I’ve got 4 free tickets to give away to the IMS so if you want them show me the LOVE.  To win a free set of 2 tickets (worth $50) do one of these things:

1. comment on this blog and tell why women bikers rock.  Or….
2. twitter this: I want FREE TIX to NY International Moto Show @cshookup

And I’ll buy the winner a beer at our after party. Whoohoo!  Chicks On Bikes book is having a get together after party.  We’re cordially inviting all women bikers who we know and love or would love to know. Guys are welcome on extremely good behavior.

Chicks On Bikes – IMS After Party 6PM Sunday 1/23

@ The Hudson Yard Cafe – a short walk across the street.

There will some very honored guests coming out.  I tell you just one, the funniest moto blogger of them all FuzzyGalore.com – really witty and whacky stuff. And to make Fuzzy just too perfect, she’s a girl. I’m pretty excited about meeting her. I’m giggling thinking about it.

Heck, I’ll tell you one more revered guest of the night: my other favorite NY blogger of prolific and clever words on motorcycling and beyond -  www.steadyonthehumble.com

Let me tell you where I really really wanted but cannot have the after party: American Trash. Its a biker bar open to all – sporty or cruisery, clubs or solo. The owner is an avid Ducati guy who’s owned the place for 22 years and dishes up superb clam chowder.  Alas, it on the upper East Side. Which is fine if you aren’t bringing all your friends along from Javits Center halfway cross town. So it is not there.

My pick for NY biker bar.

BIG photos of my real women bikers set the tone at the women's center.

Do I look pleased?

The women center looked great and Joanne Dunn and Sue Slate deserve huge credit, slaps on the back and rounds of drinks bought for them.

See Joanne right there setting up the ever aggravating AV.

If you want unbiased and thoughtfully critiqued review of motorcycle products from a savvy womans point of view – go to Joanne’s website www.gearchic.com

Sue Slate speaks engagingly on any motorcycle topic at all.

Sue is a terrific speaker. She’s like a favorite auntie who comes to dinner and can mesmerize the whole family dishing up wise advice peppered with tales of the road. Her relentless enthisiasm to encourage and share information is as well as sheer energy of doing this ALL DAY every weekend in every city is formidable.

Here she is showing me how a 5’2″ woman rides a KTM 900. She is a entire foot shorter than me and I find that bike to fit be perfectly. The trick? Custom made SUPER TALL SOLES on her riding boots so her feet can reach the ground. Maybe 3 extra inches there.

Sue Slate shows her custom made TALL boot for short rider.

Here is one of my heros – Elena Myers. Only 17 and the racing queen. I saw her win last summer at Infineon Raceway as the first woman to win a pro AMA race. She’s a tad bit shy and seems quite modest signing photos while awash in admiration of a crowd of fans.

Elena Meyers at IMS

That admiring fan on the right is Lil’ Red Riding Liz and you can check out her blog too.

Fast, young and beautiful Elena Myers

If you’re going to one of the next upcoming International Motorcycle shows, use this online code to get a discount on your ticket: COB   (as in Chicks On Bikes, ya know).

Womens Center Design

The folks who put on the International Motorcycle Show are savvy business people who see that the women’s market is the place to grow. Our numbers are booming as while the boomer generation declines.

Use this coupon code to buy your ticket on line and save $ and help track women riders: COB    Click here for the International Motorcycle Show Website.

Come hear me speak and my images projected on the big screen at San Mateo Show this weekend: Saturday 2pm at the Hub. And Sunday 1pm at the HUB.  If you don’t catch me there come see me at my book table by the Women’s Center.

I’ll be at NYC shows too – Jan. 21-23. Stay tuned for schedule.

If you don’t know what The International Motorcycle Shows are, what the heck? Its just about everything you ever wanted to know or see in the world of bikes and bike products.

And if this all weren’t enough – this weekend  – Nov. 19-21 at San Mateo will be Elaina Meyers the first women to win an AMA pro motorcycle race, and only 16 years old. Gracing the Women’s Center and giving autographs.

Elena Meyers

Here are the Show Dates across the country:

 

Nov 12-14 2010     Dallas Texas 

Nov 19-21 2010      San Mateo California

Dec 10-12 2010       Seattle Washington

Dec 17-19 2010       Long Beach California

Jan 7-9 2011            Novi Michigan

Jan 14-16 2011        Washington DC

Jan 21-23 2011        New York New York

Jan 28-30 2011       Cleveland Ohio

Feb 4-6 2011           Minneapolis Minnesota

Feb 11-13 2011        Chicago Illinois

Feb 25-27 2011       Greenville S.Carolina

Mar 9-12 2011         Daytona Florida

I shot it with a funky old vintage Widelux camera. Film is at the lab as I type. Ah the old days of waiting for film at the lab.

