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Learning to Ride A Motorcycle - A Women's Perspective

7/31/2017

10 Comments

 
A few days ago I dumped my bike.  I was riding with my friend Tobi (a super awesome moto-riding-plant-and-duck-guru-neighbor woman), and with Scott, on Skyline Drive near Bountiful Utah.  The ride is incredible.  25 miles of rocky dirt roads winding through the Wasatch Front through high elevation wildflowers, Mud-Dog lakes, and sweeping views of the Great Salt Lake.  The last 4-miles, however, challenged me with one of my great fears.  A 1,000 foot cliff met the edge of the narrow road.  I have a strange fear of heights and my annoying vertigo sent visions of me and my friends plummeting to our death through my mind.  ​

If i went careening - what would I say into my bluetooth headset?   What would my last words be as I fell to my death?   Would my friends have last words as they met theirs?  I hate fear.  ​
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Scott and I at a "Mud Dogg Lake" on Skyline Drive. Photo by @tobibot
Near the end of the road, as I tried to tame my brain and drive at the same time, we came to a hairpin turn.  The entire turn was exposed to a cliff.   At the apex of the corner, I hit a sandy patch and was afraid to accelerate through it, in the face of what some yet-to-be-conquered part of my brain was sure was imminent death.  I could blame my sticky throttle, but the fact is that I dumped the bike. Maybe I could have saved it, but I was, honestly, afraid.  

The worst part of dumping a bike is the embarrassment.  

A kind man on a 4-wheeler stopped and picked up my 450 pound beast.  I didn't thank him.  The only thing I could say was "'shit.... I wanted to try to pick it up,' which was quite true; I wanted to pick it up but some of that stubborn I-want-to-do-it attitude also comes from the pressure I feel.  The pressure that is put on me, and all women, who, well... do ANYTHING 'tough' or 'cool' or (the worst) 'manly.'  We have to be extra tough.  We must flip off the men who whistle at us from their trucks, and the ones who ask us out on dates at stop lights. We must excel, or be judged and called 'a girl' (this term should be one of high praise, but it's connotations make it into what is undoubtedly one of the most harmful colloquialisms of our times.)  All eyes are on us.  Can we hack it?  Do we have the nerve?

Sometimes I project my ideas of others' perception of me onto them.  It's not fair to them, I know.  It's also not fair that my projections and perceptions come from years of living in 'a man's world' where I have experienced violence, sexism, wage-gaps, sexualization of my person, discrimination, and harassment.  Only.  Only because I am a woman.  A strong, independent, round, intelligent, creative, problem-solving, real, woman.  But let's move on...

I was also afraid the first time I rode my first motorcycle.  The 350.  A junker 1992 Yamaha enduro that I bought for a grand.  My first experience with motorcycles was playing with the clutch on a slight incline.  Then my neighbor took me to a parking lot and made me practice braking, skidding, and turns.  Scary, yes, but northing like the first few solo-rides around the block that I took.  A neighbor saw me and said she was afraid for my life.  To be honest, so was I.  

The adrenaline was flowing.  I rode over train tracks.  I warped my brake rotor.  My hands shook for at least 10 minutes after I shut the engine off in my driveway.  I told myself that once upon a time I had learned to walk and to drive, and that those things were dangerous and scary then, but now I do them without a thought.  Riding a Moto - I knew - would be the same.  So I practiced.  I rode the Salt Lake City canyons with Tobi.  I rode dirt and downtowns with my friends.  New riding styles were a constant challenge and learning experience for me.  

I fixed my brakes and it got better.  It got brilliant, and, in fact, one day I felt the joy of the curves and I overcame the fear.  I conquered.  I accelerated.  
PictureTobi and I riding up Emigration Canyon on the Xt 350 and the Super Sherpa

The first time I rode the 600XT was a 235 mile solo ride to Moab.  It was hard, and new. I had never ridden the bike, or ridden on a highway - but I determined that I was up for the challenge.  And I did it.  I dropped that bike too.   Broken Clutch Levers I now realize are a part of life.  Now, to me, a broken lever is not a failure but a symbol of success.   

Difficult things are worth doing.  

I have taken on a challenge. I have failed sometimes, but ultimately I have succeeded as I knew I could.  The objective of this story runs deep and has little to do with motorcycles.  Keep on my friends, my sisters; tackle the things that seem a universe away.  Take on the impossible - the strength is in you.  Don't listen to what society or culture tells you.  Flip off the jerks, call them out, or just ignore them (the jury is still out on the best way to handle cat-calls and harassment).  But what the jury is not out on is that it's in you.  I promise - you are so, so, so worthy of your dreams.  Jump in!

