, but had no idea. Look out world, here comes motorcycle momma!
Peaches Prattlings 