Where It All Began

People always ask me, how did you get into motorcycles? The answer is one that makes me smile and gives me an opportunity to tell a love story.

During college, I was finding myself. I changed majors, mingled with different groups, picked up an array of hobbies, and got a job. I was stuck somewhere between being a southern sorority girl and crunchy townie.

My time was stretched thin between biochemical studies, chapter, philanthropy events, date nights and attending concerts 24/7. To elude the chaos, I would go on long car rides through the Georgia backroads. The changing scenery, the feeling of forward momentum and a sense of control helped me unwind. Accompanied by Kanye’s newest album, George Clinton's funky beats or Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane's psychedelic rock, I was able to elevate my mood and find a rhythm on the road.

The focus and precision needed to chase the road excited me. The music was my soundtrack, the road my map. My love for riding began here. Driving was my escape, I had always loved my time in the car with my music. I had one thing to focus on, the road. I couldn’t worry about texting or calling people, social media or studying, the connection between the vehicle, myself and the road eased my mind.

Regardless of the drives, I still felt trapped in college. I wasn’t contributing to the community and lacked purpose. So my mom told me to get a job, and that’s what I did.

How hard could it be to get a job, right? I thought about what I was qualified to do... absolutely nothing. But hey, I bet I could learn. I thought about the places I frequented and headed to the Georgia Theatre. It was my favorite music venue that I visited weekly for shows.

After getting turned down for a job by one of the bartenders, I got on the elevator to leave when a man got in with me. We casually chatted and he ended up asking what kind of job I was looking for at the theatre. I told him I was unsure, and surprisingly, he asked if I wanted to be a bartender. Luckily, he was the owner of the venue and I somehow had been in the right place at the right time. I worked at my favorite music venue as a bartender for two years, each night clocking out, tired and adrenalized, fulfilled that I had a purpose and a team.

And that’s where I was introduced to motorcycles.

The local Ducati shop team would visit the bar often, and even though I was unfamiliar with motorcycles, I knew that Ducatis were beautiful. When they rode up, I was always excited to see the bikes. They’d come in, have a drink and tell me about their day and what was happening with motorcycles.

The youngest of the Ducati team was 26 years old, tattooed, from New York City and quite quiet. He was your quintessential bad boy, a superb change from the frat boys I was so used to at the time. Like any cliché, I fell for the bad boy.

After becoming friends, he came to the bar one day and had a predicament. He needed to find a new place to live since his lease was up. It was summertime, which meant my roommates had gone home and we had three open rooms in the house. And like that, I had a new roommate.

He brought over his things, moved in and the motorcycle came with him. It was a tremendous summer full of adventures, swims in the lake, Veuve Clicquot on the porch, rock concerts, mischief and motorcycle rides.

I was enamored. I was more head over heels than I thought possible, with the boy and the bike.

Like my drives in the car, the motorcycle was a way to be free and leave everything else behind. I’d jump on the back of his Ducati Monster and ride through Georgia, watching the trees rush by as we raced down the road. Every time he shifted gears, I would smile deviously. I loved hearing the engine roar when he started the bike and the feeling of leaning into the turns with him. Mostly, I loved hearing him pull into the driveway on that bike. I’d hear it from down the street and get butterflies in my stomach.

He moved out a month later and we started dating. That summer was the catalyst to many defining moments in my life - my move to Austin, a career in music production, and the purchase of my first motorcycle. Since then, I've moved to New York, made career adjustments, sold my first motorcycle, purchased two additional bikes and discovered mindfulness and empowerment through riding.

To make a long story short, my first love inspired my love for motorcycles.