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You are here: Home / Archives for Rides

Who is RedSpade?

May 11, 2016 By Carol Carpenter

RedspadepicWith the upcoming event on June 27-28 I thought it would be fun to interview a few people who are special guests so you could get to know them more personally. For our first installment, RedSpade, aka Anna Rigby, will be our subject. Jason Pridmore, our guest speaker and coach for the upcoming event, made the introduction and it only took a few minutes of speaking to Anna before I realized that JP associates himself with people very much like him. Anna is very sweet, centered and humble, which I find so refreshing in this sea of narcissism and social media. Let’s get to know Anna who will be RedSpade for the purposes of this blog. I want to thank Jason and Peter Bacon, Marketing Manager for Dainese, North America for supporting us and our mission to educate riders by providing events where riders can learn from the best coaches out there today. Anna and her husband, Steve will be at the Ridge on both dates, please don’t hesitate to come and say “hi”!

CC:  I first took notice of you when JP mentioned you and asked me to check out your Instagram under RedSpade.  What inspired that name?

RS: I wanted to come up with something unique, memorable and symbolic. The name “spade” comes from the Italian word “spade” or “sword” which often represents logical and rational thought cutting through uncertainty and falsehood. The spade is also usually the most powerful suite in a deck of cards and a sign of luck. I assigned the color red to it to make it one of a kind and unique. At the time I had fiery red hair so the color was symbolically a representation of a part of me. Later on for our logo the spade took on a shape of red and white rumble strips which specifically correlates to our company [RedSpade Racing].

CC:  I love it when company names carries a deep personal meaning, it reminds you why you do what you do and it shows in every decision you make, person you touch and keeps you driven.

CC:  I love the pictures you post how’d you get started in documenting your journey?

RS: I fell in love with the machines and the atmosphere of track life—which is really where I was officially exposed to motorcycles. After shooting a few local WERA races I realized that I was in love with the way guys piloted these machines and I really wanted to ride one myself (at the time I was only a passenger with my husband). Since my feed already consisted of motorcycle photography it was a natural progression that I started documenting my journey from my first MFS class onward.

CC:  You are the ambassador for Dainese/AGV, can you tell us how you got involved?

RS: Funny story actually—I’ve always been a fan of Dainese and their products. They always seemed to be the best quality and had the best designs. But when my husband crashed twice on the street and walked away safe and sound in his Dainese leathers I was sold. In general I posted a LOT about safety and proper motorcycle gear. 4 years ago when I started riding there weren’t as many gear choices for women as there are now. I remember reaching out to Dainese begging them to create something more for women and that many sizes weren’t readily available in the US. It wasn’t until 2 years ago that Dainese reached out to me and asked me to come on board as one of their brand ambassadors. They had told me they were watching me on social media for some time and simply liked how I represented the motorcycle community and the sport. I was floored, to be honest I still can’t believe I get to work with a company I believe in so much.

CC:  I still believe the choices are slim.  However Dainese was the first street gear I bought, loved and continued to add to because of how flattering it is for women.  In fact, my very first race suit was Dainese and it’s been crashed over and over and it’s scuffed up but it’s still in one piece!  It’s not as beautiful as it was, but I use that suit now as a rain day suit or loaner suit for gals who want to two up at track days.  I still think we need more choices with color and designs, but Rome wasn’t built in a day.  Wearing a small boot size, Dainese is the only boot manufacturer I can wear.   I wear a Dainese 6 (36), they fit amazing and while you can’t get the top of the line race protection, you can get pretty damn close with their boots.  I am sure there will be changes with the increase of women riders and their demand for better looking and fitting gear, ladies will make that known for sure!

CC:  When did you get introduced to riding?  What enticed you to ride?

RS: I guess that goes back to your previous question about me shooting photography. Racing was sparked my interest to ride really. I was super impressed with guys dragging their knee and getting low to the ground—that was like absolute black magic to me. At the time I was absolutely terrified and never thought I would get to experience it myself, but I dreamed of it. It wasn’t until I met a female racer that encouraged me to go take the MFS course and see if it was for me. Until then I hadn’t seen any females ride like that and I honestly didn’t even know it was possible. She single handedly convinced me to take the riding course and jump-started my journey.

