About my bike: 2OO7 Sportster Custom

Favorite ride or experience: Since I have been riding less than a year my favorite ride is usually my last ride. This past weekend I rode my 2OO7 Sportster Custom to Wenatchee while my husband rode his Yamaha. The scenery was beautiful and there were lots of motorcyclists on the road.

Worst ride or experience: Earlier this year, a friend told me he was riding to Goldendale and asked if I wanted to go. I quickly replied, Yes, of course. Cool, I was going on a ride. He suggested I head toward Toppenish since he had some errands to run. I got on the road casually dressed in a T-shirt and jeans with a jacket. On the highway, I was being blown around quite a bit but thought to myself, it will be a little less windy when I get off the highway. Well it was no better when I got off the highway. The wind was blowing fiercely across the highway. My friend caught up to me in Toppenish but he had a court date so he continued on. I began thinking I was in trouble when semis began passing me. I was trying to go the speed limit but l could only manage about 50 in the wind. l thought to myself that l was going to die because the trucks did not know I was only going 50 MPH. Toward the summit, the temperature began to drop and it started to rain. Uh oh. I don't have saddlebags on my bike so I have no wet weather gear or warm stuff with me. lt was cold. I began to think that this was crazy, l'm going to die. I came up with a solution. When I arrived in Goldendale, I would ask my friend if I could ride back to Yakima with him and my husband and I would come and pick up the bike the next day. Finally, the first Goldendale exit was in sight. I think my brain was frozen because I grabbed the front brake and I heard a sound that scared the S*** out of me so I immediately downshifted and was able to make the turn without wrecking. I pulled up to the gas pump, got off the bike and went inside to warm up. I called my friend and he was there in less than 5 minutes. He asked how I was doing. With tears in my eyes, I said "it scared the s*** out of me". He said, "you did good". After he ate, he asked if I was ready to go? Without a thought of my plan, I replied Yep. On our way out to the bikes he asked if I had gotten gas and I said no. The ride back was still windy but not as bad and I was really proud of myself for riding to Goldendale and back.

Humorous ride or situation: Learning the foot brake is not a footrest.

Ride motto: Beyond My Wildest Imagination

Ride advice: Find a mentor and believe in yourself.

Nancy S.