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| Meeting Margaret on the road a few months after the Steel Horse Sisterhood Summit |
"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.
Ahhh, they are all a bunch of pu**ys.......oh, actually they are :-)
ReplyDeleteWho cares, they didn't want to ride in the rain, that's it, live with it, don't like the mention of it? too bad. I'm behind exactly what you said :-)
One reason I never liked groups, too many cry babies.
Keep riding your ride. Sounds like the ladies might be a little sensitive about not riding in the rain. In some parts of the country if you don't ride in the rain you don't ride, we just suck it up and do it even if we don't like it.
ReplyDeleteBacklash over speaking your mind is one of the reasons you'll never find me hanging out with groups of people. And by groups I mean more than about 4-6. To constantly remind yourself to "use your filter" lest you piss someone off is just a pain in the ass.
Well, I don't think anybody loves to ride in the rain, but if you're on the road you gotta endure it, it's part of the experience.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I imagine that with the little rain you get in your neck of the woods, the roads must be darn slippery from wet dust, and that can be a frightening experience. So, I understand the not wanting to ride part. What I don't quite get is the not-telling part.
There is no shame in admitting that some things can't or won't be done. I for myself can't seem to find pleasure in off road and gravel. If I don't have to ride it I won't. But rain? Bah, humbug.
Your awesome! You said everything I was thinking. That is all.
ReplyDeleteSash, you sure opened a can of Drama on FB! All it is is a little bit of water. They should pull up their big girl panties and give it a chance. I, personally, don't mind riding in the rain. But, to be honest, summer rains are a lot better than winter rains.
ReplyDeleteRiders come in all flavors. Be your own rider, choose the conditions you are willing to ride in, choose the milage you are willing to roll in a day, own those choices, and be happy with the ride.