Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/714189
86 nSeptember 2016n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS Grab bag of facts, fun and sound advice The Women's Guide to Motorcycling by Lynda Lahman Luminamedia.com $24.95 Reviewed by Hannah Clark With the 35 percent growth of women motorcyclists between 2003 and 2012, companies are fi nally tak- ing notice and letting women ride on their own terms. The Women's Guide to Motorcycling: Everything a Woman Needs to Know about Bikes, Equipment, Riding, and Safety by Lynda Lahman takes the past, the pres- ent and the future of women on bikes, as well as tips and tricks for long-tim- ers and newbies alike and presents it all in a fun package. Somewhere between a paperback and a coffee table book, The Women's Guide to Motorcycling is 239 pages, easy to read and easy to display. Its size makes it comfortable to stretch out on the couch with, but its vivid colors, glossy pages, and classic style make it more than welcome to leave on the coffee table for curious friends. The book's mission is clear from the beginning. The introduction by Lahman notes, "This is not a 'how to ride' book; there are already dozens of books and hundreds of courses that will help you learn the technical aspects of riding. This book discusses what to consider when deciding whether motorcycling is for you, what steps to take if you are becoming involved, and what to do after you take your introductory courses." It's a spot on description. In the chap- ter "Why We Ride" Lahman points out that she, like many other women, got her start on a motorcycle on the back of her future husband's bike, but relays the importance of loving to ride for yourself, and not for some- one else. One of the book's fi rst lessons is on history, relating tales of Clara Wagner, Effi e Hotchkiss, Bessie Stringfi eld, Louise Scherbyn, Theresa Wallach and several more pio- neers of women's riding in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These women cleared the way for today's motorcyclists through cross-country journeys, racing and cre- ating important books and guides for the women of the future. It does not just cover the past, but also ventures into the 21st century with important fi gures like Sue Fish, the only female motocross rider to be inducted into the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Besides the historical references and appreciation for the motorcycling matriarchs of the scene, the book spends ample time covering mainte- nance, gear and riding style tips. It is a great tool for women just hitting the roads, and a great refresher for those of you who've been on the trail a long while now. For those just starting out it covers the fi rst steps of getting on the bike, as well as a whole chapter on improving your skills for those who are seasoned riders. Some sections on things like safety might seem obvious with sub- jects like discerning if you are pre- pared for what may happen on group or solo rides, but questions like that aren't often thought of until it's too late, and this book makes sure you'll remember that when packing your saddlebags for a trip. It also covers things like riding etiquette, and how to get out of situations like group rides, without "tipping your hand." Overall, the anecdotes from women riders, intriguing history and invaluable tips make The Woman's Guide to Motorcycling a great read for riders of any skill level, with important riding tools for all genders. The book, published by Lumina Media, can be purchased wherever books are sold. 4 Where Am I? e "Where Am I?" game is for all THUNDER PRESS readers, what ever part of the country you hail from. Off ered each month is a set of clues within a riddle, and from those clues your job is to guess where our wandering reporter (and riddlemeister) Susan might be. Lo cations chosen are always in the Western U.S. or Canada. How does it work? e clues can be solved either by personal familiarity with the location, with the aid of a map, or by using the Inter net. When a clue is particularly important, and/or somewhat vague, we o en italicize that trickier portion to make sure your attention is drawn there. Where/when/what do I win? Very important: Do not e-mail your guess until the 8th of the month, so every one in our circulation area has a chance to get a copy of the paper. en on the 8th e-mail Susan at susan@tohonor.org and if you're the fi h correct e-mail you win. (Note: If there's no phone number in your e-mail where I can call you, your e-mail will not arrive fi h. Some law of physics or something…) Winners are profi led and pictured in the following issue. Good luck. Last month's mystery location: Withheld until winner is found. Oh it's mighty high elevation up here A John Denver-esque high at that With only 45 days between seasonal frosts 200 plant types make the most of a stunted stint at-bat It's a shy 50 miles from start to fi nish Above the tree line for about 1/5th of that span The Continental Divide gets a nod passing over Milner Near Fall River, a visitor center allows you to stretch out your gams So tell me, Where am I? WHERE AM I? WINNER No winner For the fi rst time in the "Where am I?" game history, our readers must have been out on the road rather than near a PC thus able to post an entry on the 8th. As a result, and compounded by a tight deadline for September's Western edition, we're not giving up, but we're going to "let it ride." In the October issue you should expect two profi les of fellow riders who took a moment, dragged out the tattered gazetteer and arrived upon a fair guess as to "Where am I?" 4