Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/29136
Women’s Motorcycle Month by JIM JONES I hear that the month of May is Women’s Motorcycle Month. It is a little confusing depending on which website you visit. Harley- Davidson says it is May. The American Motorcycle Association says it is July. So with not being certain which month it is, I declare by the power vested in me by Up and Coming Weekly, that today is Women’s Motorcycle Day. Why such a proclamation? It’s simple, the weather is getting nicer. Women are getting tired of watching the men have all of the fun. Many are tired of riding on the back of a motorcycle and want to experience the adventure for themselves. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, there are ap- proximately four and a half mil- lion women riders out there. Every 10 motorcycle owners are women and 28 percent of them are motorcycle riders. So where is the industry with all of this? I don’t really know. A business portfolio that has 28 percent market share would seem to get any CEO’s at- tention. When you go into your average motorcycle shop it is very much male oriented. From clothes, to helmets, to the bikes themselves — they all scream MALE, for the most part! According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, there are approximately four and a half million women riders out there. APRIL 16 • VETERANS’ MC VA HOSPITAL RUN at Legends Pub. Call 867- 2364 for more info. APRIL 23 • BUFFALO SOLDIERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF NC PONY EXPRESS RIDE at Cape Fear Harley Davidson. Registration 9 a.m. Kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. $20 per person, $5 per extra rider. Call 974-8100 or visit www.ncbuffalosoldiers.com for more info. APRIL 29 - MAY 1 • GYPSY WOMEN SPRING FLING. Call Legends Pub at 867-2364 for more info APRIL 30 • HOGS AND RAGS SPRING RALLY. Enjoy a relaxing ride to the beach and help the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, the American Cancer Society and Kidsville News! of Cumberland County.Open to motorcylces, classic cars and convertibles. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Ride leaves from ASOM at 9:30 a.m. $50 entry fee. www.hogsandrags.com. So ladies you can do that thing you do and just get out and do it and find what works for you. When buying a motorcycle, size matters. Let’s face it; a bike has to fit the rider. There are bikes I love, but ergonomically they are not comfortable for me. I really like the Yamaha R1 and the BMW S1000RR (both are crotch rockets) but my belly is all over the tank and my back quickly hurts, so it is not a good fit for me. For women, most have to consider the weight of the bike and their inseam. If the bike is too heavy, then you will have problems. If your feet cannot reach the ground, then you will have problems — and it will be expensive learn- ing that lesson. Picking the right bike for you is a big first step. Here are few examples that you may find to be a good starting point. Check out the Harley-Davidson Sportster, Honda Shadow, Yamaha V-Star, Harley-Davidson Softail, Kawasaki Vulcan, Kawasaki Ninja, Suzuki Boulevard, Honda Rebel, Honda CBR600RR, Harley Davidson FLSTF Fat Boy, BMW R650GS, and one of my favorites, the Triumph Bonneville. It is important that your bike be comfortable. If it is not, you won’t make it far. I’ve always said that that there are bikes that look good in front of the bar and there are bikes that will take you anywhere in the world. So far, I have not found a good bike that does both except the Harley Davidson Ultra Glide, but you won’t see your average lady on that unless she is a very skilled rider. If you don’t ride, Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) offers a great motorcycle class for beginners. They provide the bikes which is great because they are light weight. Plus, if you drop it, no big deal. Drop your own bike and something breaks, (it always does) and you will be shelling out money for parts for your new bike. FTCC also makes sure you show up with the proper safety equipment. This a great way to start your motorcycle experience. When buying or riding, one thing to consider is the size of your engine. If you get a engine that is too small you will be left behind on a highway when you are riding to the beach or mountains with your friends. If it is too big and you can’t control it, it can kill you. That goes for males and females alike. If my proclamation has motivated you to get off the sidelines or off the back and onto the driver’s seat then you can thank me for moving your celebration up a month. If there is a topic that you would like to discuss you can contact me at motorcycle- 4fun@aol.com. RIDE SAFE! 20 UCW APRIL 13-19, 2011 JAMES JONES, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com APRIL 30 • SPECIAL FORCES BROTHERHOOD MOTORCYCLE CLUB First bike out at 1 p.m. $10 per bike $5 per additional hand. Food, music, prizes, 50/50 raffle. Proceeds April 16th - Veterans’ MC VA Hospital Run Starting from Legends Pub April 29th - May 1st Gypsy Women Spring Fling (Poker Run - April 30th) Become part of one of the fastest growing restaurant companies in the country. We have immediate openings for people who are hospitable, motivated and ambitious. NEW FAYETTEVILLE LOCATION OPENING SOON! Now hiring Hourly Kitchen/Service Managers Join us for open interviews! Thursday, April 14th 9AM-5PM Holiday Inn Express - Fayetteville-Fort Bragg 1706 Skibo Rd. Fayetteville, NC 28303 Work for a great company that offers great benefits and is committed to promoting 100% of our managers from within. To find out more about us, visit: www.chipotle.com 4624 BRAGG BLVD. An Equal Opportunity Employer WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM