Hi Ladies!
I'm writing a column for a new adventure motorcycling mag in the US called Outrider Journal Outrider Journal | The Print Quarterly for Dual Sport and Adventure Motorcycle Riding Enthusiasts

The first issue is due out in March next year and the editor says he has already been besieged by women riders wanting their perspective covered in the mag. Hurrah to that!

So he has asked for my first column to cover the female viewpoint and I got to wondering... what are the best and worst things about being a laydee on the road? Obviously I can draw on my own experiences but I would love to hear your thoughts too. Any musings most welcome.

Rock on!
Lois

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www.loisontheloose.com

Hey Lois,

Well I suppose it's the usual old stuff really....you know, assuming you must be the pillion, assuming you don't know what you're doing, can't handle the bike, can't do mechanics, plus comments about being allowed out on your own. But it does work in our favour too - how many times have you let somebody do something for you that you know perfectly well how to do but feign ignorance or fatigue because you'd rather they got dirty or cold or wet instead of you? Earlier this year, a very concerned policeman changed a tyre for me in the pouring rain. Very nice of him indeed as he offered (I was standing in a doorway waiting for the rain to ease) and he let me sit in his nice warm car while he did so, then followed me to make sure I was OK. Of course I was, but I wasn't in a hurry, and I certainly wasn't going to get wetter than I needed to. But I've learned not to refuse a spot of chivalry when I feel like it.

Regards,

Belle

Thanks Belle!
That's exactly the kind of thing I was thinking of. It's nice when that stuff happens isn't it? It even happens in London sometimes!
Cheers,
Lois

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www.loisontheloose.com

Off Topic I know, but it's about time you got back on the air Lois, I've missed your columns and we need another book!

Thanks GasUp, you're very kind. Hopefully there will be new adventures, books, columns etc soon... the recession has not been kind to us freelancers but things are looking up I hope!
Lois
x

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www.loisontheloose.com

Tell you something else Lois.......I wish I had a quid for the number of times I've been riding with my husband, (and sometimes also with a female friend), and its been assumed by other riders or blokes in bike shops where we've stopped that he is the instructor and I/we are being instructed. This is despite the fact that he's only had a full licence for a few months while both me and Lucy have had our for years and are advanced riders, and invariably the bikes we're on are usually mine because I've got five and they've only got one each. And do you know what? He always leaves whatever bike of mine he's ridden, empty.

Hey Lois,

Loving this thread, and wanted to add my thoughts as a relatively new rider (got my L-plates in July, going for my full-blown test next Sunday, yeeha!).

The best thing about being a "lady rider" is the attention you get - a lot of people definitely think motorcycling is cool, and even more so if you're a biker chick! When I pull up on the bike somewhere, there's invariably somebody who wants to have a look at it, asks about it, and wants to know if it's difficult to ride as a relatively petite lady (I'm 5 foot 2). All of which is a great way of meeting people - not to mention a real confidence boost! Love it!

Worst thing about being a girl on a bike is not having enough choice of bikes to play with!! I've got a low-slung cruiser (Suzuki Marauder) at the moment but would love to have a go on something that goes off-road. But pretty much everything I've looked at has a 10-foot tall saddle (ok I'm exaggerating a bit, but you know what I mean!) and is clearly designed with guys in mind. Even when I sat on a BMW adventure touring bike with lowered suspension recently, it just felt like a guy's bike, not something a girl would ride. So c'mon, bike manufacturers, how about an adventure touring bike for the girls???

Anyway, enough musings... Gotta get on and practise my slow-riding skills for my test next weekend...wish me luck!!

Jeanie

Hey Lois
I belatedly get in on the thread..couldn't resist as you can imagine.
I think I'm probably in a minority as not only do I ride solo or with a pillion, but also sometimes riding through countries overseas with a bloke on the back (a huge gasp in Iran with almost a standing ovation from the chador-clad women who were watching).
at times I've had male hitch-hikers riding pillion, and none have ever stepped out of line.
I've also ridden with my boyfriend on the back and others have always assumed that he must surely be the owner and rider and as an act of charity (or blindness) has allowed me to ride. Particularly funny when things have gone wrong with the bike (my beloved Thelma) and the attendant men refuse to listen to me, insisting on getting all their info from the boyfriend who although he rides, he knows about as much about knitting as he does about a 1990's airhead (the bike, not me).

I've always found there is nothing to be gained in taking the feminist high ground (and believe me, I've tried) I've just had to smile and let things take their course.
The number of times I've been able to tell mechanics what is wrong but they will not believe me because of my gender are numerous. But again I have learnt to live with it, and I'm not even a reasonable mechanic, I just know my bike.
So back to what are the advantages, I have never had to pay a single bribe, except the fat guy on the border crossing between Mauritania and Senegal.

The disadvantages, well that is a tricky question, probably when men are doing the worng thing to your bike and you're trying to tell them but because you're female they don't believe you at all.

However, I would never change a thing, for the joy of doing what I love best,

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Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

Hi Tiff...nice to 'see' you!

yeah - I agree, for a lot of the time as a female you do just have to take a deep breath and a backwards step.
your comment of "nothing to be gained in taking the feminist high ground (and believe me, I've tried) I've just had to smile and let things take their course"...really does go against the grain and very difficult to do and totally the opposite of the way I was brought up....but needs must in certain countries especially.

However, I have often wondered just how hard it must be at times for you when in certain circumstances I have had to totally back off (like you, I know my bike!) and walk away and let Simon take over. ggrrr. But...I at least have 'a Simon' to take over the majority of the time if necessary. you just have to 'fight' on if at that point in your travels you are on your own.

oh BTW-sometimes its Simon and not me who has to flirt with the guy at the border/ check point etc..!! to ''get away' with not paying out!. LOL. ..then I seriously DO have to walk away and take a deep breath to stop myself from having a fit of the giggles. :-)

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Lisa
www.2ridetheworld.com

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)....