For longer than I care to admit I was a motorcyclist's worst enemy. I was one of those ignorants who just didn't see motorcycles: didn't see them, didn't know they existed, didn't know how to share roads with them, didn't know a thing about them. Then a couple stars aligned to bring motorcycles into my consciousness. First, I became divorced. Next, simple curiosity prompted me to ask a friend for a ride on the back of his new bike-- a big, red European cycle. I was fascinated that this person whom I thought I knew would suddenly go out and get himself a motorcycle, of all things. What for?

We had a nice putter around his neighborhood, but then I realized he was heading back to the garage. I pounded on his back and demanded he go somewhere we could go fast. Out on the highway, I found myself whooping and laughing at the acceleration and the leaning. I think I hadn't even removed my helmet after the ride before I was jumping up and down, yelling, "I have to do this! I have to do this!" Then, after my mind flashed through several images of burly biker dudes, BIG bikes like my friend's, and my small framed, testosterone-less self, I asked quietly, "Can I do this?" My friend said, "Why not?"

I owe those two little words a lot. Riding changed my life completely. Many happy miles led me to find myself after a rather long hiatus in a crummy relationship. I found camaraderie in being a member of terrific groups like the Women’s International Motorcyclist Association, the Women in Sport Touring email list (WIST), Women on Wheels® and various owners’ clubs.

I found joy and excitement in practicing to be a better rider on the street and on the track. And best of all, I also found my darling husband, John Walsh, at a Yankee Beemer Club rally in Massachusetts. Then we fell in love at a Moto Guzzi rally in West Virginia, and now we have a couple Ducatis in the garage, as well as two wonderful young sons. Well, we don't actually keep the kids in the garage, at least not all the time.

Off-bike, I'm a full-time mama to Delaney (5 years old) and Sean (3). Prior to that, I was a director of information systems quality at a pharmaceutical company. I love to read, garden, swim, hike, and practice yoga. I just wish I had more time to do these things!

My current bike is a 1992 Ducati 750SS, which I adore for its fit, light weight, and relatively low seat. I’m 5’1” tall, so light weight and seat heights are important! And you just can't beat the fun factor, as the 750 motor pulls happily. It seems all I have to do is think where I want the bike to go and it does it. There may not be another motorcycle out there that's so right for me.

Though I wouldn't complain if Santa brought me a new Ducati 999. Or an MV Augusta F4. Or a Hayabusa with a two-seater sidecar for the kids. Or…

Erica