Errrr.... Hello.... We're the VC & this is a video about us arsing about with bikes in the place we call home.
Directed by David Hartley at Incomingchaos - Who honestly must have the patience of a saint for dealing with us lot (Sorry we showed up hungover and after not going to bed the night before ... oops)
A massive thanks to David Hartley & all his fam & crew & all at The Shop Customs for putting up with us. We know we're a handful.
THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE RIDICULOUS!
Come party till you pants fall off with us & the wonderful chaps from Dice Magazine & co for their issue 37 Launch.
Booze, Food, Bikes, Dj set from Apache Jack & a very special performance from The Black Tibetans..
JUNE 10th from 7pm....Be there or be a dick!
Errrrrrrr...This got us all road trippy dreamy like...
"21 DAYS UNDER THE SKY examines the timeless American love affair with motorcycles and an even greater American tradition: the road trip. Four bikers meet in San Francisco to start a 3,800 mile ride down the Lincoln Highway – the oldest coast to coast route that remains mostly two lane blacktop.
As they travel, the journey becomes less about getting anywhere and more about going back to where things started; about the heavenly landscapes, the proud people they encounter, and the small towns they rest in. It is a contemporary look at the American Dream, and the fearless few that have the guts to go without a plan – and a reminder of what a real adventure feels like."
Coming Out in May 2016 from the wonderful chaps at Dice Mag.
For more info go to www.21daysunderthesky.com
Last Saturday morning we had the pleasure of dragging our sorry hungover arses to The Shop to hang out with the lovely Dice Magazine. Watch out for Issue 67 to read about us blab on about rubbish that may or may not have included motorbikes.....(We were still drunk, so we can't be held accountable for anything we said )...... Thanks for putting up with us Matt!
x
IMAGES FROM: @dicemagazine & @jmbrln
To know this lady is to absolutely fall in love with her. We first met Virginia Hall back last year at BRO3 where she was all smiles & the longest limbs ever to grace a Harley.
Alongside her incredible photography work Virginia recently took on her own bike build & boy did it turn out pretty sweet. Luckily her other half, Jay Cagney, was around to make a vid about the whole process. Welding never looked so good...
"Over the past year, I’ve documented Virginia's creation of this motorcycle. The bike started as a stock '96 XL1200c, and through many hours of late nights, dirty fingernails and torn gloves, Virginia was able to complete the bike you see her riding today. The bike above covers about 6 months of building from January to June of 2015. Because neither of us had a lot of experience building motorcycles, we pulled knowledge and advice from the people around us, and through lots information online. We're both happy to see the bike complete, and even more happy to present to you our journey through it."
Virginia Hall and Jay Cagney are recently engaged, and live in rural Northern New Jersey. Virginia is a Senior UX Designer and Jay works full time managing a video production department, as well as a freelance photo and video career.
To see more of Virginias work including her rad photos from BRO3 click HERE & visit Jay Cagneys Website HERE . Also follow them both on Insta now! @virninja / @jaycagney
We are very proud to announce that we are teaming up with the amazing ladies Babes Ride Out this year to present their first ever overseas event......
Good Times, Good Friends, Two Wheels... lets do this! SAVE THE DATE! Registration and all info launches first week of April! Head over to www.babesrideout.com 's blog for more deets !
We can wait to share everything with you!!! Its gonna be big!
Check out this new vid from our Vancouver based bros Vicious Cycles.
Playing the guitar whilst moto riding...... life goals!
Check out more from these dudes HERE
Were loving this new video from the amazing ladies over at the Dream Roll event in Washington, USA . Definitely got us dreaming about rolling over there some time.........
For more info on the event got to www.dreamroll.com
VIDEO FROM: THEM ROAD APPLES BLOG
Ever dreamed of getting away from it all? Yep, you and most of the people on Instagram. Endless adventure accounts & images popping up in our feeds making us daydream about hitting the road & finding an adventure. The same images posted over & over with scenes from tent doors, long winding roads & camping in far off places may not belong to us but make us want a piece of that life all the same. Well meet one woman from the UK who decided to give it all up to go have a few of those adventures for real....