CC:  That’s why I want women to see other women ride, not everyone started at a young age, many of us started much later.  We are all different, from our goals to our knowledge and understanding of riding, I want them to understand that persistence, practice and perseverance go a long way in helping them get confident and building their skill set.  We need to help encourage other gals and give them the tools they need to succeed at their goals.    

CC:  Who sparked your interest to ride and why?

RS: My husband Steve definitely was the key person to spark my interest. All the men in his family ride or rode at one point or another. Steve also rode dirt bikes and trails when I met him so there was always a history of two wheels with him. As a matter of fact, our first date was a story in itself—we ended up crashing and my right leg got all rashed up pretty bad. But that was over 16 years ago and who would have thought that 12 years later I would finally build up the courage to learn to ride myself.

CC:  It’s exciting to see an increase in women riders, what words of encouragement would you give them?

RS: This is still very much a male driven sport whether you’re just a casual street rider or aspiring track addict. Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t as fast, as skilled or as talented as others. Riding is a very personal skill that you develop on your own and within your physical and mental abilities. I learned this the hard way 2 years into my riding. I was so blinded by trying to be a better rider that I was beating myself up and struggling, I had lost the joy of riding because I was getting ahead of myself. All my riding friends and family had been riding for years and were quite skilled, I was and still am the slowest—I took this very personally. I had to re-evaluate what I wanted out of riding at that point and find my center again. Everything will come in due time as long as you keep working towards your goals, but don’t let your goals overwhelm and control you.

CC:  Couldn’t have said it better.  We are all competitive by nature, but this is very individual, treat it as such, once you start comparing yourself with others you lose sight of your goal.  We tell everyone to ride within your abilities and comfort zone, but that can be hard to do when you want so badly to be up front with the fast guys.  It’s not about only being fast, it’s about being fast safely and within your own mental and physical abilities.  We are all very different, stop comparing.

CC:  What do you currently ride?  What is your dream bike?

RS: right now I have 2 bikes—both 2008 cbr600rr. one is pretty much stock for street and the other is a race bike I bought from a  track coach—It’s loaded with goodies that makes my street bike jealous 😛

I’m not sure I have a dream bike really. I’m very practical which is why I own Hondas (they take a mean beating and still keep on going!) I would have to saw that for a practical bike I would love to own a new 636 Kawi—I really enjoyed it when I rode at the Start School and the electronics made it so easy to handle compared to my Honda. If I could have a money pit of a bike I’d definitely go for a looker like the Panigale!

CC:  OK, I have to confess I bought my dream bike, I love it and it’s only been on the track a few times (figured my luck would eventually run out there).  It’s the 848 EVO, I bought it the last year it was made knowing it was now or never.  It’s my go to street bike, twins are so much fun to ride on the street and when it looks equally beautiful, what could be better?  Italians know how to make things sexy and that bike is just that!

CC:  Do you ride on the track and on the street, which do enjoy more?

RS: I still ride both street and track, but I most definitely love the track to death. I feel safer and excited when I ride the track, at the same time it’s my meditation and truly the only time I feel alive. As for the street I tend to stick to country roads and mountains. I still struggle with tight curvy roads so I get a bit stressed out—I definitely don’t like riding around cars. I didn’t have this feeling when I started riding, the more track I do the more street unnerves me. There’s just too much that can go wrong and it’s all out of my hands.

CC:  What challenges as women do you feel we face as motorcyclists?

RS: To be honest I’ve always felt that riding a motorcycle was one of those things that either sex could do pretty damn well.  I gotta admit though that I get a mixed bag of responses from men when I pull my helmet off and I can’t always tell if they’re genuinely bewildered, intimidated or being condescending lol. Apparently even though I know so many ladies that ride, we’re still rather rare. I think we are still seen as feeble and weak which is a bit frustrating, although I understand that physically I will never be as strong as my husband or have the stamina. However I get to encounter some commentary on social media that is always making me question if certain people are still living in the 50s lol! I suppose this is true for any sport or profession these days though.

