MotoFemina Cast

MotoFemina Award Ceremony

2006-09-22T07:21:00.000-06:00

Here are a couple of pictures from the MotoFemina award ceremony. With us in this picture is Katherine, who literally taught us how to ride motorcycles. She's an instructor with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and she's good! It was great to have her (among others) with us from day one through the entire summer.

I'm glad someone caught this look of surprise! I might not believe I won if it weren't for seeing this picture. I've had the bike for a couple weeks now and it's finally starting to sink in.

The end of something great, the beginning of something new

2006-09-12T08:26:00.000-06:00

The MotoFemina project culminated this past Saturday with an excellent award ceremony at the Sipapu BMW rally in north central New Mexico. Our spirits were as high as the blue cloudless sky as Laura, Synth and I mentally prepared ourselves for whatever the future would hold. As we arrived at the rally, met up with some familiar faces and began handing out flyers, I wasn’t nervous at all. I knew I would be fine with whatever happened.

The Ceremony
We stood before the growing crowd and awaited the start of the award ceremony. I could feel the heat of the late day sun as I shifted from left foot to right, back and forth. We made quite a few jokes in those last few minutes, that being the best way to ward off the nervousness I’m sure we were each beginning to feel. My mind was everywhere but on the motorcycle – wow, the sky is beautiful today…did I drink enough water?…I think I’ll faint if I lock my knees…look at all the people here.

Those thoughts drifted away as we were welcomed to the rally and Torsten (from Santa Fe BMW) introduced the project. When a representative from the panel (they met the previous evening to determine the winner) began speaking, my nerves kicked up a few notches and I had to take some deep breaths. A sealed envelope bearing the winner’s name was passed to Torsten, and I distinctly remember the sound of it being ripped open. A pause, and then…was that my name? Oh my gosh, it was!!! It’s hard to remember what I did, what I said and how many people I hugged. I do recall being urged by Laura to “go sit on your bike!” Tears brimmed for a moment, but were quickly replaced with an overwhelming joy. The moment we had all been waiting for and working towards was here. I feel so lucky, so very fortunate to have had this opportunity.

Reflection
To say the least, the last few months have been liberating, enlightening and full of wide-eyed wonder. I became immersed in MotoFemina and found it a surprisingly easy place in which to lose myself. Thoughts of riding motorcycles have slowly but surely crept into my daydreams, my writing and perhaps most importantly, my future.

Just when I was sure of who I was and where I was going, I came around a bend and discovered yet another one of life’s challenges. As a part of MotoFemina, I learned so much more than how to ride a motorcycle. The MotoFemina experience has gently coerced from me some of my last layers of shyness and hesitation, strengthening my once-tender core. I can now look back and see the pre-MotoFemina Jess, the one whose external image may not have been as deep as her internal self. Not to be overlooked is the comfort and familiarity I found as a result of living this adventure with other women, women with skills!

Thanks to all who have been a part of the MotoFemina project. Each and every person I’ve met has truly enhanced the quality of my life. To be surrounded by such generous, talented individuals has been a privilege that I will not soon forget. I hope to stay in touch with you all.

Congratulations Jessica!!!

2006-09-11T13:12:00.000-06:00

I am so happy for you Jess! Going through MotoFemina with you and Laura was a great experience and one I won't forget. I sincerely hope that all of us will stay in touch and ride together; short trips and long adventures.
Synth

MotoFemina Sipapu Invitation

2006-09-05T21:44:00.000-06:00

Fellow Motorcyclists:

The cast and crew of MotoFemina and the staff of Santa Fe BMW invite you to the awarding of the red 2006 BMW F 650 GS motorcycle to the winning MotoFemina contestant at:

The Land of Enchantment BMW Riders Bavarian Mountain Weekend Rally

Location: Sipapu Ski Resort

Time: Saturday September 9th at 4:00 p.m.

Please forward this invitation to your motorcycling friends.

We look forward to seeing you all ride in.

Laura, Jessica and Synth

A Motorcycle Road Trip

2006-08-31T13:00:00.000-06:00

Well I survived my first motorcycle road trip. It was thrilling, exciting, and scary at times but what a great experience.

Synthia and I met in Seattle and rented bikes from a family business in Issaquah, WA called Mountains to Sound Motorcycle Adventures - about 15 miles east of Seattle. I got a 750 Honda Magna and Synth sported a Honda Shadow (1000 ccs I believe). We headed north on a country road on the east side of Lake Washington and boarded the Edmonds Ferry with little to no problems. We chatted with a few other riders and swapped some motorcycle knowledge. I'd been dreaming of riding a motorbike on a Seattle ferry for years. I lived in Seattle during graduate school and always watched motorcyclists load first and get off the ferries first. I was green with envy at the idea of exploring the beautiful Northwest on a motorcycle.

Once off the ferry we went North toward Port Angeles to visit a fairly prolific motorcycle writer (and rider) named David Hough. David has authored various motorcycle books including Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well. Synth and I stopped in Sequim to get gas and directions and her Shadow would not start again. There seemed to be something wrong with the starter. After a few failed attempts of trying to jump start the Shadow (picture two women in motorcycle outfits, one pushing the other down a small incline in the QFC parking lot) and a bit of frustration on the phone with the rental folks (yes, the kickstand is up) they agreed to trailer out a Triumph Trophy for Synthia and give us another day of rentals. While we waited for a bike that worked we continued on to talk to David and his wife Diana. It was a great evening, we had dinner in Sequim and mostly listened as David chatted about motorcycle stories. David, Synthia and I explored some of the rural roads in Sequim, WA. What a quaint little town. Some of the roads were literally on the water's edge. We said good-bye to David and Diana and stayed the night in Sequim after Synthia was able to get a new bike. The next morning we took off for Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park just outside of Port Angeles. It was a beautiful twisty ride with spectacular views of the Straight of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic National Park. This was my favorite part of the trip. I could feel quite a difference in the way the bike turned when I rolled on the throttle and leaned the bike through the turns. It felt so much more stable. Wow, a minor breakthrough in my riding I think.

After the ridge we headed to a cute small town on the northeast edge of the peninsula called Port Townsend. The next ferry took us to Whidby Island then to Mukilteo. We thought we'd try to bypass the Friday afternoon rush hour traffic on I-5 and got caught in a traffic jam on some random country road north of Redmond. My clutch hand was killing by the end of the day. We got the bikes back an hour late (sorry again Brenda) and with only one minor scratch (the Pt. Townsend ferry lot pavement ate the Trophy's left signal light after Synth and I bumped saddle bags- oopsie).

We had such beautiful weather and only a few minor problems. It was an adventure and a lot of fun. Both Synth and I had quite a few "firsts" on the trip. Can't wait for the next one! More Photos

Putting the "femme" in MotoFemina

2006-08-22T07:22:00.000-06:00

Each time I reach for a mirror and proclaim, “ I have to put on my make-up” I elicit entertaining expressions and comments from those who know me. Travis says nothing, but his “Hmmphh!” says it all. My mom rolls her eyes - “ You know, it’s not a sin to wear makeup”. My coworkers give me make-up advice (presumably because I don’t look like I’d know how to “properly” make myself up).

If I have to wear makeup (“oh, but it will bring out your fill-in-the-blank”), at least I can do it in style! This handy makeup bag was personalized just for MotoFemina, and as you can see it contains a tiny treasure chest of goodies with the sole purpose of beautifying me for the camera (not that I couldn’t use a little beautification, but this is overwhelming!). In an effort to make sense of it all, I took the logical approach (bear with me here). When learning a new skill, there are usually tools associated with the skill whose use must become familiar in order to increase proficiency. I went through several weeks where I thought that my hands (and my face) would never get used to all those blushes, bronzers, brushes, powders and glosses. Even if I did narrowly escape eyeliner in my eye during application, the makeup removal process fixed that. Blink, blink some more, let the eye water, try to identify the speck of makeup (which feels like a small pebble), blink more. What’s the secret? Maybe perusing a couple issues of Glamour will help me retain my eyesight a while longer.

Before you think I’ve totally wimped out, check out my newest discovery. Combining motorcycling and makeup can be fun! The mirror can be adjusted for maximum lighting of the face, while the tank doubles as a vanity. I have always been a fan of functionality, and an even bigger fan of multi-functionality.

