Passes & Canyons Blog

By Matt Wessels

“The times they are a changin’ ” – Bob Dylan

Effie Hotchkiss and her mother
Avis road across the US in 1915.

Throughout history women have shown their interest and capability on motorcycles. Effie Hotchkiss and her mom Avis crossed the US on motorcycle in 1915. The women-only motorcycle club MotorMaids was started in 1940 and is the oldest club of its kind. Elspeth Beard rode her motorcycle around the world in the 1980s. Kate Johnston just recently went from being a new rider to an Iron Butt record holder in three years.

According to the podcast Moterrific,  20% of the riding populace is now women. As our national and international cultural landscape continues to change, so also is the riding landscape changing. Women are tired of how they are treated and a nationwide movement has sprung up. I had a very enjoyable conversation with Ms. Rossi from Colorado’s own Scarlet Headers, a female-centric rider group, to gain a better understanding for how women perceive the riding world.

Elspeth Beard circumnavigated the globe on a motorcycle in 1984.

Ms. Rossi started the Scarlet Headers as a judgement-free group for female riders because she was tired of dealing with the stereotypes and pressure from men. She described the general attitude of men as very competitive. This competitiveness tends to focus on technicalities–knowledge about the bikes and riding techniques. In addition, she described a macho attitude–to borrow a word from Spanish, “Machismo.” Add the competitiveness and machismo and the product is what she calls “men deciding to be dicks.”

She clarified that she isn’t a feminist and loves spending time with those men who don’t approach the world in this way. She went on to explain that she understands where this attitude comes from, and agreed that many times it might be a man’s way of trying to help. However, most of the time it comes across as chauvinistic, judgmental, and most importantly as pressure.

Pressure to keep up, either in the tech talk or on the ride. Pressure to be appealing. Pressure to be on her game. This pressure detrimentally affects the quality of the ride. More effort is spent on keeping up the image and fighting for respect than enjoying the ride. Escaping that pressure was the obvious solution. The Scarlet Headers is a group explicitly focused on removing this pressure and focusing on the enjoyment of riding.

Some of the Scarlet Headers out on a ride.

Most motorcyclists will tell you they ride because they enjoy the ride, not because they want to be superior, or assert their dominance. So, how then is any of this different between men or women? It’s obvious that men and women enjoy the ride in different ways. Men tend to like to talk tech (bench race) more, women tend to focus on the sense of community. Neither are mutually exclusive or limited to a specific sex.  There are many factors here including how boys and girls are raised and in such a short space it’s not possible to analyze all of them in depth. However, Ms. Rossi suggested 3 recommendations on how to be more accepting toward women in the motorcycling community:

Top 3 ways for men to interact with female riders:

1.) Remember that women enjoy motorcycling just as much as you do. Just because they might be new, or might not have the technical know-how doesn’t mean their experience on the bike is any different from yours. Nor is it your place to place expectations on how they enjoy their ride. So keep the judgement at bay.

2.) It’s not about the technicalities. Regardless of how knowledgeable somebody is, nobody knows everything, not even MotoGP racers. They know how to ride really well, but they have an entire support crew to deal with the tech, so dial down the tech talk. This also means that lecturing is a bit demeaning as it often results in information overload and keeps the focus on the tech instead of the experience. If you want to help, an offer to help hands-on with a smile and a caring attitude will go much further.

3.) Ask yourself what your true intentions are. If you’re interested in a woman, and you want to impress her, making her feel inadequate by lecturing or assuming what she wants you to do isn’t going to get you far. If your intentions, however, are to enjoy motorcycling with her, then you’ll probably have a caring attitude and end up impressing her anyway. If your intentions are to demean, disrespect, or discourage you are “The bigot,” “The stereotype,” and part of the problem.

There is no doubt that men and women who read this article will have an adverse reaction to it. They might have that reaction because for some reason they feel threatened, devalued, unnecessary, or guilty. They might think I have no right writing about this so let me be clear. This is NOT placing blame on anybody. This is NOT making men out to be terrible evil creatures. This is NOT making women out to be stupid. What this IS, is a step toward valuing and respecting everybody, so that motorcycling can continue to grow. A reasonable man will take this as a challenge to grow and develop. A reasonable woman will take this as a guide to grow and develop.