1948 Widelux

And I fired off a few frames with my Nikon D90 and a fixed 50mm lens. I was feeling old school and all I brought with me was that 50mm sharp as a tack 1.2 lens which wasn’t nearly wide enough. But I know you’ll be dying to see something so I will post them here.

I’m really counting on the group photo master Jeff Ellmore who was the real brains behind the operations of coralling people into the right spot with the right perspective with the right camera (a medium format panoramic Fuji) and a very tall ladder.

I know from 20 years of shooting that many things can go wrong and even the simplest can take you down. The first few frames he shot with the lens cap on!

Kicking off with a proper National Anthem sung by a local highschool girl and words by luminous dignitaries.

But you all really want to see the BIG photo so I’ll get to it. It sure looks TINY on this blog.

But it was a beautiful thing to behold from 30 feet up a ladder, all those shining happy biker faces making a moto moment. This is a rough composite from my digital camera. The fog swirled around and camera exposures wobbled. But here it is:

so how many people are there here?

Afterwards as people milled around I found a few more moments. Starting with a bunch of girls, you know I can resist a women’s photo. I believe this is a mix of southern cali ladies.

chicks take pix

And then there was this guy who cut quite a jib (is that an expression?)

John Paul Duffy the Offical Interlocutor of the Roadrunners

Here is 92 year old Vincent Anslinger and his 1941 Harley he bought as a 22 year old young man. He never thought he’d own it for the next 70 years.

"I waited 3 months after ordering the bike and remember very well the day I rode it off the lot."

Some of the good people who helped pull the epic photo together. Wish I had got a shot of PMC road captain Todd Hodge who I vote the hardest working guy on set.

Tegan Hetzel, first woman president of SFMC

Thank you to SFMC and PMC for pulling it all off. Lets do it again next year!

And who’s shooting this photo?  Me on a vintage panoramic camera called a Widelux where the lens mechanically moves across the image. And two other excellent photographers using digital and large format cameras. Everyone is welcome to be in the photograph and prints are included with those who sign up for the rally in advance or can be purchased there.

I can’t tell how many are women in this original photo. But I know there’ll be plenty this year. Come on out and join us, here’s more info.

I did what I love to do best: photographed hip chicks on bikes. And here they are:

Presidente of ESBM Stacie B. London

This woman is in my tall girl club - 6'1" like me.

throw your arms in the air like you just don't care

on your knees, gentlemen.

sometimes its gotta be black and white.

yep, black and white.

I'm really taken with her look.

and that sassy look.

What I see here is that long lovely leg. And the simple red bike.

even the bystanders were iconic babes.

I broke my rule and shot a sexy girl on a bike who doesn't ride.

The power trio of ESBM. Who needs freaking Charlie?

ESMB forever.

"Its a process" Words to live by.

I have a special place in my heart for women who wrench.

President of the LA Cretins, Wayne was my endearing host and AV guy.

Me and Wayne. Looks like I'm going to backhand someone.

Thank you Cretins for a great night.

You want to see more? See the whole shoot at this link.

And you can buy your own East Side Moto Babe tshirt Here.

Off to a miserable start, I flew from San Francisco to Longbeach and found my drivers license had expired. No car rental without a valid license, remember that people. And everyone knows you can’t be in LA without a car (or a motorcycle). So I spent the afternoon with the downtrodden masses that waited in line with me at the DMV.

The day took a quick upturn when I was rescued from the DMV by Craig Franz owner of Westminster Harley. They are stocking Chicks on Bikes at their Huntington Beach store.

Craig Franz

And I took the opportunity to do a few shots of their lovely employee LJ. Check out that foxy tail on the back.

Then over to Dainese store for a terrific turnout of about 50 women. I’m a big proponent of wearing good gear, all the time. Dainese has great gear that looks awesome and will save your hide. Here’s what fabulous stunt women Leah Peterson says about Dainese gear: Video.

Chicks on bikes who wear good gear. Thanks Dainese.

Tom Monroe the manager was the gracious host. And here he is with one of the many historical suits they have on display -Eddie Lawson’s, from his 1986 world championship. The store a veritable museum of famous racer leathers. Some are totally trashed and quite interesting to see what a beating leather can take.

