Gets shared all over the place, lol.
This is a really picture heavy post. Grab a drink and settle in. It's gonna be long but it's gonna be worth it.
The first night that we were at Harley Camp, many of us were nervous. I've been on a motorcycle before, but a few bad experiences made me a little gun shy. The fine folks at Harley-Davidson know not everyone is a fan, so they've created the Garage Party.
Which kind of sounds like it's a heavy metal band, but it's not. A Garage Party is geared towards those who have never ridden -- primarily women. It is a class designed to familiarize you with the motorcycle from headlight to tail pipe, teach you want to do if a motorcycle falls over (a great big fear that I have!) and even allows you to sit on the JumpStart. What's that? An honest-to-God Harley, securely mounted, that will allow you to sit on it, rev the engine and feel the power of a Harley.
I think everyone should do it at least once.
Look at the veritable sea of motorcycles; I've never seen so many in one place.
JumpStart, combined with the Garage Party, is a great concept in helping women to overcome their fears. The instructors, all women riders, didn't think any fear or question was too silly, too minor; they calmly and patiently addressed every single question. We learned how to pack for a road trip - I never really thought about the fact that, hello, you can't take a suitcase - what to do if it rains, how to deal with the bike when it falls, and much more.
The next day, we went to Harley-Davidson University.
Which was just as cool as it sounds.
We learned about the four guys who began Harley-Davidson in a 10'x15' foot shed - 3 Davidsons, 1 Harley - who had a dream to create a bicycle that took less effort to work. They were all in their early 20s, and although they look like businessmen in this photo - apparently the boys liked to work hard, play hard, and ride hard.
Not much has changed for Harley-Davidson.
Historically, the Harley-Davidson brand is thought of as a particular type of customer - what I call "My Brother-in-law". Bob is a great guy. He's also a biker in every sense of the word. A big guy, balding, tattooed, bearded, wearing a leather vest and big rings - the exact image if you say to yourself, "Self: What does a biker look like??"
Harley-Davidson is trying to grow its market by reaching out to four smaller, less active groups - the Core enthusiast group (men like my brother-in-law) is going great gangbusters - but Hispanics, Latinas, Women and the older age groups have a smaller market share.
Those are all customers.
They have a solid "No Cages" philosophy - which refers to the cage that a car has around you - but it also means so much more. It means reaching out, grabbing life as it hurries past, and enjoying every minute of it. It means feeling the wind in your face with the open road stretched out in front of you - nothing in your way.
I was honestly surprised at how much I found myself wanting that. Empowering women to live life on their own terms. I like that.
We were introduced to the My Time to Ride Series and watched video of women, just like us, who had decided to become Harley owners. They were nervous and afraid and everything didn't always go smoothly, but at the end of their Rider's Edge course, all were successful Harley Riders. Rider's Edge is the training class designed to get you on the road and feeling safe.
It doesn't get any better than that.
Then we had lunch with Bill Davidson, seen here with our wonderful guides Dana and Amanda -- two of the BADDEST women I've ever met.
The next day, we were in charge of our own destiny; we were the masters of our domain, and we were the solo riders on bikes just like these.
I know. I KNOW!
The group I was in - Sugar, Heather, me, Dana and our two instructors.
The entire experience was amazing. Empowering, exciting - and I'm totally going to find a Rider's Edge in my area. I drive a Jeep now, and I love it. It's fun and zippy and free, especially when the top is off and the windows are down. But there's nothing like a Harley, and I can't wait to experience it for myself at any time I want!
Tell me what life with "no cages" means to you for a chance to win a Harley-Davidson Women's Pink Label Embellished Nylon Jacket.
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the
following unique term in your tweet message: ""#SweepstakesEntry""; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from July 31, 2012 to August 27, 2012
Be sure to visit the Harley-Davidson No Cages brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggersí reviews and find more chances to win!
Life with no cage -- this is freedom to me!! Freedom to come & go as you please...freedom to do whatever the heck you want to do...freedom to BE.
Posted by: becky dunnell | July 31, 2012 at 07:19 PM
I turned 50 this year. I have been on a liver transplant list, had breast cancer, and lost both of my parents during those 50 years. For my next 50 years, I want a life with "no cages". I think that it is time for me to do the things that make me happy. I want to live in the moment and have fun!!
Posted by: Terry Faulk | July 31, 2012 at 07:44 PM
No cages to me means choices without restrictions being free to make the decisions that affect my life...
Posted by: Sabrina D. | July 31, 2012 at 07:47 PM
No cages means doing what you want to do, not what you're "suppose to do" or what people "expect you to do".
Posted by: Katie Fleck | July 31, 2012 at 08:11 PM
I think a life with "no cages" would be not letting what others think of me keep me bound up and from doing what I know I should be. That must have been so fun!!!
Posted by: Angela Maddox | July 31, 2012 at 08:11 PM
Everytime my husband and I ride our Harley, it's a freeing feeling. We have our 5 sons at home, safe and happy with a responsible sitter, and off we go...just us and the open road. Its a time we both enjoy together...and honestly, NEED. Freedom from the cages of work, chores, mundane responsibilities. Freedom from the cages of society, and doing things the way we "should." We're not lawbreakers, but for those few hours out on the bike, we just feel free-er...we laugh often, enjoy others company in the "biker" community, and the comraderie that comes with. Love it. Thank you for this opportunity.
