UK & Ireland exclusive: Ladies of Harley

All the latest news and updates from the Ladies of Harley

The everlasting daily glow of glorious sunshine in bright blue skies across the nation has enabled us to enjoy some splendid days in the saddle this summer. For all those LOH activities, ride outs, weekends away, rallies and dealer events that have been planned and prepared it has been a relief that wet weather contingency plans have not been needed.

An event new to this year’s calendar was the recent Valley Rally hosted by Thames Valley Chapter. Rally goers were able to choose from camping or benefit from reduced rates at the nearby Ibis Hotel, perfectly located within walking distance – always a bonus at the end of an evening of socialising with friends. While it was a relatively small event it was definitely big in atmosphere with dealer support, a selection of trader stalls and a choice of ride outs to explore the local area before enjoying good music and good company in the evening. It was a delight to share the presence of fellow H.O.G. members from Flanders Fields Chapter in Belgium and also Anton, a solo Harley-Davidson rider from Russia.

While not being able to go to Prague for the 115^th Anniversary event I followed many updates, tags, videos, check-ins and photographs from various Facebook pages of friends, LOH and H.O.G. Chapters. Many of you took several days to ride there. For some ladies, it was the first time they'd ridden abroad, or ridden such a distance. The adventures you each shared were incredible, the sights you experienced looked breathtaking and the roads ridden looked tempting and exciting! It was amusing to follow your daily ‘blogs’ as different friends were stopping off at the same places each day, just at different times… such as The Menin Gate, The Möhne Reservoir and Dam, Colditz and the Berlin Wall to name a few.

Now with your amazing memories made from the Harley-Davidson 115^th Anniversary in Prague there’s are more in store for those enthusiasts heading to Milwaukee at the end of August for more 115^th Anniversary celebrations. 

Having attended the 110^th five years ago I was in awe of the sheer size of the event, not just how far rally goers had travelled to get there but also at how many miles out of Milwaukee there were dealership events being held. It was an opportunity to catch up with old friends from America and make new ones too - a lot of them!  

I can recall being on the sky cable car ride at the Summerfest Grounds, overlooking the vast sights and sounds under my feet as they dangled above thousands of party goers below me, seeing odd plumes of smoke and catching the waft of BBQs and food stalls. It was a sight to behold and I promised myself there and then that I just had to return for the 115^th! I wanted to be better prepared for all the festivities and memories that Milwaukee can share because it sure knows how to lay on a party... and share an amazing spark!

Elaine Shepherd
National Chapter LOH Officer, UK & Ireland
ChapterRepLOH@harley-davidson.com

 

Well ladies we’re into the second half of the year, and I hope that at this point you’ve all had as exciting a year as I have had. I have just returned from a trip around Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and a little bit of France, continuing my journey doing the ABCs of Touring contest. It was great visiting 32 dealerships over eight days. Many still don’t know about the contest run by H.O.G. and are interested to know all about it, what it entails and how you can become involved with it. I then spent a few days on my return entering the details into the system online – it’s so much easier than before.

During the trip I had the opportunity to visit the Bastogne War Museum, which is a World War II museum that focuses on the Battle of the Bulge. A fascinating place if ever you get the chance to visit.  

I also had the pleasure of taking part in an open event with the Ghent Chapter, called the Culinary Ride. Pre-registration was required, and routes were e-mailed prior to the event, which took place on the Sunday a week after the Benelux Rally. Meet time was between 09.00 and 10.00, so a leisurely start to the day. The Ghent dealership kindly served up coffee and pastries. It was then back in the saddle for a delightful ride through the Belgium countryside for an hour and a half.  At our destination, drinks were served. The coffee and a chance to meet others was most welcome. 

Still ahead of most of the remaining 160 bikes that had registered for the event was another hour’s bimble, on to our lunch stop where a hot meal was provided. The venue was stunning and once again we had a chance to circulate and get to know other bikers. Although this ride was an open event, it was predominantly Harley riders and H.O.G. members in attendance. Everyone made us feel very welcome and thought there might have been a language barrier there was not a problem. After lunch it was back to the dealership for drinks and - what better way to end the ride? - than with an ice cream.  This was a thoroughly enjoyable way to end what was an exciting few days riding through Europe. I would recommend you add it to your plans for biking adventures – to just get out and explore more of what’s on your doorstep.

