Back Roads of Appalachia

Two, Who Are Born To Ride

Riders are a certain breed of people. We know this. Regardless of what we ride, we’re willing to subject ourselves to extreme weather conditions, perhaps cobbling together nuts, bolts, snagging a pair of apes, stretching out a frame and finding a fat daddy tire to create our own ride. Or towing a trailer behind us with creature comforts inside like a pillow and a French Press (don’t judge the coffee). And even put up with some salty rough riders, who more often than not, become our close friends as we ride across these fruited plains searching for nothing, but finding everything.

And then there are those among us that are a totally different breed. Those who have had life altering experiences and still climb aboard two wheeled machines in defiance of the odds.

Two very different people with very different backgrounds and riding interests are the featured riders for December and January.

First up, meet Brittany.

Brittany, or “Britt” as friends in her circle call her, is a single mother who at the age of 32 was involved in a horrific motorcycle crash. She lost her right leg below the knee, suffered a broken back, shattered a shoulder and spent two years in a wheelchair as she recuperated.

Brittany was born, raised and lives on the iconic Tail of The Dragon, Route 129 in east Tennessee. As a young girl, she was interested in show horses and spent a great deal of time learning the disciplines and training techniques involved and how they applied to the different show categories - Hunter/Jumper, Cross Country and so forth. And all of this within earshot of motorcycles zooming by.

She started riding at the age of 14 when her brother invited her to be part of his local riders group. Knowing Brittany’s tenacity and competitive nature, I’m sure it was a classic case of sibling rivalry that motivated her. Snagging a second hand GSXR 650 that she tricked out to suit her needs, she started riding local roads and never looked back.

Brittany wasted no time in getting on some of the region’s biggest roads. The Moonshiner 28, Cherohala Skyway and of course, The

Tail of The Dragon. During her riding skill progression on her Kawi 300, she thought about her days of horse training and how she employed the art of Dressage, the guiding of a horse through a series of complex maneuvers by slight movements of the rider’s hands, legs and shifting body weight. Applying those skills, she guides and finesses her steel horse through dips and tight turns like a natural.

She claims that her interest in riding actually came into play after her wreck. Gaining insight from a close friend who also came back from a serious bike crash, It was the freedom of riding, the absolute

empowerment she has every time she swings her leg over the seat, squares her bike up and hits the start button that made her realize life can be short. Not willing to give that up, she immediately planned on being fitted for a high speed-no drag prosthetic leg. In fact, she has two prosthetics. One strictly designed for racing-custom made to fit into her suit and another for routine use appropriately numbered “15” for her R3 Yamaha.

Today, you can find Brittany slinging her bike in and around the Great Smoky Mountains on some of her favorite roads as she continues to develop her riding skills as a racer and refining her Track Day Winner Coaching career.

In addition to raising her three children, Brittany also works as a Medical Coordinator for New York City Second Chance Rescue.

Brittany is both motivational and inspirational, just ask her 17K followers @r3amputee. Become a sponsor by subscribing for updates and inside info @$r3amputee.

Next month, Flat Track racing with Jason Griffin.

– Indian Rider Bill