A L O N E -tips for women traveling solo

 Just like everything else, there are pros and cons to traveling alone. However, as a woman traveling solo there are some things you need to know and to watch out for. 

The pros are numerous, which is why more and more women tend to be taking to the road on their own. You can stop when you want, take time to soak in the sites, eat where you want, and more: the freedom that comes along when traveling solo and the independence is something I got easily addicted to. 

The cons can seem overwhelming, but tackling those head on will help you get yourself going if you have yet to try solo travel. If you're serious about traveling alone as a woman, you'll want to make the most of it - have the most fun, the biggest adventure, while being safe so you can return home and share your experiences. 

In 2019 I rode my motorcycle from Northern New York to Milwaukee and back -round trip it was a little over 2500 miles all on my own! Even though I didn't leave the United States, I still found it fascinating to see how others like me lived their lives. And it gave me a chance to talk with others, learn about the area from more than just a website or travel book. 

So without further ado, here's my tips for you:

Before You Go-

• Have your motorcycle serviced at the dealership -they have factory trained technicians who know your bike. If you're in-between services (i.e. you're at 27K miles & your next service is at 30K), ask about getting a "Pre-trip Inspection." Prior to my Milwaukee trip, I was told I'd definitely need a new rear tire when I got back since my wear bars where showing. I had them replace the tire before I left because I like tire traction! 
• Make sure you have roadside assistance and I also recommend getting trip interruption insurance. I have both through the same company that does my motorcycle insurance, and it wasn't that much more either. Like the old saying goes: It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Still, you'll want to read exactly what is covered, how to make a claim, and when you can expect to get your money - often times you'll have to fork out money for expenses until you're back on the road or at home, and then you'll be reimbursed. In other words, you've got to have 'emergency money' readily at hand.
• Speaking of insurance, check on any limitations with your medical insurance. Of course in an emergency you'll most likely be taken care of, but what if you get sick (like stomach flu or food poisoning) and just want to see a doctor... will you be covered? These are the questions to ask before your trip rather than having to deal with the headache of wondering if the insurance company will foot the bill. 
• Do your research as you plan your route. I leave it up to you -if you want to plan your stops out and make reservations or just ride until you feel like stopping. Either way, know the route you'll be taking, the areas to avoid, and the places that are safe. Personally I plan out about 8 hours (on the map) between stops, so research the places to stay -since I have rewards points with Best Western I'll look to see if they've got one in the area. Then I research that hotel in particular, pouring over the guest reviews to get a sense of the area. 
• Pack light: take what you need to but don't go overboard. That dress or heels you plan on wearing one special night- leave 'em at home. Use pieces that go with several outfits -jeans, riding pants, moisture wicking tops, a cardigan, flats for when you're off the bike. Leave room in your bag for souvenirs you want to bring home!

During the Trip-

• Eating lunch or dinner, I like to sit at the bar (if there's one) so I can engage in conversation, usually asking more questions than I'm answering. But even so, typically I don't speak to anyone unless I'm spoken to. I don't reveal I'm traveling alone, or where I'm staying. And I don't drink excessively, preferring to keep my senses intact. 
• You'll definitely want to keep your head up!! Now is not the time to bury your face in your smartphone- look up and look around, and know what's going on around you. Off the bike, walk with your shoulder's square and a confident stride. Your body language sends lots of information out to the world, so you'll want to project confident strength. 
• Have a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C, so that way you can keep moving. Plan A is what will most likely happen most of the time, but - if something goes wrong with that plan - you don't want to waste precious time trying to figure out what to do next. You'll want a Plan B, salvaging what you can to keep going (or to get back home). On my way to Milwaukee, I stopped to refuel in Ohio, only to find the power out so gas stations didn't have a way to pump fuel. I got back on the interstate to the next exit, only to find the same thing... I wasn't desperate for gas (my 'gas light' wasn't on), but it would be soon. Nothing left to do but get back on the interstate to the next exit, but if the power wasn't on there, I had my 'plan b': calling for roadside assistance for them to bring me enough fuel to get to a working gas station. Luckily at the next stop they had power and I was able to fill up.
• Jewelry is something to consider -if you wear any at all you might want to wear a wedding ring (even if you're not married). For some reason, even when you're traveling alone, giving others the appearance you're attached and there's a 'significant other' waiting for you at home helps. 
• Consider keeping a travel journal, taking a few moments each evening to write down what happened that day. Not only does it help preserve the trip for you but also for your future generations.
• Get up early, start out early, and then you can get to your destination early -that'll give you time to get your bearings, see what you want to see, and plan out your next day. You'll also want to be your own best company -all too often our negative thoughts can squash the good time waiting for us. Be nice to yourself, relax and have a good time.
• And of course the obvious: safeguard your credit cards, cash and travel documents (driver's license, passport, I.D.), whenever you're traveling. Never ever flash wads of cash around, and you'll want a way to shut off your cards should they come up missing (through an app on your smartphone or have your bank's phone number handy). 
• Last but certainly not least: trust your instincts and act on them!! If something seems out of place or you're feeling threatened please seek help immediately. Many times women have went along when their gut told them not to just because they didn't want to seem rude (and that's what the perpetrator is counting on!). The kindness of strangers is also a real thing, so I'm not saying that you should shun everyone you meet. Just be aware of your surroundings, your own personal limits, and know when and how to get help should you need it.

