Laura Buitron "Ashes of Freedom"

How familiar is it of our daily lives to get caught up in the routine of work, paying bills, rinsing, and repeating? Often times we will sigh, our palms cupping our chins, daydreaming about a fantasy vacation.. Perhaps skipping the exit on the highway to work and driving until the scenery no longer is familiar. But then fear quickly blurs the vision entirely, and the cloud above our heads dissipates as we recount all of the dangers of this dream. “How will I pay my bills, I’ll get killed in Mexico, I’ve never traveled solo” - ordinary cautions that might cause us to put on the brakes.

The extraordinary resiliency of the human spirit is a quality that connects us all, but only few of us have the courage to stretch it to its limits. Laura Buitron, a beautifully diverse and highly-educated individual, has traveled down many-a-lonely-road the last few years of her life than most dream of in a lifetime.

Daughters of the Road was surprised to discover this woman as organically as we did. Her beautiful pictures of a two-wheeled trek through South America are a feast for the eyes.

Coming from rural beginnings, Laura grew up with her three sisters on a farm in Spain. Her father, a proponent of the values of hard work and tough love, taught her the values of resiliency and extreme diligence. “You and your sister are both 16, so add them together, it means you should act like you’re 32”, her father would say. Years of manual labor took a toll on her father’s health, leading him to dream of making the move back to the one place he remembered truly being happy with his life: Brazil.

 With a degree in biology followed by a Master’s degree in Marine Ecology, Laura quickly found out that her purpose was not fulfilled by a 9-5 or teaching. Seeking a sense of purpose and thrill, Laura brewed the idea of joining a yacht crew to jumpstart her road of adventure. The values of hard work and persistence instilled in her by her father were the foundation of the spirit that drove her as she pursued a career in a field dominated often by men. She decided she would move to Fort Lauderdale (seen as a huge entry and exit port for the sailing industry) and learn English to aid in her endeavors. Laura began by landing a job cleaning boats and slowly learned more and more about what she knew would satisfy her hunger for adventure. Soon, she would travel to the United Kingdom to earn her captain’s license.

During her conversation with us, she mused, “Yachting is about work ethic.” She reflected on the difficulties she faced earning the respect of her male crew members, mostly rooted in the fact that orders were scoffed at by the crew who were half her age. But with pride, she shared that many of those crewmen return to her and admit that, to this day, they still do things in the way that she trained them to do.

As a captain Laura sailed on various expeditions: one of them around South America, another from Tahiti to Brisbane, Australia, and yet another from Brisbane back to Fort Lauderdale. But she began to yearn for something more...

In 2006, Laura’s thirst for something new was quenched when she purchased her motorcycle. She bought a BMW F800GSA and used it to cruise the roads of Florida in her free time off the boat. In her free time away from sailing, she would take trips on her bike. Her journeys took her not only around the United States, but also across Europe and also throughout the eastern countries of Asia.

She humorously recounts tales of her journeys with the charisma of a soul immortal in its youth. She laughed and shared tales of traveling two-up on her bike with her 71 year-old mother. The two have shared more than 2,400 miles together navigating across the United States and Europe; this illuminating some of where Laura must get her freedom of spirit.

At the age of 44, Laura’s current quest is lovingly titled “Ashes of Freedom.” The journey has morphed as her path has changed, but the initiating motivation remains the same: to retrieve the remains of her deceased father from Brazil and drop them off with her mother in Argentina.

Wasting no time, Laura stopped in Seattle to take an EMT course – another practical skill to add to her arsenal of abilities. However, being prepared to deal with disaster often does not deter it from happening. When she started the trip, she had heard horror stories about traveling through Brazil alone on a motorcycle. Her family’s reactions ranged from disapproval to anger, they told her “Laura, you will get sold into prostitution, or killed!”

While riding through Costa Rica, Laura fatefully experienced an accident that left her with no scarring physical injuries, but her bike was incapacitated, and her spirit was wounded. At this point, feeling broken, she considered quitting, but realized that her father, who had since passed away, would not have tolerated it.

More often than not, however, she learned that locals will often be very helpful to anyone on a journey. Inspired by the soothing effect the travel had on her soul, Laura decided to expand her trip and become the first woman to ride a loop around the entire country of Brazil alone. Since seeing all that she has accomplished on this ride, Laura lovingly shares that her sisters now applaud her accomplishments and the level of courage this type of quest requires.

The moto-culture of Central and South Americas vary, Laura shared. It seems that Brazil has a thriving love for Harley-Davidson beasts, while Costa Rica ebbs between H-D and BMW. An observation Laura shared that stuck with us is the differences in reactions to female riders, specifically. Her experience with riding in the U.S. included skepticism and doubt as to level of ability and self-sufficiency. In South America, she has found that people are incredibly enthusiastic about female riders and never seem to question her ability to lift the bike, navigate or sustain herself alone. In Brazil, “you are a goddess if you are a woman on a bike,” she lightheartedly shared.

Eloquently, Laura gave us her spin on it: “For me, when I put on a helmet, I’m not a woman, or a man; I am a rider…Riding doesn’t have a gender.”