The Scarlet Headers are planning a ride for this day. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for details.

To spread awareness of female riders, the Women’s Coalition of Motorcyclists has designated the 1st Saturday in May (5/2/2015 this year) as International Female Ride Day. The Scarlet Headers will be hosting a ride for this, keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates.

If you’re reading this in another state, here are some other female-centric rider groups in other states:

California, Los Angeles: The East Side Moto Babes

California, San Fransisco: We Are Hot Riders

Georgia, Atlanta: The Lady Fingers

New York: The Misfires

Oregon: The Rainier Ravens

Utah: The Litas

Please share any other female-centric rider groups you are aware of!

I was just looking at my 1999 Kawasaki Concours a few minutes ago and it’s amazing. It’s so clean and shiny! So totally unusual.

I’ll admit it: I am not fanatical about keeping my bikes clean. A lot of guys keep theirs spotless but I’m pretty nearly at the other end of the scale. The way I see it, I’d rather be out riding my motorcycles than cleaning them. Especially when, after you spend all that time cleaning, the next time you take it out for a ride it just gets dirty again.

I broke down on Saturday and spent about an hour and a half thoroughly cleaning the Kawi because after this last trip to Arizona it was just too filthy even for me. And even now it is not as clean as a lot of guys insist on getting their bikes. Despite serious efforts, there are still bugs firmly bonded in places and I just gave up on them. My wheels were just caked with dirt and I got rid of most of it but not all.

The bottom line is, it’s not spotless but it’s a heck of a lot cleaner than it was. Call me lazy if you like, but I figure that’s good enough. And even now, with my less than perfect cleaning job, I look at the sky and see possible rain and am reluctant to take the bike out for fear of getting it all dirty again. That’s just wrong.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
The non-cruiser guy’s cruiser: Vulcan 900 Classic LT demo ride

Biker Quote for Today

If you don’t get wet once in a while you are not riding enough!

We just got back from our annual OFMC motorcycle trip and already the musical chairs have started. With our group up to 10 guys now, it seems like every year someone shows up on a new bike.

Last year it was Dennis, having traded his Gold Wing in on a new Harley Street Glide. This year Brett sold his Fat Boy to his brother Matt and got himself a new Street Glide almost just like Dennis’s. And Matt came along for the first time, the new kid, on what is now his Fat Boy.

Already now we know there will be at least two people on new bikes next year. During this year’s trip Bill and Friggs swapped bikes a couple times so Friggs could get a taste of Bill’s Fat Boy. You see, Bill is very interested in a new Harley Ultra and meanwhile, Friggs has decided it is time to move up from his old Virago. So Friggs will buy Bill’s Fat Boy and Bill will get his Ultra.

Incidentally, that will move our group one further into the Harley column. Just a few years ago we went out with nine guys and among them were five Hondas, one Yamaha, and three Harleys. With Bill and Friggs dealing it would line up for next year at three Hondas, one Kawasaki, and six Harleys.

Except that may not be the line-up. John has also made up his mind that the time has come to replace his 16-year-old Honda Shadow. And he, too, had been seriously eyeing the Harleys all these other guys are riding. However, to my surprise, he told me the last day of the trip that he had been cured of his Harley envy. It seems he talked with some of the Harley guys and was aghast at the cost of the regular service requirements to maintain the warranty, as well as Dennis’s remark to Friggs that the new handlebars Friggs wants for the Fat Boy will run him about $800.

Mind you now, John has an almost totally stock Shadow and it has been pretty nearly everything he has wanted. He has never been in the position of spending money on his bike. I agreed with him that the Harley prices seem pretty high but when I bought my Kawasaki Concours the first thing I did was put on risers to bring the grips 3 inches closer to me, at a cost of $300. And then I added a backrest for Judy so she feels more secure on behind me, also at a cost of $300. Harley gear may be more expensive but all motorcycle gear is pricey.