After weeks of trial and error I now consider myself to be an amateur at both makeup application and motorcycling. Who would’ve thought? : -)

Riding Away

2006-08-04T09:44:00.000-06:00

Well, like Synth, I sold my car a few days ago. It was an exercise that opened a flood gate of thoughts and memories. I thought it would be adventurous to try and get around town on only my bicycle (that and my student loans are beginning to rear their ugly heads). I commute to work about 45 minutes each way and it has worked out to just ride my bike to the bus stop and take the communter bus. Besides how to get around and navigate a bus schedule, selling my car has forced me to think about the past a bit. I thought about all the trips and interesting places the car has taken me and about all the winter storms the car faithfully helped me travel home in. I thought about my dog Teddy, for whom I mostly bought the car. I thought about struggling to make payments on the car during and after graduate school and how secure I naivley felt I was four years ago when I bought it.

Last year I moved to Santa Fe from Seattle to start a new life. I was going through a divorce, trying to finish my master's degree and was offered a job in New Mexico. Ironically, I lost my dog in the divorce but got the car (and Daisy, the cat). I would have 1000 times over rather have kept Teddy than the car but I guess that's the way life goes sometimes. I think getting rid of the car symbolized an act of moving on and unburdening myself. Funny how something as simple as selling a car can make a person reflect. It forced me to think about things I've tried to keep way down inside me.

Learning to ride a motorcycle and riding with the women in the MotoFemina project has been the culmination of a dream of mine. Nearly every spring for the last six years I've found myself visiting showrooms and sitting on bikes and knowing that when I finished school I would be able to save money to buy one. The freedom and independence that I've felt from motorcycling is so thematic in my life right now. My new life in Santa Fe has given me the opportunity to be really alone for the first time in my life. The friends I've made and the experiences I've had since moving to Santa Fe have become part of new memories I'm making. I feel like I'm becoming part of a community in a town that can otherwise sometimes be very solitary.

Before I moved to Santa Fe I used to write and sing music a bit. For the first time since my divorce I was able to sit down and write a song the other night. It's rough for sure, but I'm just excited about the fact that I could actually put pen to paper and create something again. I can finally express feelings I've experienced the last year and a half and move on from them. I wanted to share it here with the MotoFemina folks because it has a bit to do with my experience here and with this project. To all I've crossed paths with here in Santa Fe, thanks for the advice and inspiration (and help) to create a new life for myself out here in the Southwest.

Ride Your Own Ride

2006-07-31T14:18:00.000-06:00

Riding through Northern New Mexico the vistas and terrain are ever-changing; from the colorful sandstone formations near Chimayo to the majestic peaks and green valleys of Cundiyo and Truchas.
Last Sunday was a perfect day for a ride from Santa Fe to Taos. The air was crisp and the skies were clear blue. Three friends and I took off up hwy 599, through the Tano Road area, to Tesuque. At the intersection to 285, we changed leads and I followed at the rear. (Two of my friends were riding on one bike so there were three bikes all together.) Traffic was not too heavy and the roads were dry. Just past Pojoque, we turned right on CR503 to Nambe. Shaded by a canopy of cottonwoods we made our way up the valley to the intersection of CR503 and CR520 to Chimayo. We decided to continue on 503 to the small town of Cundiyo. The sandstone, soon turned to pinon covered foothills making for a twisty, rolling ride. This road dips through several arroyos and after heavy rains, such as those the night before; the pavement becomes more of a dirt road. The small town of Cundiyo is quite charming; reminiscent of a small European town with narrow roads and small, charming homes. Just as we started out of town, a small grey kitty, decided to meander across the road. I slowed as he made a leisurely crossing and thought he must have a pretty good life here.
The road climbs out of Cundiyo and makes a rapid, steep decent to the next valley. The pavement is uneven and tight curves are thrown in for extra measure. I was now in the between the other two riders. I kept my speed down and stayed to the outside in order to avoid the traffic from the other direction. Whew! That was exciting.
From here we turned north on CR76 which took us up to the towns of Truchas and Trampas and Chamisal. I continued to follow in between the two bikes and kept my focus on the skills I’d learned throughout the MotoFemina project; taking an inside, outside, inside path of travel, countersteering through the curves and keeping my speed at one that I was comfortable maintaining.
Turning onto CR 75, it’s a short jaunt before the intersection that takes you up to Taos. So we were about ¾ of the way through our trip. As I came up on a curve, I noticed a Winnebago coming around the corner and crossing the center line by about 2 feet. I came out of the lean to avoid the Winnebago and just as you would expect, the bike took a straight line and I went straight into the guard rail, slid along the guard rail for approximately 15feet. The bike came to a stop, fell onto the guard rail and sent the front fender flying. I won’t go into how the rest of the day went but I would like to share what I learned.
Obviously I over reacted; coming to an upright position rather than coming out of the lean just enough to avoid being scraped but continuing to countersteer all the while.
Katherine (from MSF) was scheduled to come down this past weekend to train us on more advanced riding skills. Ironically those skills included stopping and braking in a curve, emergency reactions, countersteering and delayed apex to name a few. Since the bike was out of commission she was not able to train us on the road but rather went through these skills in a classroom setting. Her thoughts, her experience, and her lessons were eye-opening. After talking over the crash with Katherine, I realize I was riding above my mental skills and that going slower could possibly have prevented the crash. RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE. It’s easy to get caught up in following someone else. I did it on the race track some months back; trying to catch someone on a straight away only to have to brake before the corner because the speed was beyond my capability.
The TAKE HOME I got from Katherine: when you come to a turn that you can not see through, keep riding on the outside line, delaying the apex, until you can see, and then countersteer through the turn. Whenever you feel you are about to lose control in a curve, countersteer even more. As Laura said she learned from Torsten, “trust the bike”.

Femmoto

2006-07-30T20:40:00.000-06:00

The weekend of October 7 and 8, in Las Vegas Nevada, an organization called Femmoto is holding two events; a motorcycle demo day and the MSF Dirt Bike Course. You have the choice to register for one or both. The demo and the dirt bike course will be held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This is a great opportunity to see what types of bikes are available, how they fit, and how they handle while meeting other women who ride. And to top it all off, you can sign up for the MSF Dirt Bike Course and learn some off road riding skills that are sure to help on the street as well. You can register for these events at Femmoto. It should be a fun weekend!

Lara Croft Rides a F 650 GS!

2006-07-28T14:54:00.000-06:00

No... not me ;) The Angelina Jolie version of Lara Croft that is. When she isn't busy doing her own stunts in Tomb Raider or collecting knives, Angelina rides the Dakar version of the F 650 GS. Oh and where is she going? To the supermarket.

Her bike looks great - she's even got the knobby tires. I looked at these pictures and kept thinking of the line in The Long Way Round where Ewan McGregor is raving about how great it is to ride a motorbike as a celebrity. "On the road with your helmet on you're just any other bloak on a motorbike." You'd never know that it was Brangelina on the motorbikes would you?

Exploring Northern New Mexico

2006-07-27T08:35:00.000-06:00

I took a ride last week on the F650 GS with Torsten from Santa Fe BMW. We jumped on I-25 toward Pecos then north on State Highway 63, following the Pecos River to Cowles, NM - just northeast of Santa Fe. What a beautiful ride! Northern New Mexico never ceases to amaze me with its diversity. We encountered all kinds of riding from the interstate, through a small town and on a scenic highway to a narrow, windy recreation road near the Cowles campground.

I felt so alive. I could really feel the countersteering that I've heard so much about but until now don't know that I've really understood. And yes, I know why its hard to describe. We practiced a bit in gravel and the road was a little wet once we got to the Santa Fe National Forest so I got a good mix of road conditions.

I felt that I made a few rookie mistakes, but it was good. I'm beginning to get the practice I need. If I find I feel I didn't slow down enough before I entered a corner I learn really quick what the ramifications are and correct that mistake the next time. It was a great feeling to hit the open road and was glad to have Thorsten to give me feedback. Thanks to Torsten and BMW for the opportunity to ride and explore the beautiful state of New Mexico from the seat of a motorcycle.

Riding a Monster

2006-07-25T20:53:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday Synth, Jessica and I met Tina at PJs Triumph in Albuquerque. It was a memorable occasion because it was the first time we all got to ride together (see short video clip). Normally we've taken turns on the F650 GS. Tina rode out first on her red Ducati Monster S2R 1000, I got to ride a silver version of the S2R (pictured above), Synth rode the Ducati Multistrada (matte black) and Jessica rode the Triumph Bonneville T100 (red and black).

