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

Obviously the thing you have to be careful of is your back, you'll have heard all the "use your legs not your back", but the other useful tip, as given to me by my osteopath, is to use your stomach muscles too - they act as a sort of corset, keeping your posture right and protecting your back.

Hope that helps!

Laura

Dee, the bike in the video is my mate Reggie's brand spanking new Serow. Not a mark was put on it after several gentle lay downs and lifts. Be brave, it won't damage your bike. My Tiger has "fallen over" several times on gravel and in carparks on tarmac without any damage other than scratching the bar ends. However, I did have my Givi paniers on and that saved the rear of the bike. But grass is a very forgiving surface, unless it's frozen solid.

One thing you don't have when practicing is any adrenaline, When you drop one in anger you will find that it weighs nothing when you pick it up as long as you do it straight away. Good stuff that adrenaline!

When I walk into a mechanics, and there are calendars of girls draped over bikes, i'm not sure where to look. Does make my blood boil, especially at the bike shows. I did ask one specialist woman's bike kit supplier to have hunks in not a lot of clothes walking round for the ladies next time. They thought I was mad. Hey ho.

Henry- know what you mean about the dating thing, my problem is that quite a lot of men I have come across find a woman biker quite intimidating!

Being a third generation biker, and one of three girls, my parents are so proud of me taking on the 'tom boy' role, at all the bike meets, my dad takes pride in introducing me, and tells people of my latest exploits, although he is far too quick to jump in when he sees me struggling with mechanical issues, I find myself just standing back and watching.

I don't know if many of you are mothers, but I personally know some women who have stopped riding because they don't want to risk being squished and leaving kids.... but there are lots of other pressures involved, time, money, and how the parenting is shared between partners etc. It does mean however, that there is usually a fair bit of women's kit on ebay that has only been worn a few times and then its sold on.

I do find that if I am stuck at the traffic lights, and its clear i'm a woman (so hair hanging out, or pink jacket), men especially on bigger bikes will try and outrun me.

Another gender based biking discussion in my household recently sprung up, I was explaining my next trip, and saying I wanted to do more wild camping. My mother was worried by this, I did ask if I was a son, would she be as worried? She quickly tried to shift the subject, and said, i'm sure you'll be fine, so long as you have your she-wee with you. Charming.

Funny, I also find that if I'm at lights and another bike pulls up they try and outrun me, I'd never even considered the possibility that they had mistaken me for a woman (until now)! I am quite short I suppose, and the pink jacket doesn't help........

But the best reason for trying not to look like a woman when travelling on a bike is the look of surprise when you take your helmet off - especially after being pulled over by the police for "speeding".