Newsflash – Girls Ride Motorcycles

On Sunday morning I hopped on my bike to head out to Captree Park to meet my dear friend Bill for coffee.

The Captree parking lot serves as an informal hang for motorcycle and car enthusiasts on Sundays before the town starts charging for entry during the summer season. These types of gatherings draw a diverse crowd. You get everyone from grizzled bikers, hot-rodders, Euro supercar drivers and you might even see a woman on a motorcycle mixed in.

Captree Bikes on Sunday Morning

Bill and I stood directly behind my motorcycle sipping our coffee, talking and generally minding our business when two men walked next to my bike and started checking it out.

“What year?” the taller of the two men asked.

“11,” I answered and he nodded.

He then went on to tell his friend how obviously uncomfortable and awful my bike must be. “Just terrible. Terrible. What you want is something like that…” as he pointed to the Harley-Davidson 883 parked next to me.

Then in what could only be described as a facepunch worthy moment, Mr. Expert then looked at me and said,

“Is it uncomfortable riding on the back of that thing?”

I scanned his face for a moment to see if he was just busting my chops but I saw no signs of anything but dead seriousness.

“I have no idea,” I answered in disgusted disbelief.

Now that I think about it, my response was technically untrue. But in that moment of trying to restrain myself from lighting him up with a nice go fuck yourself that was what came slithering out of my mouth.

Bill, who is a prince, deadpanned to the guy, “You, my friend, are sailing into uncharted waters.” He then went on to laugh himself silly.

You just can’t make this shit up.

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

You may also like...

28 Responses

  1. novos says:

    I was just talking to OG, that while it’s not the absolute rule, that in general, f’n Harley guys never fail to dissapoint.

    We were just at a motorcycle museum, and a “Harley Guy” was telling his wife the Brough Superior I was looking at was in the museum because “those American Chopper guys tried to make one for Jay Leno.”

  2. Jess says:

    I get this type of crap all the time. There should be a universal response that sounds much better than, “you are so cute.” Getting supplies for my oil change the other day (where I was also picking up my bike from it’s service) the guy at the counter proceeded to tell my male friend how to change the oil. Um, it’s my bike, I’m paying, I’m at the counter and he’s about ten feet away. What an arsehole service guy. Arg, your post touched on my pet peeve!!!!

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      ::hifive::

      I hear you.

      How are you at giving penetrating dirty looks? The type of look that tells someone you think they’re an asshole without saying a word. I find that face very handy in situations such as these.

      • I have developed a super searing kick you the ass moto diva stare that would freeze the heart of anyone getting it. It just takes a little practice, add a sigh or two and you are golden – words aren’t necessary.

      • Its so funny what people assume about who is riding the bike. I also get the gears when I wear safety gear from *snort* “hard core” bikers. Yesterday I was looking for donations for swag to IFRD on Friday and 1 fellow said because I had my hi viz vest on over top of my jacket said “I could tell you were new because of the vest.” I gave him a hard cold wither your innards stare and asked him if he likes to ride around in traffic unnoticed and if he wears gear? He said “No he doesn’t wear gear.” My reply to him was “Nice knowing you.” There are some neanderthal knuckle draggers out there. *eye roll*

  3. Zoe says:

    Nice answer… I’d have probably been an idiot and said “yea it’s not bad” or something and wished later I’d said “doesn’t matter, I only ride solo”.

    Sometimes my hubby and I choose to go two-up just coz it’s easier for a quick last-minute journey. I feel like holding a sign up saying “I ride too, this is just for convenience right now”!

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      “I feel like holding a sign up saying “I ride too, this is just for convenience right now”!”

      I love that and as a matter of fact know just what you mean 😆

  4. Donna Rees says:

    Great reply, Fuzzy!! I have heard some similar comments, but didn’t have the snappy retort. I like Bill’s addition too. You two can team talk anytime!!

  5. NWX says:

    We were just having this conversation on Saturday, really about the odd growth and ebb and flow between generations of bikers. Particularly, that many don’t think of younger women riding motorcycles but they are out there.

    Oddly enough, the thing that always throws me about people commenting on the bikes of others is when they openly walk up to you and talk to you in a friendly stance, then insult your motorcycle.

    Some people are just morons.

  6. Trobairitz says:

    Nice! You showed uncanny restraint. Did your friend Bill take a step back out of the line of fire as he was laughing his butt off?

    I always laugh when we go into a shop bike shopping for me and all the salesmen do is talk to hubby assuming we’re looking at bikes for him. We just shake our heads.