We headed east up highway 14 and traded bikes for the trip back. Four women on the rode. What a great day!

Thanks to Jeff at PJs Triumph for letting us test drive the bikes, Tina for being the awesome mentor she is and willing to ride with us on a Saturday, and thanks to my Max (my sweety) for taking the pictures and video to mark the occasion.

A Motorcyclist Emerges

2006-07-21T08:19:00.000-06:00

A couple days ago I met up with Eric, a fellow F650 GS rider, for some dinner, music and general catching up. Eric was my first friend in New Mexico and has been helping me out since before I even knew I wanted to ride a bike. He played a huge part in convincing me to audition for MotoFemina in the first place, and he has remained faithful to the cause ever since. Eric is more than just a friendly motorcycle commuter – he’s a regular world traveler! Originally from Boulder, CO, Eric has bounced around the West for most of his life, but didn’t experience the exhilaration of driving on two wheels until he began helping his father with adventure motorcycle tours in India in 1992. He learned to ride on lawless quasi-roads, across mudslides and through floods. Eric describes his work there as "expert pillion transport over cracked up and crazy terrain."

In between bites of pizza I described to Eric how I really felt like I was becoming a motorcyclist, learning things that most people have to learn over years, not weeks, and sometimes the hard way. Eric pointed out that he had never thought of it that way but yes, he agreed, there’s a big difference between motorcyclists and people who just ride. Anyone can buy a bike and zoom towards the horizon, but they may be dangerous to others, unaware of the risks and how to minimize them. This isn’t the case every time, of course, but motorcycling is serious business. Your safety and the safety of others is always hanging in the balance, though this is true in almost any situation in any vehicle on our nation’s highways. The conversation with Eric really got me thinking about my personal responsibility and I realize I have come full circle, to the very beginning of it all.

Over the last ten weeks or so, my brain has absorbed endless motorcycling data. It reminds me of my 3-week “crash” courses from college - one topic, 4+ hours each day, with plenty of assignments to fill the evening hours. It goes without saying that MotoFemina is much more exciting than three weeks of memorizing the physiological processes of mammals! Funny how the brain has this endless capacity for learning, retaining trivialities such as that silly song that puts all 50 states in ABC order and the complexities of quantum physics. Though not as involved as quantum physics, knowing the ins and outs of piloting a two-wheeled machine with a big engine is not a simple task and motorcycling, like any other object in motion, does indeed involve its fair share of physics.

I have been the lucky recipient of enough information to fill a book during my relatively short motorcycling journey thus far, from humor to safety, and shared experiences to lectures. If these morsels are taken out of context the interconnectedness ceases to exist, leaving random bits that make little sense without their neighboring puzzle pieces. I should admit that some of the pieces don’t make sense even with the other pieces! At these times, I only focus on what I need to know, because getting bogged down in the details at this point is not really the goal. If I win the bike, there will be ample time to really discover the intricacies of my fascinating machine, to know everything that makes it do what it does that I love so much. As all the puzzle pieces come together, a motorcyclist emerges…

In one word...Thrilling!

2006-07-18T19:13:00.000-06:00

Synth getting tips from Tina

Jessica getting ready for her ride

Me... having fun dusting off the bike?

I took some time to reflect on the weekend and wondered how I would describe the feelings of accomplishing the challenges that were thrown at us. Knowing that I can pick the GS up if I were to drop it (knocking on wood) and riding the bike safely on gravel and dirt roads thrills me. With those two nuggets of knowledge I feel such freedom.

When we arrived at Santa Fe BMW for our mechanical challenge on Saturday I was a bit nervous. Word on the street was that there was an ad in the paper inviting people to come watch. The idea that there might be a few spectators added to my already budding nervousness. Jess and I were smart enough to let Synth go first. She seemed to have studied the technique and didn't have any problem getting the bike up. I followed using the same technique. I remember a moment of panic when I first tugged on the bike... it didn't move! All these things started racing through my head. I hadn' t made a plan B if following Synthia's lead didn't work out. What if I couldn't pick up the bike? As I started to panic, I pushed back on the bike at the same time that I was trying to lift and it slowly started to come up. Phew! Congrats to Jess who also didn't seem to have a problem lifting the bike and won the prize (have you seen her guns? - pictured above - no wonder).

The dirt! Well I have to admit I was feeling pretty confident about the dirt challenge - until I drove my car up the road. Whoa. I've ridden mountain bikes a bit and remember riding my cousins little fat tire motorcycle on gravel roads when I was young but wasn't sure if I was ready to maneuver the bike through what I had just driven up. I was glad the mentors were going to coach us through it. I remember feeling a bit of trepidation coming down the steeper part of the road. I took Tina and Patti's advice and kept the bike in first gear on the steep part. I also only used my back brake. I kept telling myself "it's okay if it fish-tails a little bit - that's perfectly normal" but luckily I didn't have to stop fast enough to make the bike do that. Going up hill almost seemed more technical in some ways. I had a good time standing up on the pegs and practicing using my weight to make the bike more stable. It felt adventurous.

Thanks to Tina and Patti (and Mike and Horst) for their guidance and patience riding with and mentoring us. I really do feel very lucky to be a part of this project and have a built-in knowledge base and support group. Your coaching and advice helped us all to progress faster than we thought possible. I can't wait to ride with all of you.

Movin' On

2006-07-18T08:42:00.000-06:00

There’s nothing like starting the day knowing only that you’re going to ride a motorcycle with people whose company you enjoy in an absolutely beautiful part of the country. The only catch is that you’re really not that experienced of a rider and there’s some new challenge just waiting to be overcome. As Synth, Laura and I drove north of town into the Santa Fe National Forest, the exquisite surroundings weren’t the only thing I noticed. Adios, paved road! I noted the transition to the relatively smooth dirt surface (keeping in mind my previous mistake). Not bad, eh? My observations in the next mile or so sure flipped that thought around. This road held all sorts of nice surprises – various loose rocks, steep inclines/declines, smooth boulders peeking up from the roadway, and some washboard thrown in for good measure. It added up to one thing…it was time for me to gain confidence and skill in riding on rough terrain.

Bumping, jostling and jarring along in the passenger seat, my mind drifted back to the last time we rode. You see, two weeks ago I took a close-up look at some sand that gave a not-so-grand finale to my first solo ride, located not far from the Forest Service road on which I was currently traveling. Embarrassment aside, I was physically unharmed but wished I could take it back, do it over, do something, anything! The bad taste it left wasn’t one of failure or fear, but of disappointment. It’s obvious to me now what I did wrong that day, and although I didn’t lose confidence in my skills, I didn’t want that to change. I had to get back out there on some gravel. The opportunity I was seeking lay just ahead.

We crept up to a scenic overlook along the rocky dirt road, and soon Tina and Patti arrived with husbands and bikes in tow. Before heading out, Tina (who’s had previous off-roading experience) gave me some pointers which helped tremendously. Pay attention to your center of gravity and try to keep traction equal on both tires during incline/decline. It was only when we were on the road that I learned slowing down is not necessarily a good thing on the unstable surface. Speed, constant speed, keeps your momentum which in turn keeps the bike upright with less effort on the part of the driver. Slowing down made me less stable and more likely to look down in front of me rather than spotting obstacles farther ahead in the road. At least I know that I can pick up the bike if I drop it, which was a thought I stored in the dark recesses of my brain so as not to jinx my ride. Every other thought was “cookies, meat, water” since that’s what I was picking up at the Tesuque market (quite a task for a list person without a list). As Synth mentioned in her post, we had planned a picnic for the mentors since this was our last ride with them. I truly appreciate Tina and Patti’s time, energy, dedication and the gentle assistance over the last two months. Bittersweet yes, but Tina and Patti both said they’d ride with us anytime. The ride was great, the company was even better, and I wouldn’t change a thing!

How many MotoFemina women does it take.....

