My Dedication Page

With any new activity that is challenging, confusing, or scare-you-shitless worthy, you will need support from others.  This is my dedication page to those who supported me (and still are!) through this exciting part of my life .  Without you all, I would've quit in the middle.  Wait no.  Without you all I wouldn't have had the ovaries (the equivalent to balls) to even try.  Sure I'm still in the beginning phase of learning to ride, but this is usually when I psych myself out with the "what if (insert scary thing here)..."

Me and my homemade sign

First I'd like to make a shout out to the Two Wheel Females forum.  That's right.  A bunch of strangers.  Strangers that empower me RAWWWRR!!!  Good ol' Google found them when I was searching for new female motorcyclists.  Ladies, this is the best online resource you will ever find.  They encourage you to try without being forceful, praise you when you make even the littlest progress, make sure you have a learning experience with EVERYTHING you do with the bike, and make sure you wear your damn gear all the time.  It's such a positive place to share your stories, questions, fears, and confusion.  Check it out!

Best website ever!  You'll learn so much as a new or veteran rider.  They're like my support group!

Last but not least, I'd like to make a shout out to my boyfriend James.  Yes I know, significant others act as a supportive role all the time, but he goes above and beyond.  Being a rider himself, he shares his wisdom without being preachy.  He excites me about riding without forcing me to learn.  He let's me practice on his bike without worry that I'll scratch or hurt her.  It's awesome!  He'll even celebrate with me when I make the smallest accomplishment, like when I got up 20mph on the bike!  Hahaha.  There is sooooo much more I can say about how he has helped me but I don't want to spend the entire page gushing about him. So I'll just say this:  Thank you for your patience, sharing your own struggles when learning, caring words, and letting me ride the love of your life:  Roxy.  James, I'm excited to travel the world with you on two wheels.

James riding Roxy.  I get jealous sometimes...haha jk.

THANK YOU THANK YOU TWO WHEEL FEMALES AND JAMES!  You both rock my socks!!

posted on 1/23/11

BAM! Myth busted!!

Sure I was one of those people that believed all of the myths of motorcycle riding or even the stereotypes of women that rode, buuuuut I've spoken to many riders, posted on forums, and read books to educate myself on the FACTS.  I'm here today to share the myths I had and the info that busted them.  BOO-YAH!

Myth #1:  Motorcycles are dangerous.  

Okay, okay this one can argued to death so I will say this.  YES, motorcycles can leave you more vulnerable.  HOWEVER, riders can do many, many things to lower their risk.  As a reproductive health educator, I would state it this way:  Sex can lead to pregnancy and STDs, BUT if you are educated and take precautions, it's safer.    TA-DAH!  I just compared motorcycling to sex.  So no worries friends, I'm educating myself and practicing my skills to make myself a safer rider.

If you educate yourself and practice, you'll be more protected!  So that's a book, a cone, and a condom in case you couldn't tell.

Myth #2:  You can't be feminine AND a biker.

Yes I did believe this at one point.  Female riders can be stereotyped as extreme or butch or adrenaline junkies.  I mean all they show in movies are scary biker chicks decked out in leather chillin' on their Harley.  When do they ever show a regular chick on a bike?  They don't!!  I found an AWESOME forum called "Two Wheel Females" and it's filled with female riders who are young, old, moms, sporty, adventurous, mellow, everything!  As perfectly worded by the Two Wheel Females book, "Nothing about riding needs to detract from a woman's femininity."  

Leah "LeahStunts" Petersen.  She's hot AND stunts.  Badass!!!

Myth #3:  You need to be physically strong or tall to ride.

Sure it's easier to touch the ground if your legs are long, but it's not necessary.  Check out the link for Height Challenged Motorcycle Riders on Two Wheel Females' Website.  If you're 5'2", it's cool, no worries.  You CAN still ride.  I guess I don't have that worry since I'm 5'6" but my concern was about my skinny figure.  How can my scrawny arms and legs possibly move a 600 pound machine??  Well they can.  It's called putting it neutral and using the wheels and walking.  Pow! Myth busted, Liezl.  

If this little thing can move this bike, so can YOU!  (God I look like a dork in this picture...)

Myth #4:  When riding with a guy, the girl should be in the back.

So I haven't had a passenger yet, but if it's my bike I'M DRIVING!  To this day, I haven't seen a woman in the front.  Ladies, wouldn't it feel awesome to have your man hang on to you while you're in control of the motorcycle??  Vroom Vroom Vrooooommmmmm!!!

posted on 1/12/11

Reflection: Holy crap! How did I get here??

For those of you that knew me growing up, I had no hobbies (eating does not count) nor a sense of adventure.  2 years ago, if you asked me to go camping, go night swimming in the ocean, or run an obstacle course that had barbed wire and fire, I'd probably respond with something lame like, "but what about..." and list off unnecessary worry what-if's.  Yeah my life til my mid-twenties was pretty tame.  That is until I moved to the Bay Area...

Ahhh so young.  Me at 17.  No adventure needed.  I just wanted to hug soft cute things!

Moving far away from my parents and my familiar life, I began searching for myself.  As cliche as it sounds, when you are on your own you have the opportunity to grow into your individual self and find things that spark your passions.  What I found was spontaneity and the need to challenge my courage.  Not quite "passions" but it fulfills me =)  I suppose this is what happens to you when you live most of your life sheltered by your parents!  (Just kidding Mommy and Daddy!  I promise to be safe...)

Woohoo look at me!  I'm a Bay Area girl now!!

Okay so how did I choose motorcycle riding?  About 3 years ago, I was dating a guy that wanted to ride.  My reaction?  Oh my expected judgmental, "What why??  They're so dangerous!!  You can die!!"  We'd get into debates about it.  I decided to ask motorcyclists on Yelp for their input and researched more.  

My worried Yelp post:

3/26/2009 Liezl C. says:

Are motorcycles really that dangerous?  Or are the people using it just not careful?  

My boyfriend wants one and it worries me because other drivers suck and don't see motorcyclists on the road.  I don't want to nag him.  I think they're cool and I want him to have fun with it, but I can't help but worry...Someone comfort me!

The more I talked to actual riders, the more I realized how safe they can be.  The more I realized how safe they can be, the more fun it seemed!  In May 2009, I started asking fellow Yelpers about riding classes for ME.  

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5/28/2009Liezl C. says:

I'm thinking about taking motorcycle lessons.  When I say chicks like me, I'm talking about someone who will have patience to teach a girl who is a bit intimidated, not physically strong, and completely unexperienced.  I'm also nervous to learn around male students.  Yeah I must have a complex about something =)

I have a goal in life to ride cross country in Europe.  I gotta start learning sometime right??  The movie Motorcycle Diaries really inspired me!

Lot of girls who ride bikes in the Bay!  Tell me about your experience learning!

After a year and a half of talking to riders, getting over all the potential financial costs, and summoning up the courage, I FINALLY sucked it up and signed up for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course in December 2010.

The reason for this blog is to track my progress (it can be hard to see how much you're improving if you don't remember how much you sucked in the beginning) and to share with new riders or want-to-be-a-rider about a real chick going through the anxiety and the thrill of experiencing this learning curve.  I welcome tips, feedback, inspiration, pictures, and your own riding stories.  Let's keep this blog a positive learning environment yah?

posted on 1/9/11