IMAGE: TOM BING AT www.thewestroad.net
Sally McGee, along with her partner- photographer Tom Bing aka @driftervisual, have set out on a 15,000 mile, year long trip on motorcycles, riding & surfing their way across the west coast of America, starting at Santiago and ending up..... well, who knows where, But thats how all good adventures should be isn't it?
After only passing her full motorcycle test in the UK less than 2 weeks before the start of their journey it shows that its not just seasoned riders that can set out on a moto adventure anywhere in the world. We've been following their adventure so far on their blog The West Road & caught up with Sally recently to talk about what inspired them to go on this life changing trip & take the steps to get themselves well & truly on the road.
If you don't feel inspired to do a bit of drifting yourself, you will after reading this......
IMAGE: TOM BING AT www.thewestroad.net
The main reason for such a long trip was to surf, spend time away from the UK especially during the winter, more to do with the darkness than the cold. We both had pretty intense, stressful jobs for the past few years working in a secondary school and we craved a bit more freedom. Tom was really concerned that teaching in a secondary school was going to be the rest of his life and he hated it, he was really unhappy and under a lot of pressure constantly. After a summer spent riding motorbikes and surfing in Indonesia last year, we both felt a bit more empowered to make that kind of lifestyle last a bit longer. It didn't even cross our minds that the route might not be possible, we found out it had been done before and that was it; we started making plans. In order to try to make a different lifestyle sustainable, we started implimenting changes in our lives that would help us both on the trip and when we return. I trained as a Beach Lifeguard and a Surf Instructor and quit my job in the school and spent a summer on the beach saving up. The plan was always to pick up a few bits of work or exchange skills along the way. Tom went to part-time at work and started concentrating on his photography work, so far it has been a really positive change.
We were both riding 125's on a CBT before we left, we had an old 70's Honda CB and a newer XR, mainly because we were planning this trip. When we were in Indonesia, Tom was the one always riding the bikes and to be honest I was happy sat on the back, but for this trip there was no chance of that happening, we have too much gear and Tom just wasn't having it, so I'd have to get myself there. It's been a real challenge but it's starting to feel natural. There are positives and negatives to riding a bike on a surf trip, already we have been able to access some pretty special places purely because we are on bikes. We have dreamt of a car or van at times but we wouldn't have travelled on some of the roads we have done, the ones that are going to have the lasting memory. We get some crazy looks riding down the highway with surfboards attached to our bikes (along with the odd shaka which is always a boost). The amazing thing is that we always feel part of the landscape on bikes, we are in it, not separate from it as you are in a car. There is a romance to the idea of it and rolling into a town, tired and filty, chased by dogs gives us a real sense of achiement. As for the 150cc's, they're cheap, £1,500 each for brand new bikes, we have never broken into a tenner filling both tanks and these bikes are everywhere, a new engine will be cheaper than one sensor for a BMW that has to be shipped from Europe or whatever, these bikes are really simple, single cylinder, carburettor, mininal electronics. We don't feel like we're screaming 'we have money' when we arrive or pass through a town.
Not having surfboards with us was never an option & this is initially a surf trip so 80kmh is tops for our safety. The XR150's sit happily at that speed, any bigger would be a waste for us. Plus, if I drop my bike, I can just about pick it up...The XR150's defintely aren't 'cool' either but they're doing a really good job so far. Fuck me, you couldn't do this trip on an Enfield or an old Harley, there is a romance to that too but I think we already have enough of that with the route, let alone sitting in lay-by's all day. Although an XR250 is appealing at times!
IMAGE: TOM BING AT www.thewestroad.net
San Fran is one idea... Or we might end up in Texas or Mexico, plans are always changing. We read about two Australian surfers travelling through an area in Western Mexico we were planing on going through who wound up dead, burned to death in their van the first night they got there; places like Sinaloa and Geurerro are crazy. We have nothing to prove but we do have flights out of LA at some point. As for starting in Chile, it's well known that Santiago is a good place to buy bikes and its near really good waves. We have made it to another surf town in the North now, nearly 2000km's up the coast; we thought the Atacama desert might have waves but the swell was small the whole time we were there. From here on up to California there is good surf pretty much all the way. There is one language too which is a bonus, we're learning Spanish and it's going OK so far.
