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VTwin
Mama's Message on this Messages
of Congratulations
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Celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the VTwin Mama Site!
Contest
# 1 Winners Laurie
(subscriber) (winning number was 7, with many entries, and additional
random draw) Contest
# 2 Winners 1st place: Pssst, hey troll, exactly which towing service did you call? Sue 2nd place: I dont KNOW how it happened. I was doing the two-handed biker wave . . . like this . . . Linda C. (subscriber) 3rd place: What does that mean, leave your dogs and attitude at home? What kind of rally is this? v45magna
VTwin
Mama (aka Petra Lattmann) Looks Back
5 years and 4 months ago, I began a journey with no understanding how it would work out. I took a kernel of an idea, pitched to another motorcycle site (now defunct), and despite the initial failure to generate any real "buzz," decided it had merit. I was 42 years old at the time and had been riding for 21 years. For 4 months I labored to learn the necessary software tools to launch my idea, as well as design a logo, create a "look," and refine a concept. I committed thousands of dollars to the effort. I had read enough business books over the years to know I should really create a business plan, but I wasn't really interested in making a fortune . . . I was interested to see if I could make a difference. On January 29, 2001, the VTwin Mama site officially launched. Looking back, I have to laugh at my naive preconceptions on what women riders would be interested in. For those of you who have been reading my site from the beginning, you may recall that the original tag line under the AskVTwinMama graphic was "Answers to your personal riding-related questions - VTwin Mama is here to set somebody straight!" What a cocky little riding sister I was. Still, I got my comeuppance for that! The first official letter, received March 5, 2001 and posted March 6, 2001, was from a male rider who talked about how the vibration from his Panhead Harley was making him horny and he wanted more than just the love of his bike. Until that email, I had made up all the questions and answers so that SOMETHING was on my site. Now I was in a dilemma, as surely this couldn't be the pathway I had envisioned for the site. All that day and night I tried to figure out if I should post this first official incoming letter, at some points dismissing it as unworthy. The next morning I woke up and realized that if I backed down from posting and responding to this letter, I was forever going to be scared. I had set myself up as an advice columnist, and gosh darn it, I had better act accordingly! And that is when I took a deep breath and straightened my spine, and slowly but surely, women riders started writing in, and within months, I realized . . . I had gotten it wrong! There wasn't anyone to "set straight" . . . there were women who sincerely needed assistance in meeting the challenges they faced in order to realize their dream of riding confidently. And thus the tagline changed to "Answers to your personal riding-related questions - VTwin Mama is here to provide a forum for insight!" And boy, have we ever! Together. For 5 years. I humbly accept my role in the success of the VTwin Mama site, but that's just 50% of the equation. You, the readers, make up the other 50%. It's your willingness to bare your souls to write in with questions, that often bring up very difficult situations, that sets the tone of the site. Then my responses begin the process of discovery, with readers chiming in, letting me know when I got it right, when I'm off the mark, and when additional support is needed. And when women write in with observations "just to share," well, I couldn't be more proud. The site is truly a place to share and care. I don't have any statistics from those beginning months, as I wasn't tracking hits at the time. I'm pretty sure that in February 2001, it couldn't have been more than a few hundred hits for the entire month. And most of that was just me checking that the site in fact was "alive" and running, and also getting a little thrill that I had done it . . . created something that was uniquely "my voice" out there in cyberspace. Currently, the site averages 420,000 hits per month, with the highest hit point in May 2005, with 512,789 hits. Omigosh, over 1/2 million hits in one month! No, that's not on the level of a "super site," with millions of hits per day, but then this site is not selling cell phones or computer equipment. It's just a little niche site for the 10% of registered riders who want to talk about their adventures in riding . . . women! During these five years, I've also questioned the name of my site . . . VTwin Mama. What was I thinking?! Well, at the time, I was riding my third bike (and a dream come true) . . . a customized '76 HD Superglide. Somewhere in the back of my brain, VTwin Mama was simply a reference to women riders that stuck with me. I also realized that the VTwin portion clearly identified it as a riding site and Mama was delicious because in the truest sense, you always want to turn to your Mom if possible for life's answers (and Mama is the German version of Mom, and my parents are German-born). And so VTwin Mama registered as "true," at least to me. As I realized that many women don't ride Harleys (geez, I really didn't get it, despite the fact that my first two bikes were metric!) I thought about renaming the site, but in polling readers, came to understand that the name was just fine. Not perfect for all riders . . . some women won't wear my logo stuff because as they told me "they aren't Harley v-twin riders" and they don't want themselves defined "as a Mama" . . . but thems the breaks, as they say. The name stays. True confession time: to say it's been a 100% joyful 5 years for me would be a lie. There were at least two horrible periods (that ran for months) were I seriously considered pulling the plug on VTwin Mama. As the email volume increased, and the questions got harder, I lost faith that I could handle it. I barely could post letters, and just didn't answer some, and cried. I was failing. I wanted it all to go away. Or so I thought. My friend Anne in Milwaukee (who doesn't ride, but I've known her for 24 years now) was instrumental in seeing me through. She was the one who reminded me that before I had created the VTwin Mama site I had cried on her shoulder on a regular basis about not understanding what my place in this world was, what I was meant to do with my life, and questioning why God wasn't showing me the pathway. If there is any one person to thank for the actual survival of VTwin Mama, it's Anne. Thank you Anne, without you, I