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BLACK GIRLS Ride
Maria “Byte Syze” Evangelista (Contributor)
A Navy Vet with a passion for making people smile, Byte Syze has a knack for snapping motorcyle riders at their best. She specializes in event planning and has recently announced the launch of her new marketing and promotions firm. She is the driving force behind our upcoming “Beautiful Bikers” event in Los Angeles. We’re honored that she took time out of her whirlwind schedule to contribute her photography to Black Girls Ride!
Andrea “DoubleTap” McGinley (Contributor)
Andrea “DoubleTap” McGinley is a member and club secretary for the Mysterious 1’s SMC, located in the Bay Area of CA. As well as being a certified Interior Designer in MA, she is an avid motorcyclist; her current ride is a ‘99 Honda Shadow ACE750. When she’s not pounding theground, Andrea is studying for her CA Interior Design certification: her favorite phrase is, “Do what you love and the money will follow...” which is why her thesis project is the re-design of a motorcycle showroom in CA! Some of her favorite activities include spending time with her two daughters and husband, attending events on The Set, and writing articles for BGR.
Joanne Donn (Gear Editor)
Founder - GearChic.com Joanne has been blogging and reviewing women’s motorcycle gear on her website, gearchic.com. If you’re having trouble finding gear, or need help figuring out what you need, she’s here to help. Starting in February, you can shop with her in person at the Revzilla Boutique in Philly.
ROUTE 66 MC:
GOING THE DISTANCE
FOUNDED: 1988 Location: LOS ANGELES, CA
Photos by Porsche Taylor
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“Life is too short to leave that bike in the garage!
Get out, ride and enjoy life!”
KARMEL KITTY
PRESIDENT OG ROUTE 66 MC LOS ANGELES, CA
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Q. Tell us about OG ROUTE 66 MC... A. The Original Route 66 Motorcycle Club was founded in 1988 by Charles “Big Mac” McMillian in Los Angeles, Ca. We are an organization that strives to be an active and positive force in our community. Q. What’s the club’s mission or motto? A. Our goal is to surround ourselves with bikers that share our valves of promoting highway safety, charity, and promoting a positive image in our community. Q. What does your club look for in a member? A. We look for a number of things in potential members. Besides of course having a bike and knowing how to ride we look for a particular mindset & heart in each person. Because we are the type of club that truly lives this lifestyle on a 24/7 basis we are extremely critical about whom we bring into our family. Loyalty, dedication, and a true uncut passion for the true biker lifestyle is a must. We don’t consider ourselves members, we are family and our own individual families are also involved with this lifestyle we have chosen. Right down to our kids. Q. What is your criterion for membership? A. The Original Route 66 Motorcycle Club accepts members that are both male & female above the age of 30 with a motorcycle (with valid M1) of at least 650cc, Motorcycle Insurance and a passion for the open road unlike any other!
Q. What annual events do you support? We support a number of annual charity events such as Rip’s Bad Ride, The M.S. Walk, Rolling Deep 4 Charity Rosarito Run, a number of Breast Cancer functions and A few annual Outlaw Events across the country. Q. What are your favorite cities or roads to ride? Although we have been border to border and coast to coast, our favorite rides are our infamous “Breakfast Runs”. We love traveling 300-400 miles one way for breakfast and coming back home in the same day. Q. What should a woman look for in a club? A. A woman should look for a number of different things in a club. First off, do some research on the club, be a hang-around first. Know what you are getting into! Look at how the women carry themselves (including how they dress). Are these women positive, are they doing something good in their community. Do They Ride?? Look for women whom are uplifting each other & networking with other positive women. Does the lifestyle of the club fit my life? What type of an asset can I be to this organization? How can this club benefit me? Q. Any last words you’d like to leave us with? Life is too short to leave that bike in the garage! Get out, ride and enjoy life!
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cGinle
Tap” M
Photos by meekail shaheed for ms fotography
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by Andrea
“Double
y
Q
uestion: What does a woman with four young children under the age of 7, who is also working towards her nursing degree, do in her negligible spare time? Answer: She drag-races motorcycles, of course! For any woman, four children would be handful by itself; pursuing a full-time education to get a degree as a Registered Nurse just adds to the stress and responsibilities, but to also be a professional motorcycle dragracer seems to be an unobtainable dream. Yet to 29-year-old Crystal Dickerson, this is not only realistic, it’s been reached. Crystal practically grew up at the race track; starting at age 3, Crystal began riding motorcycles with the guidance and approval of her parents, Blair and Patricia Dickerson, who were also professional racers since 1980. Her first ride was a small Honda 50cc bike; after many years of practice and tearing around the front yard of her house, at the age of 17 her father gave her a Kawasaki ZX-900R and in 2002 she began her days at the racing track as a participant rather than an observer. As a racer, finding sponsors is an important part of the sport, and Crystal advises those interested in getting into racing to attend as many large events as possible.