CC:  What do you feel about gear and safety?

RS: I definitely have a strong stance of motorcycle safety in general. I try to keep my opinions to myself these days but since you ask 😉 Nothing about riding a motorcycle is safe. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it, but it means that you should value your life, the life of your friends and family, and do everything in your power to ensure your safety. Basically I would like people to be mindful and responsible for themselves. I cringe when I see girls in leggings and sneakers on their bikes. I hear it all the time “I know what I’m doing, I know I can get hurt and I’ll deal with it when it happens.” Wrong. You won’t be the only one dealing with it—your family and friends will be the ones taking care of you. I look at it this way, if I can minimize my time in the hospital when I eventually crash, then why not? Accidents happen and it’s inevitable. Maybe I’m so adamant about this because of all the terrible accidents I’ve seen in the last 4 years of my riding—I ride mainly in the mountains and accidents there are extremely unforgiving. Many if them would have been much worse or fatal if there was no gear involved. And some of them were exceptionally tragic because the people involved weren’t geared up. Gear isn’t a save all, but in the end I just don’t want to have any “what ifs” or regrets.

CC:  I agree completely.  Ignorance is not bliss in this case.  My stance is if you choose to not gear up, you clearly haven’t crashed bad enough to think you are lucky to just walk away with minor bruises and scrapes.  Anybody that has crashed knows and won’t risk it.  You don’t necessarily need to be the one to make the mistake, but you are the one that will live with the repercussions.  It blows my mind people don’t ride with gloves, our instinct is to put our hands down to break a fall, why would you make that choice?

CC:  What’s your favorite motorcycle quote?

RS: Well that would have to be Marco Simoncelli’s “You live more for 5 minutes going fast on a bike than other people do in all of their life.” This speaks to me on a very personal level bc if it wasn’t for riding a motorcycle I wouldn’t be here in life and having so many wonderful experiences and meeting so many great people. I used to be extremely introverted and shy; riding helped me overcome many of my fears and taught me to believe in myself. Where I would normally say I can’t now I believe I can and am no longer afraid of failing and trying again 🙂

CC:  Great Quote!  Motorcycling is a wonderful community to be a part of, I have met the most interesting people and it has enriched my life greatly as well.  Thank you so much for taking the time and letting us get to know you better.  I look forward to meeting you in person at the June 27- 28 event!

Filed Under: Knowledge Base, Miscellaneous, Past Sponsors, Products, Reviews, Rides, Safety Tagged With: AGV, AGV Helmets, Anna Rigby, Dainese, Ducati, Honda, Jason Pridmore, Kawasaki, Marco Simoncelli, motorcycles, MotoVixens, Peter Bacon, RedSpade, rider education, rider safety, Riding gear, Star Motorcycle School, Street Riding, Team AGV/Dainese, track events, Track Riding, track schools, women riders, Women's Event, Women's riding gear

Motorcycle Racing

July 21, 2015 By Carol Carpenter

Racing isn’t for everyone, it requires a certain level of skill, tenacity and hard work to achieve a level that most people will not have the time and funds to accomplish.  I’ve heard people be blunt in saying that racing isn’t for the faint of heart, if you are willing to stack $100 bills and light them on fire then you may be crazy enough to race.  I chuckled at this comment, but had I been smarter, I may have actually turned and ran.  However, I am who I am, I love a challenge and instead of heeding that comment and taking it to heart, I decided that it was something I wanted…needed to do to prove to myself I could accomplish that unlikely goal.   If you are interested our local club racing chapter is WMRRA.

