Featured Branch: THE LITAS TWIN CITIES

JUL 17

The Litas Twin Cities: @thelitastwincities

Meet the Litas Twin Cities. Currently the only branch of Litas in the state of Minnesota, their influence is far-reaching. Womxn from all over the state come to ride with them. Although the riding season in the Twin Cities is rather short, they pack in a lot of fun activities- from an apple orchard ride with Ride Wild Collective in the Autumn, to teaming up with Moon Motorsports to raise thousands for Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, and all the rides to ice cream in between. Their favourite event to date is their “Ride to Pie”, which takes them along a scenic route beside the Mississippi River to Stockholm Pie & General Store just across the border into Wisconsin.

Founder Jennifer Sikes has done an amazing job connecting riders with regular meetups and rides, successfully partnering with other motorcycle groups and initiatives to create a unique experience for womxn who ride in the Twin Cities area. Photographer Hayley Selinski has long been involved in the Branch's activities, and she recently joined Jen as co-founder. Together they brought together riders to showcase these incredible riders in their hometown. We recently spent some time chatting with them about how they began riding, and they had some great advice to share with new riders.

Hayley:

I've been riding for almost 10 years now. I started riding when I was 19 on my dad's Yamaha 650 and promptly high-sided and broke my collarbone. I was out the rest of that riding season! When I got back on the horse next season, my mom helped me find a little Kawasaki Eliminator 125 that my dad's friends helped me fix-up. I rode that for a year. From there I got a Suzuki SV650, then a 2001 Sportster 883 which I built out to a street tracker and put a 1250 kit in. I just sold the sporty this summer when I bought my 2016 Yamaha XSR900 Anniversary Edition that I LOVE - shout out again to Moon Motorsports for hooking me up with this sweet moto!

My advice to a new rider would be; do what makes you the most comfortable. When it comes to motorcycles, people always think bigger is better, or that they have to buy a specific brand because that's the best, etc. There can be a lot of pressure when making these decisions, but going with your gut and making sure you feel comfortable on a bike is really the most important factor. It allows you to enjoy your experience much more. That applies to riding with others too. Communicate your comfort level and don't push yourself too much past your limits when you feel like you're riding dangerously. Don’t allow yourself to remain uncomfortable just so you can stay with another rider or group. Take your time, learn all about your motorcycle, always strive to continually improve your skills, and most importantly- HAVE FUN!

Jen:

I began riding motorcycles about five years ago, during a really difficult time in my life and I needed something that was just for me. I definitely got a lot of pushback on wanting to learn how to ride, but that only fueled my desire to learn. I wasn’t going to be told “no”. Getting on a bike for the first time was challenging, scary and exhilarating. I felt so free, and found within myself a deep feeling of accomplishment.

My first bike was a 2009 Royal Enfield Bullet . I rode the Bullet until I came to a point where I needed more power, so I purchased a 2016 Harley Davidson Iron 883. Her name is Fern and we’ve been inseparable ever since. I’ve had some amazing opportunities to ride all over and experience beautiful landscapes like Thailand, Canada, California and all over the Midwest. I look back and see all the things I’ve done and the places I’ve been and feel extremely proud.

My advice to new riders would be really similar to what Hayley said. I think it’s great to do the research and take your time with deciding what’s right for you. Everyone has their two cents, but you need to go with your gut. Seek out dealerships that offer demo rides and try everything, if you can! You never know what else is out there unless you try. It’s really important to have the right bike for you. Your confidence will massively improve when it’s the right fit. Ride your own ride! We’ve all been in situations where we’re riding at someone else’s level or pace and it can create a lot of unnecessary anxiety and stress; and not to mention, it’s also very dangerous.

If you want to ride with us… let’s goooooo!!! We’ve worked really hard to cultivate a motivating, inspiring, supportive network of riders in the Twin Cities and couldn’t ask for a better group of people to be part of this community with.