2006-07-17T23:25:00.000-06:00

... to lift the F650GS? One! Each of us successfully met the challenge by righting the downed bike. Jess was able to get it up in record speed and for that she won the book "Long Way Around". Way to go Jess! Charlie Boorman and Ewan McGregor are now living on her coffee table, lucky woman.
On Sunday, we experienced our last riding challenge with our mentors, riding on different road surfaces. We started our ride several miles up Pacheco Canyon road (a dirt road), we descended into Tesuque valley and turned around at the market. We each stopped at the market to pick up different items for a picnic which we would have later that day as a way to say "thank you" to Tina and Patti.
Before our ride, as with every ride, Tina and Patti imparted some key techniques. This day, the techniques centered around riding on the dirt; standing on the pegs when the road gets rough, shifting our weight forward on the uphill (without putting a "death grip on the handlebars") and shifting our weight back on the downhill. The tips they have shared each step along the way have made a huge difference in how fast and how well we've done and today was no different.
I thought riding on the dirt was something I would have to do not something I would look forward to or seek out but I was wrong. Dirt is FUN! The experience reinforced how versatile the F 650 GS is and how enjoyable this bike is going to be.
Now that we have graduated from our mentored rides to going solo, I want to send a sincere and heartfelt thank you to Patti and Tina. You two have helped me overcome fear, develop safe riding habits and been encouraging every step of the way. Thank you!
Next on the agenda- taking Ducatis out for a test ride - Wahoo!

Let's play a game!

2006-07-14T15:59:00.000-06:00

Let's play a game! Try to guess the top ten motorcycle brands of any of these categories. Post your guesses as a comment...don't cheat and look first.

Most popular
Most buzz (I'm guessing media and other types of hype)
Most awards

Not exactly sure how this data is collected but I had a fun time looking at the brand comparisons of motorcycles at www.splise.com

The Making of a Motorcyclist

2006-07-01T17:26:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday was the first mechanical challenge for Jessica, Laura, and me.
Not having taken a test in… well, let’s just say it’s been awhile, I was nervous not only to be tested but to also have cameras filming the entire experience. Boy was I relieved when the challenge turned out to be more of an education than a test.
There were still questions, even bonus questions, but Mark Beyer, our “test administer”, was very helpful; guiding us to the answer in one of the two MOMs (motorcycle operating manuals) and sharing with us the importance of each step. He is a wealth of knowledge and his experience is evident.
Also last Saturday, Katherine and Ashley rode down from Taos to teach us skills from the MSF experienced rider’s course. One of the skills we practiced involved shifting our weight to the inside of a curve. The rider is then leaned more so than the bike which in turn allows for greater traction and helps prevent the foot peg or side stand from dragging.

The last event of the weekend came on Sunday. The MotoFemina cast, crew, and mentors (Tina and Patti) met in Chupadero to ride and shoot an episode. Chupadero is a gorgeous valley just northeast of Santa Fe with rolling hills and large cottonwood trees. We rode first with both mentors and then solo. The ride consisted of turning and stopping on dirt, using the engine brake to slow on the descents, as well as putting into practice shifting our weight to the inside in the curves. When it came to riding solo, I was jazzed! It was both liberating and exhilarating! I not only wanted to wave at other riders but everyone who went by! Finally we were able to go out on our own, see how it felt and what we could accomplish. I’ve got the bug to ride! I get it; I get what every rider’s enthusiasm stems from and why they get that sparkle in their eyes.

Check out the videos from the weekend: (Jess is first -yellow/gray suit, Laura is second-all black, and I'm third in blue and silver). video of our riding
One of the last steps, for me, in preparing for a new bike was selling my WRX, my really fun toy. That car was a blast to drive! However, after considerable contemplation, I finally made the decision to sell it, making room for the beautiful, new BMW F650GS (the new toy). The new bike (yet to be named) will occupy a prestigious spot; just in front of the road and mountain bikes and next to the downhill and x-country skis and the snow shoes. For the time being, I will just have to imagine the bike in the space once occupied by the Subaru. I will also go on imagining rides. Often I awake thinking how I'd love to jump on the bike and ride into work; enjoying the early morning quiet and crisp air, while on weekends I think of what roads and places I’d like to explore.
The making of a Motorcyclist continues….

A Motorcycle Evening

2006-06-27T22:03:00.000-06:00

I spent the evening with my neighbor Eileen (pictured above) and a group of motorcycle enthusiasts. When I pulled up to the driveway at her friend LP's house and saw a 950 KTM (I think the Adventure), a BMW HP Enduro, a BMW 1200 GS and a Honda Transalp I knew the conversation was going to be good.

Eileen took the MSF class last year and has been riding all around the Southwest since. She bought a Transalp last summer and has already logged over 5000 miles on it. This past winter she took the Transalp and rode down to Baja with LP. She moved to Santa Fe from Moab not long ago and has a dream to start a women's dirt bike and off road motorcycle camp based in Moab. Everything about Eileen's life seems adventurous. With just one glance in her garage you'd know she suffers from wonder lust. Bikes, a sea kayak, plenty of skis, a motorcycle and trailer, everything that keeps her bag packed and on a new trip each weekend.

The evening with Eileen and some of her friends was centered around motorcycles. LP is a violin player for the Santa Fe Opera his friend Mark, a bass player for the Opera, Chuck an Engineer (who owns the same Transalp that Eileen rides) and Dan whose garage full of bikes is famous all had interesting stories of riding and experiences with motor bikes. I got lots of great advice on different types of bikes (mostly dual sport). Dan turned me on to the Adventure Rider Motorcycle Forum. Tons of great photos by real riders. Get's me really jazzed to take a trip. One trip that sounded adventurous was the Trans-Am Trail. My favorite part of the forum is reading about people's different adventures in the US and around the world. Perhaps a great place to plan a trip with the help of others.

Mini Mechanical Challenge

2006-06-21T22:52:00.000-06:00

I wondered what I would do with my evenings after I graduated with my MLIS a couple weeks ago.

One of my co-workers gave me a graduation present so I spent the evening assembling it.

With a few stickers I customized it.

Tonight the MagnaCycle... Saturday the Mechanical Challenge.

Final Logo Set

2006-06-21T22:46:00.000-06:00

Hey all here is the final set of logos - the top one is new. What do you think?

The Dream and the Reality

2006-06-14T10:43:00.000-06:00

Wow, I thought June 4th would never get here. After getting a posse together, all I could think about was how I would go about introducing them that day. I was relieved to find out that most of the day would be spent having a good time working with the cast, the crew and with the hair and make-up professionals, Angela and Chaunda. The day sounded more like an adventure. The BMW shop was transformed into a Biker Babe’s Beauty Salon, with bike magazines alongside Glamour mags, melding the feminine with the masculine. Angela and Chaunda helped us become the MotoFemina women; women with a desire to ride but with a more feminine flair.
We also received some great women’s specific BMW gear. Courtney and Greg did a great job with the sizing and ordering, the fit was great! I really like the Light-n-Easy suit, along with the gloves, boots, and well-ventilated Arai helmet (the most important part, in my book).
At the end of the day, the posses arrived. Shana was there in her infamous pink leathers, Troy with a persistent grin on his face because he loves to ride, and Greg with the experience I only dream of and all of whom are on a mission to help me win the bike. My posse has been so supportive and they helped make the shot more relaxed and comfortable.
Saturday the 13th, we were finally on the bike! The new F 650 GS!!! Katherine and Ashley helped us refresh our skills from the MSF course and got us back into a bit of a comfort zone. It also gave us time to become familiar with the bigger bike. I have to admit, I went home wondering if I was really able to ride a bike out in traffic and how in the world does anybody go out right after an MSF course and ride down Cerrillos road or St. Francis drive. Yikes!
By Sunday, I was anxious to get out on the road with Tina and Patti (our riding mentors). I was hopeful the training from Saturday and the MSF course (back in May) would all come back to me. How exciting it was to be out riding!!! It was reassuring to have Patti and Tina along, especially for that first experience. They gave me a great sense of confidence and a bit of security knowing they would be there to help if need be.
I’m jazzed to be able to get on a bike and ride! I am also looking forward with great enthusiasm, mixed with a bit of trepidation, to get more time on the bike and more experience under my belt.
Yippee!

And...Action!

2006-06-12T20:10:00.000-06:00

The last couple weeks have been busy for the MotoFemina cast and crew. We invaded the shop at Santa Fe BMW on a Sunday morning and were transformed into MotoFemina. Thanks to Angela and Chaunda who both helped us play with the theme of being feminine along with serious motorcycle riders. We also learned a bit about the women's specific line of riding gear BMW offers - it was like Christmas morning when we realized the big pile of boxes were ours. We each got a full BMW riding outfit - I got the InoTex2 suit, boots, gloves and a beautiful (and expensive) Arai helmet (Astral-X).