It has been a journey to get my expert license, to race those ten races and finish.  Just because you sign up for ten races doesn’t mean you get credit for them, you must finish, which means you cannot crash and you must cross start/ finish.  I’ve done more than ten races and crashed out on a few, it is heartbreaking, you question your abilities, the pain of the injuries makes you second guess your skills or your bike, you get the picture.  As a racer, you are constantly trying to improve yourself or your bike to give yourself the upper hand.  Let’s be clear, I don’t have the latest bike, I have a 2004 Yamaha R6, bone stock and with Ohlins cartridges and a GP suspension revalved and resprung rear shock (cuz I’m a girl), Vortex brake and clutch levers, rearsets, clip ons, case covers, sprockets, sliders and chain.  There is no slipper clutch, no electronics or gp shift.  It’s old school and it has made me a smoother rider not being able to rely on electronics to save my ass.  What I have developed is skill and smoothness, no dumping clutches, trail clutching and trail braking, learning it takes patience to initiate a turn with precision at times and that multitasking all these things as you are entering a corner in triple digits is an accomplishment like nothing else.  Not everything goes right all the time, timing can be off, your mind not clear, so many things can happen to mess up that could be perfect turn, but it is the trying over and over again to do it that says volumes.  We are not anything if not tenacious and seeking that feeling of the perfect lap (i.e. the drive onto the straightaway, patience to your brake marker, braking, gear selection, trail clutching and trail braking to the apex, letting the bike finish the turn, rolling the bike up on the fat part of the tire to get the perfect drive out of the exit, repeating this process 16 times a lap at the Ridge Motorsports Park)  is what brings us back over and over.

June 27, 2015 I finished my last novice race and when all was said and done I came in 7th.  It was a personal goal that I achieved on that day, I had promised myself one day I would get my expert number and at least place in the top 10 and that day I did both.  I went from #809 to my chosen number #72.   My love of riding, whether it is on the track or on the street, is about passion for a sport unlike anything else.  Anyone who rides understands, those who don’t, think we are bonkers risking our lives.  It just appears that our sport raises more fear in people than many other sports, yet I find motorcyclists to be some of the most interesting intelligent individuals out there.  Even if you never race, come to the track, take lessons from a trusted individual, read, absorb as much information on how to be a better rider.  In doing so you will be a rider for life and reap the benefits of that information when a situation arises that requires you to use your skills appropriately.  Ken Hill was the person that said to me, “Practice makes permanent” meaning practicing without a plan means the development of bad habits that will be hard to break, so go into every practice with a plan and make “Perfect practice permanent.”

Filed Under: Knowledge Base, Past Sponsors, Reviews, Rides Tagged With: gp shift, GP suspension, Ken Hill, novice racing, Ohlins, slipper slutch, The Ridge Motorsports Park, trail braking, trail clutching, Vortex case covers, Vortex chains, Vortex clipons, Vortex Levers, Vortex rearsets, Vortex sliders, Vortex sprockets, WMRRA, Yamaha, Yamaha R6

Ride for Kids

August 27, 2013 By Carol Carpenter

In the spirit of giving back and for those of us who are fortunate enough to have healthy and happy kids, please consider joining us at the Puget Sound Ride for Kids sanctioned by the AMA on Sunday, September 8, 2013 at Remlinger Farms located at 32610 Northeast 32nd Street, Carnation, WA 98014.  Registration opens at 8am and closes at 9:30am, kickstands up at 10AM sharp rain or shine.  Walk up registration is $50 and if you register online it is $40 per bike, for more information  call 800-253-6530 or visit www.rideforkids.org.  For every bike entry you will be entered into the drawing for the Honda Motorcycle and other great prizes.  All participants receive free beverages, a light breakfast and lunch as well as meet the RIde for Kids “stars”, the local children they help.

This ride is to support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization that seeks to find the cause and sure for childhood brain tours by supporting medical research, increase public awareness, aid in early detection and treatment and provide educational and emotional support for children and their families.  Every dollar counts so let’s get out there and raise some money for this event, your employer’s matching gift program may be able to help too so check with your human resources department to find out.  Look forward to seeing you all out there!

Filed Under: Rides

Group Rides

July 9, 2013 By Carol Carpenter

If you have never joined a group for a ride, it is an experience that can either bring you back for more or turn you away from it altogether. Trick is finding a group you will not only want to ride with, but socialize with as well, the reality is you start to become an extended family and a place you know where you are accepted. Searching for a group can be challenging and there are plenty of sites that you can peruse to find them, but join with caution, some groups are testosterone driven free for alls and will not only dare you to push your limits, but could very well end you in the hospital. Ask to ride with the groups a few time to view the dynamics, the organizers and their safety protocol. I think the biggest test in a group is how they organize their rides, how well all the organizers and assistant organizers communicate, safety briefings (especially in big groups) and the general vibe you get from everyone. If you don’t feel that they get along, time to bounce, you know that once you are on the road you may be dealing with egos jockeying for position and you don’t want to be a part of that.

