Pistons and Poppies

A lady rider in California, in love with the twisties. Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul. www.pistonsandpoppies.com

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My happy place. (at Horse Thief Mile)

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It’s coming up on 4 months since I’ve been able to ride and I’m getting so anxious!! My doc can’t really give me a good answer for when I’m “allowed” but we agreed that I need to be able to squat on my right leg before I get back on the bike again. I can’t wait to get back on this track for the @totalcontroltraining Track Clinic and Track Practice in April. Horse Thief Mile, I’m coming for ya! (at Horse Thief Mile)

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Happy 2 year motorcycle crashiversary to me! What a wild ride it has been since this day on Hwy 49. Although I was injured and my bike was totaled, there was never any doubt I would get back on a bike, and I bought one the day I got the insurance check, before I had even had surgery to fix the broken stuff. But getting back on wasn't all sunshine and butterflies and rides off into the sunset. What hurt me more than broken bones was intense riding anxiety, especially in twisty roads. Many tears were shed in my helmet over the last couple years, but I was determined that this shit wouldn't take away the one thing I loved to do more than anything. I pushed through the discomfort, I treated myself as a new rider and took more skills courses, I took my Bonneville to the track, and I also ended up instructing. I learned a lot of lessons in the months and years following, mostly that I didn't know as much as I thought I knew (and if all you've taken is the MSF/MTC course, you probably don't, either!) I may never be as ignorantly fast as I was back then, but I'm a technically better rider these days and much safer for it. The anxiety is getting to be less of a problem, though blind corners still freak me out a bit. I've gotten a safer helmet and better gloves (with palm sliders so my hand doesn't stick to the ground like in my accident.) I wear all the gear all the time, though I need to find a much better boot solution. Riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous, but there is SO MUCH you can do to mitigate the possibility of a crash, or at least minimize your injury if you happen to be in one. Ride safe everyone! ❤️

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It's a beautiful day for a @seeseemotorcoffee Reno visit! (at See See Motorcycles Reno NV)

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Tonight's project: new headlights! Top row: before, low beam and high beam. Middle row: after installing @motodemic semi-adaptive dual round LED headlight upgrade, low beam and high beam. Bottom row: one new, one old, and the completed look. 👍🏻 . . . . #safetyfirst #motodemic #triumphstreettriple #headlightupgrade #led #dualheadlights #triumph #omgicansee (at Jack London District, Oakland, California)

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Got sand? #richoliversmysteryschool #dirtbike #yamaha #ttr125 #womenwhoride #havenofeariminpinkgear (at Rich Oliver's Mystery School)

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Woo!!!! @richoliversmysteryschool was a huge success! We did the Off-Road Challenge, where we practiced fast dirt turns, riding super deep sand, surmounting obstacles, jumps, and so much more. We even rode off of a cliff! Rich was great and we all learned so much! 🏍✨ (at Rich Oliver's Mystery School)

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📷: @genevieve_davis courtesy of @husqvarna_usa. Marks on my face courtesy of my goggles during and epic crash the morning before. 😂 #babesinthedirt (at Hungry Valley SVRA)

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It's officially #treatyoself day! New @shoeihelmetsusa RF-1200 lid and @held_usa Ayana suit from @scuderiamoto! Get this girl on the track, stat! (at Scuderia)

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Have you ever been interested in becoming a Motorcycle Safety Instructor? We have a need for instructors in the Bay Area, and all over California. Please hit me up if you're interested, but beware, you might hear me gush about how much I freakin' love it! 😏

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When you know, you know. 🏍@boggytown_usa

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I had the day off of work yesterday so I spent all day riding. Then, the fast boys club (that's what I call them, anyway,) invited me for a ride. I wasn't as fast, and I wasn't a boy... in fact I had pretty kickin' cramps to remind me of that... but man, what a blast! It's the first real ride I've done in my #streettriple. Thanks for waiting for me at the turns, @klinquist @aleks.tan @tsuka.moto! Weeeeeeee!!!!! 📷: @tsuka.moto (at Santa Cruz Pier and Boardwalk)

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Welcome to the family, Street Triple! (at San Jose, California)

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Whenever you get the opportunity to be coached, take it! #motorcycletraining #survivalskills #californiasuperbikeschool (at Cañada College)

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Beautiful day for some motorcycle training! Today's exercises were hosted by @docwong1 and #KeithCode's California @superbikeschool! Here I am with Keith Code himself, founder of CA Superbike School, and author of Twist of the Wrist. (at Cañada College)

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Practice makes practiced. Never stop. @trachimbrum on the DR, me running like a chicken in the center. #parkinglotdrills #motorcycletraining #motorcyclesafety (at AT&T Park)

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Practice makes practice. Never stop. @trachimbrum on the DR, me running like a chicken in the center. #parkinglotdrills #motorcycletraining #motorcyclesafety (at AT&T Park)