Sometimes the hardest part of being a female on the road can be your own partner (especially if he is at home). I'm heading off the Middle East in a couple of months time and he is totally against it. Of course, he knows me and my riding style, but it has caused a lot of tension. The person you need to back you the most is the most negative. I'm not downplaying the risks, I know them, but I still am very keen to go..Iran especially. Not sure if others have experienced this. It's breaking my heart..and his as well obviously.

Not just a womans problem.

I get it when I go away too. The difference for me is that my wife understand it's something I do, it's me and it sort of defines me. She understands this and accepts it, but it doesn't mean she likes it.

Ok, in touch with my female side time... I'll admit I always get the 'missing wife' momment, and it usually lasts a day, about 5 - 10 days in and usually after a crappy day. Normally a phone call home is all thats needed. My wife is my rock, and all I ask of her is to be there. I understand she doesn't like it and try to ensure that I don't do or say anything that gives here reason to get upset about it.

In your case, maybe your fella needs to understand it's something that you want to do, and it's therefore part of you. You have a duty to try to make it easy for him, but don't just ignore the issue.

Lois touches on this topic in Red Tape & White Knuckles.

I've been the one left in the UK before while my ex-girlfriend was in SA for 10 months. It was very very hard and I didn't want to put anyone else through that so when I went on my big trip I broke up with my then girlfriend (different one). She then hooked up with my lodger which made my 'triumphant return home' a bitter pill to swallow. I've come to the conclusion that being in a relationship and travelling on bikes just don't mix (for me anyway)....

henryuk! please dont give up...it does work out you just need to find 'the one'. I have ridden bikes far longer than Simon and we were lucky enough to just 'find' one another. We are the best riding buddies as well as being married, or you will find a lady like GasUp's got! they are out there!

Adastra- this must be hard, I have never experienced this, however, I am sure that Tiff has. how about sending her a PM and having a chat? Im sure she wouldnt mind.

one of the most important things to remember is that your partner is just worried for you and showing concern, however, they also need to respect your wishes and if they find this impossible, you need to consider if they are the right partner for you in life in general.........
only my opinion! dont mean to cause any friction anywhere!!!

__________________
Lisa
www.2ridetheworld.com

Hi Lois,

Just a suggestion.

As much as I hate to use a Dirty word, But MCN are currently running a campagin about getting women into biking, and more having female "biker" Role models it might be worth seeing if your project can be applied here as well.

Thanks

__________________
http://mudandknobblies.co.uk
http://www.justgiving.com/FMFox

Not giving up quite yet but 'the one' is hard to find when I'm spending most of my time elbow deep in an engine, at work or on the road..... Maybe it's time for a Horizons Unlimited 'singles' meet! Although that would probably be interpreted as 'one cylinder only' (or have 300 blokes fighting over 10 women)!

It's always struck me as a bit curious that the noticeable female prescence at bike events are normally wearing their undies and don't look like they'd risk breaking a nail for a clogged fuel line, let alone anything more taxing - see the 'fuel girls' at the upcoming Revolution show?!? I reckon biking as a sub-culture would need to address it's objectification of the female form before it can address the balance!

Not that those girls aren't easy on the eye, I just don't have pannier space for make-up and heels!

Ladies, please bear in mind that it's not always easy being a man either.

Especially when some brazen trollop with a broken down motorbike flutters her eyelashes at a chap.
She knows she can fix it, you know she can fix it, she knows you know she can fix it. But you fix it anyway..............well, you never know your luck


One of my favourite photo's from around 1974. My beloved wife.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Hey all,

Best story about benefits of being a girl? Crossing into Ukraine, right in front of me at the border (as in, wandering back over the line to chat to me while their paperwork was being sorted out) was a group of Austrian riders, all male bar one lady pillion. They warned me the border guard had "suggested" they each put 5 euros in their passport if they wanted to get through "quickly".

Off they go and I move forward. Same booth, same border guards. Not a single mention of money changing hands, and one of them even went to ask a colleague how to say "have a good journey" in English.

My work is male-dominated (I'm often the only girl on a site of 50-100 people), so I sometimes feel I lose track of a specifically "female" perspective (I tried clothes shopping the other day. It didn't work.) But I think that unless someone is actually trying to insult you personally, just take them as they come and work with it. Some will patronise you, but most are just trying to do what they think is most polite, or most helpful to you.

And Phoenix, if you want to try off-road riding, I see you're Yorkshire-based, come on a Northern mini-meet. There's a few girls usually, and the men have got very good at helping me pick my bike up (cos no matter what sex you are there's no point in doing that on your own if there's someone to help)

Laura

Well off topic, sorry, but are there any Northern meets pending? I really need to learn how to pick up my F650 Funduro :confused1:

None pending right now, but we're probably due one soon, keep an eye out on the HU Meetings Uk thread.

Laura

Hi Dee, my mate Ged video'd Tiffany's talk at last years Ripley meetings, here are the links...

YouTube - RIPLEY 2010 - Film 9

YouTube - RIPLEY 2010 - Film 10

Then you just need to lay your bike over on some grass and practice.

Have fun!

That's the scary bit - I wouldn't want to hurt her I will probably puts some soft panniers over the tank and rear end and fill them with pillows off the bed

Thank you for the videos