After much anticipation, we finally got to ride the F650 GS. What a great bike! Katherine and her husband Ashley were a good teaching tag-team and eased us into our first day on the bike. The 650 felt quite a bit different than the small bikes we rode in the MSF course. After a bit of practice handling the bike in a parking lot, it wasn't long before we were ready to hit the open road. On Sunday, with Patty in front and Tina behind, we explored the roads of Santa Fe and got a bit more experience on the bike. Tina showed up with her new Ducati Monster (just one day old) and Patty shared some of the tips and tricks she's learned from her BMW 650 CS. Dealing with traffic, the sites and sounds, and the bike was what I had been waiting for. I stalled it a couple times at a few stop signs but I just kept telling myself "okay Laura, you know where the clutch and starter button are, if it stalls, just start it back up and go." A little self help pep talk going on under the helmet.

Pictures: 1) Taking over the shop 2) Chaunda shows us the finer points of makeup application 3)Getting a few last minute tips from Katherine. 4) Patty in the lead. 5) Tina showing off her hot new bike.

And my eyes were open wide...

2006-06-10T18:01:00.000-06:00

Before: “ Riding is nice, but do I really want to pursue it beyond MotoFemina?”
After: “Yes! I want this bike!”

It was as simple as that. In five minutes, my brain did a 180. I never expected it, and maybe no one else did either, considering my past comments on the blog and to Laura and Synth. Swinging my leg over the seat, adjusting the mirrors, pressing that magical button. Routine, yet exquisite. It felt right, the machine humming beneath me, the handlebars firm under my grip. Dare I say it was stimulating? Bright red bike, scent of new leather, breeze in my face, engine revving… it was real and I was riding and that was that.

I was up at 5:15 this morning, and with no hope of getting more sleep, I allowed my mind to wander as I sipped my latte and played with the cat. I had thought about this day for a long time, but my job has kept me more than busy this past week, keeping my true feelings hidden even from myself until this morning, at which point I found trembling hands to be a true indication of my state of mind. Stay calm, stay focused. I went gardening and talked to my best friend Travis before heading down to Santa Fe BMW. Hands trembling as I put on my gear (my brand new, really great BMW women’s gear), hands continuing to tremble as I filled my water bottle. This never happens to me, not even at work when I have to talk in front of a group of people (remember, I used to be super shy). Deep breaths and laughter, good for the soul and good for my nerves this morning. It turned out to be the best MotoFemina day yet!
One little note: I’m going to blame my nerves for the gazillion times I stalled the bike, but really I’m just not getting used to having to use the throttle so much when starting out. All in due time, as my friend Chris likes to tell me. Yes, all in due time. Today the parking lot, tomorrow the open road!

Hi, from your mentor, Tina

2006-06-06T18:21:00.000-06:00

Hello,

Congratulations on passing the MSF course!

I want to introduce myself and tell you all a little about how I got started motorcycling.

I grew up in Wisconsin, moved to South Carolina, and then to New Mexico. I've been here since 1996 but didn't start riding until 2002. My husband and I were watching a show on motorcycles and decided to give it a try.

We took the MSF course and bought little 250cc bikes. I remember the bikes seemed huge to us. In less than a year I moved up to a 1450cc HD Deuce. It was a big jump. I would get sick to my stomach when I was getting ready to take it out for a ride, but I had to do it.

We went a many rides in New Mexico and surrounding states over the next few years. It was fun to see myself improving. During this time I started to read motorcycle magazines, to get ideas for rides, read safety articles, and to improve my skills. I read something that made a lot of sense to me. The author stated that dirt biking can improve street skills. The reason I bought into this was because frequently during our trips we would run into areas of road construction. It's almost unavoidable in the summer months. The gravel or dirt that we had to ride through would really scare me. So I bought a dirt bike and took the MSF dirt bike class. I really, really enjoy going off road. It is intimidating but it's worth it. The bottom line is that dirt biking does help with street riding skills. The other day while commuting to work, I decided to stop quick because the light turned yellow. My back wheel skidded because I didn't not use enough front brake. The rear end was wiggling around but it really didn't bother me because when you dirt bike that is all the bike does. It's very loose underneath you.

The dirt biking got me interested in the BMW 650GS. I wanted to get off the asphalt and onto some unimproved roads. There are miles and miles of dirt or gravel roads in New Mexico and the surrounding states. I choose the 650 because it didn't look like all the other enduros. It's cool. I always get compliments on it. I took a two day class with Jimmy Lewis (editor of dirt bike magazine) and his wife. The class was geared toward learning how to handle bigger dual purpose bikes in the dirt. It was an excellent class that provided all kinds of challenges. If any of you are interested, now or in the future, in learning more about the class, I'll be glad to fill you in.

My next endeavor was sportbikes. Again, reading the magazines, I read that track days can really help improve cornering skills. It can also provide a "safe" place to test the limits of your bike. This sounded fun. I bought a Kawasaki ZZR 600. I never rode anything quite like it. It was very quick and handled quite differently than my Harley. I could take corners and do it well. I took it to the track and gained confidence in cornering. It was scary but fun.

When BMW introduced the K1200R, I was ready to try it. It's very fast and very smooth. It has the zip and handling of a sport bike but without the discomfort. It's in my garage!

That's my history in a nutshell.

I look forward to meeting each of you this Saturday, June 10th. Our first ride will be Sunday June 11th.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.

Tina

MotoFemina Logos

2006-05-31T10:47:00.000-06:00

Hey All,

These are the logos created for the project. Give us some feedback. Let us know what you think, which is your favorite and where you envision it plastered next.

A Real Life Batgirl

2006-05-30T01:20:00.000-06:00

Did you know Batgirl was a librarian... and rode a motorcycle (named the Batgirlcycle?! - try saying that three times fast)? You've got to check out this 8 minute promotional video (high low) that was created to introduce the character of Batgirl to ABC executives in the late sixties. The idea was to convince executives to add Batgirl as a character in the series in an attempt to pull in young female viewers. She was on for the last season of Batman.

I've been busy talking to other librarian motorcyclists and came across Shirl (short for Shirley) Kennedy - the Uncaged Librarian. Shirl is a librarian and motorcycle enthusiast. She authored the new book The Savvy Guide to Motorcycles. I just got back from a road trip (caged in a car) so I haven't been able to get a copy of her book but she got a great feature on a news station in her home state (which Shirl points out uses every librarian cliche possible) and in the newspaper. In an email response to the MotoFemina project Shirl writes "Every woman who makes up her mind to learn to ride a bike brings joy to my heart. " She posted a short blog about MotoFemina on her Uncaged Librarian blog. She's also got some great moto photos over at Flickr.

In the news feature Shirl says "You can't learn to ride a motorcycle from a book. You can't. But there's things in there I wish people had told me." I'll see if I can get a copy of her book and let ya'll know what I think.

4 racers, 8 techs, 24 hours

2006-05-29T23:20:00.000-06:00

Growing up in Marin County, California, the hills and roads motocyclists dream of were within 10 minutes of Greg Petrovic's backyard. It was only natural that he would find himself winding down and up and around these roads on his own bike, becoming very familiar with the distant reaches of the hills and valleys. Highway 1, ranking high on the list, drew Greg and a multitude of others to spend weekends threading through the twists and turns and scenic roadway along the coast.
The race tracks of California soon became the new playground for Greg. Becoming familiar with the different tracks (Sears, a tight track requiring different settings for suspension than say Willow Springs), Greg raced while also becoming an excellent bike mechanic. Having raced both sprint and endurance races, Greg found the 24 hour endurance races more exciting and interesting. (Endurance racing, as one web site defined it, is a combination of speed, stamina and careful planning in order to gain as many laps as possible within the time frame of the race. Some endurance races start with a sprint across the track to the bikes. During the race there will be rider changes, re-fuelling stops, tire changes or possibly even total rebuilds.)