Two free weeks in a dreamy log cabin next to Punta De Lobos (an amazing Chilean wave), surfing an amazing spot surrounded by beauty and surf heritage, being in the sea with whales and dolphins was amazing. That and meeting great people, in particular Alejandro Briones and his family from Herencia Rides in Santiago. He built our racks and has supported us fully the whole way, giving us keys to said log cabin. Looking back there are lots of high points but at times its hard not to think of the low points too. I think the lowest point was the Southern Atacama, 12 hours riding through dirt tracks and goat roads that we knew nobody has used for a long time. Going over the crest of a mountain hoping for a town as the sunets and seeing more mountains and nothingness, switching off the engine and coasting down the mountains and hair pin bends to save precious fuel. There were tears and I wanted to give up there and then. Looking back, that was unforgettable, it was incredible and we are sure that will be the most memorable and amazing experience.
IMAGES: TOM BING AT www.thewestroad.net
How long are you planning on travelling for?
We are aiming for a year in total but who knows. We quit our jobs and the flat rented out withing a day of being online. We might end up quitting in a couple of months or spending a bit of time somewhere we fall in love along the way. We are totally open to ideas of how to live for a while.
I found the process of the test really difficult. I failed my Mod 1 the first time round because I ran over a cone pretty much immediately. The Examiner wore a helmet in the yard the whole time and had piercing mean eyes. I didn't feel like I was actually taught to understand how to ride and instead just told to do it. I changed riding schools and found the next guys teaching style way more helpful, less chauvanist and spent time explaining things more logically. For me actually learning to ride was way more important than passing my test if that makes sense. It cost money but I ended up taking my time, having more lessons than they would usually give. The only problem then was that I was cuttting it really fine with regards to the trip. I knew how important it was to have my license for so many reasons but in particular to cover me insurance wise, I am sure there are countries out here that you would never be asked. We cut it so fine that the morning of my flight I had to take a detour to pick up my new license which had just arrived. It was pretty stressful and I ended up putting a hell of a lot of pressure on myself to pass but I did first time, that was after getting the wrong date for my first one, I turned up two days too late and ended up sat in the waiting room next to my old instructor, that was a bit shit, ha. I spent the whole test itself thinking that I had surely failed and when in fact I got two minors for hesitating, smashed it. Never been so happy to finish something and never have to do it again to be honest. Most people I speak to say the same thing, it's not an easy process. I don't mean to discourage anybody because it really is well worth doing, it feels amazing to know that I can now legally ride any bike I want.
How do you think riding in the uk differs from riding in South America?
It's early days yet but after nearly 3,000km's there are definitely positives and negatives. On the plus side, the weather is amazing, it never rains, is always warm and dry. Chile is so big that the cities are really spread out, the infrastrucure is not the same as the UK, there are 'gas gaps' of up to 400km meaning you have to carry a jerry can really to avoid getting stuck. In England I wouldn't ever choose to travel on a motorway, here you have no choice sometimes, its the only option for part of the country. The Ruta 5, the Pan American Highway here is pretty horrific, there are huge trucks and busses flying past way quicker than necessary, and then they come up behind you and sit on your tail being really menacing. The smaller roads and dirt tracks are absolutely amazing though; stunning scenery, sea to the left, mountains to the right and when you inland a bit its like a cross between Mad Max and Jurrassic Park, not another car for miles and plenty of empty beaches to camp on for free. Those big stretches of empty roads never get boring. One big problem is the dogs. Everytime we pull into, or leave a town on the bikes, dogs chase us, snapping at our legs. They don't seem to like the noise of the bikes and they really mean business, I am writing this having just returned from hospital after losing a battle with a German Sheperd last night, although that was nothing to do with a motorbike. I'm OK.
We kept our XR125 for when we get back. I can imagine after a trip this long that it would feel strange not to have a bike, I am becoming quite attached to it. For me, the romance is where motorbikes can take you, I'm not bothered about the aesthics and heritage as much at the minute, though I can appreciate the appeal. Right now, my dream bike would be anything that can let me ride though any terrain, particularly sand and dirt maybe with one of those long range tanks. A set of good OS maps and some better tires would also be mint!
