‘Whenever or wherever you ride, the excitement never fades’
Joanna Mckay, from Colchester, was in her 50s when she decided to give up her spot on the back of her husband’s motorbike and get in the riding seat instead.
Being out on the road on my motorbike is a wonderful and freeing experience. The best part is that whenever or wherever you ride, you can immerse yourself completely, and the excitement never fades.
As a child, I would watch my dad, Paul, take part in lots of scrambling races. My siblings, Martin and Sara, and I would cheer him on while watching him speed past us and manoeuvre his way over hills and around sharp turns.
When I was 11, he bought us a small kids’ motorbike so we could have a go. We took turns to ride it over the local farmer’s fields and we loved it. We even took granny on the back a few times! It wasn’t a conscious thought at the time, but
I must have soaked in the passion for motorbiking from those early days.
In 1980, aged 22, I met Simon and we married two years later. Simon had ridden motorbikes as a teenager and, soon after he turned 40, he took his test and bought himself a Harley-davidson. He would go out on rides with his motorbiking friends. At the time, I was busy with work and looking after our children, Natalie and Mark, and I was happy to let him go off on his own.
When our children were 16 and 18, Simon and I would go out together on his bike, with me on the back. When they left home, we’d take the bike to places such as France, Spain and the Netherlands. I just enjoyed the ride and going through lovely countryside in the sunshine.
In August 2012, after years of sitting behind my husband, I finally thought, ‘Hang on, why am I on the back of this gorgeous motorbike when I could be riding it myself?’ So, at 54, I signed up for lessons. It was so thrilling to be doing something all for myself that I kept it a secret from everyone except Simon. Once I’d passed my test, I told my very surprised family and friends, and they were all so excited for me, especially my dad. He was delighted he’d handed down his passion to me. Finally my own motorbiking journey had begun; I was so proud of myself.
For the first two years I rode a small Honda 125cc before buying myself a Harley-davidson Sportster. From then on, Simon and I would go out and about on our bikes with the local Harley Owners Group. It’s a club and it feels wonderful to be riding with a group of people who all share the same interest.
For my 60th birthday, Simon and I went to the USA and rode a Harley from San Francisco to San Diego down Route One, the Pacific Coast Highway. We also did a small section of Route 66.
In 2019, I replaced my Harley with a Triumph Bobber 1200cc. I think I’ve settled on this one as my own prized motorbike to keep for ever. I can’t imagine I’ll ever get tired of feeling the wind on my face. It’s something I plan to do, whatever my age.
Finally my motorbiking journey had begun. I was so proud of myself