Greg made the decision to form a team and he and his brother became part of the pit crew. With the help of John Ulrich (editor of Road Racing World and Motorcycle Technology magazine), the team had bikes to ride as John supplied them with the previous year’s race bikes. The team began racing in the 400cc class; focusing on skill, technique, bike set-up, and strategy before graduating to 600cc level. However, once the team progressed to the 1100cc category, the skill level changed significantly and the previous group of racers found themselves out of their league.
A new team, sponsored by Suzuki, was formed. There were 4 racers and a pit crew of 8; 3 people to work on the front wheel, 3 on the rear, and 2 for the rest of the bike. The bikes they raced were Suzuki 7-11s: 750 frames with 1100 engines. The races were run as part of the San Francisco Int’l Endurance Sprints. Each racer took 1’15” turns on the track until the 24 hours was over.

After a racing career spanning from 1982 to 2000, Greg found that sponsors were becoming harder to come by and decided to retire from the sport. He moved to Santa Fe and is now the Parts Advisor at BMW. His current collection of bikes include: a Suzuki 650 V-STROM, Yamaha GTS 1000, and a Suzuki GSXR 1100 (no BMWs in his collection, yet).

A few other facts about Greg; he’s married to Angelica, he speaks fluent French and has ridden his motorcycle across Europe on, at least, two occasions.

With the help of Greg, Troy, and Shana, I can’t help but improve my skills on the track and on the street!
Thanks Greg, for being part of my posse and, in advance, for helping me become a better rider/racer.

AMA Superbike and Moto GP (the latest)

2006-05-22T17:13:00.000-06:00

There were both AMA Superbike and MotoGP races this past weekend. Marco Melandri (top), racing for Honda, won his second GP race of the season at the Le Mans circuit in France. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) came in second and is third overall. Vallentino Rossi, who is a 6 time world MotoGP champion, has had a rough year due to problems with the bike. He has had one win this season and is currently 43 points behind. He believes he still has a shot at the championship and so do I. If he can come up from 11th spot on the grid to end in 4th place (GP of Turkey), he's definitely got the skill and ability to win overall, it just depends on the bike.
Ben Spies (bottom) raced into AMA Superbike history with his 6th consecutive win. The AMA race was held at Inferion Speedway in Sonoma, California. Until Spies came along, Mat Mladin was unchallenged in AMA Superbike races. Spies is now giving Mladin a run for his money.

Looking Inward

2006-05-22T07:32:00.000-06:00

On a recent 3-hour ride down to Elephant Butte Lake State Park, I read some of Melissa Holbrook’s book and felt a tiny little connection to her description of “having the right stuff”. She says “I had the prerequisites without knowing it: a love for speed for its own sake, the need for constant movement, and the desire to be different, or at least to be seen that way – perhaps to be seen in the first place.” For several weeks now I’ve been attempting to both acquire and characterize my own desire for riding bikes. Past experiences as a passenger were a consequence of the driver’s importance to me (boyfriend, father, grandfather). Was the riding important to me? As I look back, I can honestly say that it wasn’t. Was it enjoyable? That’s an easy yes, and add frightening while we’re at it. Cruising down the highway at 70mph, I would stare at the pavement and wonder what it would feel like to go bouncing across it. On the heels of those thoughts were prayers that the wind would blow away my morbid thoughts as it did all audible sounds, leaving only the hum of the engine to sooth me.

My dad was into motocross, and to this day holiday gatherings are never complete without his rendering of how, as a 5-year-old, I’d insistently follow him around the garage for hours as he was working on his bike. Laughter ensues as he reaches the punch line - “ I’d be walking in the garage and I’d stop and Jess would run right into my butt ‘cause she was following me so closely.” I don’t remember that (maybe I blocked that memory! – sorry, Dad), but what I do recall is being covered head to toe with dirt at the racetrack, placing my hands over my ears and searching for that familiar #61 as the machines flew through the air above me. I’d have to beg my mom to let me go to the races, and I imagine I caused quite a few arguments between my parents, stubborn as I was (am?). During a race I thankfully did not attend, my dad was hit hard by another bike coming out of a jump behind him. His back was broken and moving him “that much” more would have paralyzed him. I spent the next few weeks coloring get well cards which my mom would deliver to the hospital, then took daily walks (doctor’s orders) with him to the end of our half-mile lane to pick up the mail after he was released. No matter the temperature, that sweat mark on his lower back never failed to appear under the white plastic brace that confined him for several months. My dad never raced again.

Before the walking trips to the mailbox began, I would often ride with my grandpa on his moped to complete the same task. A rather unsafe practice, I’d sit on the rear metal rack and squeal each time he failed to miss one of the lane’s numerous potholes. As a really tiny girl, I’d be able to sit in front of my grandpa on the seat on some occasions. What a hotshot - I think I really believed I was driving!
I’m intrigued by the changes I see in myself, and I’m excited (to say the least) to have the entire summer to discover the intricacies of motorcycles and what makes them tick. I have a feeling I’ll also find out what makes me tick.

Racing on a Dollar

2006-05-16T20:31:00.000-06:00

Back in April, out at Sandia Motor Speedway, I met Shana Runck. It was her pink leathers that caught my eye. "Who is she?" I asked Yolanda. "Shana" she replied. "The pink leathers were a wedding gift from her husband, Troy". As it turns out, Troy is the New Rider Director at SMRI and he and Shana head the SMRI Race License School.
I met up with Troy and Shana last Friday night at Gardunos, in Albuquerque. It was an opportunity to learn more about the two of them and also give them some background on MotoFemina and my "posse".

Troy grew up on a farm in Colorado where, at the age of 9, he learned to ride and race motocross bikes. Shana grew up in Albuquerque and went to college in Colorado. In need of transportation to and from school, she took the MSF course and found a Suzuki Enduro bike to ride. It was when Shana met Troy that she was introduced to racing.

Troy interjects with a Ben Affleck, up-to-something grin that even though he was responsible for introducing Shana to racing, he's still "in" with her mom. He supported her mom's wishes of a traditional wedding though their friends thought the track was a great idea!

Years later, Troy would end up in Panama on a business trip. It was on this trip that he stumbled upon a televised broadcast of the MotoGP race and the likes of Kevin Schwantz. He was hooked and decided to try road racing, in particular drag racing. He won the 1999 ET Drag Racing event and after that decided to move into grand prix racing. In the meantime, Shana was not happy with her racing experience. In any other sport she had participated she had always done well and now she was slow and not advancing as quickly as she had hoped. After sitting on the sidelines, becoming bored as a spectator, she came to the conclusion she would rather race. Determined to improve, she set upon developing her skills and, in the process, her speed. Troy and Shana raced for several years with MRA in Colorado and also drove down for race weekends in Albuquerque.

Eventually they moved to Albuquerque, to be closer to Shana's family. Soon after moving, Shana and Troy joined SMRI and became involved in teaching the new riders. The motivation they have for teaching is based not only on the desire to develop new riders' skills but also to ensure the safety of other racers on the track.

Shana holds a degree in education and is the Education Coordinator for Head Start . Based on her experience and knowledge of the classroom, Troy asked her to develop the curriculum for the race school. Together they teach based on the style called "active teaching"; first talk then do.

Troy not only brings 8 years of racing experience to the school but also skills and knowledge obtained from his experience at the Keith Code school of racing.

Something that Troy and Shana imparted to me is a concept they discovered in the book "A Twist of The Wrist", written by Keith Code. The concept is that of riding based on the percentages of a dollar. For example, when you first start riding, equal percentages of the dollar are divided between different parts of the bike; the clutch, the gearshift, the indicator lights, the brakes, et cetera. As you become more familiar with where the controls are, the distribution of your dollar changes toward braking and shifting and less on the location of the controls . Eventually your dollar is spent more on your surroundings and your margin of safety and less on the bike.

Shana and Troy, thanks for offering to be a part of my MotoFemina posse and the project as a whole! I am excited to be learning with the two of you.

Looking Forward

2006-05-15T23:30:00.000-06:00

I talked to my mom on the phone the other night and told her that I was going to be learning to ride a motor bike all summer as part of the MotoFemina video series. She followed up my exciting news with the customary concerns a parent is supposed to impart on their child when they find out they'll be doing something that involves risk. I explained to her what MotoFemina was all about; I'd get to ride with and be mentored by some very experienced riders all summer, I'd learn and practice mechanical skills, and I'd always have lots of great protective gear on. I think after raising nine kids (I'm number eight) she's learned not to spend too much energy worrying about things that are not in her control.