I would say that I am not really able to give advice quite yet, but having your licence gives you so much confidence when riding. If you're even thinking about a trip like this, start the process get your license, but do it nice and early! Before this trip, I had no desire to ride bikes really but having this skill feels amazing, that said, I am dreading the next part of the journey (400km's with no fuel on the 'Most Dealy Highway's in the America's). What I would say is get a Garmin GPS, use Bikehike.co.uk to plan routes and take a good tent, a jerry-can and a Primus Omnifuel stove (as these run off petrol). My top tip is a pair of decent old Levis (when they were proper denim), take them to the old lady in the Indoor Market and get her to sew in E-bay Kevlar into the knees and hips, I live in these jeans, on and off the bike, Tom too. Trying to find decent ladies riding gear is a nightmare and it really doesn't need to be expensive.
IMAGE: TOM BING AT www.thewestroad.net
After massively popular demand we are putting on another VC ladies only CBT day in association with the lovely chaps at London Motorcycle Training on Saturday the 27th & Sunday the 28th of Feb 2016.
----------------------------------------
Limited spaces so get in there quick if you want to book in !!!!!!
-----------------------------------------
For more details get in touch with us via the contact page here or by emailing us at vcmclondon@gmail.com. Alternatively call Ross at London Motorcycle Training on 0207 2411111 & quote VC ladies CBT day to book in!
Our quick guide to picking up your first wheels
Read More
IMAGE: MATTHEW JONES for META magazine
What is there left to say about this amazing moto lady that hasn't been said before... A figure head in the new womens moto scene the legendary Letitia Cline is a prolific moto journalist who rides just about anything she can get her hands on. As well as co-owning a community workshop called Standard Motorcycle Company with her husband & partner in crime Jason Paul Michaels of Dime City Cycles Letitia is a certified MSF riding coach, is part of the womens riding group the Iron Lillies & is next year planning a 10,000 mile round trip across America with fellow rider Kristen Lassen called the Lost Latitudes . Phew! On top of all this she is a wife & mother who somehow manages to find the time to work in her local community setting up charity initiatives like "The Shirt Off My Back" distributing clothing to her towns homeless population. In total a pretty incredible (and very busy) woman ....Oh and one more thing, did we mention she seriously knows how to party!
We first met Leticia back in October while she was here on a trip to London for the launch of the new Triumph. We had just got back from BRO the day before & thought we were gonna meet up to say hello & have a quick mid week drink....Hmmmmm. After a slew of cocktails & whiskey shots (we lost count after 6), getting photo booth photos done that we promise will never see the light of day ever again, fighting with random hotel neighbours because our motorcycle was too loud then proceeding to ride said motorcycle through the hotel (sorry hotel manager), a sticker graffiti session on some I-macs (again sorry hotel manager), getting kicked out of said hotel & finishing off by declaring THE CROIGS to anyone who would listen, it was safe to say she's in the gang.
We caught up with her (after the hangovers subsided...it took a while believe me) to ask how she got into bikes & all about the ladies she rides with, The Iron Lillies.
Enjoy!
How long have you been riding motorcycles?
I’ve been riding since I was 4 years old and been around motorcycles since I was born. My father taught me how to ride and it’s something that has always felt more natural then walking. I took a break for about 6 years after my fathers death. The thought of riding without him was more painful then not riding at all. Eventually enough time had passed and I felt like I was denying myself my birthright. I bought my Iron and then never looked back. I actually sold my car and added a 2 up seat so I can ride my son around. I like to think that I’m making an impact on my child's life just like the way my father did with mine, through the open road.
What inspired you start riding?
There are 3 major things that inspired me to ride and keep riding. My father inspired me at first and he’s what has kept me riding. When I’m having a bad day I get on my bike and ride it out. Some people go to cemeteries to talk to the love ones they’ve lost, I go on long motorcycle rides to talk to mine. Another huge inspiration in my life of motorcycles is my son. I want him to know what strong and independent women look like. If he grows up like this then he will never think less of women and it will be instilled in him that we are all equal. And last but certainly not least, Women. I get a lot of emails from women all over the world sharing their stories on riding and it’s inspirational. I’m so moved by how compassionate most of them are about riding. In general, women are more philosophical then men, so we tend to not only use our bikes as a mode of transportation but also as a reminder that anything is possible regardless of the obstacles. After gaining a following, I felt like it’s was my duty to not just inspire but to encourage and promote the better (and safer) parts of riding, that’s why I am training to be an MSF instructor and stepping out of my own comfort zone by attending track days, adventure riding courses and flat tracking courses. I feel the only way I can really speak for an industry I love I have to be knowledgeable and have experience in all aspects of it.