wouldn't have understood that the very existence of VTwin Mama IS my destiny, and that it matters, not only to me, but to every woman (and man) who found solace and assistance here. Crisis? What Crisis? (to borrow the Supertramp album cover and song title!) Questioning, learning, challenging ourselves to be better, to be stronger, to be everything our dreams tell us is possible. Isn't that point?!?!?! IMHO, it is. We are all filled with doubts during our lifetimes, so why should I be any different? I'm not! And so I carry on. There are many more challenges facing the VTwin Mama site in the future, and for myself as well, as the keeper of the site. But now I understand that those challenges are placed in front of me for a reason . . . they are there so that I grow as a person and that the site grows and forges ahead with useful purpose. What does that all mean for the site? I haven't the foggiest notion! Well, ok, I do have some ideas, but I'm going to have to dig deep to do it. You know that expression that sometimes you just have to leap off the cliff in pursing a dream? Trust that in the leaping, you'll find that you can fly? Well, pretty soon I'm going to have to take another leap of faith (creating the site was the first one!). I need to gather all those dreams that are in my head and turn them into attainable goals and create a viable battle plan with baby steps that make sense. Isn't that what I'm always saying to riders who are facing oopsie and icky moments as they learn to ride or facing something further in their riding journey?! Figure out how you're going to meet the challenge, write down the steps, reward yourself along the way, but by all means, get on with it! Did you know that I often cry when I read incoming emails? Tears of joy when someone writes in to say that she's achieving her goal of riding and that she might have given up if it weren't for the VTwin Mama site, myself, and all the readers. Tears of sadness when a letter chronicles a horrible situation, one of loss or longing or crisis. Tears of empathy because I know that often times that person just wants to know that they are not alone. And as I conclude this message about the five year journey of VTwin Mama, I have tears in my eyes . . . because I just realized that I've written a letter of love . . . to you . . . and to me. Do
not go where the path may lead, That's what we're doing . . . together!
Messages of Congratulations from Readers Hi Mama, Happy Anniversary! I for one am glad your site is here to hold my hand and give me "pats on the shoulder" when I need it. Thank you so much for giving yourself the way you do to this site. Kathy H. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Petra, for your wonderful site, all your help, and congratulations on all the new friends you have made over these five years. Have one for me at your local! Hugs, Penney from Iowa Just wanted to drop you a line and offer my congratulations on VTwin Mama's 5th anniversary. I have been a reader since 2002 and have gone through 3 bikes in that time! I keep checking in to read about others' experiences and at times, to offer up my knowledge. Thanks for all your work and dedication. I look forward to following your adventure and everyone else's for a long time to come. Maureen from NH Congratulations on the 5th anniversary of your website! You're an inspiration to us all, whether we ride the biggest hogs or the smallest scoots in town :-) Patty Hey Mate, congrats on 5 years of running your website! Despite the fact that I am often very cynical and am often short of patience with people, I reckon YOU do a wonderful job of encouraging female riders to get out there and do it. I can't say better than that. Keep up the good work, you're doing a sterling job. Terri and Lin also wish you congrats and hugs. Kevin From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being there. Melissa from Idaho and very grateful Congratulations on the 5th anniversary of the VTwin Mama website! Brooke Congrats on your anniversary! Your info and encouragement has been very helpful! Jill Hi! Thought today (Sunday, the anniversary date) was the perfect day to subscribe to your newsletter. Because of your encouragement, I ended up logging 3,500 miles from the end of August to the end of October. Heidi I probably wouldn't be riding without this website for the past year. Thank you! Kate A heartfelt Happy Anniversary to you, and many more. When I read your letter, the part about those writing in to say they couldn't have done it without you, I had a big silly smile plastered across my face and tears running down at the same time. I was one of those and I am so glad I wrote to you, almost three years ago now. I owe you so much and I am at a loss as to how to ever repay you. Thanks to you, the dream lives on for so many. Linda C. Congratulations on your 5th anniversary!!!!!! I can't even tell you how thankful I am to your site!!!! I am still a newbie at riding but am slowly riding my own! But there has been a lot times that I have sat down to read your site to get the encouragement and feedback on the things that I hesitate about. You have been like an angel for me and have helped me more ways than you can imagine!! I just wanted to say thank you and keep up the good work!!! Debi from Minnesota Congrats!! on 5 years of serving as our advisor, confidante, sales pitcher, and good ole' friend!! Thanks for NOT throwing in the towel (way back when) and sending great info our way! Look forward to many more years! Sandy, aka Ladyvtx Happy 5th Anniversary, VTwinMama.com! I looooove reading your newsletter and I'm very excited for you, and for us, Petra! You are awesome at this and women riders (and the men, too) are very lucky to have someone like you out there keeping us informed and entertained. Again, Congratulations and keep up the fantastic work! Tammi 5 years is quite an achievement and look at all of the
ladies that you have helped. Just know that you are loved by all of
us! Congratulations on your 5th anniversary. Your site has been an inspiration for me, and I have learnt so much from it. It is wonderful to share experiences with other lady bikers, and I get a warm buzz in my heart knowing so many of us are over 50! Thank you for all the effort you put into VTwin Mama and may you keep going for another 5 years (and more!) Megan O'Donnell in South Africa Congrats on 5 years of being a sounding board about riding!!!! Beverley Congratulations on five wonderful years of service to your sisters in riding. Your site has provided encouragement, humor and common sense about learning to ride, riding, and even life in general to thousands of fellow enthusiasts. Keep up the great job - you are so very appreciated! Dorathy Biddinger |
