What good is a fundraising experience without some amazing graphics? Thanks to Surface Under Fire for helping to sponsor my ride to Africa with Riders for Health, and designing some incredible logos and graphics for it.

It’s an incredibly thoughtful design, communicating all the things that are important about this fundraising venture; the urgent need for attention to Africa’s lack of access to health care, but also the love of the sport of motorcycling.

In the next few weeks, we’ll be printing these posters (below), which will be available for purchase, all proceeds benefiting Riders. They’ll be limited edition screen prints, with cost and details to come. Seems like a pretty great piece of art to put on your wall, doesn’t it?

These might also turn into decals, too. In the meantime, please feel free to share these as social media badges and link back to the site. We can spread the word fashionably!

I’m really excited about the design, and it makes this trip feel even more official. Even more exciting, the Moto Louda logo text will be represented on the back of my jersey for the ride, along all my current ride sponsors.

Thanks again, Surface Under Fire!

Any excuse for women to ride is a good one.

My friends at Bay Area Moto Shop is organizing a fun day of riding just for us gals. The ride will meet up at four locations around the Bay Area and converge at Alice’s Restaurant in Woodside.

Are you male but wish to join along? Well, bring a female friend along and you’re good to go.

After a short ride out to the coast from there, the ride will end at Moto Shop’s South San Francisco location for festivities.

Here are the deets:

Date: Friday, May 3rd
Time: 12pm

For more information, visit Bay Area Moto Shop’s Facebook Page. You should probably be their friend, regardless.

Good timing? Perhaps. The California Highway Patrol has decided to publish it’s guidelines recently, for both car drivers and motorcycle riders alike.

Some of these are obvious to most of us, but it’s great to see what the official stance on lane splitting is.  Slow, steady, and smart.

They’ve also introduced the 4 “R’s” of lane splitting:

Be Reasonable, Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Aware of Roadways.

All the rules are reasonable, and honestly, they were rules that my common sense forced me to adhere to already. I stand by the idea that if I’m a respectful rider, than I cultivate respectful drivers around me.

To read the guidelines: http://www.chp.ca.gov/programs/lanesplitguide.html

Related Posts:

Traffic and the Art of Lane Splitting
All the Gear, All the Sometimes

I tried to come up with a great name for this event, but I’m simply not witty enough to do so. I’ll temporarily call it Valentino’s Day Bingo.

If you singled or coupled, we’ll be fundraising on Valentino’s Day! Join me for a good ol’ Bingo game to help raise funds in support of Riders for Health through my Experience Africa Trip.

Jensen Beeler from Asphalt & Rubber will do us the honor of calling the numbers and providing the humor.

$5 per bingo card or $20 for 5 cards. Single ladies get a free card!!! How can you beat that deal? Beverages will be available for cash donation.

Prizes will be won and dreams will be made.

RSVP Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/184736731650507/

Location:
Dainese D-Store San Francisco
131 South Van Ness
San Francisco, CA (parking lot on Howard Street)

Time:
6:30 – 8pm

Donations From:

Body Manipulations

Related Articles:

Nicky Hayden and Moto Louda are BFFs
OC Fundraiser a Great Success!
Experience Africa

I consider myself very lucky to live in a state where we embrace the art of lane splitting. Hell, we even have a pizza chain named after it.

I personally partake in it when safe to do so, and I’ve personally seen both the bright and dark side of it. In high traffic situations, it’s a huge perk to be on a motorcycle. Okay, yes, we are decreasing traffic, but it really feels more like a “get out of jail free” card when we’re driving. When done at reasonable speeds and full awareness, it feels almost completely safe and puts us into control.

The flip side of this argument, particularly in our traffic-ridden and frustrated city of San Francisco, is we are targeted by drivers. In my car, I keep an eye out for motorcycles and give them as much room as I safely can so they can pass, but this is not a typical sentiment amongst others on the road. I’ve had to break hard when a car swerves into my path so I can’t easily pass, or because they’ve tried to change lanes without signaling to get ahead. Slow and steady, folks.

RideApart, which is a project by Hell for Leather, takes a look at lane splitting and breaks down the benefits while providing some basic tips. There are some good points here and is a solid beginning to make the case for other states in the Union to allow for it.