Posted by: Kate | July 31, 2012 at 08:17 PM
http://twitter.com/SurroundedbyP_s/status/230457790349574144
Posted by: Kate | July 31, 2012 at 08:24 PM
What Happened at Harley Camp - finally, the details are released - you can win a #harleydavidson jacket! #ad http://bit.ly/Ol0k4G
Retweeted by Mary Conway Copeland
Posted by: Copefamily | July 31, 2012 at 08:34 PM
Now let me tell you how proud I am to know you! I have always wanted to go tour this facility with Henry. I have only been on the back of his bike once since the boys were born. Let me tell you- I no longer will be in a cage! I will get on a bike- soon. Only wish my 24" Legs could touch the ground so I could ride my own. AND NO I DO NOT WANT A TRIKE.
Posted by: Copefamily | July 31, 2012 at 08:37 PM
So glad you enjoyed your experience at H-D University. For me riding solo is the ultimate freedom. I'm in control. I determine my destination, what route I will take to get there and how fastI will get there ;-). I clear my mind & focus on riding and many times my mind sorts through all the *stuff* running around in there!
Group riding is great too and it's great to ride with friends and make memories.
Not eligible for the draw as I live north of the 49th parallel, but wanted to share my thoughts.
Posted by: Janine aka J9 | July 31, 2012 at 09:03 PM
"No cages" for me means finally taking ownership of my life by walking away from an unhealthy marriage and into a life where I stand solidly on my own two feet instead of under someone else's. For the first time in way too many years, I'm noticing that there is beauty and goodness in the world all around me -- it was just waiting for me to escape that cage.
Posted by: Rox | July 31, 2012 at 09:46 PM
My best friend rides. She just lost her job and could use a new jacket. :C)
Posted by: Lady J. | August 01, 2012 at 12:44 AM
Life with no cages would be free just to be me. As a homeschooling mom to three I am always "on" so it would be nice to run free once in awhile.
Posted by: Glenda | August 01, 2012 at 12:45 AM
"No Cages" to me means breaking out of my shell and doing things that I have never dared to do before. In September I'll be attending APEX training and testing so that I may be a Yoga Teacher sub. I am at once scared spitless and freaking out and feeling like I'm doing something for me.
Posted by: Brandy | August 01, 2012 at 03:05 AM
I was married for a long time to an extremely controlling man and since I've divorced him and moved on, I've learned that "No Cages" means to really be free, to make your own choices,to make mistakes, and to be yourself. I'm planning on going back to school this winter and that is the ultimate freedom, to know I can go forward and achieve all of my dreams,on my terms!
Posted by: Lisa | August 01, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Me and my husband are about to experience Life without Cages for a full week in Yellowstone National Park on a 2012 Harley Davidson Electric Glide. This trip has been on our bucket list for years and we are so excited that it is finally going to happen. The sweepstakes is over 2 days before we leave. It would be so awesome to win that jacket for my trip. Ride On!!!
Posted by: Lyndi Bean | August 01, 2012 at 12:00 PM
That looks like SO MUCH FUN! My husband has always wanted a motorcycle, and now I think I want one, too!
To me, life without cages means that you don't let anyone else put you in a cage.
I'll put it in great perspective---a few weeks ago, I did something I'm so very happy with but most of my friends would definitely never do. I made a choice, and I'll stand by it, because it was right for me!
Posted by: Emily C | August 01, 2012 at 10:23 PM
No cages means that I can be in control of my own bike and not ride on the back of my husbands....to me it's boring being back there when I think I'd be good at driving my own bike. I'm 57...and my husband laughs cause I'm 4ft. 11 inches tall and I know I'd have to have a custom bike, but hey, it'd be mine and could go with him....I keep saying I'm going to go have a class and not tell him.. LOL... I'd look good in the jacket too, don't ya think?
Posted by: Lynn Knepp | August 01, 2012 at 10:47 PM
I just wanted to comment that it is so cool that you are willing to actually command your own bike. Too many women are content with just sitting on the back of some guys bike and go where ever he takes her. But it is a rare treat to see a woman actually ride her own bike and be an equal member of the group. Keep kicking butt Carmen, because if you wanted to see the meaning of "Life without Cages" all you have to do is look in the mirror. Never stop learning, and never stop trying out new experiences!!!
Posted by: Nobody | August 03, 2012 at 01:35 PM
No cages means wearing white pants on your Harley. To hell with dirt stains.
Posted by: Ellen g | August 03, 2012 at 05:06 PM
What an awesome experience. To me, life with "no cages" means no limit myself or think I'm not capable of doing something. In another words, think outside the box and don't be afraid to try something new. This is a wonderful and beautiful jacket, I would love to win.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Posted by: Amy Tong | August 04, 2012 at 02:07 AM
Tweeted about this giveaway: https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/231632577709101057
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Posted by: Amy Tong | August 04, 2012 at 02:09 AM
Great pics! Looks like everyone had a blast! I'd totally be in for Harley U!
No cages!
katygmorris at gmail dot com
Posted by: Katy M | August 04, 2012 at 06:00 PM
I just Tweeted about the giveaway as @katygmorris here: https://twitter.com/katygmorris/status/231872040901165056
Thanks!
katygmorris at gmail dot com
Posted by: Katy M | August 04, 2012 at 06:00 PM
I enjoyed reading this, I'd like to though see a larger version of that "customers" pic. :P I know Canadian can't enter, hahah
Posted by: kyooty | August 05, 2012 at 09:31 AM