Safety when riding in groups is a challenge and of extreme importance, there are always varying degrees of skill level and you want to be in a group that will cater to all and keep them relatively happy. The organizer should have a video or before every ride a pre-ride safety meeting to go over hand signals (which for the most part is the only way you are going to be able to communicate to the other riders), formations and answer questions . A good organizer will have posted the route, the gas/food breaks and basic eta from one point to another. Chances are times will vary depending on size of group, but generally speaking it runs pretty close to the times posted. There should also be a clear blueprint of what to do in an emergency (benefit of riding in a group, plenty of help) and everyone should be sporting and I.C.E. card (in case of emergency card). If you aren’t a member of the AMA, you should join up (you can find the link on my home page), it is beneficial in many ways. One being that they will tow your bike for free, but check out their site for a list of benefits. Your group should also have a list of requirements for gear they expect you to have, trust me when you go down jeans are not protection, basics should include: Protective jacket, pants, DOT approved helmet, gloves (preferably gauntlet) and boots. Most importantly though is how you will fit into the group, most groups have a core group and many other groups within sometimes bound by skill level, friendships, etc. But they should all be able to mesh together cohesively when on a ride and it should be about having fun and doing it with people you actually want to spend time with. Many friendships come from joining groups like this which is why finding the right group is so important.

I am part of several groups, but there is one that I hold very dear to my heart (Eastside Sportbikers) and I play a very active role in every chance I can get. They took me in as a rider who could barely keep her bike from tipping over (while standing on tiptoes) to being my fans as I entered my novice year of racing. They encouraged me when I was a newbie and they gained my loyalty in return, I love this group and the people in it, the friendships that have developed and the camaraderie. Those are the feelings you should get when you decide to join a group, if not, move on. There are plenty of them out there and just like finding a mate eventually you’ll find one that is “Just Right.” Meetup is a great channel to find groups in general so give it a try and find out how much fun riding in a group can be. Ride on Vixens!

Filed Under: Knowledge Base, Miscellaneous, Rides, Safety Tagged With: AMA, Eastside sportbikers, group rides, safety, women riders

June 10, 2013 Women’s Track Event

June 13, 2013 By Carol Carpenter

IMG_1073I could never have imagined that a simple idea and dream of sharing my love of riding could open an opportunity to bring this love to other women. This idea has blossomed into partnering with Ducati Bellevue, 2-Fast Track Days and Instruction and WMST to bring you events, instruction and clinics geared toward empowering women riders. Monday, June 10th was MotoVixen’s first Women’s Track Event and I couldn’t have asked for better weather, people and track to be on. It was an amazing and exhausting day. Mark DeGross of 2 Fast led the classroom sessions and his instructors (special thanks to Steve-O, Scott, Davey and Jason) took 2-3 gals under their belts to guide them around the track like ducks in a row.IMG_1074 It was reminiscent of those ski schools we went on as little kids behind the lead instructor, remember those? I had fun going around the track to break in my new ride to come up on the tail group and watch them, pass and come up on next group and so on. Throughout the day, I watched each gal improve, not only with their skills, but with their confidence as well. I saw the excitement in their eyes and some were so bouncy from it you could tell that they were going to crash on the way home once that adrenaline wore off. Luckily they all heeded my suggestion in having Ducati transport their bikes (which they did for free) and drove to the track so they wouldn’t have to ride home after a long day.

