Road Angels

The women of the nineties can still be professional women, doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, accountants, clerks, cashiers, home-makers, mothers, grandmothers, and they can still step outside, throw a leg over a bike and take off cross country. Road Angels will take you across the country and takes a look at the women who ride motorcycles and why.

Some of the stories will make you laugh, and some will make you cry. Learn how to pick a bike for yourself, how to take care of it, tips on riding in hot weather and cold weather. Some of the women in this book share their dreams, and the love of the road. Some will tell their stories of embarrassing moments on the bike, some spills taken and much more.

“We all have the stereotype set in our minds when we think about motorcycles and those who ride them. The rebel without a cause with Tom Cruise racing off to join Top Gun, the rough and tough guys in black leather jackets looking to cause trouble. However, times are changing and now motorcycles appeal to men and women of all ages and backgrounds.

So, why exactly would a woman want to consider a mode of transport that makes her wear a helmet that will ruin any carefully arranged hairstyle? Why would she want to get around on a motorcycle that will have her wearing jeans and big boots, that has no heater or comfy seats, and will get her drenched if she happens to be away from home when the heavens open up?

“Motorcycling used to be known as only a man's sport, but today things are different. Women have taken to the road in large numbers, and for many different reasons. The old movies portrayed women with hardly any clothes on, standing in front of a motorcycle, following her boyfriends lead. With the wind whipping in their faces, and the pavement just a few inches away, it was a way of life for many. Women who ride say it's a freedom that you couldn't understand unless you’re on a bike.

“Who is out there riding? Hairstylists, waitresses, officer workers, nurses, doctors, attorneys, mothers, grandmothers, and women from all occupations ride motorcycles. It takes a certain type of woman to get on a motorcycle and ride it herself and a lot of women will shy away from even riding on the back of a bike, and some will be content to always be pillion without ever learning to ride themselves.

Because of this, you can usually assume a certain amount of common characteristics in a woman you meet that rides herself, particularly confidence, independence, and an inner strength to deal with all the adversities that can accompany such a pursuit.

“Riding a motorcycle is not a typical womanly trait, and women who ride know that they have entered a world that is male dominated. A woman on a motorcycle is seen as sexy by some, and just plain odd by others. To ride a bike requires the ability to be able to handle situations that plenty of women will traditionally not want to be exposed to such as riding along on a freeway without the enclosed casing that comes with a car. This is a concept which motorcycle riders think of as freedom, yet many car drivers just think of as downright perilous.

“There is a sense of freedom to riding along with no windows or metal between you and the outside world and there is a sense of being at one with the outdoors, and being more alert and aware of your surroundings. There's a certain feeling of power knowing that you have the potential to go faster than any of the cars you encounter, whether you use that power or not.

And there's the feeling of being in tune with your vehicle. When riding a bike, you don't just steer it and point it where you want to go, you lean with it, and you choose your lines around corners and lean just the right amount. The sensation of being leaned over at angles that are dependent purely on speed and gravity is one that grabs hold of every motorcyclist once they start to be confident to take corners at a reasonable speed.

“It's impossible to describe the feeling you have when you're on your bike riding down the highway, and feeling good about yourself and good about your bike. Every journey you make on a motorcycle is fun, it's not just a vehicle to get you from one place to another, it's an enjoyable experience and the novelty never wears off. It's something everyone could love if they’d open their minds to it and give it a try without being afraid or intimidated.

“Women don't have to take a back seat, or ride behind their men counterparts any longer like they did in years past. What they have in common is, they all love to ride. When people see a large group of bikers, they usually think of drunken gangsters, or some of the biker gangs, but most people actually join clubs to make friends with other riders, and for the safety of riding in numbers. You are much more likely to be seen in a group. Best of all, if you need help, there are many people around to give you a hand.

“When I started riding, I was amazed about how you instantly belong and found that bikers look out for one another and even wave and give peace signs to each other. They are signaling, hey buddy, keep on riding. In addition, as I have found out, they are there for you if you are broken down on the side of the road and need help. Bikers are much more likely to stop and help you than drivers in cars.”

One of the ladies in Tennessee who rides a motorcycle says, “it amuses me to know that guys find it sexy. I think that stems mostly because it takes some independence to ride up front, and if a woman is confident enough in her sexuality to ride what's long been a male symbol, then it opens up speculation that perhaps she’s confident enough to break other sexual taboos.

As with most fantasies, the fantasy role-playing aspect is much more sexy than the reality of motorcycle riding. There was a song that said, don’t call him a cowboy until you see him ride. The fantasy erotic lady motorcyclist is dressed in high heel boots, chaps, thong, halter-top with waist length hair blowing in the breeze.

This getup is not only unsuited for riding a motorcycle but down right dangerous. We're talking road rash, sunburn, butt burn, windburn and hair so tangled you'd have to shave it and start over, and for goodness sakes don't stop the bike cause those high heels will, at best slip, and most likely break off when you plant your feet at a stop.”

“In reality, guys don't get turned on by a woman wearing high top logger boots, full length abrasion resistant suit filled with body armor and sweaty hair tucked into a full face helmet. I repeat, as with most fantasies, the fantasy role-playing aspect is much more sexy than the reality of motorcycle riding. Women love riding motorcycles, and although it wasn't a popular thing to do in the beginning, they stood their ground and forged ahead as lady bikers. One of the first ladies who rode a motorcycle was Dot Robinson.