So it looks like John will be on a new bike next year but at this point he doesn’t know what it will be. I’m betting it’s a Gold Wing.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
OFMC sees green in Idaho and Montana

Biker Quote for Today

Remember, only you can convince yourself to ride a wheelie on a Bagger!

I did a critique recently of “The Old Man and the Harley,” an interesting book in some ways, in need of better editing in others. I’m not sure if that was the trigger but I got an email more recently asking if I’d be interested in receiving the motorcycle books published by Motorbooks, Inc. and reviewing them. Of course I said yes.

So I got my first batch yesterday and I’m looking forward to digging into them. These are the four.
How to Restore Your Motorcycle, 2nd Edition
Maximum Control: Mastering Your Heavyweight Bike
Modern Motorcycle Technology: How Every Part of Your Motorcycle Works
The Vincent in the Barn: Great Stories of Motorcycle Archaeology

I’ll have a lot more to say about them once I get a chance to read them but I have noted a couple things already. First, three of these four would seem to be a good, complementary set. Read Modern Motorcycle Technology to understand how it all works, then read The Vincent in the Barn to see how old bikes have been rediscovered. After that, go out and get your own old bike and let How to Restore Your Motorcycle guide you in getting it back in shape.

One amusing semi-contradiction is that The Vincent in the Barn talks about discovering old bikes, whereas How to Restore Your Motorcycle states explicitly, “let me disabuse you of the notion that a lot of collectible vintage bikes are lying around in barns, basements, and garages waiting to be picked up for a song.” I suspect both are correct however; it does happen but don’t base your whole plan on it.

There are also more books coming that are not ready for release yet, and I’ll be looking at those as they come available. I think I’m about to broaden my knowledge in a number of ways.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Connecticut leaning toward requiring motorcycle training

Biker Quote for Today

Home is where your bike sits still long enough to leave a few drops of oil on the ground.

Did you know this? I didn’t. Heck, if you’d asked me I’d have had to admit I couldn’t even name the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. But I know it now. That’s her in the photo.

So Mary Peters has been making some news lately, and raising some hackles. In her efforts to promote motorcycle safety she is accused of ignoring the law that prohibits federal bureaucrats from lobbying for or against specific state laws. In the June 2008 issue of American Motorcyclist, the publication of the American Motorcyclist Association, they have this to say:

But that doesn’t appear to be stopping Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, who told U.S. senators and representatives she wanted to lobby states to divert federal money away from motorcycle safety training and awareness programs and instead push for mandated helmet use.

Here’s my take on this. She crashed on her Harley and escaped serious injury thanks in part to her helmet. Now she’s a helmet evangelist. I’ve seen this before. About 15 years ago there was a young woman who suffered a head injury when the guy she was riding with hit the median on Orchard Road while going about 70 miles an hour. This was the first time she had ever been on a motorcycle but she told reporters from her hospital bed that she intended to devote her life to making helmet usage mandatory for all motorcyclists all the time. The difference between that young woman and Mary Peters is that Mary Peters is in a position to do something about her convictions.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with advocating helmet usage. There is something wrong, however, with becoming focused so totally on helmets that you dismiss other, equally important safety factors. “Divert federal money away from motorcycle safety training and awareness programs”? I’ve made the point before that wearing a helmet is not a be-all and end-all in motorcycle safety. In the report I was discussing it said that “About 42 percent of riders killed were not wearing helmets.” And I responded that what that means then is that 58 percent were wearing helmets — and they were killed anyway.

That’s why I believe that diverting funds from motorcycle safety training to mandating helmets is wrong-headed. We all need to wear helmets at times; some of us wear them all the time. We should all also take an occasional refresher training course. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation and ABATE have expanded their offerings lately due to demand. What we don’t need is some bureaucrat, even one who rides, cutting training funds.

Oh, and by the way, if the law says bureaucrats can’t legally lobby for or against specific state laws, I suggest the Secretary of Transportation ought to obey the law.

