Women and Motorcycles: Josee Boal Speaks

Women Riders Speak is an interview series with female motorcyclists. Through their stories, they illustrate the transformative role motorcycling has played in their life.

Growing up around boys and motorcycles in rural Quebec was the ideal setting to ignite young Josee’s insatiable love of speed and adventure.  Now age forty-six and living in Ohio, she reflects on the motorcycle’s role during a lifetime of riding.

women and motorcyclesWhat prompted you to get into riding?

Raised around boys in rural Granby, about 45 minutes east of Montreal, I quickly developed a thirst for fast riding and tight curves. It is beautiful country with very cold and snowy winters and short summers. We were surrounded by corn fields where it seemed like there were no boundaries for us kids.

When I was six or seven, my brother taught me how to ride his mini-bike. My mom had the hardest time getting me to wear a helmet; every time she turned around, I’d have it off.

Later on, my brother got a dirt bike, and I’d anger him routinely by taking it out. Then he got a street bike and I borrowed that every time he left the house. As soon as the weather was warm enough, I’d ride a street bike to work. My first boyfriend had a bike and I rode that constantly!  We married, had a daughter and I stopped riding until she was seven.

I didn’t take a motorcycle skills course until I wanted to get my license in 1992. By then I was living in Florida and needed to know the rules of the States plus I had to get an official motorcycle endorsement. The course made a HUGE difference. I already knew how to ride but I learned I wasn’t very safe.

For many years, I frequently rode my daughter to school.  At  twenty-four, she’s not a rider and not that interested in becoming one. At least not yet. She’s had a few accidents in her cars and I’d be scared to death if she rode a bike.

I’ve ridden a Yamaha 950 V Twin for the past two years and most of my traveling has been on it. Occasionally, I will also ride my husband’s Yamaha Raider and the Yamaha R1 (since I sold my speed bike). I may buy a used Yamaha FZ1 to satisfy my thirst for tight curves.

Where have you traveled on your motorcycle?

Now living in Ohio, my 950 has taken me to Vermont/New Hampshire and Maine. I’ve also ridden in Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, New York, Canada (Quebec) and of course, Florida.

What is your greatest joy from riding?

Motorcycle trips with my group of women friends are the best times, the best vacations I have ever had, even through challenging moments. I had no idea what I was in for while leading a group of women as we climbed Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

The danger from cars stopping in front of us on really steep hills and gravel was very real. One friend stopped and wouldn’t continue. I wasn’t scared of the road, the stops or the steep hills. It was the altitude. I could never enjoy the scenery because I felt dizzy when I tried to look out!  Yet it was my favorite trip.

How do you look back at yourself as a beginner now?

Riding feeds my need for freedom, fun, speed, sightseeing, friendship, relaxation…I could go on and on. Just the word “riding” makes me smile!  I’m now 46 and have 32 years of riding experience. I’ve had a lifetime of constant learning and have a thirst to learn even more.

The sport has given me so much. I now want to share my knowledge and the great pleasure of riding a motorcycle, so I’m planning on becoming a certified instructor this year. It seems like the right thing to do at this point of my life!

 

About

Author, writer, and student Liz Jansen combines her artistic mediums to create stories that inspire readers to embark on their own journey of self-discovery.

7 Comments on “Women and Motorcycles: Josee Boal Speaks

  1. Great story Josee! I think you will make a great instructor – your passion for the sport will speak volumes for your students. I became a certified instructor last year and can tell you that Ive found it very rewarding. And it has helped me become a better safer rider as well.

    • Hello Kristen,

      Thank you for the good words! Where do you teach? How long have you been riding? As a teacher now, what is your biggest challenge?
      I’m curious… I’m at the peer teaching for the next two weeks. Then I’ll be teaching a real class! It’s certainly going to be interesting!
      But i like a challenge!
      Have a great end of winter.. riding season is upon us! wooo!

  2. This is my 7th year riding, and it quickly took over my life. My husband and I are pretty passionate about it, and its a great thing we can share. I teach around Pittsburgh PA. I think the biggest challenge is exercising control over yourself. I haven’t been teaching very long, but the students can sometimes really make you work for it! They can get frustrated, angry, upset, bullheaded, defensive, and just plain not listen to you. You have to control your emotions, remain calm and patient, and remember that many of them are brand new to this. And as a new instructor I am still sort of learning the ropes, which can make it feel like a bigger strain, but I am sure as I get more comfortable with the curriculum and get more experience teaching a larger variety of students, it wont seem as stressful. Sometimes you just gotta breathe!

    • Wow Kristen, we are practically neighbors… I used to spend of lot of time in Pittsburgh visiting my daughter… she’s no longer there but I loved riding around Pittsburgh… As I found several curvy roads. May be we ought to meet sometimes! I would love to watch you teach!
      And I understand what you’re explaining… I was a challenging student because of the experience I had this past summer while redoing the BRC class.. 🙂

  3. LOL Josee! yes, sometimes students with experience can bring up different challenges. Most accept that they are there to learn and come to class with an open mind and like learning different techniques, but you do get a few that do not want to acknowledge that maybe they picked up a few bad habits and there are better or safer ways to do something. From your interview, obviously you were one of those students who likes to learn and grow as a motorcyclist, and this is also a reason I feel you will be a good instructor. You described yourself as somewhat unsafe, but the motorcycle skills course “reformed” you (for lack of a better word). Many of your students will be coming from that same place, and you can talk about it from personal experience.

  4. Josee: Great story. I too have travelled in your area.
    This July I am leaving Toronto to Savannah, Georgia, via the Smokey Mountains.
    Perhaps you have a suggestion on roads for me.?
    Diane

  5. Hi Diane,

    If you’re going to the Smokey Mountains… you just can’t go wrong… anywhere you go is twisties and breath taking beautiful sceneries. Deal’s Gap is one of my favorite and would not go in North Carolina without doing the dragon tail. And any roads around Deal’s Gap is simply beautiful. Watch for little bears, they are everywhere!! 🙂

    You will have fun! That’s a promise!

    Take care,
    Josee