IMG_1075I took some pictures but not nearly enough, however, there were plenty of cameras and videos being taken so I knew we’d be covered. In fact Jason Tanaka took professional pictures (which he says will be linked to his website at www.jasontanaka.com on Friday) and there are some videos that will be posted on youTube in the next week from other track participants. I will try to get as much information as I can and relay it as I get it. If you have pictures or videos you would like to contribute to the site, email it to me (caroltcarpenter@motovixens.com) and I’ll see if we can include a special section on the site to include all of them. The one thing though that the pictures can’t capture are our ear to ear smiles in our helmets, the feeling of accomplishment and the excitement pinging from every fiber of our being. There is nothing like riding on the track, if you haven’t, please try it. Just do it with a reputable company and not an open track day at a track where it is a complete free for all, that is where most crashes happen. We are just so fortunate to have the support of the best companies in the PNW behind us and a curriculum that has been proven to work.

IMG_1084The day was so successful that there will be an announcement on Ducati’s website of another Women’s Track Event coming up on September 23, 2013 with a new rider’s clinic on September 19, 2013 to be headed by Mark DeGross and myself. I am looking forward to some returning ladies and many new ladies, spread the word. We will perfect this program for both returning and new ladies, you will not be disappointed, ask any of the gals that attended. If you have comments, concerns or suggestions please leave them here, I want to hear everything from complaints to raves.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, Past Sponsors, Reviews, Rides Tagged With: 2 Fast Motorcycle Training, Ducati Bellevue, Jason Tanaka, MotoVixens, The Ridge Motorsports, track days, WMST, women riders

Round 2 at The Ridge

May 30, 2013 By Carol Carpenter

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Round 2 started out with the weather doing the rain/sun dance and at times was so iffy most of us weren’t sure if we were going to be swapping our rains out to slick/DOT’s, but that is the guessing game we play in this sport we love. After our practice sessions for our Novice group we hunkered down to relax before the races began and the skies decided to open up and just pour, so much for the mostly sunny with the chance of showers forecast. Some racers decided to brave the elements others decided to pull out, but my philosophy is if you are here, you should compete and I was in no matter what the weather was going to bring. The races were exciting, the speeds the experts race are just mind boggling and the precision they handle their bikes with is really amazing. I’ve asked Mark DeGross about how they know their bikes so well and his response has been time and time again, seat time, track time and practice. Note to self-gotta get more of all of that to be the rider I envision myself to be. I am not competing to be in the AMA, I am not competing even to really place, but I am competing to prove to myself that I can ride with some of the best boys around.

[quicktime]http://motovixens.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG_1016.mov[/quicktime]

Then came time for our race and at the sound of the horn and looking at the schedule I bolted on my bike to start/finish only to be frantically waved off by the staff to return to pit. Getting off my bike, taking off my helmet and earplugs, I walked over to another racer to find out that they were running behind. So back to pit to wait again to race, heart pounding and nerves uneasy. Watching the track, we saw the checkered flag raise and the last lap was up, the winners came in one by one to a roaring crowd and I started the process of gearing up yet again. Now it was our practice lap, then to grid, then off we went in one flurry as the light went out. I was in great position and I knew I had this race pretty comfortably in the middle of the group, the really fast guys were up in front and the really slow guys were in the back. Then the red flag went up after my first lap and passing another corner came the ambulance flag, a rider was down and an ambulance was on the track, we all had to get off the track and regrid. This time my start was poor and instead of just keeping my head and my patience to just be strategic I took unnecessary risks and paid the price, I was the next one to go down, I lowsided on turn 15 at The Ridge. At the time I was in shock, I couldn’t believe how fast it all happened, but after I got my bearings I got up and looked at the damage. I was fine, a little banged up, but my bike was not in the pristine shape it was in when I came…the nature of the race/competition. The disappointment was devastating, the ride home was full of replaying the incident and what happened, but I knew I wanted to make up for the loss of my poor start and I chose to make too many risky decisions. I know that if I had just been more patient and waited I wouldn’t have crashed, but that is something I can only work on in future races and I suppose you can even say I can apply that to real life.

[quicktime]http://motovixens.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/IMG_1022.mov[/quicktime]

The lesson I learned from this race was patience, that alone would have allowed me to come home with my bike intact, a finish under my belt (point system) and no soreness from the crash (totally worth it alone). Ride CHIC (Confident, Hard and In Control)… Vixens Ride!

