Ride Your Own
By Natalie
September 9, 2009
When I started this blog I was hoping my stories would help influence more women to ride their own bikes. It wasn’t until I started this blog that I noticed the small number of women
riders out there. On the MS Ride I was on in August, I counted maybe a dozen women riders out of all of the 125 plus bikers!
I do have a story of one woman who took the plunge and started riding her own bike late this summer. Paulette has been a friend of mine for some time. When she lived near me, she was
always a passenger on a bike and she often spoke about how she wanted to ride her own. Well, she’s done it! She got a bike and is learning to ride. She is in the beginning
stages of riding and the emails she sends to me tells her story of getting out on her own. This is one of the first emails she sent and shows the true excitement of riding your own bike:
“Natalie, Natalie, Natalie, OMG! I shifted my bike into third gear and really really rode today. There is a spot across the street from our house that used to be a Farm Implement dealer.
Well the parking lot is packed gravel and behind it and down a small hill is a really big grassy area. So Mark took me over there and I rode all alone for about 2 hrs. Started
out just riding around in a big circle in first gear. Then Mark had me shift into second. He had me doing figure 8’s. Then as I got braver I rode up and down the hill and then
shifting into third. He then had me slowing down and down shifting. I’m still really jerky but I was so psyched. He’s a good teacher and he really pushes me to go out of my
comfort zone. He tells me I’m doing really good and that’s all I need to hear!
I can’t wait to ride again tomorrow!!
P.S. I think I can officially say now that I ride my own. LOL – I’ve wanted to say that for years. Thanks to you and Darnell for being such fabulous inspirations. Reading
your stories and hearing about your adventures are what truly pushed me.”
Look at Paulette’s face in her picture – you just know she’s now a committed rider!
Questions or comments for Dianne, Natalie or Darnell?
Submit below!
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