Rude Biker Chick Strikes Again

Meeting Margaret on the road a few months after the Steel Horse Sisterhood Summit

The Rude Biker Chick has done it again! I've pissed off a group of women for recently writing this:

"On a side note, I was supposed to meet a group of women riders that day for a ride, but they cancelled due to the rain. Maybe they should all get Indian Scouts!"

This was written on our site Indian Scout, chronicling the adventures I'm having riding the Scout on loan to me from the good folks at Indian Motorcycles. The article, "Riding the Indian Scout in the Rain" was written to highlight my experience of riding in San Diego during a touch of rain. Keep in mind, San Diego sees less than 4 inches of rain a year, so I won't get many chances to evaluate this bike under these conditions.

The ladies had been planning this meet and greet for about 6 weeks, amid a great deal of confusion and plans that hadn't really been set it stone. The date and time had been set, but finding a place had become an issue. Finally the week had arrived, the plans were set, and the weather report shows some rain. The meet was cancelled, reinstated, then cancelled again. I was disappointed because I had been looking forward to meeting the ladies and getting some seat time. Making the most of the situation, Steve and I did some riding that day, in spite of the rain.

The backlash of the article was swift. The group leader came to me with the complaints from a few of the members claiming I was pointing them out as being wimps. The group leader was very kind and understanding and felt badly that my post in our group page had to be removed.

Frankly, I'm dumbfounded.

When I think of the women I met last year at the Steel Horse Sisterhood Summit, their toughness, fortitude and their endurance, I am blown away that any group meet would be cancelled over a couple inches of rain. Most of the 300 women riding to the Summit in Denver last May endured high winds, riding sideways for 2 and 3 states. Quite a few rode in the rain, hail and snow. Margaret "Dream Catcher" Morin rode from California to Albuquerque to meet up with her Navajo sisters to ride as a group to Denver. She rode those two days SIDEWAYS IN THE HIGH WINDS all alone. The group departed from Albuquerque riding into some serious rain and cold. When they left Trinidad, CO heading north on Interstate 25, they rode in snow.

But each rider must ride their own ride. I respect that motto. I simply wasn't mentally prepared for the cancellation and then a backlash over pointing out why the meet was cancelled.

I believe in taking ownership of our choices. I do my best to stand up and take the consequences for everything I do, even when they are painful. I try not to make excuses for my behavior, my words, or my decisions. I do me and you do you.

Last year I declared that I am a Fluffy Butt rider. Iron Butts ride 1000 miles in 24 hours (or more), but I'm a proud, card carrying Fluffy Butt, riding no more than 300 miles a day. I am not ashamed for doing this; it is my choice and I stand behind it. I ride my own ride my own way.

I don't consider myself all that tough as a rider. I ride in the rain because I've become accustomed to doing so. It doesn't phase me now after all of the exciting experiences I've had on two-wheels. If these women don't ride in the rain, that's cool. They've established their boundaries and I respect that. Everyone must ride their own ride. But if they don't like me mentioning it, well, they're in for a Rude Biker Chick Awakening.

Seriously, I'm not a nice lady.