The best travel advice I have for you is to be the type of traveler you'd like to meet in your own home town. Kindness, respect and a smile go a long way. 

My first 30 days in Behind Bars...

You may remember this past February I broke up... with my 2004 Dyna Super Glide. I traded her in and got my 2018 115th Anniversary Heritage from FX Caprara Harley-Davidson.

Except that it was February... Not exactly Riding Season in Northern New York. 

So I had to wait... and wait... and wait... Then finally, on Earth Day no less, we were finally together and Riding.

One month later and 738 miles are in behind bars of this beautiful bike, and it's been phenomenal! 

Even though there are quite a few differences between my new bike and my old -most notably the engine displacement (my '04 was 88 cubic inch (1450cc), new is 114ci (1868cc)... !!!) -the new still felt like my old friend: cozy & natural. 

And yet, the 114ci Milwaukee-Eight motor is smoooooth -so smooth in fact that it's very easy for me to get up to 70mph and not realize it. (I hope no police are reading this!)

The frame of the 2018 Heritage is as agile as my old bike, making it a true joy to lean into the corners, roll on the throttle and go flying down the road.

With the high-performance suspension, the bike is easily maneuverable in parking lots as well as quite comfortable on long rides. 

Then there's the torque... as in there's A LOT of it!! 

In case you didn't know, torque is the feeling you get as the power of the motor gets transferred to the pavement, sitting you back in your seat.

At first it was hard for me to know when to shift, because this bike has torque that pulls through every gear (rather than running out of power forcing the rider to up-shift). 

The power and torque that the new Softails have will truly put a smile on your face! As the MoCo puts it, "...increased lean angle, quicker turn-in, quicker acceleration and more flickability, all with easier lift-off from the side stand."

I'm here to tell you that is truth in advertising!! Beyond the specs of any bike, there is the 'fun factor' to consider when making a buying decision. And all the new Softails, with their Milwaukee-Eight engines, have a very high rate of 'smiles per mile.' 

I am very much looking forward to many more days behind bars, riding my new Heritage for many, many more miles.

If you're interested in what my 'old' bike is doing now, she's gone on to have lots of fun doing wheelies and performing stunts with Hostile Crew -check out their Facebook page and Instagram.

How to Look Like a Bad-Ass Biker this Fall

Crisp days and longer nights. Cool enough to wear a hoodie and boots, but not so cool that you'll need a puffy coat. And nobody did it better than The Queen of Bikers: Gemma Teller (aka Katey Sagal in her Sons of Anarchy roll).

Katey, in real life married to Sons creator Kurt Sutter, is not actually involved with motorcycle gangs (that I know of anyways)- but she sure had one great wardrobe while on set. Tank tops layered with plaid and lace, jewelry, leather jackets and those boots gave the perfect image to match her character's attitude - which was fearless.

Why not embrace a full biker dress while wandering around with your gang this Fall. Don't be scared- just roll on the throttle and go with it.

Side Note- You don't have to go far or wait days for these fashions to arrive. We've got 'em at FX Caprara Harley-Davidson now. Not close to us? Find it online with Harley.

The Relaxed Fit Plaid Shirt: 

Bring a slightly oversized (but not sloppy) look with the Relaxed Fit Plaid Shirt (96019-18VW). Believe me when I say this layer is soft and lightweight. This long sleeve top goes perfectly over a skinny tank and distressed jeans. 

Caution- Soft Shoulder:

Crochet Lace Shoulder (96010-18VW) is the "it" tee for Fall. The washed cotton, lace yoke and button placket lend a familiar, worn feel to this top. A special touch- faded graphics encircle the hem.

The Lace-Up Tall Boot:

A fan favorite, the Belhaven (D87082) women's leather riding boot is a tall lace up with iconic H-D appeal and classic heritage styling. A top to bottom locking zipper lets the long laces do the talking.

A little-bit higher now:

The Ludwell (D83831) gives you that Harley lift, both in body and spirit. A chunky styled 4-inch heel supporting a 5.5-inch shaft with an ankle strap below the classic Bar & Shield. I think these boots were pulled right out of Gemma's closet.