IMAGE: MATTHEW JONES for META magazine
What was you first bike?:
Honda 50 with homemade training wheels. My dad was a MacGyver when it came to rigging stuff.
What do you ride now? Any mods? :
I ride a 2014 Iron 883 but not much is stock on it. I kept the suspension slammed because I like the way it looks but honestly it feels like crap if I hit the smallest of bumps. I added a custom made steering damper so it will handle better in turns. I also added a cafe fairing from Memphis Shades and even though it’s small it cuts through a great deal of wind. I wielded my sissy bar from the shorter Burly Brand sissy bar. I didn’t want it to be too high and I wanted more options when it came to strapping things onto it. I tend to take a lot of long trips on my sportster and having options when it comes to hauling things always helps. My favorite thing is my RSD moto bars because I’m use to riding dirt and it still gives me the sense of control I’m comfortable with. I have a ton of other RSD bolt on parts like my controls, air cleaner and the 2 into 1 slant exhaust. My seat is Biltwell but it’s covered in a high grade leather to last longer. I also added Speed MerchantPreload Fork Adjusters and foot pegs. I love the way my bike it dialed in. It took some time but it was important to me to have a highly performance bike.
What is your dream bike?:
Sorry to get all sappy on you but it’s my father’s bike. I am currently trying to buy it but having some issues. Bikes aren’t like cars in the way they retain value, sure the rare ones are amazing and of course the price is high but motorcycles evoke an emotion inside of us. They take us back to a moment unlike anything else and that’s because motorcycles are visceral where all the senses are active when riding them. That’s why my father’s bike will always be my dream bike, not because it’s rare or hand-built but because it is the memory of everything that I am and that is priceless to me.
ABOVE IMAGES BY JASON PAUL MICHAELS
Road or dirt?
Dirt I love but since I’ve gotten older I like the road a little more. We have a custom Triumph Scrambler that allows me to do both and often on the same ride so lucky for me I don’t have to choose.
Built or bought?
Whatever gets you riding. I’m an equal opportunist. I feel like that phrase can have a negative conation to it sometimes. I think it’s great if you can build or prefer built bikes but at the same time not everyone has the knowledge or equipment to have a built bike and I think that’s cool too. There are a lot of great "out of the box” bikes coming out now.
THE IRON LILLIES BY NIK MARTINEZ
Tell us some more about the group you ride with - the Iron Lilies...
We are nine girls who ride sportsters in Orlando FL. A couple of us knew each other but most of us came together through social media. We ride a lot which is the reason why I decided to be apart of it. We meet and ride about 4 times a week and for nine girls to do that is impressive. Most of us work on our own bikes and build custom parts. We have a MMI mechanic, MSF Instructor, Harley Davidson Sale Woman and long time riders. When we were trying to come up with a name it only seemed fair that the women before us (the original women who ride) were paid homage to. After all, women’s groups aren’t new. Neither is women riding. We didn’t want to come out and pretend like were doing something unheard of. We spend a lot of time planning charity rides and have 7 planned until the end of the year. We also work to learn and share that learning onto others. Men ride with us most of the time because we don’t discriminate and we have some great supportive partners. Plus we don’t want to limit ourselves when it comes to riding, I may learn something from a guy that could make me a better rider and if I didn’t ride with them then I would have never known it. To get more info on the name go to out website www.theironlilies.com
THE IRON LILLIES BY NIK MARTINEZ
I also have a 10,000 mile ride coming up next year with my girlfriend Kristen Lassen. The trip is to honor our fathers by caring on their legacy and to also find our own through the open road. The trip is from the farthest Southeast point of the US to the farthest Northwest point and we will be meeting up with a lot of other women riders along the way. You can find out more at www.thelostlatitudes.com
Thanks to Letitia for taking the time to chat with us! Click here to find out more about Letitia, the Iron Lillies & the Lost Latitudes or follow Leticias own Instagram HERE.
