Auckland women interested in buckets?

[Dutchee]

Can we have a show of hands of those interested in riding/racing buckets, but too intimidated by the guys and full-on racing (and practice).
If you know of any women who fit the bill, but don't come here, let me know.

Via email or PM would be best. I just need the names and a phone number (plus email where appropriate).

If I can get enough names, I'll organise with J.C. that we get a day for training with Avalon and/or a couple of good riders who are prepared to help us out.

As this will not clash with the guys' racing/practising, there is not the need for your own bike (yet) - use your partner's.

You will need to know how to ride a bike, have your own safety gear (preferably leather, but initially cordura may be okay - I'll need to check on that, but it will need to be zipped together). Back protectors are one thing I will need to get back to you on, but for the moment, I'm just wanting names. and contact details

I know there are a few others looking at getting into buckets, so hands up.

Also, would be interested to know of any woman interested in getting into buckets, but not (yet) able to ride.
Cheers, Michelle

[Quasi]

WooHoo Michelle - that day on the tack at Manfield really sucked you in aye??

I thinking about doing Karels May course as I had such a blast and learnt so much. it was rather addictive but my riding skills have improved immensely. If i was up your way - i would definitely be joining you in the buckets.

[Dutchee]

This has actually been a long time coming, but . . .
I got my bucket a couple of weeks before Manfeild, and rode it 4x round Kaitoke. I rode in practice yesterday, but didn't feel comfortable riding my ride, so would like to be out on the track with a few others. B grade is still intimidating. There were other newbies yesterday, but every single one of them lapped me at least once (which didn't bother me at all, I just got sick of not wanting to get in the way, so not relaxing enough). When there weren't many others out there, I had fun, or if there were groups and parts I could just ride and relax.

I also had at least one guy comment to me that his mrs was too intimidated by the guys to even give it a go. We're lucky up here that the organiser is keen to get more women out there, he just wants someone to organise it. He was stunned when I said there were 42 of us at Manfeild. The thing about Manfeild and other full-size tracks, is it's not as intense, but when you've got guys running low .30's on a track (yes, that is half a minute), it can easily be intimidating.

I also have a dirt race that I won't miss if I can help it. It's going to be in its third year this year, and it's huge fun. When a group of us used to organise trail rides, we did organise one women only trailride, which was fun, but we were pretty burnt out by then, and didn't bother again. To have the Dead Tadpole is something I'd like to continue, and by turning up there each year in support, I hope it'll continue.

I'm also sick of henk going out once a month to race buckets, and me not being into it at all, so think it's time that I try to understand the whole thing

As to Karel's course, I'd love to do another one later in the year. I'll also try to get some others to head down for it (my fault this time that I was on my own), but I did have a fantastic time.

[Buckets4Me]

I'm also sick of henk going out once a month to race buckets, and me not being into it at all, so think it's time that I try to understand the whole thing

.

ask to go out after the racing like the young men on sunday
you get to practice and nobody els on the track (or maby only one or 2 and no overtaking or racing allowed)

there are plenty of bikes lying around that the ladies would be welcome to borrow (as long as they washed them after lol. maby not)

[Dutchee]

I did contemplate going out today (both for practice in the morning and at the end of the day), but at the end of the day, my bike had been loaded into the van already, and I was still sore from riding there yesterday, with A and B graders (I was the moving chicane).

I'm not concerned about how much I ride, what I'm wanting is to get some of us women who are sick of sitting on the sidelines, motivated to get out there mixing it up (when we're ready).

If we can get some of us taking some track time, learning some lines, not worrying about being carved up by the guys and generally getting our confidence up, before moving into mixed practice, then that is a good thing.

There are women who are happy to ride and race with the guys, good on them (sincerely), but there are others who are interested, but are too intimidated to get out there (I'm borderline).

We will have/will find plenty of time when we can get on the track, but it will also be good to get on the track with more than 1 person.

[Trudes]

Good on you Dutchee, run with this, it's a great idea, and I for one would love for more chicks to get into buckets.
We had our first points races for the year down here today, and as often happens I was the only chick riding. Thankfully we got split into A and B grades so I wasn't getting lapped constantly by the super fast guys (And you'll be pleased to know that I got a bit of a rocket up my arse today and only got lapped by 2 people in the points races (one of which was my hubby) and not at all in the last fun race, so woohoo for me! )
So come on ladies, if you want to give it a go, get hold of Dutchee and get out there and do it, it's bloody addictive, and you learn HEAPS!!!