Update
I’ve written three follow-up posts on this subject:
Revisiting Mary Peters, Biker and DOT Secretary
Follow-up on Mary Peters, Secretary of US DOT
DOT Sec. Mary Peters Good for Bikers, Wrong on One Priority

Biker Quote for Today

Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don’t. Some can’t.

I have a new title. I am the official National Motorcycle Examiner. That means that in addition to the three blog postings I do here each week, I am now making three posts each week to Examiner.com, writing about . . . motorcycles!

Who or what the heck (you may ask) is Examiner.com? I can answer that question.

The San Francisco Examiner is an old, established newspaper in San Francisco. In recent years it has gone through a series of transformation, which you can read about here on Wikipedia.

Most recently, local Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz has purchased the Examiner and has started turning it into a national publication. One aspect of this is Examiner.com, with local home pages for cities across the country.

That’s where I come in. While the Examiner.com sites aggregate hard news feeds from other media, they enlist local experts (their term) to write about their passions. Ernie Tucker found me through this blog and asked me if I’d like to write for them. Oh, please don’t throw me in that briar patch! I said yes.

Now I won’t lie to you, I am indeed making some things do double duty on this blog and on Examiner.com. But so far I’ve only copied one item verbatim from one to the other. In a few other cases I have written about the same things but they were two distinct pieces. For the most part I really am writing six articles a week now instead of three.

So if you’re really interested in reading about motorcycles and motorcycling, and you like my stuff (thank you!), I urge you to become a regular visitor at Examiner.com.

Note, years later: Examiner is no longer in existence.

Biker Quote for Today

Enjoy the ride . . . the rest takes care of itself.

We’ve had a phenomenal winter for snowfall in the mountains and that has an impact on some of the best motorcycle roads in the state.

The good news is that Independence Pass, CO 82 between Twin Lakes and Aspen is finally open. From what I’ve heard, though, it is still subject to periodic closures depending on conditions. I’d check first before heading that way.

CO 5 to the top of Mount Evans is also open, as is the Pike’s Peak Highway, which goes to the top of that 14,110-foot mountain.

Trail Ridge Road, on the other hand, is still closed. The Colorado Department of Transportation says the closure is “between Milner Pass and Rainbow Curve due to adverse conditions.” They don’t say when it will be open.

A couple other passes that are still closed are only of interest if you’re the sort who doesn’t mind doing some dirt.

Kebler Pass, coming down from Crested Butte toward Paonia is still closed. You can get to Crested Butte on CO 135, which is paved, but the stretch over Kebler, County Road 12, is dirt.

Likewise, Cottonwood Pass is still closed. Again, you can get up the east side of Cottonwood from Buena Vista on a paved road. Just don’t think you’re going to get down the other side, whether you ride dirt or not.

We love the snowfall. The skiers had a good winter. Our reservoirs will be full this summer. But you’re going to have to be patient before you can ride some of these roads.

Biker Quote for Today

Ride often, ride well, have fun.

I’ve always figured I was pretty good on slow, tight turns on a big bike. Heck, I passed my original motorcycle driver’s license test on my CB750. I think most people borrow little 250s or something like that to take the riding test, but not me.

Well, I saw some guys perform on Sunday that did stuff I’ll never be able to do as long as I live. This event was the annual Top Gun Symposium of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club. All the contestants were motorcycle patrol officers riding their regular patrol bikes. Most were Harleys but there were also BMWs and Kawasaki Police Specials.

Take a look at this guy. That’s a heck of a tight turn and sharp lean angle and he’s probably going less than 5 mph. Can you do that? I can’t.

This guy wasn’t even the winner, or one of the top three winners. Altogether there were 39 officers competing from a number of different departments, with winners in three categories to correspond with the three makes of bike. The best of the best was named Top Gun. He was one of the guys on one of the Kawasakis.

All in all, it was a pretty good show, and it drew a nice crowd, mostly on bikes. What can I say? Heck, I was impressed.

Biker Quote for Today

A good rider has balance, judgment, and good timing. So does a good lover.