Brighten things up:

When it comes to jewelry and Harley-Davidson, MOD rules the road. The Milestone Locket Collection are stainless steal lockets that house a beautiful assortment of charms and backplates that can be customized for every type of woman out there.

Essential for Layering:

Perfectly faded with raw-edges for a worn-in look, the Genuine Pullover Hoodie (99100-17VW) sports twill tape trim around the hood and lacing on the cuffs. The traditional Bar & Shield logo has that distressed look for a vintage vibe.

The quintessential Leather Jacket:

A jacket so epic, it's been 115 years in the making. This Women's 115th Anniversary Leather Jacket (98010-18VW) has hints of blue stitching and contrasting underlay that complement the design details and colors of the 115th Anniversary motorcycles. Of course this jacket is more than good looking- it's road ready.

Top it Off:

This classy women's flat top hat (99421-18VW)gets an update to mark the H-D 115th. It stylishly combos with mesh panels and rivets for contrasting texture. Bonus: shimmering metallic embroidery to catch the eye.

The Future is so Bright, You Gotta:

See the world from a new lens with Tori by Wylie X (HATOR01). Beauty- with bling in the right places, and brains- meets ANSI requirements.

We've come a long way, Mama!!

In light of Mother's Day, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite "Mothers of Motorcycling for Modern Day Women" on this blog. Not only because of "women power", "feminism" or the "gender pay gap" - but also because these ladies are just fantastic human beings who faced the odds against them, yet succeeded.

And, let's be honest, until this century women riding motorcycles wasn't considered 'the norm'. When I first started riding nearly all my gear was made for a man! Even back in 2008 (when I first started working at a motorcycle dealership) and I'd help out in the Parts department, I'd occasionally have a customer ask to speak to one of the guys because he didn't trust what I - a woman (gasp!) - had told him. [For the record, I did give the correct part or advice 99% of the time!]

But now the times are changing.... for the better that is. At least where women riding motorcycles is concerned. There's a lot more riding gear for us now, and it's fairly common to see a woman 'riding her own'. However, these are the ladies that heralded our motorcycling ways, way back in the day. In no particular order I'd like to introduce you to: 

Della Crewe and her dog Trouble

The year is 1914 - a time where women were expected to be polite and only speak when spoken to. Hell, we couldn't even vote!! Yet this young lady, already an experienced traveler, began her journey on her Harley-Davidson® from Waco, Texas the 'round about way to New York City, 5,378 miles.

Bessie Stringfield

This lady had more courage in her little finger than most people have in a lifetime! At age 19 she'd toss a penny over a map and ride to where ever it landed - crossing the lower 48 states six times. As a black woman, often she couldn't find a place to stay. This didn't stop Bessie! She simply rolled up her leather jacket to use as a pillow on her handlebars, rested her feet on the rear fender, and slept at gas stations.

Augusta "Gussie" and Adeline "Addie" Van Buren

As America was about to enter World War I, these sisters wanted to prove women could serve in the military as dispatch riders. So they set off from Brooklyn, NY to Los Angeles, CA. Along the way they made even more history by being the first to climb to the top of Pikes Peak by motor vehicle. Despite their epic and successful journey, even though they were arrested several times for wearing men's clothing, their application to join the military was rejected.

This is the 100th Anniversary Year of Gussie & Addie's trip. Their ride is being recreated and you can learn about that by clicking here.

Avis and Effie Hotchkiss

The ultimate mother-daughter bonding road trip!! Effie - a single, professional woman - was over-stressed. Given the 'prescription' to stop all work and be on rest, she bought a 1915 11-F Harley-Davidson® so she could see the vast countryside that she'd only dreamed of. After adding a sidecar that would enable her mother, Avis, to join her, they'd take daily trips outside of their home town of Brooklyn. According to Effie, it was Avis who came up with the idea of riding out to San Francisco, for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. And so they did, and then back to Brooklyn, a 9,000 mile round trip, becoming the first transcontinental women motorcyclists.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention:

Dorothy "Dot" Robinson

Considered by many as the "First Lady of Motorcycling", Dot was riding motorcycles before she was born (her mother was rushed to the hospital by motorcycle to deliver Dot). All throughout her childhood and into her adult years she was surrounded by the motorcycle industry. After she married, Dot and her husband entered endurance runs & races - despite race officials attempting to ban her. But is was during the Laconia National that she was approached by a fellow female rider, Linda Dugeau, about starting a women's riding organization. Within a year, the Motor Maids had been born.

So I'd like to conclude by saying "Happy Mother's Day" to these lovely ladies. They helped to 'give birth' to all the women riders we have today!!

Me and my 2004 Dyna Super Glide, taking the ferry across Lake Champlain