Women Motorcycle Riders Share Insights!

I continue to sell my angel wing shirts but have recently designed something that is "one size fits all." It's an iron-on rhinestone crystal design with the words "Lady Rider" and then underneath is a heart with wings ... almost 1,000 crystals in clear and red .... and 8" by 8", so it's large enough for the front or back of shirts, denim jackets, etc.

My Lady Bling website page shows the application on black, red, turquoise and purple. Easy iron on and machine washable. $11 each. Click on the picture below to see it "in action!" – Becky

Dear Becky,
Love it, love it, love it! Very eye catching and a great bargain ... whether someone wants it for themselves or as a gift to a fellow rider! – Mama

The first time I was faced with getting on a ferry, I was scared to death. But it's just like all the other "firsts." No big deal once you've done it! Other than Petra's tips, make sure you let the rider in front of you clear the ramp before even starting out. Don't let anyone push you into going any sooner than that. That way you get onto and off the ramp without stopping until you're onto the ferry floor. Then park where the ferry workers tell you and keep your bike in gear, as Petra said. When you leave, do the same thing - let the rider in front of you be done with the ramp before you roll onto it. You never want to stop on that ramp, if possible. It's usually steel and pretty slippery under your feet. Good luck and don't be frightened! It's another goal to conquer! Ride safe and have fun, – RoseD (note from Mama: love the extra pointer on the ramp material ... soooo true!)

Dear VTwin Mama,
Okay ladies, I need help. I have a 2007 Honda Shadow VLX600. I have small hands - I can't even reach an octave on the piano. When I ride, I have difficulty letting out the clutch smoothly. When the clutch lever gets to the end of my fingers, it's not completely engaged yet. I nearly popped a wheelie the other day when starting out. Any suggestions? Should I get new levers or can I adjust the clutch? – FurmanMa

Dear FurmanMa,
Oh darn ... there is a solution for VStar 650s, but none that I know of for the VLX600 ... or have I forgotten something previously submitted by a reader?

I would start by calling your local dealer's service department to see if the engage/disengage point of the clutch lever action can be readjusted to the middle rather than the far end. If so, they'll be able to do that quickly. But on some bikes that's not possible.

This won't solve your overall hand reach, but hopefully will prevent more accidental wheelies. I continue to say that there is a product manufacturing opportunity that would solve a lot of problems for smaller hands. One suggestion to explore is with an independent motorcycle mechanic ... see if they will heat the lever and bend it so the reach isn't so wide. Readers, please chime in with more about the VLX600. – Mama

Dear Readers,
On January 29, 2001, the VTwin Mama site was officially launched on the Internet. Together we have sustained one of the most vibrant resources for women motorcycle riders and I am proud of everything that has been accomplished.

The site was originally created because I saw that there was a need for a respectful haven where riders could ask their questions and be treated with dignity, empathy and kindness. It is still awe-inspiring to me to see where this labor of love led not only me, but everyone who visits.

The VTwin Mama site has never been about "the numbers." Yes, it's been operated as a small business (of the micro kind!) in order to generate funds necessary for basic costs, but that is not the driving force. The mission is clear ... to take each email that comes in and provide personal support and acknowledge that not only is the person not alone, but to let them know that there are a wide variety of resources to lend a helping hand, including any insights I and the readers of VTM can provide.

There are some specific resources on the VTwin Mama site that I am especially proud of beyond just the main advice column. These include targeted pages for shorter riders, the mentor program, comparisons of basics specifications of makes/models from year-to-year, an 18-page article on how to get started on one's adventure in riding, a respectful message board, and most recently, an ambitious project to map out (internationally) where women's riding groups, as well as individual women riders seeking to ride together, are located.

If one asks the question, "What was VTM's hey-day in the last 9 years?" then the answer would be 2006. This is the year that I took a stab at turning the business of VTwin Mama into creating enough funds to fully support me. We had the highest hit counts, the most letters, a focus on affiliate programs and advertisers, and a flurry of other activity. I only achieved 80% of my financial goal, but I'll never have to look back and say, "What if?"

As many of you know, in April of 2008, I retired as a freelance writer and in April of 2009, I married the love of my life, Marty. Together Marty and I are shaping our future together in a most joyful way. During this time I began letting go of some VTwin Mama-related things in order to free my time up a bit to spend with family and friends. The weekly newsletter was suspended, I have been depleting the warehouse of VTM logo products I carry, and more recently I turned over the monitoring of the VTM Message Board to a group of wonderful assistants.

2010 marks another turning point. I have formally declared to state and federal tax offices that VTwin Mama closed as a business venture. This allows me to let go of the never-ending duties of record keeping. While the change is important to me, it will be virtually undetectable by readers and visitors. Letters will still be posted and companies seeking to share their services and products will still be represented (at my discretion). I remain committed to the VTwin Mama "experience" in all its facets. I'll probably never let go of it until I'm in a rocking chair and no longer riding ... and by the numerous letters that come in from all over the world ... that could be well up into my 80s (I'm 52 years old now)!

I mentioned that 2006 could be considered a "hey-day," but IMHO it really is about the longevity of the VTwin Mama site and the plans to continue for the foreseeable future that are most important to me. Each letter, each post, each picture ... at that moment, is our finest hour, because it means we have reached out to, and heard from yet another one of the 4 million women's voices sharing the adventure in motorcycle riding.

There is no doubt that the update frequency of the site has been spotty. I'll simply share that Marty and I have our house in Mobile, AL on the market and once sold will be moving to our home in North Carolina. At the same time I'm slowly relinquishing the many duties I handle for my church. It's been a whirlwind of activity that impedes my available time for VTM. But that too, as they say, shall pass.

So, what are Marty and I planning for our future? We are both hoping to travel the U.S. in an RV with motorcycles towed behind. Our thought is to choose a spot, settle in for a week or two, and then radiate out on rides to see the many beautiful sights in that area. I have it in mind to let VTM readers know where we'll be roosting along the way so that anyone interested can hook up for hugs and riding.

I'll end this simply by saying something very similar from my 5th Anniversary message ... the tears are forming in my eyes and spilling onto my checks because I can't imagine my life without you ... I have received more in the last 9 years than I could ever possibly have given ... but there is no need to count. Let's remember that it's all about each new letter, each new post, each new picture ... – Mama (aka Petra Baer)