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, Rides Tagged With: MotoVixens, WMRRA Round 2, women riders

Wet Track Day at PIR

April 21, 2013 By Carol Carpenter

Get the kids off to school, load the bike, pack the car (hopefully with everything you need) and getting on the road…a practice run of many days to come in the upcoming months. Checking the weather to determine if the takeoffs I just bought would be necessary for the day on the track, making the decision not to take the rain tires because it looks good, lesson learned. My new motto is take absolutely everything you think you need. Went to bed and woke up at the crack of dawn hoping that the sun would peek out only to have your heart drop when you open the curtains to see rain and only dark clouds looming. Plan on things not going smoothly and if they do then just smile, you are doing something right or you are lucky (as was in my case) of having a mentor that took you under his wing.

Upon driving up to the track, that moment of panic occurred, I don’t have an ez-up to pit under. I was fortunate to have Mark allow me to pit with him and Darryl, got there early enough to talk to the Dunlop guys, hearing you are about to drop $550 on rain tires because you made the mistake of not bringing the ones you had, but knowing that not doing it would kill the investment you just made on your bike. There really is so much to be done the minute you get on the track, then you wait and relax for the rider’s meeting and the ride around in the truck to get a first hand view of the track you are about to ride. There is excitement and fear that consumes you as you are listening intently to the driver and the lines he is suggesting you take as you learn the track. A moment of terror seizes you as you think, “OMG, what am I doing?” Then comes that moment when you hear the horn and it is your turn on the track, pulling the warmers off, heading to start/finish and your heart starts racing, remembering your “sissy laps” as your tires warm up and learning the lines of the track. After the first two laps, you speed up and then you realize why you are there, that peace that encompasses you as you ride, hearing the engine humming underneath you, the accomplishment you feel when your session is over and the encouragement of those around you.

It is a dangerous sport, there were many red flags and bikes picked up off the tracks that day, but it is only as dangerous as you make it. Ride within your limits, I rode with the knowledge that I did not know the track well, it was raining and it was the first time out on the tires I purchased, I just wanted to be smooth, I was only riding for myself and I had nothing to prove, but to ride. There were a lot of bad decisions made, some as simple as people riding on street tires, others were going way too fast, reading the lines incorrectly, oh s*#t moments, etc. What is your goal? Stick to it and don’t be influenced by the mentality of others out there with you, there will always be someone faster than you and unless you are in the top 10 and chasing them, ride your own ride. The sense of accomplishment you feel will be enough to bring you back. Ride on Vixens!

Filed Under: Knowledge Base, Miscellaneous, Rides Tagged With: Dunlop tires, Portland International Raceways, Track day

Time to Take Your Skills to the Track!

April 4, 2013 By Brittany Dickson

 

Ahhh…. The smell of race gas, testosterone and ego in the air… bikes sitting perched on their stands, tires snuggled in toasty Chickenhawk warmers… everyone bustling about last minute tire changes and chores in between sips of hot coffee…  The race track is a beautiful thing.  But for many female riders, the track can seem too daunting and maybe even downright intimidating.  After all, have you seen some of the instructors padding around the paddocks?  “No thank you, I think I’ll stick to cruising the back roads.”

I cannot begin to express the countless ladies I’ve spoken to at different events that shared this opinion, giving me the same nearly word for word response when asked if they would consider doing a track day.  Despite their competent riding abilities, many women feel they won’t “measure up,” or that they will be a hindrance to other riders, and pride gets the best of them.  Shiloh Pyne, who has been riding for several years and at one point was even the Vice President of an all female riding club, expressed this same concern, “I’m afraid to hold people up in the corners.  I want to be “really good” before I go do a track day.  I don’t want to feel like the worst one out there.”