IMAGE FROM @thescarletheaders
MORE GIRLS ON BIKES- MORE GIRLS BUILDING.....
We are already in love with group The Scarlet Headers but these ladies are taking it to a whole new level. The group from Denver CO have just begun their first ever charity group bike build!! The team of ladies have enlisted the professional help of chaps from Enrico, Ronin & Downshift studios to guide them in rebuilding the 1973 Honda CL350 from the ground up. Learning as they go how to do everything, from how to design the bike to a full engine rebuild, the ladies plan to make a bike built by women for women using their different specs and aesthetic styles. As if this wasn't enough the finished bike will be auctioned off for charity to support their local community.
"So why do we want to rebuild a vintage motorcycle? The answer is more complex then we may have realized in the beginning. Of course we want to be able to change our own oil, fix a flat, clean a carburetor, and so on; but this is more than that. This is about dreaming of a bike fit for a woman. Maybe a seat more narrow, possibly the shifter in a spot suited for a female, what about a glove box?
As a collective group of women we will be discussing over weeks, months possibly, about what we like and don’t like about our own bikes. With 20+ Scarlet Headers who have different tastes, riding styles, and preferences you can imagine that there will be a shit load of great ideas, even some that will be contradictory of one another. However The Scarlet Headers' dream is to create a classic bike, that appeals to many women. To learn how to build a bike from paper, execute those plans, and get a bike running. That’s our number one goal."
Its amazing to see more women getting into not only riding but learning how to maintain & build bikes. I'm pretty sure that this will inspire a hell of a lot of other women to start to get their hands dirty & I absolutely can't wait to see what these guys come up with....Hell yeah ladies!
GOOD LUCK!
IMAGE FROM @thescarletheaders
FOLLOW THE GIRLS PROGRESS ON THEIR INSTAGRAM OR ON THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.THESCARLETHEADERS.COM
So what can we say about the infamous Kiki ...... We first met her at Babes Ride Out when we'd just rolled in after a 3 hour marathon along the highway. Stood on top of a 6 foot high podium swinging her hair around like a nutty windmill it was pretty safe to say we were gonna be good friends.
While at BRO she was riding one of the most bad ass Triumph scramblers we've ever seen, built & lent to her by British Customs, with her 2 friends Liz & Marie & filming an incredible video for caferacerxxx. Impressed yet?
This girl is an absolute adventurer in every sense of the word & rides road, dirt & well, anything that she can get her hands on with two wheels. Born & raised in Pakistan, shes spent the last 13 years living all over the world from the South of France to travelling through the US & finally calling Portland her home, & now we're lucky enough to have her for a hot minute with us in London. On top of all this she is one of the friendliest, warmest & craziest moto ladies we've met so far. We caught up with her while she was in London recently to her to talk about how she first got into riding, her welding skills (?!) & how she got on on a recent trip motoring through her native Pakistan!
PHOTO: BECKY GOEBEL AT www.themroadapples.com
I officially started riding 3 years ago just before my 30th birthday
A HONDA Z50 monkey bike with a 125cc engine.
I still ride the monkey & my 1976 Honda XL250. I modified the lil guy a little with motocross handle bars & customised bmx racing bar pads & oury grips. Changed the air filter & installed minimalistic indicator lights. the enduro is pretty much all stock & in mint condition!
KIKI WITH LIZ @DEATHRODDIXIE & MARIE @MARIE_VILL BY @PAIGE_LONEWOLF
As much as I think a chopper would look & feel damn good, i would have to say a Dirt/street/Flat tracker style bike is the ultimate Moto for me as far as aesthetic & comfort & dynamic is concerned.
Ah ha ha! You're asking a girl who loves her enduro & wants to rip around on every kind of surface possible but ideally I'd choose the best of both worlds.
Both again. It's great to have a solid base to start a project with & sure, modifications can come along the way if you're patient & get creative. I can mig & tig weld so I dream of working on my own custom bike one day!