Whatever you’ve been up to or have planned - don’t forget to share your experiences with others. It’s great to see many share their stories. They are so inspirational to all who read them. Just  get in touch with me, our other National LOH Officer, Elaine Shepherd or e-mail: hogukandireland@harley-davidson.com.  

“The Dudette”
Lorraine Seedhouse
National Chapter Associate LOH Officer, UK & Ireland
chapterrepassociateloh@harley-davidson.com

 

---

 

Kate's Success Story: How I Created a New Motorcycle Lifestyle

I never had the opportunity in life to ride a motorcycle, let alone be a pillion, until I met my partner Roy who had a Harley-Davidson® Road King®. He invited me out for a ride. Not knowing what to do, Roy briefed me, "Sit still, look at the views, take in the smells and don't ask me if we are there yet". 

Time passed and I quickly came to enjoy our ride outs, which became longer over a period of time. One Sunday we visited Sycamore Harley-Davidson for a cuppa and bacon role... Roy came out the shop with a smile on his face having just bought a Harley-Davidson CVO™ Road Glide, which – with the internal communications, music, heated seats etc - enhanced my riding experience.

In April 2017, during a ride out with Roy, I made a passing comment "Oh, I think I would like to learn how to ride and pass my test"... Utter silence followed and then a comment "Well book it and do it”. 

I looked at various providers and booked a trial riding session, which unfortunately got cancelled. So I took the plunge and booked my Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) with Direct Access Scheme (DAS) on June 17, 2017. However, for me it was not as easy as it sounds. During the CBT, I initially rode the automatic mopeds (twist and go). I was supposed to progress to the manual gear change BUT, the process of throttle, clutch, toe up or toe down, clutch and throttle was beyond my normal ability to multi-task. So, I concentrated on the automatic moped so that I could complete the initial step.

To my surprise and disbelief, Roy bought a Harley-Davidson® Sportster XL883™ for me which was promptly MoT'd, taxed and insured. However, it was then parked in the garage with the keys hidden. He said that looking at it would encourage me to achieve my goal.

The next step was the theory test, which I practiced with the help of The Official DVSA Theory Test for Motorcyclists DVD, occasionally asking Roy a question and getting the response "Dunno, never done a theory test in the 1970’s." On July 8, 2017, I passed my theory test in Nottingham. 

I then started my Direct Access Scheme (DAS) - riding a Yamaha MT-07 motorcycle. Initially, things were not going as well as I thought. I was struggling to get the gear changes, etc. Roy then bought me a DAELIM VL125cc Daystar motorcycle so that we could go out riding by ourselves to practice. Our first ride was from Nuneaton to the Harley-Davidson dealership in Chesterfield -approximately 163 miles away! Just a short ride then... 

After failing my Motorcycle Maneuvers Test (MOD1) three times, I finally passed on October 9, 2017.

More lessons, more practice on the DAELIM Daystar motorcycle and I attempted (in secret) my first Practical Driving Test but I failed it on the first attempt after an excellent ride with one minor fault and forgetting to put my side stand down. I was disappointed but I finally passed that test on October 30, 2017. I had achieved my goal – a full Category A license. 

Returning home that day, Roy was overwhelmed. This could have been due to the fact I passed my test, or was it because he signed over the Harley-Davidson Sportster 883XL to me? Giving me the ignition keys, I was allowed to start my bike for the very first time. It had not done any mileage since the initial purchase. 

During the winter period, I did not manage to ride the 883. I think this was also down to nerves but hey - we all get them.

In March 2018, after putting off a number of rides, I bit the bullet and Roy took me out for a short ride. Stopping at every lay-by, I could feel my eyes protruding from the eye sockets with fear. Since that initial ride, my riding has gone from strength-to-strength, and the rides have been getting longer and longer. In June 2018, and following the enjoyment from 2017, Roy and I completed the Dusk to Dawn Ride travelling from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, to Ness Point in Lowestoft, Suffolk, to Land's End, Cornwall, and then from Redruth, Cornwall, back home to Nuneaton – a total of 948 miles. A huge achievement for me, bearing in mind the amount of time I have been riding.