Where Laura minced no words was when she shared the raw realities of traveling alone in a foreign country. We asked her to share what she felt were some of the more-difficult points and the things women (or anyone, for that matter) need to know before taking a motorcycle trip across borders.

Among the greatest challenges Laura faces daily is spending time finding somewhere to sleep. She does not plan ahead of time due to the unpredictability of the roads and of the time required to go from place to place in South America. She spends almost an hours a day searching for a safe place to rest at night.

Safety is the first priority for Laura on the road. She discusses incidents where both on the road and off the road her preparedness has been tested. She carries a cell phone, tools and equipment for minor repairs on her motorcycle, a first aid kit for any injuries she may face, and a machete for personal protection. She emphasized that one’s greatest defense is being prepared for any dangerous situation. She was candid in her recounting of incidents where strangers would attempt to enter her rooms at night, or she would notice suspicious looks as she dismounted her bike. Awareness is weapon in and of itself. Keeping the bike in sight deters those who may be inclined to attempt some form of theft; she also uses locks on her bike or wheels it into motel rooms that allow it.

Laura’s other suggestions include managing one’s diet (healthy and full of fiber), a regimen of daily exercise (Laura runs three miles daily and does sit-ups and pushups) and a commitment to doing laundry when it needs doing.

(DotR will be publishing a separate piece with Laura’s packing list when a rider is in it for the long haul.)

Although on a rise with social media (find her on IG @chickamotorunner) Laura remains true to the pulse of this entire quest: an advancement of her self-discovery. “I have made my mind ‘naked’,” she stated, implying that she has freed herself from the noise, influence and oppression of a life dominated by the 9-5 grind. It is that freedom of self that has inspired her current motto: “Taking Life for a Ride.”

One might wonder where a person with such miles under her belt would go after completing a journey like Laura’s. The beauty in her choice of lifestyle is that she lives to do what makes her happy each day. While she has long-term goals including owning a motorcycle campground, right now she is only focused on living her days genuinely.

"In the beginning, the bike is your transport; eventually, you and the bike become one. I now identify the bike as a part of me. When it breaks down, I feel it. Work does not represent us. For me, the motorcycle represents me. My motorcycle is my door to the world."

One cannot help but to be inspired when learning of the undying positivity Laura is spreading as she continues on the world. She embodies all that Daughters of the Road has grown to represent and we are honored that she has chosen to collaborate with us in the mission of spreading a sisterhood nurturing the passion that binds us together: the ability of motorcycles to unleash the thirst for freedom within us all.

#HashtagLunchbag

Photos by Saravasti Zai of Skylight Alchemy

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In the daily hustle of life, the loudest noise in our routines seems to be that of the negative things surrounding us. We hear of crime, of conflict, and of other moments where people give into the imperfections that weaken us all...but then there are other moments-those glistening snippets of time where we are reminded of the purity of the innate goodness of humanity.

Daughters of the Road bore witness to many simple acts of kindness compressed into one Saturday morning event: #HashtagLunchbag Orlando.

The #HashtagLunchbag movement is a nationwide initiative aimed at feeding needy members of the community through the simple acts of assembling bagged lunches (lovingly packed into brown paper bags with messages of encouragement penned on the outside) and handing them out around the city.

Saturday, September 24th, 2016 marked the first anniversary of this event in our City Beautiful: Orlando, Florida. The event’s coordinator, Stacey Marine, is a shining example of the capacity of a single person to impact hundreds through an unyielding sense of compassion.

Stacey welcomed us with open arms and we commenced in the lunch-making process. With care and consideration, each bag was filled with handmade sandwiches, pieces of fruit and snacks for later. Children, learning the necessity of being a part of the betterment of our communities, drew pictures and wrote notes on each lunch bag.

After the lunch assembly, we loaded as many lunches as we could into our tour bags, backpacks and strapped to our sissy bars; our bikes carrying cargo more precious than we had ever considered. Crossing paths with some of the youngest participants, we were reminded of the joy one feels when doing something selfless. The children were so proud that they had “passed out all of their bags” that they greeted us with big smiles and high fives as we passed them on our route.

We were touched by the people who worked alongside us, as well as those whom we fed. We met not a single ungrateful person that day. Many of those individuals were surprised at the purity of our intentions: to feed them and to make this day better than the last.

The beautiful faces we saw that day, some new friends and some old, all came together to create an untouchable moment of rejuvenation. Each lunch we passed out took both literal and figurative weight from our shoulders.

We want to wholeheartedly thank Stacey and everyone else who contributed to this month’s #HashtagLunchbagOrlando event. You all gave greater reason to our two-wheeled journeys this past weekend, and we are that much better for it.

To join the next event in our town, follow @Hashtaglunchbagorlando on Instagram, or locate the #HashtagLunchbag event in your city.

Shannon Galpin of Mountain2Mountain

Photograph by Tony Di Zinno

With a fist in the air, Shannon Galpin treks war-torn territory in a fight for something bigger than her. She has answered the calling of becoming the architect for a new perception of feminism and natural rights for women everywhere - a quest she has undertaken for over a decade. A National Geographic Adventurer and author/creator of Mountain2Mountain, Shannon is consistently contributing to the shifting of the paradigm that plagues humanity globally.

