In response to “Why Women Ride” an article written by a man found in HelmetHair magazine, I decided to poll my female riding buddies and see what their actual response was to this very query. All in all, there probably is no real difference between why women ride and why men ride, however since there are less female riders than male riders, the question remains a curious one.
Why do some women take the risk to get out on the open road astride the back of a motorcycle? What sense of adventure do these women have in common with one another? Why would a woman, leave her family, kids or SO seeking some sort of “otherworldly” sense of fulfillment? What brings a woman to consider breaking the mold society places on them as nurturer or object of adoration to travel solo around the globe?
Well, I believe that the answer is multifaceted but let’s begin with the spirit of adventure that brings humans to challenging themselves. Whether male or female, there lies a dormant sense of discovery that can be awakened with a spark of passion. We all love success, we love affirmation, we love that rush you get when pushing the envelope of something new. Now, that is my first consideration.
Whether it be new love, passion, or spirit, “new” is amazing. Suddenly, every day is filled with excitement and a glorious sense awakening. This “new” spirit is one account of why women ride. In my polling result I got several responses relating directly to the excitement of a “new” sport, a new passion.
**Please note that all polled female opinions are quoted. Anything not in quotes is the expressed opinion of your blog host…ME! ** ; )
“I’m learning to ride because it seemed as though this was missing on the list of things that make me, me.”
“I ride because I tried it and loved it.”
“I always loved the sense of independence, the open air rushing by, the sense that any given moment, everything, including my life, could be yanked from me.”
“Riding was a family thing, it was never presented in any other way than ‘when you get your first bike…’”
“I grew up being told ‘motorcycling is dangerous.’ A cousin stared riding when I was in my teens – I do remember getting to go for a short ride with him. I remember the thrill.”
There however is much more to the reasoning of why women ride. There is an obvious sense of independence and autonomy. I speak to this myself and recently waxed poetically to a friend these words:
When I ride, my spirit is free on a bike. I live to breathe the fervent air as it rushed into my awaiting lungs and in turn I exhale dreams that others can partially live. I push the boundaries of physics, knowing very well that I could go beyond the point of no return, but relishing the fulfillment of a life well lived. I smell the perfume of the past, riding historic roadways as time machines of what once was. I see the great floral/land displays experiencing epiphany of creation abounding. I listen to my tunes like scattering neurons across synapse making me one with the road as it stretches in the distance and best of all, I feel my insides crying out for more and more experience, catapulting me further along an unknown pathway, a distant shoreline, an awaiting ferry of mystery. I am filled with a passion for my riding life, bringing to it my lifelong learning and experience, melding into the perfect we.
Now if you can dive through the rhetoric, you’ll find the poetic reason I ride and need to ride, like I need to breathe!!
I found myself rereading this several times before really having a sense of the depth that I had gone introspectively. This was for me the true sense of why I ride, me a female. I’d love to read the verbalization of others formulated from such depths and I have no doubt that there would be much profound value to what was said! I did however read, some other thoughts that were no less valid and just as profound:
“I continue to ride because it’s fundamental to who I am. I’ve tried to walk away… but it’s like losing an appendage.”
“I ENJOY riding! I feel like I’m an active participant in the experience, not just a passive observer.”
“Besides the fun, it gives me a huge sense of accomplishment. Being able to make incremental improvements to my riding skills and abilities (increasing entry speed 5 mph on a corner that I couldn’t make at that speed the last time) really makes me feel good about myself. Knowing that I did something well boosts my ego (just a teeny tiny bit) and my confidence.”
“I’m a road dog at heart, and love traveling back roads and meeting real people. Traveling on two wheels is exhilarating – the air, the trees, the wind, dew and humidity — I’m part of the landscape, not just in a box traveling through it.”
“I actually hate how much of life I chose to avoid out of fear, and I am glad I started riding.”
“Ever since I was a little girl, the sound of a revving engine has made my heart skip a beat and put a smile on my face. My cousins and friends rode, but I always got ‘left on the porch’ because I was too young. I went to Bike Week last year with a group of friends and instantly felt at home, both with the wonderful group of people I was with, but more importantly, in my own skin.”
“There tends to be a lot of noise in my head and riding gives me a way to channel it. Every nerve ending is sync’d up and ready to go, I have direction.”
“When I think of my bike, I think of a break from whatever ails me, and I smile and feel lucky to ride.”
“My helmet time takes away troubles, worries and concerns. It is my hot rod, feeds my need for adrenalin. It helps me focus, it makes me feel good about myself when I push outside the limits.”
“I’m a dreamer, I often find my brain in far off places while I’m trying to trudge through another day at work… riding placates the dreamer in me.”
“I like the independence and the feeling of the natural surroundings when riding. The smells, unobstructed views and the feeling of a brisk speed (not racing) and sweeping curves are a delight to feel.”
Then there was the mentoring spirit:
“It’s not why I ride, but being able to answer questions about MSF courses, the bike, wrenching on the bike, the trips I’ve taken, the people I’ve met, etc., is very satisfying. I love it when another woman who doesn’t yet ride gets that gleam in her eye that she’s thinking about it.”
“Some women and some men also, think you have to be very strong or very wild to ride a bike. By being 1. a woman, 2. rather small in stature, 3. a little older and far from being a rebel type, I feel I can dispel some of those fears. If just one person takes up riding because they said to themselves ‘if she can do it, I can,’ then I feel I have done a good job.”
“Motorcycling is a challenge. It is FUN! It is something I can do by myself or with my husband or friends. And I can share the joy too, as an instructor.”
The serious side of humor…Now this had me in stitches:
“…because there’s a 10:1 male to female ratio and it supported my ‘catch and release’ program for many years.”
Saving the best for last, I found that my good friend in Great Britain summed it up nicely using a quote from a riding buddy, “And I renewed the vow I’d made a long time ago: To love life till death do us part.”
The only way to stay faithful to life is to say Yes when it opens its arms to you. There are always one or three good reasons to say no, but saying no never ever made a human soul get up and sing the hallelujah chorus.
And that,very simply, is why I ride a bike. Because it makes me feel this good.”
Now that is truly an awesome philosophy and my new riding creed. Thanks everyone for your amazing insight and input. So, coming straight from many female lips are several amazing reasons, why women ride!
