Women Discover Fun in Driving Motorcycles

Standing barely 5 feet tall in her polished leather boots, Gold Wing rider Nancy Epley smiles, proudly showing off her gleaming white motorcycle.

“It’s freedom,” she said.

For 37 years Epley, of Marion, northwest of Columbus, dutifully climbed on the back of her husband, Ken’s, motorcycle and the couple hit the highway. They both loved the open road and relished their time together. Life was good, but taking a “back seat” was getting a bit old for Nancy.

“I got tired of looking at the back of his head,” she said with a laugh. “I wanted to be in control.”

Five years ago Nancy Epley, 55, got her own Honda Gold Wing.

“I named it ‘Powder,’” she said proudly. “My mom calls it my little white car.”

Epley was among hundreds of Gold Wing riders who, under fair skies and brilliant sun, cruised into Marietta Friday and settled into the Washington County Fairgrounds for the weekend. Many of the visitors spent the weekend camping there. Others found a place in local hotels and motels.

Ohio Gold Wing Road Rider Buckeye Rally 2007 is a state-riders sanctioned event. Events began Thursday with pre-registration, euchre and bingo for campers and ended with closing ceremonies Sunday at the Junior Fair Building.

Epley, with Gold Wing Road Riders Chapter W of Marion, predicted that up to 3,000 riders would be in town at some point over the weekend. There were riding proficiency contests, fun events on the bikes, safety demonstrations and various vendors.

It’s a big rally.

“You know you are with your best friends,” she said of the event. “All the Gold Wingers are my family.”

On Saturday, Epley was having a special “wing” painted on her trike in honor of her best friend, Gaye Rasey, also of Marion, who is battling cancer and missed the rally.

“I want her to always be with me,” Epley said.

When she first tested for her motorcycle license, this rider said she was scared. Since then, she is mellow on the road.

“I’ve made so many wonderful memories,” she said. “I love it.”

Nancy Epley is the advocate for motorcycle awareness in her chapter and her husband, Ken, is the chapter safety educator.

“You have to be defensive when you ride,” she said. “Car drivers need to be aware, but often, they are not.”

Ken Epley, 60, is a proponent of safety training for riders.

“The biggest mistake a new rider can make is not taking a new rider safety course,” he said. “Believe it or not, many new ones don’t take the course.”

And what does he think about his wife cruising around on her own Gold Wing?

“I’m proud of her,” Epley said. “But she’ll ride with me every once in awhile. A few years ago she rode on back on a trip we took south.”

Nancy Epley said that experience wasn’t without a bit of grumbling on her part. She missed her bike.

“I whined the whole time,” she said.

For this eager biker, there are still times for “girl” things.

“I like to sew, garden, and golf,” she said.

Linda Wise, 55, of Dayton, has been riding a motorcycle since 1973.

She rides to work, rides to shop, rides with friends, and rides for recreation and fun.

Her bike is part of her life.

“I love to ride,” Wise said.

She is one of an elite group of female riders, including Nancy Epley and others, who brought their own Gold Wing bikes to this weekend’s rally in Marietta.

“You meet cool people,” Wise said. “I love to ride. It gets you away. It’s a great weekend escape.”

Wise and her husband, David, spend much of the summer months at Gold Wing rally events throughout the state. In real life she is a machinist.

“It’s the fourth time we’ve had a rally in Marietta and I’ve been to every one,” Wise said. “I like to walk through the shops on Front Street. … This is my fourth rally here and it’s always fun.”

Wise’s bike is a two-wheel, traditional Honda Gold Wing SE 1998 motorcycle. It has 107,000 miles on it and it looks like brand new. In fact, all the Gold Wings look brand new.

There is a deep pride in keeping the bikes shining, Wise said.

About women riders, Wise doesn’t see what all the fuss is about.

“People don’t realize that there are a lot of us women who ride the two-wheelers,” she said. “Not just Gold Wings, but all types of motorcycles.”

This article was taken from: MariettaTimes.com