Here are some highlights from the video:

• Lane splitting allows us to control our environment
• Let things go! Angry driver making your day difficult? Respond with kindness and let it go. Remember this one, kids.
• Cover your brakes so you’re not reaching for them (two fingers should do)
• Paint has less traction — and you know what lines are made of right?
• Stop within the car’s field of vision. This is imperative. Cars are not paying attention and will make rash decisions without realizing you’re there. This really is the case whether or not you are lane splitting. Also, refer back to point #2.
• Watch driver’s blind spots. They have big ones and you should try not to be in them.
• To add one in of my own: Don’t lane split if you’re a nervous nelly. You have to commit to it. Take your time and build your confidence.

As a motorcyclist, I receive a lot of reactions to the lifestyle in which I am so passionate about. I get the “that’s way too dangerous” and the “I could never do that” and even the “dangerous sport for a girl” lines. My answers to such reactions are “safer than bicycling” and “it’s not for everybody” and lastly, “don’t call me a girl.”

Once in a while I get the question that I love, which is something like “why do you love motorcycles so much?” I’ve had the same answer to this question since I was able to put it into words; “… because when I’m on the motorcycle, I’m not thinking about anything else but riding.”

This is the most true statement I can make. There are many things I love about riding, including things that don’t include riding. I love the mechanics, the community, and the competition. None of those things, however, would be as loved by me if I didn’t have the feeling I do on my bike.

I’m not worrying about my bad work day, the broken car window that I’ve replaced three times in two months, or the person who hurt my feelings. Arguably, these are the moments that I touch enlightenment throughout my day. It refocuses me and it can humble me. If I were a gambler, I would bet that this is a common feeling within the community.

Years ago I studied with a Transcendental Meditation teacher. I had never done this type of meditation but I had gone with a group of friends and had been curious about it (Perhaps, in part because The Beatles did it). Up to this point I had tried a handful of other meditation styles and felt like I had built a good foundation for understanding it.

There was one major difference that had stood out to me during this teaching series; that there is not an ultimate enlightenment to be reached or to work towards, but in fact, many points of enlightenment experienced during true meditation. Now, I don’t know if this is true, but I would like to believe it is. That on my Richter scale of enlightenment, I’ve reached some high numbers, cracking through this dharma shell.

Long story short, it makes me feel good.

The Highest Pass follows Anand, a yogi/guru and his followers on a motorcycle journey through the most difficult roads in the world. Over 21 days, they challenge themselves to reach Ladakh (also known as Little Tibet) and battle freezing climates, low oxygen levels, deadly roads, questionable riding abilities, and ultimately their personal battles to reach their proverbial summits.

After watching all the trailers, I even wondered why they would go through with this. In fact, there is one rider with virtually no riding experience whatsoever. It sounds like a recipe for disaster. It also sounds like this recipe makes for a nice helping of self exploration.

In a nutshell, I totally get it. (would I do it?… probably)

Movie website: The Highest Pass

IMDB Listing

Asphalt & Rubber‘s Jensen Beeler, has started a petition opposing motorcycle-checkpoints across the states.

Why is this important? Well, read Beeler’s response and then click over to read the full article.

“Implemented under the guise of operating for the public’s safety, states like New York have been able to target motorcyclists at checkpoints for vehicle and passenger inspection, even when the motorcyclists have broken no apparent laws, with no similar checkpoints being setup for automobile drivers.”

Sign the petition here: We the People

Read the Article Here: Asphalt & Rubber

Source: IMS

A rare experience will be had if you attend this year’s International Motorcycle Show this year. Coined as “The MotoGP Experience,” you’ll have the opportunity to sit in pole position and memorialize it with a free photograph on the grid.

Some of the bikes include Ben Spies’ Yamaha, Nicky Hayden’s Ducati, and Marc Marquez’ Honda. It’s not often that we get so close to these prototypes, let alone, sit on one.

I’m sure there will be plenty of umbrella girls to gawk at as well as a sweet little contest for a chance to win VIP status at Indy.
I’ll personally be attending the San Mateo Show where you’ll find seminars by Gear Chic, Twisted Throttle, and the Yamaha Champions Riding School.