Having now completed 3,294 miles on my Sportster XL883, my new challenge of moving up to a Harley-Davidson® Softail Deluxe awaits me. And what a challenge! On July 14 2018, waking up nervous, leaving breakfast as I felt ill with worry, panicking, and the list goes on - but I had to start somewhere and today was the day. I was even offered to leave the Deluxe and ride the Sportster, but with a bit of encouragement from Roy, we started to ride to Harley-Davidson Birmingham and I LOVED IT.

Being part of the Harley Owners Group and Ladies of Harley, I have often discussed my journey from a crazy thought, to achieving a very special goal in my life, including the ups and downs. Yes, I failed a number of times and spent a bit of money on extra lessons and motorcycles (well, Roy did), but all the encouragement from others, passion to achieve and drive to succeed helped. My message to you would simply be, if you are thinking of doing it 'JUST DO IT' to coin a phrase. There may be tears and frustrations, but this will all be forgotten once you’ve done it and are filled with excitement when on the road to freedom.

Kate Rogers
Birmingham Chapter

 

---

 

Sherwood Chapter’s Open Ride
It's no secret, I'm a HUGE Harley-Davidson fan. But not just a fan of the motorcycles themselves, but of the lifestyle that comes with it - the community, the friendships, the whole package. 

Therefore, it is no surprise that I love to spread the word and encourage participation, something the wonderful Sherwood Chapter whole-heartedly supports. We try to offer a couple of 'Open Rides' a year; a chance for non-Harley riders to join us in experiencing the well-planned, fun and safe group riding we do every single weekend during riding season. 

This year (my first as a fully-fledged Road Captain) I was keen to lead an open ride, for two reasons: 1. I knew there were a couple of ladies in the Chapter who had completed their CBT and were in the process of getting their full licence (following our super successful Ladies Day last year!); and 2. I had a few rider friends from work who were interested in seeing what it was I constantly talked about at work!

I am lucky to have the great support of our Chapter Director, Roy, and Head Road Captain, John, – they gave me some good tips to planning a successful Open Ride, and I knew I wanted to ensure the route was 125cc friendly, in anticipation of having the ladies who are currently progressing through to get their licences on the ride. I planned to keep the ride local, circular and little more than an hour long – less chance for things to go wrong!

Luckily, Nottingham has some lovely local B roads, which are scenic and varied making for good riding at all paces. I always plan my routes on the Tyre software package, and 'virtual walk' them on Google Earth (almost like a pre-reccie) so I can see each and every junction and potential drop off. Once happy, I reccie the ride for real, ideally with my tail-end (who is often my wonderful husband, Matt) so we're both happy and comfortable with the route.

Ride day rolls around, and we all gather at Robin Hood Harley-Davidson®. There’s a fantastic turn out from our Sherwood Chapter members to show support, and to welcome the non-members. I can always count on the Sherwood members to be supportive, friendly and just an all-round great group of riders. Helen, a Sherwood Chapter LOH member on her very own 125cc, was ready for her first 'official' solo ride, and another Helen, my friend from work, had turned up on her V-Rod with her husband Keith on his Triumph, to see what the Chapter was all about.

In my pre-ride briefing, I took a little longer to explain the 'second man drop off' system, explaining the 'how', the 'what' and the 'why'. I also take the time to explain how the Sherwood Chapter works with trikes too. We have a few trike riders but our most regular and committed triker is the wonderful Lynn. 

Lynn is relatively new to riding, however you wouldn't know it! On one of my previous rides Lynn and I developed a system that worked perfectly among some of the Peak District's narrow, twisty lanes, allowing her to be part of the ride at all times, but fully in control of her own safety at the same time. 

We decided that as Lynn approached the front of the ride, she would start to look out for potential 'safe drop zones' for herself and her beautiful Free-Wheeler. She would 'self-drop' wherever she felt safe (maybe a lay-by, or just a nice wide stretch of road) and would be picked up like any other drop-off by our tail-end. This system is one we now use with all trikes, if they wish, allowing the triker to be in complete control of when and where they would like to drop-off. 

