Diane's Page for Women Who Ride

I have created this web page in the hopes that it will encourage other women to get their motorcycle license, and go riding. Or if you have your license already, I hope that you can find some useful information to make your riding more enjoyable and more comfortable. Also, if you have some thoughts, suggestions or ideas that you want to share with others, or pictures of yourself or other women in the wind, please email them to me so we can add them to this web page. My email address is:

Diane@Barnstorm.US

> Click here to go to Barnstorm Cycles home page. <

My Story

( Click here to see stories from other women who ride. )

I had been on the back of motorcycles for many years, but I never thought I would be riding my own. One day, we were moving our boat to another marina and we had to figure out how to get the bike moved at the same time. Doug said, "It's too bad that you can’t ride, because then you could take the bike and I could take the boat." I told him, “You would never let me ride your bike!” But he replied that he would. So when Jake signed up for the motorcycle rider's course, I decided to take it with him. We have been doing some awesome riding ever since!

Some things I have learned along the way:

Taking the The Massachusetts Rider Education course gave me the confidence to do a lot of riding that I probably would not have done if I had not taken the course. It is offered at a number of places throughout Massachusetts, but I took it at the Central Massachusetts Safety Council, 186 West Boylston Street, in West Boylston, MA. Their phone number is (508) 835-2333. Here is a link to their web site:

www.centralmasafety.org

If you do not live in Massachusetts, there are comparable courses offered in many other states. Try your local DMV, Registry or do a web search for more information. You can also look in your local phone book under "Motorcycle Instruction" or "Driving Instruction".

The Clutch

When I started riding in traffic, I found that my hand would get tired from working the clutch. There are kits that you can buy that make the clutch easier to pull in. I put one on my bike and it makes a huge difference. They start at around $30 and can be installed in as little as an hour or so. If you want more information on this, contact one of us and we will be glad to help you out.

Always carry extra clothing because the weather changes!

It is pretty rare that I am too warm on the bike. Mostly I find that I wish I had brought a few extra things to put on, besides my leather jacket. Now that I have done a fair amount of riding, I know to carry a few simple items that make a big difference. For instance, I always carry a pair of gloves. They don't take up much room and my fingers are usually the first thing to get cold. Try to get a pair with gauntlets that cover the end of your sleeves to keep the wind out of your jacket. I also carry a neck warmer, which not only keeps my neck warm, but also keeps the wind from going down my jacket. It makes a huge difference and I know Doug loves his too. The gloves and neck warmer are small and can fit in the smallest of bags. If you have more space, a sweatshirt and chaps would be next on my list of things to carry, if you have the space. If you would like help in selecting appropriate riding apparel, please feel free to contact us by phone or email.

Boots

My cowboy boots that looked great did not do so well on the bike. Stopping and backing the bike up was not easy because they did not have enough traction and ankle support. A boot that has a rubber sole with lots of tread makes it a lot easier to push the bike back and easier to handle in traffic. Double H is the brand I bought and they look great. Of course there are lots of styles and brands to choose from. We can order some for you if you think you could use a better riding boot.

What I Love About Riding

I love the feeling I get being on the road. I enjoy the openness and fresh air and riding on so many beautiful roads. I don’t like the highway because you are going to fast to enjoy the scenery and see the sights.

So far I have ridden to Sturgis and back twice, Laconia 3 times, the Catskill Mountains 3 times and of course numerous other trips. These include the coast of Maine, New York City, Vermont and various other scenic rides around Connecticut and Massachusetts. The next major trip we would like to do would be to ride to Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and maybe cross the border and do some riding in Mexico.

More to come!

I will try to keep adding more to this page, including profiles and interviews of other women who ride. If you would like to be included or have an idea to share for this page, please contact us.

> Click here to see stories from other women who ride. <

This is Diane's Page for Women Who Ride.

> Click here to go to Barnstorm Cycles home page. <

Barnstorm Cycles
134 Elm Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609-1942
Telephone: (508) 792-1111 · Facsimile: (508) 831-7391
Jake@Barnstorm.US
Doug@Barnstorm.US
Diane@Barnstorm.US