Visit the IMS website for more details on dates and locations. For coupon codes to purchase your tickets online, respond to this article and I’ll set you up with one.

My friend Joe runs a KTM SMC, something I have quite a bit of lust for. This is a new bike for him, one which he’s already crashed at Infineon. I also run a supermoto, a Suzuki DR-Z 400 S (now an SM) and have been thinking about checking out a track day on it.

I can officially say that now I am convinced…. as soon as the knee gets a little better, that is.

Bonus video: Nicky Hayden and Max Biaggi dragging knees on a SM track. Drifting galore and a couple downshifts while Hayden’s rear wheel is in the air. Who could ask for more?

Enjoy, and good luck not wanting to get an SM.

I’ve been riding almost my entire life. I recently made the mistake of saying that “I’ve been riding since before I was born.” OK, so this is likely impossible, but in some ways, reflects how far back I can remember being on a bike. As a kid it didn’t seem so important to wear gear or strap my helmet on. Now that I’m in my mid-thirties, I’m feeling all those crashes that didn’t seem to bother me at the time. My aches and pains are apparent on colder days and any injury I receive seems to have a much larger impact for a much longer period of time these days. (By the end of this year, it is highly probable that I will have spent more time on crutches than off of them)

I’ve been fairly lucky over the past decade, not having had a horizontal relationship with the pavement during that time. This year, however, I’ve already seen two solid crashes, my recent being this last Friday. Neither were big ados, and neither put much fear into me, but BOTH served as a great reminder that gear is not only important, but necessary.

This last crash re-injured my knee from the first crash this year (wearing gear at the TTBC); putting me back on crutches and making me a great candidate for knee surgery. I hobbled away from the slow speed lowside relatively unscathed because I was wearing all my gear… except my motorcycle pants with all the necessary knee armor.

Last week I helped my girlfriend pick her bike up that had been stored at the house of one of her friends. I put on my leather pants, jacket with back protector, boots, grabbed my helmet and gloves, and we were on our way to the East Bay. My trek back was short but involved one of the busiest freeways and bridges in the Bay Area, so it made sense that full gear might end up being helpful. Here’s where my story took a twist: we picked the bike up from her friend who not only owns several bikes but also logs tens of thousands of miles a year. She took one look at me and in what I perceived to be a bit condescending, made a comment about all the gear I was wearing. I don’t meant to single her friend out, but it’s a fairly normal response I get from people.

I’m perpetually confused by this response. By the “it’s so hot” or the “she’s just riding on the back” mentalities. At what point before we get on our bike do we negotiate the importance of the gear over the convenience of it. I’ll point out right now, while I’m icing and elevating my knee, that putting those pants on would have been more convenient than my torn nursing it back to health.

Looking at my crashed gear, I probably would have suffered a broken collarbone and a broken ankle, had I not been wearing my boots and jacket. Not joking. It happened quickly and at slow speeds, but the effects are obvious.

So the question becomes, where is the balance of convenience and safety? The answer is, there isn’t one, and the quest for the Holy Grail of motorcycle gear will never be found.

Several years ago when I decided to transition from riding dirt to riding street, a couple friends of mine pulled me aside to give me a quick slideshow on what will happen if I don’t wear a full face helmet. It’s not that I wasn’t already wearing one, but their love for me was strong enough that they wanted to make a deep impression on my psyche. Let’s just say that it worked. It wasn’t about looking cute with my helmet on, it was about staying cute with my helmet off.

The next question becomes, how do we balance a healthy amount of fear with riding confidence? The answer is, I don’t know. What I do know, is that I respect my motorcycles. I know they will treat me to the most meditative and exhilarating rides, but they’ll also bite. I also know that it’s not a question of if they will bite, but when they will. To quote the profound the words of Def Leppard; “love bites, love bleeds, It’s bringing me to my knees.”

At the end of the day it’s up to every individual to figure out what the most practical solution is for their gear. My personal choice is to suck it up and wear All The Gear All The Time (ATGATT). It will make riding more enjoyable, ease my mind, and hopefully save me from another three months on crutches. I consider gear to be a cheap insurance policy and a sanity saver.