The following is an interview with biker Cherilyn Stoltz from Gauteng, South Africa. This is part of a series of interviews with female bikers around the world. Each woman was asked general questions about herself and her interests as well as about challenges they face as a female biker.
What is your name, age & current occupation?
Cherilyn Stoltz, 25yrs, Internal Sales
When did you first fall in love with bikes?
I grew up with bikes, but it was only in 2000 that I made it my passion to get a bike one day
Do you remember your first ride?
Not my first ride, but my most memorable was riding my dads Suzuki GS1100cc when I was 12yrs old. He still doesn’t know.
What was the first bike you owned?
At one stage my brothers and I had 7 rat bikes parked in our garden that we used to play around on after school, but my first “real” bike is the one I have now. Honda VFR400
Do you race or do you just ride for fun?
Ride for fun, Even though I enjoy the racetrack more than riding in traffic. I don’t have the skills to race as yet, speed is a by-product of skill, not the other way around.
What is the hardest thing about being female & being a biker?
The simple issue of trying to handle a heavy bike with a small physique. I weight 52kgs and my bike is approx 190kgs. I’ve never experienced anything but helpfulness from men who ride bikes.
What kinds of challenges do you face while riding?
Bad drivers, arrogant drivers that think you don’t have as much right as them to be on the road, drivers that arent educated.
What lessons have you learned while pursuing your dream?
That facing fear is a big and normal part of it, that continuous seat time is the only way you will get where you want to be. That you must never stop learning and listening to advice, that a bike must always be respected.
What advice do you have for young girls who want to ride?
Buy your protective gear before you even considder climbing onto a bike, its not a game – be responsible for yourself. After you do that and get your baby, it will be a whole new world opening up to you, I cant even begin to describe it. Just do everything in your capacity to get there and live it. Youre whole outlook on life will change, amongst other things.
What was your happiest moment?
My boyfriend surprised me with my current bike, and after not riding since I was in primary school – jumping on my first sportbike was like touching the clouds!
**Special thanks to Ben at my2wheels.co.za for hooking me up with these interviews!
