This is an honor to me, simple, but true. My name is Linda and I first learned to ride when I was 7. I was racing dirt track at age 8 at the Jolly Rogers Race track in Kent, now gone. I never won a race, riding crazy to win like that was just not my style. I spent years watching my dad do it, crashing and burning every now and then was the norm for all racers who were serious about winning. I wanted to win, but didn’t want to break an arm or a leg doing it. It looked like it hurt! I would finish all my races however, even if I was three laps behind. This often angered the referee who knew my dad well. He would storm up to my dad yelling “damn it Seymour, what the hell is your daughter doing??".  And dad would say, "finishing her race". My dad had been racing long before I was born, he was really good at it. He should have been. For years we were always at the track and we were always at the races every Sunday rain or shine. At age 19 I married, hubby and I bought a motorcycle shop in White Center, outside of Burien and started a repair shop and sold used bikes. My first hubby was a great motorcycle mechanic. After a year we started the South Seattle Chapter of A.B.A.T.E.  Hubby was vice president and I was chapter secretary. We held a lot of charity events and had a lot of fun, we were like family. Second marriage to Pat was pretty much motorcycle free until 2003 when I bought my 2001 XL1200 Sportster, who I affectionately named Wilbur. I loved that bike, I put a lot of time and money in it, I wanted it to be an accornplishment I achieved all on my own and I wanted it to look good and he did. Pat wound up selling his bike and took to riding mine (it’s a man thing). There just wasn’t enough room for two people on my bike, it was uncomfortable as heck!! One day after a uncomfortable ride we stopped at Owens Cycle to stretch our sore backs. We walked in and there it was!! A 2007 Heritage Classic Softtail. It was beautiful!! Pat was drooling over some decked out full dresser because it had a radio. I couldn’t take my eyes off the Heritage. Just out of curiosity we inquired about the bike, thinking it would be a good bike for Pat and found out that the only way we could get it was if I used my Sportster as a trade in. It was the wisest and hardest choice I was to make. I shed a couple of tears when I signed Wilbur’s title over to Owens. Thanks to Harley Owners Group, a whole new world opened up to my husband Pat and me. To be able to share this with him is a dream come true. I’ve missed being around bikers, I’ve missed the fellowship, friendship and fun times. So, now I’m back. WooHoo!!:)

FAVORITE RIDE? My favorite ride would have to be the 2008 Oyster Run. Pat got a taste of the responsibilities involved with being a road captain which was really good for him. The ride was beautiful and trouble free. The sense of friendship and trust was strong and we rode strong. I swear I had a smile on my face the whole time it felt so good!! Seeing people relax and having fun was priceless. Having a lot of money to spend was nice too:) We got to spend time with family when we were in Mount Vernon, it seemed everywhere we went, we were surrounded by friends and family.

MY WORST RIDE: Would have to be, riding on the back of my old Sportster to Roslyn and back. My back started hurting on the way there. My Sporty had no back rest and a pea pad that was the size and hardness of a brick. The ride back was brutal!! I was in so much pain I had tears in my eyes and was screaming in my head “WHEN DOES THIS END”. That would be my last ride on Wilbur and then is when I decided maybe it was time to let him go. He wasn’t built for two.

HUMOROUS RIDE? Yea, well that would have to be back years ago when I was 17. I was dating this guy named Little John. He was called this because he had to be at least 4 foot 8 or 9 and he rode a full size Harley. He really struggled to keep his footing. He was a good rider, he just had really short legs. One day we’re out for a ride, he’s had a few beers, and every stop we came to he almost dumps the bike. I instinctively would put my feet down to keep the bike from dumping over. After about the 5th stop, I started forming an image in my mind how silly this must have looked and could not stop the giggles that would follow. Little John however was not amused.

RIDE MOTTO? “Smile" no one likes a grumpy biker :)

RIDE ADVICE? Keep your eyes wide open and moving at all times!! Danger can pop out of anywhere in any form. Do the dang speed limit!!!! Plan well ahead, and take your time, enjoy the ride by being safe and keep that smile on your face :)

Sincerely brought to you by Linda L