IMAGE FROM: https://www.instagram.com/ainjul/
VIDEO FROM WWW.CAFERACERXXX.COM
Tough one when I know so many out there that I respect & just stare at their work in awe, but my Salt City Builds boys in Utah won my heart with their Honda Xr650 custom they did for Dustin Haggett. Check her out!
Dude, put me on any damned place in the world on something with a motor & 2 wheels & it'll be my favorite! But seriously though, home. OREGON.
HOLY MOTHER OF CHRIST it's a total shit show I am surprised I am still alive but once you get a hang of the chaos you realize just how organized & completely sensical it is. I'm pretty much the only female rider here. Personally I don't know how my parents are okay with me riding in Pakistan as socially it's not acceptable for a woman to be straddling a motorcycle for some cultural/religious/stupid reason I guess. I generally cover my face & try to venture in remoter areas, where the villagers are more open to the idea of a woman rider. People are really curious, children are in awe, road conditions are not exactly ideal, it's a poor country & lacks proper security. In the city they still ride while side saddling their husband with one child on her lap, another between her & the rider & yet one more child carefully holding on for dear life on the gas tank! It's my homeland & where my love for motorcycles began in the first place so it's a dream come true for me to finally roam my childhood streets and favorite spots on two wheels and you never know, I might hopefully change the mentality of the existing Moto community to be more accepting of female riders.
IMAGES FROM @monicasemergiu , @el3_productions & @ainjul
Londons finest purveyor of hard to find moto treasure & vintage has set up shop at Black Skulls Lock up. Get yourselves down there to scope out vintage finds hand picked by the man himself & even get a hot cuppa Dark Arts Coffee there while you're at it.
OPEN THURSDAY - SUNDAY FROM 11am- 7pm @ Black Skulls Lock Up- Wilton way ,Hackney, London, E8 3BG
If you can't get down check out Bonzorros website HERE for his world of wonderful wares...
IMAGE FROM: http://www.laboratoirebonzorro.com
IMAGE FROM: https://instagram.com/darkartscoffee/
IMAGE FROM: www.thescarletheaders.com/blog
This incredible gang of moto ladies, founded by the amazing Shelby Rossi (aka @therippinkittin) are a real example, for me, of how inspiring the international womens moto community can be. They not only arrange meet ups, ride outs, race track & ride dirt together (looking absolutely bad ass doing both by the way) but also get together to regularly volunteer in their local community to help out a other people along the way. If they don't inspire more women to get on bikes I don't know what will!
We spoke to the gorgeous Shelby recently as part of our "support your locals girls gangs series" about her experiences in motorcycling with her family & how she first started out.
Enjoy!
Gx
Photo by @eparrillaphotos for http://caferacersofinstagram.tumblr.com
Hi Shelby! How long have you been riding?:
S: My dad built me my first dirt bike when I was 5 years old. It was an old 50cc Italjet with a red and white zebra seat. He bought it as a box of parts and turned into a chapter of my life I'll never forget. I remember riding it as a kid and bringing it to my first show-and-tell in second grade. It's still sitting in my dad's garage! Since then I have been riding dirt (mostly trail riding), and once I turned 18 I got my M license and started riding on the street.
What inspired you to start riding?:
S: I don’t want to say my parents forced me into riding motorcycles, but as a young kid I had no choice but to spend most of my weekends at a track. Both of my parents used to race motorcycles when I was growing up. My dad and mom road raced in a local circuit in Colorado called the MRA, and also enjoyed other styles of riding such as ice racing, enduros, flat track and the annual Pikes Peak Hill Climb in Colorado Springs.
As I got older, my dad combined his passion of motorcycles and medicine and became a doctor for the AMA, World SBK, MotoGP and now Moto America. During grade school I traveled with him to numerous tracks around the U.S. and started my own passion for the sport. It's something we did together all the time and continue to bond over today. To this day, both parents are my biggest supporters and constantly inspire me to progress as a rider.
What was your first bike?:
S: My first street bike was a Monster 900. It's still my daily rider.
What do you ride now? Any mods? :
S: My boyfriend and I have a full garage of projects, but the two bikes I ride currently:
PHOTO: @therippinkittin Instagram
What is your dream bike?:
S: I'm always gawking, but I think my ultimate dream bike would be any of Valentino Rossi's old race bikes. My first pick would be the Honda he won his first 500cc race on in 2000 at the British GP. He is my favorite racer of all time (even after the Sepang Clash), so anything of his would make me pass out.