Heartfelt thanks to Tobi Werkhousen, Scott Hathaway, Scott Dixon, and Kevin Bell for challenging and teaching me how to ride.  

Thank you, you most amazing women: My sisters (Darcy and Misti), Samantha, Megan, Jamie, Ashley, Shaquille, Thalia, Tobi, Eliza, Melissa, Danielle, and all of the other wonderful women in the world, for inspiring me to follow my dreams and crush the opposition.  I believe in you.   
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10 Comments
Danielle
8/4/2017 11:29:40 am

I love it! It is so brave to learn new things, especially as we age- if you might be judged, or fall and get hurt, these steep internal struggles must be beaten to try. I had no idea you only learned this year, you have come a long way! Wish I had known sooner and biked with you- always more fun with beginner mind than trying to keep up with boys! :)

Reply
Jack Manley
8/5/2017 03:33:15 pm

Hi Sharah,
Adam told me about your planned trip, and this blog.
Thanks for sharing your experience learning tho ride, and, well, anything you chose to share with us during your trip.
If you haven't read it, check out Melissa Holbrook Pierson's book:
The Perfect Machine; What It Is About Motorcycles.
A fun read and helped me to see riding from a women's perspective.
I'm fitting an old Sputnik sidecar to a BMW R1150GS (was going to use an Aprilia Pegaso, change of plans. Shhh...Adam doesn't know about switch yet!) Lisa and I hope to take it out to visit Adam and Amertah in San Diego sometime.
This will be a learning experience for me. Lot's of two wheel time. Just one sidecar ride on which I panicked and reverted to trying to countersteer, (I guess) and ended up in a snowbank near Garnet Lake.
So thanks again for reminding me how to persevere through fears and mistakes. I don't have the added hurdle of having to overcome
gender expectations. That extra bump would make it harder to keep my head in it.
Well, except they may all laugh at the old guy trying to pilot that thing.

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Jack Manley
8/5/2017 03:35:09 pm

PS,
I'd send you that book, but it sounds like you will be gone, and won't need the extra baggage!
Let me know if that's not so and I'll get it in the mail to you.
Jack

Reply
Sharah
8/7/2017 08:19:41 pm

Jack Manley! So often I think about Adam and Jonah and you and Lisa. I am so grateful that you all were in my town and were so kind to me! I'll never forget watching from your porch as Garth (who spent an hour once at true value mixing my paint to perfection) paddled up the river in a kayak wearing paddle-mitts on his hands. Nor the Simpsons, Bob Dylan records, or the delicious Lisa food, stories, and the constant welcome and friendship. I would love to read that book, and would take it in my baggage if you felt inclined to send it. I hope to see Adam in the days before we cross the border. It's been a while.

Sharah

Reply
Jack Manley
8/9/2017 07:45:54 pm

Sharah,
Glad to have provided some part of some good memories.
Your family was one of the bright lights of the town for us.
Send me your mailing address via email.I'll send out the book.
I'll be following your blog. Do you have a departure date?
Jack
manleyjack1@gmail.com

Jack Manley
8/9/2017 07:56:05 pm

PS
I'm guessing you know about advrider.com
If not, check it out. Great Ride reports in the Epic Rides section.
Some folks maintain blogs of journeys and post sort of synopsis
once in a while. Link to your blog from a Ride Report is allowed I believe.
Along with the RIde Reports are sections with good technical information. Ideas on places to go, where to camp/hostel etc.
Jack

Reply
Jack Manley
8/9/2017 08:05:47 pm

Stories of journeys by women are not very numerous, but they are there and some of them are excellent.
This one comes to mind just now:
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/a-short-scooterist-on-a-long-ride-around-the-usa-by-vespa.977812/
First priority, experience it. Then the sharing it with your partner.
Then if you still feel like it, sharing it with others.

Reply
Sharah
8/30/2017 05:05:10 pm

If you are on Instagram you should follow @onherbike Super awesome woman who is currently traveling solo through Iran on her moto.

Jack Manley
8/31/2017 04:25:45 am

I'll check that out.
I still need your mailing address to get the book out to you before you set off.
Jack

Reply
Shari Crawford
9/1/2017 08:29:38 am

I am never surprized (I know, but surprise deserves a 'z') at your exploits; from working hard to learn dressage, breaking trail in the ADKs with a rifle in petticoats, driving a horse trailer across the country, snowshoeing alone in the deep woods, camping at -14, taking on a job no one else would come near, biking thousands of miles alone, and so much more... and I couldn't be more proud of all your skills and your tender-ferocious heart.
Godspeed, you and Scott.

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