WIMA Victoria: (Motorcycling) Life Begins at 40

(Motorcycling) Life Begins at 40

While seeing off some friends who were leaving for a Ulysses Club rally in Tasmania, I was blown away by the atmosphere created by the sheer number of bikes and riders who'd gathered for the trip across the Tasman. I'd been quite happy playing pillion for about four months, but after this I decided I had to get my own bike, so I booked into Motorcycle Motion and did the learner's permit course in April 1996. One of my instructors on the course was WIMA's Marg Stewart who introduced me to WIMA, and I have been fairly involved ever since. By September I had bought a bike, a VT250, and in April 1997 I got my license. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing...

I really identified with Alison's article in the last WIMA Vic newsletter. I used to get so nervous preparing for a ride that I had to go to the toilet several times beforehand. Once I was on the bike and moving, I was all right. Slow riding and parking have proven the most troublesome. Don't ask me how many times I've dropped the bike. And I was glad when I finally got some proper boots—I had been bruising my shins holding the bike steady with my legs behind the footpegs.

Given that I'm 46 years old with 2 teenage kids, I wondered how people would react to my riding a bike. I've always had positive feedback, which has surprised me. Although the kids initially laughed and said I looked daggy waddling around in all my gear, they actually thought it was pretty cool. I used to hear (favourable) reports of my riding from their friends' parents, so obviously I was a hot topic of conversation. At work (I'm a secretary at an engineering and construction firm), the guys come and ask my advice about learning to ride. I've only occasionally ridden the bike to work, but intend to do so more often.

The longest trip I've done so far has been a 1300km round trip to Wagga Wagga for the Ulysses Club AGM. I've done lots of other trips in the short time I've been riding—the Great Ocean Road, Dandenongs, WIMA rides and even a Virago club ride. I haven't been to any rallies so far, but after soaking up the atmosphere of the Phillip Island Grand Prix (I camped overnight on the Saturday), I hope to be able to make it to the Moondyne Rally in December.

The thing I really like about being in WIMA is that I've met so many people who I can ride with. It's great being able to ring someone up on the spur of the moment and say ‘hey, how about a ride today'.

Gae Lambert

Matt and I run a plumbing company and have an 18-year old daughter and a 14-year old son. We both enjoy eating out, scuba diving and snorkelling, and while Matt's passion is sailing, mine is motorcycling...

I took up motorcycling about 3½ years ago, and joined WIMA almost immediately—I needed all the moral support I could get! I was without a bike when I first got my license, but Matt hired one for me for the Easter weekend and later presented me with a lovely 250cc Virago for my birthday. Since then, he has spent a few weekends at home with the kids while I've been out riding, both with WIMA and with the Virago club. Last year I was keen to go on the Melbourne-to-Albury leg of the Fenceline ride (a ride around Australia organised by women to raise awareness of breast cancer), but Matt was worried about me riding such a long distance on the 250. So I traded up to a BMW R80. The problem with the R80 was that it liked to ‘go to sleep' on the job—it was a little too tall in the saddle and spent some of its time lying on the ground as a result. Last November I sold the Beamer and bought a Suzuki VX800 which is light and nippy to ride, and thankfully has a lower seat height.

I'd love to some day have the time and opportunity to do some interstate rides, culminating in an around-Australia trip. I'm taking a step in this direction next February, when I'll spend a week riding around Tasmania after the WIMA AGM which is being held there.

I'm a keen supporter of the MRAA Annual Toy Runs—I've been to three of them now—and Matt and I are hosting another Cup Day Toy Run spit roast at our home. This is a fundraising event to raise money to buy toys and gifts for underprivileged kids. Please do come along. We provide the food, but you'll need to bring your own drinks. There is a $15 admission fee (but there is no charge for children, so feel free to bring your family along) all of which goes towards our fundraising for the Toy Run.

Jane Turner

Rumour has it that Jane's VX800 also likes to take the occasional unplanned nap. Jane came up ‘smelling like soup' after it deposited her in the herb garden recently, thinking only of its own comfort when planting itself on top of her.