Be a Biker Chick
You don't have to be the prototypical Biker Chick seen posed on cars and dressed in
leather bras (sometimes) at rallies. The vast majority of biker chicks aren't, I've learned. In
fact, biker communities include some of the most down-to-earth, normal, and friendly
people that I've met anywhere.
What does being a biker chick have to offer? Well, everybody wants to talk to a biker chick.
People from all walks of life desperately want to commend the behavior. As a sport that
offers you constant positive feedback and conversation-starters, it is unbeatable.
Is motorcycling really a sport? Yes, in my opinion, it is. You need an “athlete's mind” the
entire time you are on the bike. Good body tone and flexibility will help you be a better
rider. Balance and awareness are critical. Long rides can be far more tiring than if you had
been driving a car. But it's still fun as heck; thus, I call motorcycling a sport.
Will you enjoy it? Here's one way to know: if you think of driving as fun, you are most of the
way towards enjoying motorcycling. If you hate to drive even your car, motorcycling may not
be your thing.
What's important for someone who decides to go ahead and take the plunge and get into
biking? The most important thing I can recommend is to take a weekend course from the
Motorcycle Safety Council - http://www.nssafety.ns.ca/ They have a waiting list of several
months during popular seasons, so you should make your appointment well in advance,
actually March is when they are taking appointments.. After you pass the Motorcycle
Safety course, you will know a lot about safety and basic bike-knowledge, and will feel
comfortable stopping and going and turning on your bike. (Well, mostly with turning - that's
always a little tricky, and it does require a lot of practice before you get very good at it.) But
you will feel competent to go buy your own starter bike. You will be excited and eager. And
you will be scared to go out in traffic, and you should be.. its scary stuff...I think we should
all have a little fear that may keep us more on our toes!
Traffic is sometimes intimidating and sometimes oblivious to bikers on the road. Drivers
don't always know how to behave around motorcycles when they see them. Ultimately,
although some people forget, any time someone's life is on the line, especially when they
are travelling without air bags and seat belts and can easily become a projectile, a greater
margin of safety should be allowed. But as a biker, you can only control the distance
between you and the car in front of you, not between you and the car behind you. Accept
that fact, and just do what you can to get yourself into a protective circle of safe conditions
when you can. If you find yourself in a situation where you are not comfortable with the
competence or behavior of a vehicle around you, find a safe place to get off the road and
put some distance between them and you. It may slow you down, but you will be safer and
more in control afterwards.
Many drivers are great - overall, you will be pleasantly surprised by how many drivers go
out of their way to be biker-friendly. After all, many of them are bikers in their “errand-
running vehicle.” Many of them will put a smile on your face through their consideration.
Know the roads that you are going to ride on. You're not going to want to be driving
through a lot of surprise construction, or your local Pothole Paradise, if you can avoid it.
During your first few months on the road as a biker, know your route. Scope out hazards
ahead of time, perhaps while driving your car. Always take note of things like grates in the
road, traffic lights on hillsides, tricky railroad crossings, and irregular curves, so you will
remember them the next time you are there on your bike. You will still be surprised by
unexpected conditions from time to time, but if you try to plan ahead, you will generally
have ensured your own pleasant journey.
Other tips: practice stopping and starting while facing uphill. Practice u-turns. Don't rush
your turns - the guy behind you may not be happy, but he won't run you over. (Besides, no
matter what you do, he will not be happy.) Stay upright in intersections - they really are
often slicker than regular road. Think and be visible. Be confident. Don't show off. (This is a
good rule of thumb in life anyway, but it is particularly important on a motorcycle.) You
should be concentrating on the road and the vehicles around you, as should everyone else.
Watch the weather. You will get caught in the rain someday, but why rush that day? Start
out on a longer ride only if you know it's going to stay nice.
Invest in quality gear. You should be comfortable and protected. This is not the right place
to cut corners. Put some thought into your baggage-carrying solution. I like a magnetic tank
bag, and I also have an awesome backpack made specifically for bikers. Other people
prefer saddlebags. There are a lot of options out there; do your research and buy quality
gear that excites you. Wear as much armored and protective gear as you can make
yourself tolerate.
Maintain your tire air pressure. Mushy tires are bad, bad, bad for responsiveness and
stability. Make tire pressure is one of your very-regular checks.
You will find that at some point, you don't feel like you need to be as diligent about planning
your route ahead of time. You will feel confident enough to handle more road situations.
You will have a few biker friends, who will have emerged out of the woodwork of your prior
social circles, but you hadn't realized before that so many people are actually closet bikers.
You will be daydreaming about your *next* bike, and longing for spring. You will have truly
become a biker chick. If you've considered doing this for some years, but haven't gotten
around to it, I ask...what are you waiting for? Be courteous, be safe, and have fun.
Remember that there is usually others just like you that want to ride ride ride and will make
an effort to go atleast one day a week for a ride. Keep in tune with the novascotiabikers.
com web page for upcoming Ladies Rides.......they are always fun and you learn new things
on these rides from others that have been on the road for some time......