Hi, I’m “Hedonist” and for a few years now and I’ve been having this impossible to shake off love affair with motorcycles. Growing up in a fairly sleepy and boring town in Holland, I didn’t have much exposure to bikes until I was 17 and moved abroad. A 4 1/5 year stay in India pushed me permanently into a state of loving almost anything on two wheels. I’d say though that I’ve been heavily influenced by the (limited) availability of bikes in India – taking a particular liking to all that is retro and old fashioned.

After driving a scooter for a few years, my first proper motorcycling experience involved me being presented with a 350cc Royal Enfield, with the proud owner saying “Why don’t you sit on it?”, and as I did “Now put it in gear and have a go at riding!”. And so it happened that the first time I ever sat on a real motorcycle (not a scooter), I was riding it myself – even if quite clumsily.

So I got stuck on the idea of owning one of these wondrous machines, with their teardrop shaped tanks, chrome detailing and spoke wheels. Starting it is an art, which I still don’t master fully, decompressing, kicking and accelerating exactly at the right moment – but to me the ultimate show of confidence and power, a strong kick followed by a thundering noise while revving.

As months went by, I could not get it out of my head, that eventually I should be riding one of those bikes- Which I would cherish, and polish to keep it shiny and new. It would be the next step in achieving true freedom… And one day, spontaneously the decision was made to go ahead and buy one, with my then partner, and the immediate next step was to join a motorcycle club. Over two years passed, situations changed, I hardly had a chance to ride that beautiful machine, but even as a pillion I had some great times.
We travelled the North twice, to Ladakh & Leh, riding on some of the most horrible roads I’d ever seen through the Himalayas. Even had a chance to see a fair bit of South and West India on the back of the bike.

And finally when circumstances demanded, I was in the saddle myself. My first actual riding experience (not counting maybe a few hours worth of frustrating practice months earlier) was one to be remembered, with a backdrop of breathtaking views of tall mountains and barren valleys, my eyes were mostly stuck to the road surface (or lack thereof). Trying my very best to keep up with the experienced riders in the group – over rocks and pebbles, sand and water, with significant difficulty, I managed to reach in one piece although completely exhausted. I knew that one day I would do it all myself, from start to finish.

Enough nostalgia – it’s time to progress closer to the present. Now it had been little over a year since moving to the UK, married and supposedly settled down, and we’ve not forgotten what brought us together. Meeting my husband at the motorcycle club, his passion is even more obsessive than mine. And within 1 month of reaching, we couldn’t help ourselves, bought a bike off Ebay. And a year later bought our second bike, what I feel is the most beautiful thing within our reach right now – a spectacular burgundy Moto Guzzi California EV.

Although I’d been hesitant to get back on the road (yet desperately wishing for it to finally happen!) one day, after doing my CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) – my husband got off our first bike, a Honda CB500, stood at the side of our street, and said “You ride it home!”. It took me an hour to get off the bike that day. Cruising around town, ecstatic that I’d finally found wheels again. Now I’m so attached to the bike, I don’t want to let it go. The thought of my husband taking it to work every once in a while is almost saddening, as I’ll miss having it for the day.

Perhaps it’s because I don’t drive cars (yet!), the bike feels like it serves as my wings. My independence and freedom to do as I please, to go places I want to visit, no matter if somebody else is available to take me there.

Either way, I love the bike, it feels like it’s my baby, although not the prettiest thing on the road, I intend to make it my own. And the project’s just begun!