Crystal’s current rides include a ‘08 Kawasaki ZX14 and a ‘04 VX10, both custom-built for her by her father. More advice includes attending a professional racing school; as a graduate of Ricky Gadson’s Racing School in New Jersey, Crystal stresses the importance of learning good habits from the pro’s, including both technical and mental aspects of track racing. “Have fun, be safe, and respect the bike. A lot of people don’t respect the bike but it’s a powerful machine so being safe and smart is important!” She encourages women to get on the track as soon as possible and also looks forward to taking her own racing career further...with all she has accomplished so far at age 29, we have no doubt that Crystal’s career will be as bright and polished as her given name. While she says that her young family is always her Number One priority, she also admits that it would be hard to give up. “I honestly don’t know how I do everything, but racing is in my blood... I tell people that I’ll do it ‘til my bones don’t work no more!”
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E K A M ! T O H IT for R essentials A E G R E T pounders 6 WIN .com ground GearChic year around Donn of By Joanne
The cold is upon us, and while for some that may mean time to put away your toys, for others, it just means its time to bundle up! For those who pound all year round, we’ve compiled a list of some essential pieces to keep you warm on your journey... When trying on Winter Gear: - Remember to think about layering - Look for warm, yet breathable options - When possible, TRY IT ON THE BIKE!
Read Joanne’s full reviews on her blog, www.gearchic.com
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REV’IT! Women’s Legacy GTX Jacket & PANTS $ 54999 (JACKET) + $449 (PANTS)
motorcycle-superstore.com I’m very very happy with the Legacy and would highly, highly recommend this as a winter 2 piece textile. You just can’t beat the flexibility of GORE-TEX® in colder temperatures. The fully waterproof shell, combined with the great fit, protective shell materials and deep pockets make these the best riding pants I’ve ever worn. This is the kind of outfit you buy once every 10 years and hold onto for as long as it’ll last. The Legacy is the best textile jacket I’ve ever worn, and the best by far in the REV’IT lineup for women riders.
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REV’IT! Women’s Centaur GTX Gloves $ 9995 revzilla.com
FIRSTGEAR TPG MONARCH $ 449 revzilla.com
This one has a removable full sleeve liner that’s almost like a fleece jacket. The cut is a little short, so if you have a short torso, this is a good option. It looks longer in the picture, but It should sit right above the hips, not below.
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heat holders thermal socks $ 1499 thewarmingstore.com
This thermal sock is 7 times warmer than a basic cotton sock. Heat Holders are made from a specially developed heavy bulk yarn which has extreme thermal qualities. With long pile cushioning, these thermal socks will help keep feet fully comfortable and supported.
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Get ready for serious winter riding with the Rev’It! Centaur GORE-TEX gloves. These gloves offer terrific insulation thanks to the combination of a waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX® membrane with a textile upper and goatskin palm. This warm winter glove is very comfortable and will keep your hands safe from the elements. They feature impact-protection elements on the knuckles, palm and fingers.
Mobile Warming Women’s Jackii Vest $ 14399 motorcycle-superstore.com Mobile Warming’s technology was designed for activities in cold environment conditions for motorcyclists and outdoor enthusiasts to provide a comprehensive heating solution. Unlike most other heated apparel, their unique insulating heat transfer panels reflect and help avoid losing heat from the body. Vest can be worn by itself or as a mid-layer equipment.
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PEACE & LOVE ON THE SET!
Y RIDE AZ MC TO ID R D E H S , ca UNLEA inglewood PEACE RIDE FOR A & UPFEST ,C comptonbyte syze hy by photograp
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ROAD QUEENS MC STOCKTON, CA
SPIRIT ROAD QUEENS MC LOS ANGELES, STOCKTON, CACA DYNAMIQ LADY KNIGHTZ MC INLAND EMPIRE, CA DE’VEE QUEEN NEW WORLD RYDERS LAS VEGAS, NV
WOMEN ON IRON MC MEMPHIS, TN
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SEND US YOUR SHOT! SUBMIT YOUR PICS TO
BLACKGIRLSRIDEMAG@GMAIL.COM
PAINT THE QUARTER PINK 2013 MARYLAND, MD
ALL GIRLS ON GROUND RIDE 2013 LOS ANGELES, CA
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