For
  sassy,
  classy
  women
  motorcyclists

Perhaps I'm a ride-a-holic as I've managed to put 10k miles on my sport bike in 3 months. (that's a story in of itself but that's not why I'm writing you today) I have found many things I am able to do by riding my 2003 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R

I am always looking for places I can go by using my bike instead of taking my car. By adding a blow dryer to my gym bag - I'm now able to ride my bike to and from the gym for water aerobics.

Weather permitting here's other things I do:

If I need something from the post office - I'll take my bike instead of my car. All of those little errands that don't require the use of a car to carry whatever it is I need to take with me or purchase I now use my bike to get them done.

Ok, so I haven't attempted to pick up a pizza and strap it down on my rear seat (YET!!!)- but I have gotten take out food and strapped it down for the ride home. Most recently, I was in the mood for some good fried chicken. I ended up taking a 150 mile round trip on my motorcycle to purchase some Bojangles chicken. (There used to be Popeyes where I live but they all closed down and this Bojangles is the closest one I know of to my house).

Go to the store for that gallon of milk instead of waiting to do your shopping in bulk. Ride your bike to work after making sure you have brought stuff to fix your hair with to work ahead of time. Take those items to be dry cleaned by riding your bike! I hope these suggestions help! – Teazer - member of Queen Beez Motorcycle Club (all female)

Besides the obvious "work less," I just HAD to send you my own personal tips for carving out time for riding (which I am not following too well these days!):

#1: Make sure you have the bike you LOVE, no matter what the brand or style! (Don't fall into the trap of someone else's "you gotta have"!)

#2 (a variation on the above): If you don't LIKE spending time and money accessorizing (me, I'd rather ride!), buy a bike that doesn't require it in order to be right for you (think USED)!

#3 Here's one I never thought of until recently, as we are moving in 2 weeks: Make sure your garage (or wherever you store your bike) isn't so FULL that you have to jockey the car, another motorcycle, a baby stroller, 6 boxes, and ...(!) around before you can get your bike out to ride it! (This will encourage you to hop on it even when timing is a little tight.)

#4: DON'T HAVE KIDS! I love my 20-month-old son dearly and would never trade the experience for anything in the world, but he is probably the TOP reason I don't get much riding in! :) – Tracey Cramer, Top Dawg

April 10, 2002 VTwin Mama Newsletter Input

I have found that is what winter is for. :)  Seriously.......I have always been a good organizer, I make lists and my calendar is my guide. When hubby and I moved out to the boonies (30 miles to get to the store and work) I have learned to use my organization abilities to the fullest. I do most of my errands (store etc.) on the way home after work. I always try and leave my weekends as free as possible. We are also in a motorcycle club also and every three months or so we have a new ride list, I mark these and any other trips we have planned on my calendar ASAP so that I can plan for them. Winter time we try and plan any building or major projects, living in the west this can be done. At first working full time is hard to get used to and I'm sure you will find your own method of organization after a time. But for me, it's my calendar and making up lists, if I try and contain too much in my small brain I get all stressed out. I know you will work it out, after all you're a women, right! Good Luck! – Barbara

I just wanted to respond to your dilemma about how to balance our chores and our riding. Sorry, I don't think I can bedazzle you with a great solution. I too find this difficult to achieve, especially in the spring when gardens need to be planted and lawns need to be mowed several times a week. I've often dreamed of moving into a condo with a large garage to eliminate the outdoor chores completely. I can't quite give up the idea of owning your own land and having a yard though. Also, I think my husband would divorce me before giving up his pole barn! 

As a result, I do the best I can. I do the chores that would irritate me most if left undone, and let some of the others slide until a rainy day. I ride when I can, and am thankful for the time that I do have. I also try to remember that old saying about nobody ever wishing, on their deathbed, that they had spent more time at the office (or doing chores). I have to constantly work on keeping it all in perspective. Chores are necessary, and even important so that we don't become lazy and irresponsible, but they are not the most important things! Maybe this is why I am adopting this new name for myself. Most of the time I am the responsible one, making sure all the necessary chores are done at home and at work. Then there is this other side of me that just wants to be free to ride my Harley and enjoy life. That's when I become the...– Evil Twin

It's getting warmer here finally (Michigan) and I'm itchin' to ride! I try to get all my stuff done around the house on those days I can't ride (too wet, job interferes, etc) so I can ride all the others. Some days I only get to ride about an hour but it's worth it. Usually the laundry doesn't get started until we have no underwear...and then I do a load in the morning when I get up and a load when I crash at night after riding for miles!!! Cleaning the house? I try to bribe my daughter! Anything else, I just try to fit in, in between rides. Hey, I'm in my 50's and I gotta take all the time that left. Good luck in time management. We all do what we have to! And not too much more!!! Ride safe and often! – Chris Pallone

After the first year of riding our garden size was cut down from doing canning to just enough plants to ear fresh - about 1/8 size. then I skipped a supper ride one night -- a lady in the group my husband met said to tell me that the house would always be there but nice days aren't. I followed her advice. A year later I started riding my own bike instead of behind my husband. Some of our best times are on motorcycles and the house work gets done on rainy days. Now if I could just figure out how to put off work! – Kathy Meier

I am going to school. The only time I ride is to and from school. Otherwise, I am too busy with papers and assignments on the weekends even. I am an older student and am grateful that I do not have to work as well. I'd have lots of time to ride on the weekends if this was working and schooling. – Cecilia Eckerson

We live in Colorado and there is usually a rainy afternoon in the spring and the summer so we choose to ride early and get back mid-afternoon and then can still do whatever you need to. Of course, there are times that the ride takes precedence over everything and you don't realize how much time has gone by. AHHHHHHH!! Enjoy and rubberside down. – otterkid

It's easy to fall into that routine, especially after winter when you had time to get everything done.  Some things just have to slide more in the summer.  Clean house in the winter, just get by in the summer...LOL  I find I have to make choices.  I cut back on my yard work by putting in less flower beds, less garden, and mulching to high heaven. No more canning either. Helps to that my kids are grown, so just me and hubby to mess up the house, and he is pretty neat.  He is also retired, so now he does the mowing, that I used to do, 3 acres!  

I am lucky in a way, because I am self employed.  I have a cleaning service.  And although my time is scheduled mostly during the week days from 9 to 5,  I also do offices at night, and Air Duct Cleaning certain days of the week...whew....come the weekend and I am lots more flexible.  I figure I can clean offices at night after dark.  I don't ride after dark around here because we have way too many deer.  We bagged 2 this last winter with my husband's truck and have had many other close calls.  You do not want to meet a deer on a motorcycle!

I love to help with poker runs and organize them etc., charity rides are my thing, but I too get a little frazzled with trying to keep the business work done and help with the runs, sometimes a balancing act is hard to achieve.  I just don't let anything interfere with my weekend riding except the weather. We also put our weekend riding to good use distributing flyers for runs, going to out of town car and bike shows to distribute flyers etc. A lot of the work I do for Poker runs involves using the computer.  A list of riders to send flyers to, making up the flyers, posting the runs on the internet, etc.  I do that at night, sometimes very late at night.  After my offices etc. are done.  Seems too, there is never enough help for these functions.  Everyone wants the poker runs, no one seems to want to spend the time to do them!  You said it when you said "balance"!  It can be achieved, just takes work like anything else!  Ride Safe! – Jan