Road or dirt?:
S: This is a tough question for me. Nothing really beats a weekend of riding single track in Moab, UT. But at the same time I've really enjoyed getting into road racing this past season. I raced my first road race this year and loved every second of it. I'd say tie!
Built or bought?:
S: Everyone buys a bike at some point. Everyone builds it their own way.
Tell us some more about the Scarlet Headers:
S: I started the Scarlet Headers in August of 2014 in hope of getting local women riders to come together. I had been watching the women's motorcycle scene continuously grow and finally decided to do something about in Denver! It has been a wonderful experience to share the same passion with so many likeminded women. The thing I like best about TSH is there's no expectation to be anything else other than what you are. No matter the age, no matter the skill level, comfort level, the bike, the background, we're ALL enjoying the same sport and growing individually as riders. Why not surround yourself with supportive women who are learning alongside you? Not to mention the women's motorcycling community is contagious, loving and inspiring to say the least! The amount of connections and friends that have been established through TSH is truly something special.
We heart you VCMC!!!
IMAGES FROM @thescarletheaders instagram by @golden_warrior, @kate_rosse, @jillybeancolorado, @jordan_holloway, @adriennenevy,
We absolutely adore these ladies & desperately hope we get to go ride with them one day! If you're ever in Denver look them up! Also follow their instagram HERE & go check out their website at www.thescarletheaders.com/blog & support your international girl gangs!
This amazing brand that originally started with a Mens kevlar jeans range are now currently running a kickstarter for their womens kevlar lined skinny jeans range. Made with premium stretch denim & lined with dupont kevlar, their skinny cut stretch jeans have a high waist (to avoid any awkward muffin top situations when belting it on your bobber) & come in black & deep unwashed indigo blue, making them a great safe alternative to riding in regular jeans without having to compromise. We think its great to see someone addressing the issue of fashion & fit with inbuilt safety in a pair of jeans made specifically for women riders.
Finally a skinny jean thats not gonna take your half your skin with them if you come off! ......Now thats something to invest in!
Go to Tobacco Motorwears kickstarter page HERE to check out what these jeans are all about (and to see some serious ass surfing action!)
IMAGE FROM: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1838833919/tobacco-motorwear-womens-jeans-kevlar-lined-usa-ma
IMAGE FROM: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1838833919/tobacco-motorwear-womens-jeans-kevlar-lined-usa-ma
So we just got back from LA from Babes Ride Out 3 & what can we say.....
Hanging with over 1200 ladies in the middle of the Joshua Tree desert at this amazing event we pitched up our saggy tent, partied with new & old friends, drunk at least 10 different spirits in one night, wrestled on the floor, danced till we dropped, hoola hooped with the pros (the throttle moles, who knew?!), started a limbo betting ring, created a bit of havoc, built fires, burnt round the desert with bad ass bitches & reached 100mph for the first time 2 up on a hired Harley (sorry mum)... All in all you could say it was the best weekend in the history of weekends....
Shout outs to The Throttle moles, Brittany Wood, Jaime Dempsey, Katie Reid, Corinne Lan Franco, Viki Chan, Becky Goebel, Christie, Laurel the Limbo Queen & every lady who came and fed us more booze!And of course a huge thank you to the ladies who make all this happen, the main babes themselves, Anya & Ashmore.
See you next year! xx
So so so bloody proud of every one of these 11 ladies who came to do our all girl CBT day in collab with the lovely chaps at Scooter Den Dalston last Saturday. It was a bleeding freezing day but everyone did amazingly well! For anyone outside the UK, the CBT is the first step for new riders in the UK and gets them on the road for the first time. Cant wait to ride with all these hotties soon! A huge huge congrats to you all for getting on & doing it!
Happy Brapping ladies! See you all soon for some VC ride outs!
Gx
Thanks to Dark Arts Coffee for a rad party the other night! A total twerk fest awash with bikes, coffee, beers & a little too much Sailor Jerry. Shout out to Brad for the music. Perfect as always. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUYS!
PHOTO CREDS : Alex Grant
