Storytellers Series: Chicago E01

Jill Sandmire, Babes Moto Lounge

When I started riding there were so many firsts: first motorcycle purchase, first time riding in the actual streets, first time dropping the bike, first time putting gas in it, first time you get harassed at the gas station (like a dude bro hitting on you: oh my god gurl you are so hot with that motorcycle), first time running out of gas on the freeway, first actual wreck, first pipe burn, first oil change (and getting your hair in the oil pan), first time getting caught in rain unprepared, first break down, first group ride. I could go on and on…. 

See when I started riding, the only people I knew at the time who also rode, were mostly men. Actually they were all men, and despite having begged them to teach me how to ride, they always managed to settle with me on the back. I hated this. I wanted to be in the front seat. I wanted to be in control for myself. So for the first year with my first bike and my first group rides were composed of 4-5 guys, and me, the lone woman rider. And while I am grateful for those experiences I noticed there was something I didn’t like about it. There was a certain level of chaos that went along with these guy dominant rides. For instance, we are chilling, taking a breather at a garage and my guy friend at the time felt it necessary to tell me how and when to shift my bike, a 250 CC Honda Rebel ce 2001, where here he is riding a 1500 CC Harley Softail. Respectfully, gentlemen identifying persons of the audience, don’t man-splain to someone about how to ride their bike you’ve never ridden before. Anyway, another example is the level of I don’t know, I call it “dick measuring” that goes along with these rides, going super fast on residential streets, or popping wheelies, or getting into road rages with cars, general mayhem, that I experienced was well unsafe, and made me feel insecure about riding with them. When I realized this was when I tried to find more women to ride with. I thought there has to be other women like me, and I knew it would be a different experience. 

I started with the guys I knew, asking every time we hung out if they didn’t know any other women riders. I was riding in Lakeview once and I saw a woman rider she had long dreads, covered in tattoos, and riding a giant Harley (despite her slim frame) and I was in awe. I couldn’t even say anything, just waved at her like a child on the sidelines of a parade. Then finally someone had suggested I check out this place called Tarnish in West Town. And if you are that person thank you and I’m sorry I don’t remember who it was. 

This is 2016, a year after I had gotten my M-class, and purchased my first bike. I checked out Tarnish on Facebook, and they were promoting this photography show “Women and Wheels” in Logan Square just around the corner from where I lived at the time, and wouldn’t you know it the show was that very evening! So I put my helmet on and my leather moto jacket, and scooted on over to the photography show. Turns out it was artist/photographer/moto queen Sarah Vaun’s work and it was everything I had dreamed of, huge prints of women all badass and on motorcycles, all amazing empowered women, this was everything!!!! I wanted to be them, I wanted to know them, I was intrigued but I was also kind of shy, and barely spoke to anyone there. I did however pick up a flier for this thing called “Babes in Motoland” and it was coming up in 2 weeks. It was a camp and ride situation and I didn’t have a tent or anything really, but I did have a hammock, and saddle bags, so it was decided, I was doing it! I reached out to the organizer even though I missed the registration deadline, she emailed me back right away, and said they had a spot for me! Oh goody. 

I began to prepare my kit, what would fit, what would I need to bring???? So many unknowns, would they even like me, accept me, or would they make fun of my little bike, or shifting style, or the fringe on the saddle bags like the guys I rode with did???? 

The weeks passed by quickly and the big weekend had arrived, I got the bike packed up, and it took forever, first time packing a bike for a two day camping trip was difficult, is it tight enough, is it balanced, is it all going to go flying off while I’m on the road? Finally everything tightened down and balanced out I hit the road, but the clouds opened up as I was about to hit Addison, IL and I was not prepared. The front wheel guard on my bike was missing and the rain off the wheel was rooster tailing up onto my helmet making it impossible to see. I turned back and headed home. The next day, that Saturday I got up really early, and tried again. As I was riding down to long stretches of corn fields and cows, corn fields, and cows all of my anxieties melted away, I was doing it! I was riding nearly 150 miles miles away from my home on a tiny 250 CC Honda Rebel, all by myself, FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!! 

When I pulled up there was a sprinkle of women in a giant parking lot of what looked like an abandoned restaurant. There was a small table and someone was hanging out near it. A slim gal, covered in tattoos, with long dreads! It was that girl, it was the girl I saw in Lakeview! I couldn’t believe it, she introduced herself at Gianna, and I let her know I was wanting to check in, she handed me a bag full of fun goodies, and took me around to where the bus showers were. I thanked her and was trying to figure out where I should set up my hammock but when I looked around the grounds there was nothing except blades of grass. I went to the bathroom and found that there were poles in the lower level of this restaurant and decided to string up my hammock between them. That night, as the sun began to set and the bikes and babes began to roll in, entire groups of women riders pulled in and parked their bikes. By the time the sun had set the lot was full of bikes, over a hundred bikes and every single one of them was piloted by a woman rider. We played moto-games (which I didn’t know was a thing). I sat around the campfire and started to chat with some of the ladies there. I was telling them I rode up there by myself and they just couldn’t have that, they insisted I ride back with them the next day immediately accepting me into the fold. That was when I had my first group ride with all women riders, and met some of my best friends to this day. I had finally found my tribe.