Motorcycle enthusiast puts over 60,000 miles on bike

Lisa Delaney didn’t start out her motorcycling hobby barreling down the highway, guiding her Harley-Davidson along the pavement. Her experience with motorcycles began on the back of the bike, riding passenger with her husband at the helm.

“I never thought I would want to ride,” she said. Delaney was born in Maine and moved around growing up, as her father was a member of the military. When transferred to Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, she stayed in the area. She now works in commercial insurance.

Delaney has over 60,000 miles behind her, but what prompted her to ride on her own was her husband taking a contracting job in the Persian Gulf.

“So many of our friends were involved in motorcycles. I told him, ‘I don’t think I can be dormant for a year,’” she said.

He departed in May, and by July, Delaney was riding solo.

She learned to ride by taking the Certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation Course, which is offered at Louisiana State University Shreveport. Honda 250s are provided during the course, so students do not have to purchase a bike to participate.

“The course was enough to get excited about riding. That was a good first step for me,” Delaney said. She highly recommends taking the course as a first-time rider and even as a refresher for experienced drivers. It can also help with insurance rates, she said. The course is 20 hours long total, consisting of textbook work and riding. It costs $209, according to LSUS’ website. For information on registering, email [email protected] or call 798-4177.

“When I first started riding, I was still feeling a little nervous,” she said. Delaney would practice in her mother’s neighborhood in Shady Grove, putting her first 70 miles on the bike on these quiet roads.

When her husband returned for a visit in November, he was able to see her progress.

“He was surprised,” she said. “He said, ‘Wow, you’re really good.’” Delaney said she thinks it was good for her to learn to ride while her husband worked overseas.

“Riding a motorcycle requires attention to every detail and constant scanning ahead of you and beyond for potential dangers,” she said. “I wouldn’t have wanted my husband to have diverted any of his own attention to the road watching out for me. I do remember it was such a thrill to ride with him the first few times, and he is still one of my favorite riding partners.”

Delaney is also an active member of Harley Owners Group and the Ladies of Harley in which she serves as an officer. These national organizations have local chapters.

“It helps connect you with people who share the hobby,” Delaney said, sharing that she and her husband have made many friends through the organization.

The national organization doesn’t dictate required community service or events, leaving it up to the local chapters to decide how they involve themselves in the community. The Bossier City chapter, consisting of over 200 members, is involved in charity work.

“While I simply love the joy of riding, I feel blessed to be able to combine a hobby I enjoy with charity work,” she said.

The Ladies of Harley in Bossier City, for example, participate in a Ride Pink event. They wear pink while riding their bikes to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer. The Harley Owners Group in Bossier City also puts on an Easter event for children in foster care, providing Easter baskets and cooking out for the kids. Delaney thought up the Hogzilla Beauty Contest, a mock beauty contest for the men in the organization. The men wore dresses and make up and spectators could vote for their favorite by donating to a local charity.

One of their largest local fundraising activities the group participates in is the Run with the Nuns, raising money for Children’s Miracle Network. This year’s run is scheduled for Oct. 16-18.

“It was one of my first police escorted group ride experiences back in October of 2008, and I would love to see many of our area female riders come out for this event,” Delaney said. Registration is $30, including the ride, breakfast, lunch, entertainment and a T-shirt. For more information, visit runwiththenuns.com.

Though Delaney receives support as a woman rider, she said she sometimes receives skepticism over the bike she rides, a 2011 Harley-Davidson Street Glide. “When I was learning to ride the newest bike, Harley-Davidson was gearing their smaller motorcycles to women,” she said. She expressed the importance of getting a bike that fits, no matter what a brand or person may be pushing, especially for women.

She said when men who haven’t ridden with her ride with her sometimes seem surprised a woman can handle the bike. She said sometimes the sentiment for women on motorcycles is to stay on smaller bikes or to ride as a passenger.

“For the most part, I’ve had good support from my husband and friends,” she said.

Delaney said it’s fun to throw people off and break stereotypes.

She said she used to worry about “riding like a girl,” meaning she was worried about other riders having to wait on her or holding everyone up with less-skilled maneuvers. But, when she saw how her friend and fellow rider Bonnie Reeves operated a bike, she felt differently.

“I want to ride like a girl. I want to ride like that girl,” she said, referring to Reeves’ strength and skills on her bike.

Delaney also enjoys long motorcycle trips, having traveled to places like Branson, Mo., and Galveston, Texas. One of her favorite trips was to Jacksonville, Fla. “It was my longest ride, and I had this feeling of success,” she said.

– Tara Bullock