What Riding a Motorcycle Taught Me About Life

I am a middle-aged mother, hardly anyone’s idea of a typical biker chick. Yet two years ago, I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course and fell in love with riding. I am a biker. I have not one, not two, but three bikes in my garage. The motorcycle bug hit me hard and taught me a lot about life in return.

I had always wanted to ride. I blame it on my brother who took me for a spin around the block when I was 14 on the back of his new Honda. I’d never felt so free or moved so fast. I felt like I was flying. I knew, one day, I would have a motorcycle of my own.

A couple years ago, I was going through a bad patch in my life. I knew I needed to do something to get my mind off my problems. I figured concentrating on a new skill would help so I signed up for the MSF course. Lesson one: When life gets hard, take action.

Getting on a bike the first time was scary and thrilling at the same time. There were three basic items to learn how to use?—?the clutch, the brakes and the throttle, sometimes all three at the same time. My left hand and foot hardly knew what my right hand and foot were doing yet somehow I figured it all out and got my license the first time through. Lesson two: Never underestimate your ability to learn a new skill at any age.

When I got home, I immediately went out and bought myself a 500 lb. 2013 Harley Davidson Switchback. I had it delivered to the house since I was not yet ready to ride it on major roads.

My first time out my elderly neighbor ran out of the house and took pictures of me to post online. I was mortified. I was just learning how to go in a circle in the cul-de-sac in front of my house. Not very exciting and not something I wanted people to see. So I took off to get away from her.

I was so excited to actually be riding my own bike. Then I realized what I was doing. I was RIDING! OMG! What was I thinking?! I’ve got KIDS! When I got to the entrance to enter the main road I panicked, stopped and tried to turn around. Then I felt the bike wobble and fall to the ground. A classic tip-over.

You should have seen the look on the guy from Harley’s face when he came back to pick it up. He said all bikers have tip-overs and I shouldn’t feel bad. Then he shook his head in pity. Lesson three: Know your limits.

Then I stopped riding for 6 months. I was pretty sad, angry and disappointed in myself. I had given into my fears and gave up my dream.

I decided to call my instructor from my first MSF class, Karl. He encouraged me to take the class again. So I did and then I couldn’t stop riding. Lesson four: You are bigger than your fears.

I bought a small 2007 Yamaha Virago 250 and became one with it. It was much lighter than the Harley and I haven’t tipped it over once. I rode it all over town for a few months. (My friends at Infusionsoft even did a short video about my business and my riding here.) Then I fell in love with a handsome 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer I met on Craigslist and we’ve been together ever since. Lesson five: You can never have too many bikes.

My biggest lesson (Number six!) from riding motorcycles the past two years is to follow your dreams no matter what your age. I am so grateful I did. Motorcycle therapy changed my life. The people I’ve met who love this sport are incredible and not at all who you would imagine, but I’ll leave that for another post. Dare to dream, dare to act. Your life will never be the same.