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My heart was pounding as I pulled on my riding boots. My fingers were sweating as I donned my Harley-Davidson vest. I went to the key rack and went through all the keys that we have had hanging for so many years, some that wed long since forgotten what they were for. I saw the Harley-Davidson key first and ran my trembling fingers across those black letters … the key to my new life. I then fumbled through the many keys to find the one to our shop across the yard. No, not this one, not this one either, gosh … what is this one for? Ah-ha! There is the key.
I swallowed hard, knowing that my next steps would be out the door to the shop that housed my 2008 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Low 105th Anniversary Edition. I bought this bike back in November and have put 415 miles on it. OK, so my husband put on about half of those. OK, I said it. I had been waiting for the times my husband would come home from work to ride with him on his Heritage Softail Classic. Only thing is, my husband works out of town and does not come home but every other weekend. This made for some long times between riding, as on some of those weekends we had other commitments and could not ride. It had just dawned on me that if I was ever going to be a serious rider and get experience, then I was going to have to ride it by myself much of the time. Besides, the thought of riding on my own, not worrying about someone watching me or keeping up with their speed, going down roads that I chose to ride on, sounded very appealing.
I stuffed my drivers license, my credit card, my cell phone and my house keys in my pocket. Dang, I am going to have to find another way to tote these things, I thought to myself. Then out the house I went.
With each step toward the shop, my heart beat faster and faster until I thought it would jump from my chest. Oh, gosh, I cant do this! What am I thinking? What if something happens? OK, well, Ill just at least go crank it up and see how that feels.
There she sat, all beautiful 1200ccs of her black and copper glory, sitting there as if to say, “What the heck you waiting for? This is why you bought me, isnt it?” How could I argue?
So I unhooked the battery tender—nice thing to remember, dont you think? I put the key in and unlocked the forks, then put it in the ignition. Then I sat down. Yeah, it still felt good just like all the other times I sat on her. OK, Ill crank it up. Varroooommmm babooomm babooooommmmmmm—oh, yeah, she still sounded good with slash cut mufflers and the Power Commander I had installed. I put it in neutral and pondered how I would make the sharp turn and hump over the exit of the shop to get the heck outta there. Hmm. I sat there, and sat there, and sat there, my heart pounding again and the smell of gas fumes getting the best of me. So I cut her off. I tried to walk it out of there, but the hump was too big, so I cut it on, swallowed hard, eased the throttle and eased out the clutch, and I was outta there! Stopped and got off and put the garage door back down.
Now you might wonder, what is special about all this? Well, Im ashamed to say that every time I rode with my husband, he got the bike out of the shop and brought it to our driveway all ready to ride. And I let him spoil me this way. Only thing was, I was doing myself a great disservice with this. So now Id already reached a milestone before even getting out of my drive.
I eased up to the edge of the road and off I went. So far so good. I rode down a road that has very little traffic. Oh, man, there I was alone on the highway with my bike. The feeling of exhilaration that overcame me is indescribable. I was free, blasting off on my bike all alone, shifting gears ever so smoothly and feeling the power beneath me. Then onto the main highway I went. I felt so comfortable pulling up to stop signs and taking off, even more so than that I was on my own. I dont know, I just felt like no one was watching me and I was free.
I rode on the two-lane road, turned off, went down many, many back roads, then my gas light came on. Oh, Id never gotten gas by myself before with my bike. I went into our little bitty town and drove up to the gas pump at a very busy store. I got lots of smiles, surprised looks and so on. Id never pumped the gas in my bike by myself, and of course I overflowed it. I walked to the other pumps trying to find a paper towel dispenser with no luck. A man asked, “What are you looking for?” I told him, and he tried unsuccessfully to find one for me. So I said it was OK—Id just smell like gas. I thanked him anyway.
I cranked her up again, realizing I had not cut the bike off completely and the lights had been on the whole time. Oh, well, a lesson for the future. A car was in front of me, and I didnt want to back out, so I waited and waited. Seeing that it might be a while, I decided I would go around to the other side, which was a small space. But I did it and did it well, I thought, and I was off again. I rode down some more back roads and got onto the busy four-lane, which I had ridden many times before. After a while I got bored with the straight ahead driving and turned down a county road and made the way, with lots of turns, back to my home.
