The New Rider Chronicles: Connecting With The Community

One of the most exciting things about starting a new hobby is sharing it with others who have the same passion. Prior to becoming a rider, I’d only experienced the motorcycling community as a pillion passenger. While I was still welcomed as a nonrider, I admired the close-knit comradery and neighborliness they shared over their love of riding. The more motorcycling events and organized rides I attended through work and with my boyfriend, the more I aspired to become a part of the crowd. 

Learning to ride has connected me with so many amazing people in the motorcycling community, and every single person has an inspiring story to tell. As a female rider, I’ve been fortunate to meet several incredible women who continue to motivate me in my motorcycling journey and serve as strong role models for both women and men alike. 

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RACHEL LEPLEY

While attending AIMExpo in Las Vegas, I met a superstar woman who truly embodies what it means to be an avid motorcyclist. Rachel Lepley started out as a passenger on the back of her brother’s bike, but quickly got hooked on motorcycling. Beginning her journey on a 125cc Yamaha, she quickly conquered difficult techniques by practicing the skills she enjoyed the least until they became easy. Now six years later, Rachel just completed the motorcycling trip of a lifetime, riding solo across 48 states in 48 days on her Royal Enfield INT650. Covering just under 21.5k miles, Rachel’s journey is an impressive and aspirational feat for motorcyclists of any level. 

Find Rachel on Instagram: @RachelMoto_

Rachel’s advice to all riders out there: “Enroll in as many riding classes as you can find, and keep upskilling yourself. You can never learn too much or be too safe on the road!”

AYA DIJKWEL

A serious Ducati advocate, I had the pleasure of meeting rider, model, and influencer Aya Dijkwel through my boyfriend, another Ducati fan. Motorcycling since 2016, Aya broke into the sport after riding as a “backpack” through the canyons of Utah, knowing motorcycling was a feeling she needed for herself. What’s admirable about Aya’s story is that not only is she an impressive rider across dirt, track, and street, she can turn her own wrenches, too. As a new rider, Aya was intimidated by the commitment of buying a bike and repair costs, which led her to search for second-hand deals and learn how to work on her own bike. Aside from mastering her own bike maintenance, Aya has helped grow the female motorcycling community by teaching several women to ride and launching her own motorcycle event, “Curry & Ride,” which has become a staple in her local moto community in Utah. 

Find Aya on Instagram, TikTok, & YouTube: @Ayalolwut
Find Curry & Ride on Instagram: @curryandride

Aya’s advice to all riders out there: “Riding is not an exclusively technical skill – it is a lot of mental fortitude as well. A low level of confidence means you are more likely to focus on the possibility of failing rather than being optimistic about succeeding. It’s a lot like target fixation: the new rider needs to focus on where they are going (literally and metaphorically) instead of what they’re afraid of.”

JESSICA GOODE

Before I ever thought about riding on my own, I met Jessica Goode at the Nashville Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR), a vintage motorcycle event to raise awareness for men’s mental health and prostate cancer research. As one of the only female riders in the group of nearly 200, I was immediately impressed by Jessica’s confidence and dedication to the cause. Little did I know that Jessica’s motorcycle journey hadn’t been so easy. After being deterred from riding at 18 when her father refused to co-sign a bike, she picked up the sport nine years later going on to co-found the Nashville chapter of The Litas, a global all-female motorcycle group that empowers women to ride. Despite helping run a collective of passionate women to be confident in their motorcycling skills, she still believes her greatest accomplishment to be taking the initial step to start riding and breaking the mold of traditional motorcycling stereotypes.

Find Jessica on Instagram: @GetTheGoodes
Find The Litas on Instagram: @TheLitas

Jessica’s advice to all riders out there: “It’s your journey on the bike. Make sure you ride for yourself and no else. If you wait for everyone to go out riding, you will never get there.”

B. POETIQUE

On my journey to connect with the moto community, I began following moto vlogger and poet, B. Poetique, on Instagram. At a young age, B. Poetique became enthralled with motorcycling after watching one of her peers get picked up from summer camp on the back of her dad’s bike. After taking an MSF course in 2019, her love for sportbikes only grew, but she faced a significant challenge as a new rider. Standing only 5 feet tall, B. Poetique’s biggest hurdle was getting comfortable riding on a sportbike, given their tall seat height. Determined, she started out by purchasing a smaller motorcycle with an adjustable lowering kit, and slowly increased the seat height until she was comfortable riding at the bike’s original height. Now four and a half years later, her riding confidence continues to grow in the saddle of a stock height CBR 650R, comfortably taking long trips and attending moto community events in her area.

Find B. Poetique on Instagram: @b_poetique & on Youtube: B.Poetique Vlogs

B. Poetique’s advice to all riders out there: “Always strive to learn new skills. Skill building is a pivotal part of being able to not only thrive in life, but to thrive in motorcycling.”

MELANIE EON

I mentioned the Gunswear company in a previous article in this series—that’s how I met Melanie Eon. Melanie started on two wheels at just 14 years old, and purchased her first manual motorcycle five years ago when she moved to the West Coast. Now, she owns three street bikes along with a couple dirtbikes, and can confidently navigate the busy California freeways thanks to support and coaching from her riding community. What I love most about Melanie’s story is how deeply she believes motorcycling saved her life and that the motorcycling community can help to save others, too. Driven by her passion for the sport, motorcycling helped Melanie meet her partner, launch her career, connect with a new family, and gave her a renewed sense of purpose. 

Find Melanie on Instagram: @Mel_mx75

Melanie’s advice to all riders out there: “Don’t be afraid to enjoy your own ride at your own speed. I always say, I’d rather ride slow and die old, rather than ride fast and die young.”

At the end of the day, motorcycling isn’t always about the ride. If these motorcyclists prove anything, it’s that sometimes the journey doesn’t have a destination, and you can end up in unexpected places by following wherever your passion for riding takes you.

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