With all aspects of the ride explained it was time to gear up and set off. The sun shone the whole way round the route, drops went perfectly, and there were huge smiles all around. All riders returned safely back to the dealership for a cold drink, a natter and browse of the merchandise and motorcycles. I think the ride had some non-Harley riders interested in getting an idea of just how affordable a Harley-Davidson could be! All in all, a super successful Open Ride, with hopefully a few new potential recruits to 'the lifestyle'!

Helen Nuttall, one of our Sherwood Chapter LOH members had a few words to say about her first 'official' Chapter ride as a solo rider, rather than a pillion:
"The sun was shining, my L-plates had been cleaned and off I set for the Open Ride with the chapter - my first official ride out on my own little motorbike. Yes, it’s a 125cc, 0 to 50 in under six minutes. I’ve been a pillion now for two years, and have been on loads of ride outs with the Chapter. 

I was nervous, I didn’t want to mess up second man drop off! But Vicki and John were both encouraging and reassuring that all would be ok, and it was. I didn’t hurt or lose anyone, win-win. 

At one point, I was catching up with the few ahead, looked in my rear view mirror and noticed I was in front of a dozen Harleys! I didn’t feel pressured into riding any other way than how I wanted to, I felt supported, it was a brilliant experience and hopefully, soon, I’ll have my own Harley. 

Many thanks to Vicki, John, and all the members and non-members that took part - it was great!” 

Helen Bird, V-Rod rider but non-chapter member: "A great welcome from Vicki to Robin Hood Harley-Davidson and a few friendly nods made us feel very comfortable. Vicki provided a very useful guide to how things were going to run on the ride so we were very clear in our expectations of the drop off system, which was great. I was a little nervous about this aspect so we perched near the end of the ride to check out how it was going to work. It worked perfectly! Great route, which had been reccie'd beforehand so we didn't need to worry about getting lost. I spoke to members of the club afterwards who were very friendly. Overall we would be keen to join such a friendly Chapter as Sherwood. The members were keen to explain the benefits, such as European touring, which really appeals to us and of course, would be very well organised I'm sure.”

Vicki Green
aka. 'Angry Bird'
Sherwood Chapter Activities Officer & Road Captain

 

---

 

Plymouth Ladies head for Dartmoor

Plymouth Chapter LOH, Penny Weeks, arranged a lovely lunch venue – The Tinpickle and Rhum, located near Haytor on Dartmoor. 

Twelve of us met up at Plymouth Harley-Davidson for coffees and an excuse for a few purchases. We had five riders, myself as lead and Debz Haynes as my trusty sweep and after the briefing, we set off.  

Let me just add here - every Ladies Ride that I have taken across Dartmoor has had some type of adventure, be it frisky deer leaping in and out of the pack or excitable horned bullocks chasing us! So we were ready!

Off we set, a beautiful sunny day, perfect… It wasn’t long before we met a very lively pony, wound up by the wild ponies running alongside it, whose rider was struggling. Meeting us on the narrow road was clearly too much. We killed our engines and Emma North helped rider and pony to pass safely, while the rest of us directed the traffic. Once clear, we were off again and we headed out to Princetown, Two Bridges and on to Widecombe in the Moor and Haytor. 

I had mentioned the ‘little’ stream/ford in my pre-ride briefing but I think the girls loved going through it, judging by the shrieks and there being no complaints about getting wet. 

Lots of interesting single-track winding lanes, as many sheep as you can count, horses and foals everywhere and amazing views. Dartmoor is so beautiful and although limited to 40 mph, it is an awesome place to ride in all seasons. 

On arrival, we were reunited with the other ladies and enjoyed a great lunch and much general gossip and giggles. 

One of our ladies had a very special birthday coming up, so the staff surprised her with a cake and we provided the singing.

A big thank you to Penny Weeks for finding such a great place and to Debz Haynes for sweeping at the back of the ride.

Julie Butler-Waddon
Plymouth Chapter