[Dutchee]

Wicked result. Fantastic. You go girl. Damn, there goes my partner for the two hour hehehe
Next month, there will be two of us riding up here (at practice anyway), so even if no other women join us, we will be commandeering the track at some stages over the weekend. I will talk to someone else, and get his friend to come along, so if she can make it, then we'll be three. JC has a couple of others that would be keen, and I've made a list of a few others who are possibles.
Seriously, I think this will be the way to get other women involved.
Seeing you (Trudes) and Str8jacket is an incentive and something to aspire to (well, Str8jacket is beyond my ability/aspirations) and I was thinking as I was riding around yesterday, you would be slapping me, as I just wasn't strong enough to ride my ride and was gaining nothing from riding around in circles. hehehe

[speedpro]

John is always keen to let anyone have track time. If the person(s) need time on their own I don't think anyone is going to get upset. We all want to see as many people, even girls, riding as possible, as long as they aren't on 4-strokes.

They used to have a "ladies" race at the Ohakea GP years ago.

[Dutchee]

I don't think anyone will be upset either. But I think it would be seriously cool if at the next meet, we could have 3 or 4 of us having some time on the track some time during the Saturday (hey, Sunday we could go out as well).

I'm working towards having a list of people to call up for a training day June or July, where we make it worthwhile for someone to spend time with us, showing us lines, giving us confidence to look towards joining the b grade in the (near) future.

When I started dirt riding, I was the only female I knew out riding. I met up with someone not too long afterwards and found my first riding buddy. That was a huge thing for me. I met up with others after that, and still have good friends to go riding with (road & dirt). I also know that we got other women into riding, as they saw us getting dirty and having a huge time. Now I go to trailrides and don't know all the women riding. That is really good.

With buckets, I've seen some women riding in the past and wonder why they've stopped, or if they've just moved on. There are 4 regular women riders that I know of in buckets - Trudes, Str8jacket, Andi and Ellen. None regularly in Auckland at the moment. Shona and I will be regulars soon enough, but there could be more who are keen, but just not sure about it (hehe, neither of us are sure either, but we plan to have fun together). I know Avalon is busy with other things, and she's one we can admire, but it's not necessarily where we want to be heading.

I will be back next month, and hope I'll have a better feel for the track in the other direction (yeah, I know which corner I'll hate more that way).

[Buckets4Me]

With buckets, I've seen some women riding in the past and wonder why they've stopped, or if they've just moved on.

I know Avalon is busy with other things, and she's one we can admire, but it's not necessarily where we want to be heading.

I will be back next month, and hope I'll have a better feel for the track in the other direction (yeah, I know which corner I'll hate more that way).

same with the guys there are riders that come and go
I know of 2 that for reasons of child or injury (getting a big fright) have stoped. Both were good riders


I know of a lot of guys that have come and gone in my time aswell (none because they where pregnant)

keep it up and get them all over. I'll put my bike up for one or two to try out on if they want (first I need to get it back together. Hope to have it done by ndext meating)

ps if they want a slower race less people tell them to get an rg50 or f5 bike together cb100 single or something like that there where only 4 on the track on sunday 6-9 on a good day so not to many to get in the way of

[Dutchee]

For those wondering when this will happen, it's going to be up to you to put your names forward first so that I've got some people to phone/email to confirm dates.

I was thinking June/July for organising the training day, but what I'd like is that we have had a feel for the track and bucketing by that stage, so it may be later in the year. It will also be weather and trainer dependent.

There will be at least two of us there May 15/16, so if interested, come along.

The 50 race was definitely more my scene, numbers wise

[Squiggles]

I better clean the rx carb out then...

[Dutchee]

I better clean the rx carb out then...

Yep, but check to see which month she's keen on coming out
If you do need a hand with anything, sing out and someone will be able to help (I'm relying on the guys all being brilliant at helping each other out here).

[Dutchee]

Just a reminder, next weekend (15/16 May) is hopefully the first weekend we get started. Weather dependent (hey, I might melt, I heard witches do in the rain), we'll have a few of us riding around.
My bike should look sufficiently girly, leathers aren't, but I'll get others eventually, helmet is undecided at the moment. I've seen the one I want, but none in the country, (2nd choice), 1st choice is my new MotoGP hero - Pol Espargaro (only cause he has the right colour helmet, my #44). So tossing up between #3 choice (girly but not the right helmet) and #4 (Michel Fabrizio - name fits, colour works okay with the bike).
Ah well, it's kept my brain working (sort of) for a while, finishing touches to be done on the bike tomorrow.

[MadDuck]

Damn only just saw this. I would be keen as mustard. But dont have a bucket.