    • Geoff says:

      My wife and I have this happen to us as well…no matter how clear we are that SHE’s the one shopping for a bike, most salesmen just ignore her and want to talk to me. I have to walk away to force them to actually speak to her. The few guys who do “get it” right away, though, are the ones who would get her business.

      • Sharon says:

        That exact same thing happened to me and my husband when I was shopping for bikes. Even after Chris said, ‘I’m not shopping. She’s shopping. Talk to her.’ the salesman continued to follow him around the shop. Oi.

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      Bill just stood there with me until Mr. Expert made his exit and then he went about the business of cracking up. I don’t think Bill wanted to miss what might’ve come next 🙂

      For the most part my exchanges with people are good. It’s just that these really stupid ones stand out in your mind.

  7. Pam says:

    I am so not quick on my feet with replies! Good one!

  8. John Cloonan says:

    Great retort! As I was reading this, my first inclination was to think that you’d taken the obvious moron’s bashing of your machine as the sole personal affront, until I came to his second comment. Great build up, write up, and comeback!

    -J

    ps – Happens on car-buying expeditions, too. A sales guy lost my girlfriend’s business by not acknowledging her as we were getting out of our car at the dealer.

  9. Liz Jansen says:

    I’ve had students ask me if I ride! And been loaded up on a cross country tour, obviously no ROOM for a passenger and been asked where “we” are from and how “our” trip is going.

    As mentioned, these are the exceptions but they stand out. They’re fodder for funny stories.

    Think of how cloistered their world is ..and what they’re missing out on. They have no idea of the adventure we enjoy.

  10. Shybiker says:

    OMG. As gentle and generous as I am, I would have slugged him. Or, if I was standing next to you, I would have bailed you out of jail after you slugged him. This type of sexist stereotyping makes me angrier than anything else in the world.

    Knowing Bill, I can hear those words coming out of his mouth, with a sly amused smile on his face.

  11. Cindy Lou says:

    Great comeback! If I could have restrained myself, when he asked how uncomfortable it was to ride on the back of it, I would have said “Why don’t you tell me, hop on, it’s my bike! But you better hang on!” 🙂

  12. Ronman says:

    People kill me with their ideas of only certain bikes are for certain people. Personally I could care less what you ride. I ride a Harley because that’s what is comfortable to me. I don’t have the cleanest bike. I will always pick riding it over rubbing it.

    I wonder how many miles a year your “expert” rides? I bet he hasn’t ridden as many miles in his 5 best years as you ride in one. That is if he’s ridden 5 years.

    Ronman

  13. walk_n_wind says:

    The only problem with becoming smarter and more experienced is that ignorance stings even more.

  14. Alysia says:

    LOL. I love it. I’ve been pretty fortunate not to get comments like that. Though, once at a stop sign a guy rolled down his window & said to me, “That’s a pretty big bike for a girl.” … Hello – it’s a Ninja 250. TWO-FIFTY. LOL. I guess we probably shouldn’t be using power tools either, who knows what could happen, haha. 😛

  15. GLantern says:

    Close minded fools, you held your cool well. It is amazing the ignorance of people.

  16. Trish says:

    I’m so glad I found this post thanks to Twitter and #IFRD. I’m going to have to remember this one.

    I bought my first bike in January. When I first started shopping for one, I was amazed at how many arrogant and STUPID salesmen I came across. One asked if he should take my picture so I could send it to all my friends so they’d believe I was on a bike. Several others wouldn’t even talk to me–they would try to talk to my husband if he was along. Fortunately, he would try to correct them and say, “Buddy, not only is this bike for her, she’s the one with the checkbook. Don’t look at me.”

  17. Cadillac Jack says:

    Great post Fuzzy. Well done on the keeping your composure too, negative energy blocks creative thought, so apparently you didn’t let him get the beast of you.

    In the south, you could have just said “bless your heart”, guess you could say that up there as well, they’ll just have to go home a google it before they’ve realized they’ve been dissed! 🙂

  18. Leslie S says:

    when we rode cross country in 2010 we had so many guys take a double look at us when they saw we were chicks on BMW F650GS bikes…some said “aren’t those bikes to tall for you?” Are you sure it’s safe to ride them? You are taking them where? They all were on HD’s. But after we chatted for awhile we then got, “Holy crap you guys have balls to ride from coast to coast!” Balls eh? Too funny…we still ride in a boyz world don’t we….

Leave a Reply to Fuzzygalore Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.