I turned into the drive, got off, opened the garage and drove that puppy in there over the hump and all without any problem. I cut her off and backed her back into the space beside our Heritage where I got her from. I put the battery tender back on, patted her and made my way back into my house—except the person who walked back to the house is not the same person that walked out of the house to the shop that morning. Shed changed. She became a woman who knows she can ride her own ride, live her own life, dream her own dreams with or without someone riding right beside her. I was liberated.
I had ridden 58 miles alone that day—the most important 58 miles of my life!
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I loved your story! How I can relate. My husband still backs my 883L out and pulls it out of the driveway for me. I still get so nervous when I first get started. I had a spill leaving from our driveway in May. I went across the road and down a 10 foot bank bruising myself and the bike. So little by little I have started to ride again. I don't go by myself yet and I still have to get the courage to conquer the driveway but I will. It is always such a thrill to see other women riders and now that I ride I get bored being a passenger. Good Luck to all the lady riders out there!
Wish you could see the smile on my face as I read your story. It could have been me writing it. I have an 883 Sportster and used to rely on my husband to get it out of our garage and over the hump onto the driveway. Most of my riding was with him or a girlfriend who would always meet me at our house, until that one day when my inner voice kept nagging me telling me I was crazy for not just getting on and going by myself. Knees shaking, butterflies in the stomach, I did it and haven't looked back since. Oh yeah, the gas all over the tank, I've done that as well.
Another Rhonda here, originally from Whiteville, NC, very near Clarkton. I loved your story! Although I have been riding for several years, I've always ridden with my husband. He spoils me, too, and always pumps my gas and backs my Heritage into the garage for me. He jokes that if he dies before me, I've got one tank of riding left. One of my goals this year is to ride somewhere – anywhere – on my own. Kudos to you!
What a great story! And boy can I relate. I, too, have ridden (very little!) only with my hubby. Took the motorcycle Ohio course three years ago, but because I refuse to ride by myself, and he is an over-the-road trucker, I just sat on my front porch in the summer and watched the bikes rumble on by. It was extremely hard!
I am scheduled to take the course again in April and have been out a few times already with my hubby, usually just to the parking lot down the street. But I feel a building urgency to walk down to the garage, climb on my Yamaha 650 V Star and just do it, just like you did! Sounds like a stupid small step, but it's really a monumental one. I did achieve a milestone the last time we rode last weekend though. Hubby usually backs Rose down the little incline in front of the garage and puts her away for me, but that bothered me, so I attempted it myself, and I did it! Baby steps. Thank you for your story.
Really liked your story. I just bought my first bike – Heritage Softail Classic and taking the riders course in May. Very excited about riding my own bike for a change and yet nervous too. I had the bike lowered and more chrome put on; now sitting back and waiting for the class. My husband has been riding for 50 years and is excited about my joining him at his side.
I really enjoyed your story and could feel your every move like it will be my own. I just bought a 883L XL, my first Harley. I have of yet to start my classes (April) so I'm just sitting on her and looking at her — so excited to get started. Thanks for sharing your story!
I love this article because I identify with every decision and move she made. Yes, the level of confidence you gain by riding all by yourself is extremely liberating.
I loved your story, Rhonda. I can totally relate — right down to having to put the gas in the bike for the first time! I used to ride only with my husband as well. The idea of going on my own, despite having ridden for years, made me nervous. What if the bike broke down? What if I dropped it? What if…?
I also can relate to the freedom from being watched. I know my husband worries about me, and watching me ride allows him to give me valuable feedback, tips and warnings, which I do appreciate. But there is something liberating about riding solo and having to deal with it on your own.
In fact, now I'm having even more fun when we do ride together, because my confidence level has soared. I must confess, though, he still backs the bike out of the garage 99 percent of the time for me! Yes, I can do it myself, but since the driveway drops away from the garage, it's certainly easier for him to roll it down the little hill than me. I'd feel silly dropping it right there when the engine isn't even on. Thanks for sharing!