Though understandable, the problem with this line of thinking is that the track is undoubtedly the greatest venue to develop your skills.  Whether you are a seasoned motorcyclist or as green as a new filly out to pasture, this is where you want to be.  Mark DeGross, owner of 2Fast Trackdays & Instruction, is a huge advocate for teaching riders at every level new principals, thus overcoming barriers and ultimately becoming more confident riders.  DeGross says, “The repetitive nature of the track is paramount.  By putting in lap after lap, students will quickly learn where the track goes and soon will be working on skills and technique, which will dramatically improve their riding.  The intimidation seems to come from thinking they are expected to be fast and thus they put pressure on themselves.  It’s my opinion that this perceived pressure keeps them away, when in fact, we preach competence and confidence at our 2Fast schools, not speed.  We could care less how fast students go, just as long as they are in control of their machine and running at a pace they can duplicate over and over. Once they can let go of their own speed persecution, the epiphany moment happens and women really start having fun, improving their riding, all the while gleaning skills that will make them safer on the street.”

Many women are also put off by some of the chauvinistic attitudes often found in the paddocks, and rightly so.  Who wants to have “that guy” stroll into your pits and arrogantly bless you with his magical advice?  Thankfully, as more and more females enter the sport, he’s a thing of the past, passed up by some of the ladies laying down blazing lap records on the competitive level.  With that, there are also more smiling, female instructors happy to tow students around, offering a bit of advice, all the while and putting an ear to ear grin on faces.

Often, body mechanics and physical strength can also be a barrier in women shying away from the track. Christi Midlam, of Sportbike Track Girl, explains what she has found working with her female students, “It takes far more physical exertion for a woman than it does a man.  For example, I can’t hold up a tall bike whereas a man usually doesn’t have to worry about height. Even if a man is short, his inseam and hips and leg strength make it far easier than for us. But that being said…women are far better learners in this particular sport. Women are much more humble than men. They crash way less often… not because they are slower, but because they weigh consequences and adjust behavior accordingly.”

If you’re anything like I was, the track brought on butterflies of great magnitude doing circus flips in my stomach and regardless of my capabilities or recent years riding on the street, a feeling that I had to make my pit mates proud.  Ultimately, my competitive nature prevailed in this area, and after six track days I decided to get my novice race license with Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association.  I cannot begin to illustrate the adventure that has been, or the invaluable skills I have been taught since.  Shortly after I graduated to expert, I began instructing for a number of track day companies and I am always more than happy to answer questions, tow students around or help facilitate involvement.

Now racing might seem a little extreme and may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the collective idea here is one of encouragement.  Ladies, put down that article about Adam Levine, grab your helmet and sign up for a track day with your local provider. (You can find links to recommended organizations here.)  Vixens, you’ll be glad you did!

Filed Under: Rides, Riding Tips, Safety Tagged With: 2Fast, Brittany Dickson, fear, instruction, obstacles, Street Riding, track days, women riders

Heather Johnson – In Search of the Frightening and Beautiful

March 25, 2013 By Carol Carpenter

On my recent trip to New York, I met Heather Johnson at the IMS show and she discussed her new project which includes her two loves, art and riding. Heather will be riding from New York City to Joshua Tree, CA and back collecting texts, artifacts and memorabilia from each site for her project. We look forward to following her journey across the US and wish her safe travels.

click map

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Filed Under: Miscellaneous, Rides Tagged With: Heather Johnson, In Search of the Frightening and Beautiful, women riders

Hurricane Ridge – Sept. 23, 2012

October 3, 2012 By Carol Carpenter

This is a video of the ride down from Hurricane Ridge with the Eastside SportBikers, our last run of the year.  Upon making this video, I was completely unaware that one of our riders had crashed.  Hurricane Ridge, located in Olympic National Park, in Washington state is a beautiful place to ride, but it is also quite dangerous as there are typically no guardrails except for one set at the very top of the mountain.  Luckily our fellow rider did not suffer any broken bones and is currently on the mend.  We wish him a speedy recovery!

Remember to always take the first two to three runs to become familiar with the twists and turns and then up your speed.  Nothing wrong with getting to know the road more before challenging your abilities a bit, but sharing the road with cars who are also viewing the scenery can lead to disaster fairly quickly.  Use your best judgment and don’t ride above your comfort level, always ride your ride.  I once heard someone say, “never ride faster than your angel can fly!”  I am guessing my angel hauls ass!

Carol T. Carpenter
MotoVixens

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, Rides Tagged With: Eastside sportbikers, Hurricane Ridge, motocycle ride, Olympic National Park

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