Tom Monroe

Powerlily was the sponsor and if you don’t know about this group – go right now to www.powerlily.net Really, go. Don’t even finish reading my blog. But if you’re still reading, I’ll tell you its the spirit of women riders. Powerlily has no agenda other than to further the support, kinship and success of women in the power sports industry. Here’s me and the Powerlily founder Jessica Prokup.

Jessica Prokup of Powerlily and Christina Shook

One of the only men there, Walt Fulton deserves a shout out for being a big supporter of women riders. Nominated by Helmet Hair Magazine in the Top 10 Men who Support Women In Motorcycling. Here he is with Street Masters Motorcycle Workshops (which I’d like to take) partner Nancy Foote:

Walt Fultona and Nancy Foote of Street Masters

This is a handmade Aztec skull key to the bike of Nancy G. Toscano, of another terrific resource for women riders www.ChicRiders.com

Aztec Skull key

Coming Next: Cretins Club House and the East Side Motor Babes.

I’m not sure the exact age of Bob and Liv as they set off on their Eastern European moto adventure, but I’m going to say somewhat beyond middle age.  Add aches and pains and the normal rigors of motorcycle travel to the monstrous conditions they encounter on the roads of Eastern Europe and even a seasoned motorcycle adventurer would shudder. Beyond Bucahrest is a humbling, humorous and charming read as well as an interesting insight into eastern europe.

Inspired by Ewan McGregor’s moto adventures the husband and wife team set off on bikes from England to the Black Sea in Bulgaria. They themselves would be daunted if they knew what lie in wait.  I won’t plot spoil but the floods are hair raising.

Beyond adventure their ulitmate goal it to visit some of the charitable works of EveryChild. All royalties from this book will go to the UK based charity.

I’ve recently been thinking about what place the aging motorcyclist has in the bike world. While everyone loves a tale of hardship and overcoming or succumbing to the trials and condition of travel, not many address the added issues of age with the candor and good humor that Bob Goddard does. I feel great empathy for Liv and I cheer for her when her hands freeze up so she can barely control the bike but she rallies on.

Bob’s writing wonderfully personable and so very English. I just have to giggle over some expressions like:

And speaking of international distintions, do French motorcyclists really wave their foot in greeting?

I recommend buying the book Beyond Bucharest for a good cause and reading it for a good adventure.

Beyond Bucharest book by Bob Goddard

This August, I’m heading down for a few fab dates with Chicks On Bikes. A big thank you shout out to Dainese of Orange County for bringing me down.

Dainese Store -  Ladies Night

But wait… there’s more…The East Side Moto Babes! (ESBM) Like an awesome indie film, gritty, glamorous and fierce – they laid hollywood rubber in getting me a couple more spots.

I’d already bonded with the Cretin’s in Seattle last month (pictures at the end of this entry) so I’m psyched that the ESBM is their sister club and hosting me for a late Chicks On Bikes night at the LA Cretins Club House. With a skyline view of the city, I’ll be shooting on the scene.   If you’re a chick on a bike, come on down and maybe you’ll be in the next book.

ProItalia in Glendale is having their big Cafe Desmo Italian Bike Show.  And surely they need some Chicks On Bikes too.  The ESBM are coming out for the kick off Cocktail Party at the shop.

Cretins Clubhouse

ProItalia

]]> http://cshook.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/chicks-on-bikes-comes-to-los-angeles-angels-rev-their-engines/feed/ 0 cshook DaineseLadies Night Picture 4 tour_poster http://cshook.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/lived-to-write-about-book-tour/ http://cshook.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/lived-to-write-about-book-tour/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:56:13 +0000 Christina Shook http://cshook.wordpress.com/?p=593 ]]> I didn’t get a thing done on the road but talk to a million people, find my way to a new location daily, and make sure my two girls were fed and decently clean. I’m home now so  let the blogging begin…

The grey skies of Portland spit upon me to say – no one is coming out on a weekday night to see  Chicks On Bikes. But the warmth and welcome of the small crowd at Cascade Moto proved me wrong. Laurie Winslow the water restistant avon lady rode in on her nicely styled Triumph:

A true Portlander rides in the rain

Vrrooom - Avon calling

Here’s a link to her Avon website. All Portland Bikers should go to Laurie for their Avon needs.

This photo is by my 9 year old Ella. The perspective and composition are spot on. The gentle giant who welcomed us:

Welcome

And my name in lights!

My name in lights!

And these two sisters have been riding dozens of years. I love this kind of family and biker bonding.

Sisters

And a special thanks to the R.A.T. Pack for coming out.

More to photos and adventures of the northwest to come… because sometimes you just have to get started.