I learned from a friend the other day that May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. That's funny because I'm suddenly so aware of motorcycles on the road. I told Katherine, one of our MSF coaches, that I thought every licensed driver should participate in some sort of motorcycle saftey class. Is there any more real way of making people aware of motorcycles than putting them on one?

Though I suppose it is possible to take the physical awareness of motorcycles too far. As I was driving my van pool the other day (my first time as an alternate driver) I noticed that I was doing a double take at each motorcycle and motorcyclist that passed me - perhaps glancing longer than was safe while operating a van full of people.

Some interesting facts from the nhsta.dot.gov website for National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month:

In the last 10 years, motorcycle fatalities have increased nearly 250 percent in the 40-and-older age group, and more than 350 percent in the 50-and-older age group.
More than 50 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes involve a motorcycle and another vehicle.
Helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to
motorcyclists.

My Friend Bill

2006-05-08T21:13:00.000-06:00

I think everyone either has had or should have a friend like Bill. I learned a lot from Bill not only directly in the skills he taught me in riding and racing a bike (bicycle) but also in the way he lived his life. After this weekend, I found myself contemplating what drives me to do things that are considered "too risky". In thinking back on my friendship with Bill, he taught me about risk and about life. He wasn't a spectator in life he was a participant. He lived life, testing his limits and seeing what life would hand him. He was a great mentor for bike racing. He taught me race skills and strategies: whose wheel to hang onto, when to shift down to gain on a competitor and what to look for in choosing your timing to sprint to the line. Bill's skills on the bicycle came, I believe, from his experience racing cars and motorcycles. Though his technical skills were evident in his racing performance his mechanical skills were top notch. It wasn't by chance that he was the Service Manager at Performance Honda. He knew engines inside and out. My friend Bill took from life all it had to give but he also gave back all he had to give.
After the events of this past weekend, I'm reminded why I take those chances that maybe others see as "too risky" because, to me, that is living and I would rather be out enjoying it rather than putting up a wall up to protect myself.
My friend Bill and I were suppose to get together this week, have a drink, catch up on things and see how he was doing. It would also be an opportunity to learn more about his motorcycling experience. But I won't be having a drink with Bill, nor will I be saying "thanks" for all that he has taught me as he passed away this past Saturday, at the age of 48, due to complications from malignant melanoma (skin cancer). Goodbye Bill and thank you.

Mission Accomplished

2006-05-08T07:01:00.000-06:00

Congrats to the MotoFemina cast – we all passed the Rider Course with flying colors! I can’t speak for the rest of the gals, but we were one happy bunch yesterday as we toasted to the success of the course and the expertise of our coaches. Personally, I feel relieved to have completed the three-day training, but only because it culminated with a test - everything leading up to the test was fantastic! And I can’t really complain about the test itself (it was the anticipation of the test that I didn’t like) because it wasn’t anything more than what we covered in class.

After a long Friday evening classroom session (yeah, I’m an early to bed, early to rise kind of person), I was feeling a little groggy and very nervous when I arrived at the range Saturday morning. At first I thought I might have problems since my Yamaha TW was a little tall for me, but because I had no other experience to compare it with, I wasn’t at a disadvantage. Saturday was long, longer than Sunday it seemed, but the exercises went well, especially with Meg and Katherine at the helm. As a team they were very professional, and offered specific advice before, during and after each exercise. It seemed like the times that I really did well, Katherine would tell me so and I’d immediately stall the engine (to prove her wrong, it seemed). In all honesty, I really was amazed by their ability to make each exercise clear. In addition to talking about each step of the exercise, they’d show an image of the range setup and give us a demo to watch. I never expected to have things laid out so precisely for me. They even had stopwatches so they knew how much time they’d spent on any given exercise. Since I’m more of a visual learner the demo was the most helpful, followed by the range setup picture and then the spoken directions. All in all, a great course for anyone to take!

To put this all in perspective, I’ve given some thought about what this means to me and how my feelings about MotoFemina and biking have shifted into a higher gear (pun intended!). As I’ve mentioned previously, I initially became interested in MotoFemina because it presented a personal challenge to me. The motorcycle “mania” that some of the other women have, I am lacking. Funny how something as basic as the Rider Course can change things! Yes, the challenge is still a big part of why I’m here, but I think I’ll actually enjoy riding a motorcycle. Imagine that! A big thanks goes out to BMW and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation for planting the seed. I’m not saying I’m ready to go buy a bike tomorrow, but I have an inkling that come September, I’ll be more than ready to hit the open road on a brand new BMW!

Rosie and the Iron Butt

2006-05-07T22:35:00.000-06:00

Torsten at BMW of Santa Fe put me in touch with a really interesting and fun motorcyclist in Los Alamos. Paula and I met at Starbucks and I could tell right away how excited she was about the MotoFemina project and to hear about other women riders. I think she will be a great advisor. Here's Paula's story:

When Paula (pictured above with her sweetie) turned 40 she decided she wanted to learn to ride. Like many of us, she didn't really know anyone who rode that could advise and foster her learning. She signed up for an MSF class in Oregon and was the only female rider in the class. After Paula finished MSF and had some miles on her starter bike she shopped around for a bike. The bike she had her heart set on was in Chicago so Paula, being the adventurous type, flew out to Chicago and rode her new bike home to Oregon.

Paula planned a trip to take her bike to Baja one winter. As she didn't know many people who rode she decided to go it alone. A friend pleaded with her to find a traveling companion so she met someone on the F650.com (a.k.a. The Chain Gang) forum that was also going and they agreed to meet at the border and explore Baja together. They had a great time. Many details and months later they eventually ended up dating and are now a happy couple living in the Atomic City of Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Paula rode "Rosie" her red 1997 BMW F650 (similar to the GS) until it had over 50,000 miles on it (she just sold in and is upgrading to a larger bike). She put many of the miles on Rosie herself as she completed the Iron Butt with her honey recently. Paula is a great resource, she knows a lot about the mechanics and maintenance of bikes (especially the 650) and seems to embody the idea of MotoFemina.

Hopefully she'll comment below and let me know what details I left out (or got wrong). Thanks Paula!

Start your engines

2006-05-07T21:18:00.000-06:00

We all passed! Everybody did a super job and was so excited to be out at the MSF class this weekend in Santa Fe. Meg and Kathrine were phenomenal coaches, super supportive, friendly, and knew their stuff.

It was exciting to see everybody progress as much as they did in two days. I kept looking at everybody on the range thinking "it's going to be great when we can all go out and ride together."

Great job everybody!

To Ride a Motorcycle

2006-05-06T15:32:00.000-06:00

Here's our wonderful, awesome group of RIDERS!
Though, at the end of the day we were all tired, there was an air of excitement. We had all accomplished something we had never done before, RIDE a motorcycle. Going from "fast walking the bike' to bringing our feet up, feeling the weight of the bike, and moving forward was quite thrilling.
After today, I have a better sense of what it's like to countersteer, to brake in an emergency and to upshift and downshift, and how important it is to keep looking in the direction you want to go. All the concepts and information that our trainers, Katherine and Meg, shared with us last night made more sense today.
I am still pretty hyped! Tomorrow we put to test, literally, what we learned today and last night. It's time for me to go study and look like a moron in my living room as I stand over my imaginary bike, slowly release the clutch lever, roll back on the throttle and go for a ride :)

Jim's Bikes

2006-05-05T08:40:00.000-06:00

Yesterday evening I spent a couple hours hanging out with Jim Burgel again, this time at his place so I could be properly introduced to his collection of bikes. After an excellent meal of elk tacos and a tour of the place, he unloaded his Yamaha WR-250 (with pieces falling off everywhere) and excitedly rattled off some technical stuff that flew right over my head, but quickly honed in on getting me to start up the bike. It took a few tries, but I managed to get it going and revved the engine a bit before tackling the next bike, a Honda XR-400. I started that one, too! Just by sitting on each of the bikes, I could feel the difference between the 2-stroke and the 4-stroke.

Seeing the bikes was great, but the real appeal is Jim’s storytelling ability. The descriptions of his ride reports, primarily out of the Jemez area, are filled with humor and technical lingo (moto non grata and BRP, just to name a couple), also the inside scoop on how these guys interact out there on the trail. A good group dynamic is necessary for an enjoyable ride. One person can turn a day of riding into a mess! Call them beer buddies or call them chef kings (these bikers can really cook!), it’s easy to see that these guys are out there not just for the thrill of riding, but for the camaraderie that comes from being with trusted friends in beautiful places. There’s a pecking order for sure, but if they play fair and act responsibly, everyone is guaranteed a good time.

