Shelia McQueen
Age: 50 Job: Press Officer How long have you been riding? 25 years What bikes are in the garage? Triumph Adventurer 900, MZ ETZ250 and sidecar (Squire), Kawasaki W650 and sidecar (Velorex)
How did you get into bikes?
I grew up not knowing any bikers and didn’t actually sit on a bike until the morning of my CBT, but I always knew I wanted to ride. In 1985 I read a feature in a now-defunct magazine called Looks – a female courier had volunteered for a makeover. They glammed her up and put her in ski pants (well, it was the 80s…). Fifteenyear-old me read it and thought – that’s for me. I, too, want to wear big boots, have spiky hair and sit on Chelsea Bridge next to a Very Large Kawasaki. I didn't actually take my test until 1996 after my husband had his car stolen. but that's a different story.
Who do you ride with? Where do you go?
Until June this year my favourite riding companion was the Wingman, my three-legged rescue dog who loved riding in the sidecar and going to MZ rallies where he could eat as many sausages as he could scrounge.
I ride all over the UK, doing a navigation game called the Round Britain Rally, and every county has something special. But I do really love the unique roads that run by the sea and through the mountains in the very far north of Scotland. Well, I loved them before the NC500 filled them with shed-draggers! I tend to ride solo because I'm technically a bit rubbish and slow as a brick.
What’s on your biker bucket list?
I've fulfilled more than my fair share of biker dreams already – I've ridden at Cadwell, I’ve toured a bit of Australia, and I’ve been to the Simmer Dim – but there are a few things left. I haven’t been to the Hebrides yet; that was on my list for 2020, before lockdown hit. I’ve even studied a bit of Gaelic Duolingo to be sure I can order beer, whisky and a plateful of sgadan while I’m there! I've also still to go the the Isle of Man, and I want to ride the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland.
What else makes you tick?
Erm... is there a life outside motorcycling? Between riding and fettling there’s not much time left for other hobbies. And if there is a spare weekend then God clearly intended it for sticking a tent on the back of the bike and going to a rally! I used to play harmonica in a blues band; I keep muttering about getting back into that. And I have all the major womanly accomplishments like knitting, crochet and baking. But mainly I like taking bikes that don’t quite work and making them work better. Last year I learnt how to attach and set up sidecars; that was fun. Next year I want to become a competent welder.