These guys want to see the same things I do when I go hiking, and really the same things any trail user seeks. Solitude or time with friends, access to scenic vistas, even trail maintenance, that’s really what it’s all about. When one person’s ideal trail experience is interrupted by another trail user who doesn’t share that view, conflict rises to the surface. Conflict doesn’t have to be based on fact – “the trail is too narrow” – and more often than not it’s based on perception – “the trail is too narrow”. Sound confusing? That’s because it doesn’t really matter if the conflict is perceived or real, conflict is conflict! I’ve spent several years trying to design multi-use trails that minimize conflict instead of invite it. How is this done? Like I said in another blog comment, it all comes down to design science and trail user knowledge. You can’t design conflict out of a trail, it’s never going to go away, but what you can change are the attitudes and misconceptions people have about groups with which they’re not familiar und most likely do not understand.

In summary, my visit with Jim was pleasant. He had one piece of advice that I’d like to share – this is in regards to MotoFemina. “…the real prize is that you've been afforded an opportunity to branch out into a realm that is calling to you personally and professionally. You will meet advisors like me along your path. Many others! Whatever twists and turns may arise, they are yours.” How true!

Push up bras and Ducatis

2006-05-03T22:06:00.000-06:00

Despite my hectic schedule (last few weeks of grad school, full time job, now MotoFemina blogger - you get the picture) I did find time to sit down and play a new Xbox game I ordered a few weeks ago - Lara Croft's Tomb Raider: Legend.

Yes, I'm a nerd, I know. Despite the nearly forgettable movie Tomb Raider (okay... I'll admit, I loved it, especially the scene where Lara manages to slap a guy in the face with the rear tire of her motorcycle). The game features some really fun riding on a Ducati Monster and a Ducati 999. There is an ongoing debate about what Lara is riding in her movies but it is very clear in the game that Eidos struck some deal with Ducati to use the famous bikes.

For the uninitiated, or as MotorcycleUSA.com put it, for those that "live in a yurt on the Mongolian steppes", Lara Croft is a "world renowned, anatomically impossible, video game vixen so hot that Angelina Jolie had to wear a push up bra just to look the part."

I think I might start spelling my name without the u - Lara ;)

Saturday Fitting

2006-05-03T00:02:00.000-06:00

The fitting Saturday was great! It was nice to see everyone again and a blast taking the picture with three of us on the bike.

An Education in Motorcylces

2006-05-01T08:45:00.000-06:00

In two short weeks I've become enmeshed in the world of motorcycling! I've learned more about the bikes, the gear, the types of riders, the types of racing, and gotten a peek into the thrill of riding by sitting on the back of some very fun, very fast bikes. All thanks to SpeedTV www.motograndprix.com
numerous magazines, and friends who are motorcycle enthusiasts (thanks Ann, Lyn, Marc, and Ron).MotoGP has got to be one of the most exciting spectator sports! Watching it on TV has me on the edge of my seat, I can't imagine what it must be like watching trackside. The championship GP bikes reach speeds in excess of 2oomph! What a kick in the pants that must be!Having watched the DVD "Faster", I've gotten quite an education on Superbikes, GP bikes and the guys who ride them. The novice GP riders, who have moved up from winning seasons as Superbike racers, talk about how significantly faster the GP bikes are and the adjustments it takes in their bike handling skills. The grins on their faces after their first ride on a GP bike says it all.I've also connected with some of the folks at SMRI (Sandia Motorcycle Racing, Inc.) www.smri-racing.org
all of whom have been extremely friendly and full of great information. Last Saturday and Sunday, SMRI held both Supermoto and Superbike races. Watching from corner#4, Yo Yo was very helpful; showing me the flags, what each one is used for and when, and also what I should expect to do if there is a crash or a problem with a bike. I felt more a part of the race after that. I'm ever so grateful no one crashed on "my" corner and very thankful that the guy who did crash on corner #7(?), walked away with no major injuries, except for the bike : (Another added thrill last weekend was watching two women racers, Divinia and Shana. They are both excellent racers and quite competitive.Reading more of the book "The Perfect Vehicle" as well an article by Frederica regarding her experience with DCE (Ducati Racing Experience), I'm seeing how other women have integrated themselves into what continues to be seen as a "man's world". Their enthusiasm and excitment is contagious and there descriptions of their experiences just make you want to get on a bike and ride (or race)!After the MSF course this weekend, I'm certain I will have a better appreciation for just how much it takes to become skilled at riding and racing. One day I hope to be on the track in ABQ, learning to corner with the rest of the student riders and with Troy's guidance.Time to start saving for a race bike :)

Mixed Feelings about MotoFemina

2006-04-27T17:28:00.000-06:00

Okay, here I am in blog world. I have to say I have some really mixed feelings about MotoFemina, although the feeling of wonder fills me most. I wonder what it will be like to compete for a motorcycle? I wonder what it will feel like to ride a motorcycle? I wonder if I'll fall off the motorcycle? I wonder... I could go on all day on that train of thought. Other feelings include a little fear (of the unknown), glee (after meeting the amazing members of the cast and crew!), excitement (I'm really going to do this!) and of course satisfaction (I'll get into that later).

As of late I have been peeking under a lot of rocks to find the oh-so-elusive off-road trail riders of New Mexico. However, I happened upon some unlikely contacts, and I'm well on my way to a good group of people. I never would have thought that some of my first acquaintances in this state would be the off-roaders. Just goes to show that you can't expect anything to go a certain way, because it never will. I've met Jim Burgel, a local biker who loves to ride and loves to talk about it. He totally overwhelmed me with information, but as I told him, repetition is the key to making things stick for me. He's really well-versed in the nitty gritty of off-road riding, and I just might take a trip on foot to some of the places he mentioned in the North Jemez. All of my life I have been most comfortable on my own two feet, alone in the wild lands of this country. Now my boundaries are being pushed and my horizons widened as I dive headfirst into this activity. Did I mention I never was too good at diving, either?

So why am I feeling satisfied (as I mentioned earlier in this post) about the idea of me on a motorcycle? Well, you have to understand that over the past few years, I have been consumed by thoughts of how to lessen my impact on this earth. I have counted my bags of trash per year, counted my kilowatt hours of electricity used, recycled, changed my eating habits, and basically forced myself to such a high awareness that I feel guilty doing things I used to love! Okay, I admit that I need to create some sort of balance, and I'm working on it, but this whole motorcycle riding opportunity has really made me think about how this could reduce my impact. Most of my excitement about MotoFemina stems from this philosophy. I really hope I am able to muster up some additional excitement for the other benefits of riding, but it won't happen overnight. In theory, all the reasons for riding that I mentioned in response to the essay questions ring true, but the imagination was at work then. The reality of this venture is sinking in, slowly but surely, and I hope I can hold on for the entire ride!

The Perfect Vehicle

2006-04-25T23:09:00.000-06:00

The Perfect Vehicle

Melissa Holbrook Pierson asks the question "what is it about motorcycles?" in her first book The Perfect Vehicle. I found myself laughing and smiling while reading it on the vanpool on the way home from work. Pierson is an entertaining and great writer, her book reads more like a novel, though it's non-fiction. I went to the SF public library the other night and got the book (I'm always looking for a reason to go to the library) and did a little research about the history of motorcycles and what not. I picked up what looked like a children's book from the early eighties about motorcycles and was surprised to see it had really great illustrations and descriptions of various kinds of bikes and their beginnings. I also finally learned the difference between a 2-stroke and 4-stroke engine. I'd always wondered.

And now a reading from my favorite paragraph so far in Pierson's book - 'eh hem:

"So it begins. You learn the basics of how to ride, make mistakes, not too serious if you're lucky, learn some more, futz around. Buy a bike and learn to fix it, because the fixing and the accompanying flush of self-sufficiency are part of bikes' allure in an increasingly monolithic, unfixable world. Go on lots of rides, alone, with good friends and occasionally near strangers, and alone some more. Spend the week waiting for the weekend. Grow to love traveling so much you begin to feel that only by going places can you be at rest. Build a world made of maps and of dreams of using all of them."

And so it begins - see you gals on Saturday.