At Daughters of the Road, the unifying vision is to cultivate a community that inspires, empowers, and supports women in motorcycle culture-- thereby breaking the gender barriers that still exist today. Through this mission, we have been amazed with the connection achieved to women of the same beliefs and, moreover, who are fighting for the same ideals of advancing women’s rights, but on a global scale. One recent response that stood out to us was that of a National Geographic Adventurer and cyclist who, over a decade ago, went from being the first woman to cycle through Afghanistan, to a woman who leads a pack of girls on bicycles through its war-ravaged and critically-oppressed streets.

Shannon’s intense passion for the betterment of humanity began when she was just a wide-eyed and spirited teenager, who had an avid obsession for sports training. Her world was turned on it’s head one poignant night when she was eighteen. The routine of walking home from work at night was disrupted with a random and vicious attack, during which she was raped and left for dead. As if her own adversity was not enough, she had to act as a confidant later to her sister who was victim to a campus rape. Shannon’s resiliency continues to be tested as she endures the repercussions of being involved in such scarring events.

It wasn’t until 2009 that she publicly recounted her experience for Dateline NBC, during an interview featuring her work with women in Afghanistan. It takes truly digging at your core being, and developing a keen understanding of the roots to your darkest problems in order to understand your development in life. The trauma she experienced as a teenager rose to the surface. Shannon had a fierce desire to understand the ingredients that created widespread oppression in women’s rights globally… and in her words, “what better way than to start in the worst place for women’s rights?”.

Afghanistan consistently is ranked as one of the worst countries in which to be a woman. A deeply rooted patriarchal society still persists, which enforces mandates based on an extremist interpretation of Islam. Women remain voiceless and are viewed as objects that men either desire, hate, or often both.

During her cycling expedition across the both picturesque and formidable country in 2010, she visited the Kandahar women’s prison and was given a silver barrette by one of the incarcerated. This woman was raped by a male in her family and thereafter being deliberately jailed for adultery by her own family, leading to her living out her days in a cell. This label of “adulterer” is often the preferable choice when faced with the other option: death. Tragically, this case is not unique, but one of a staggering many. Countless women spend their time in jail indicted on the very same issue.

“If they are not jailed, they are killed. They will be viewed as having dishonored the family and can no longer be married. Their perpetrators will walk free and this shook me horribly.”

Angered and fueled by her encounters from the many stories that mirror this one, Shannon began volunteering at shelters where women could learn to support themselves after being freed from jail, serving as a confidant and motivator for the women who must recover from such injustices.

A brutal truth was exposed when the President of Afghanistan began to shut down the shelters, falsely identifying them as “brothels” based on rumors muttered from lips of the Taliban. Shannon sought out support from the minister for women’s affairs about the demise of women’s shelter and education programs, but was disappointed when the minister designated the victims as “bad women”. She was just beginning to realize the corruption and adversity that these women must face daily under the thumb of the patriarchal ideals of Afghan society.

Photo by Deni Bechard

Shannon was reluctant to leave such a beautiful country on that note. Equipped with a strong background in cycling, she made it her mission to get women in these areas on bicycles - a small seed planted that she soon hoped would blossom into a greater movement in women’s rights. Shannon created Mountain2Mountain, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to amplify the voices of women and girls through access to education, the power of street art, the solidarity of activism, and the freedom of the bicycle. It is within the freedom of independent mobility (something that we have the luxury of taking for granted) that these women find some solace. Shannon shares that these women consistently receive the standard double-take as they courageously weave their bikes through the treacherous streets of Afghanistan. Because it is considered an obscene display for a woman to be casually straddling and pedaling a bicycle, women often receive both insults and rocks thrown in their direction. Such a culture is innately threatened by the idea of women having the freedom to control their own decisions and movements, and this fear causes a barrage of backlash that these women must combat daily.

We asked Shannon to share a bit of the history of these women who dare to stand up against centuries of oppressive tradition:

“These girls are inherently revolutionary, even though they do not see it as a revolution”

Many of the women have lost their male role models due to the war that, for many of them, has spanned a majority of their lifetimes. The remaining members of their families are genuinely supportive of the advancement of these particular girls. Shannon says she sees a new culture forming. Boys with curiosity in their eyes often speak of going home and teaching their sisters how to ride. Images such as these give Shannon the hope for progress that she needs to press on in her noble endeavors. Currently she is attempting to form a national female cycling team in Afghanistan.

Photo from Mountain2Mountain.org

After being so moved by how Shannon has positively affected these women, one question burned within us:

How do we take such commitment to the advancement of women and apply it to our own culture?

It is easy to ignore the issues of a culture existing literally half a world away. Shannon implores women in western nations to recall an age in our histories where women were fighting against the very same issues that continue to persisting in the Middle East.

When asked to reflect on how our society needs to react and adapt to the growing apathy toward the feminist movement, Shannon responded that women today need to “own” their feminism. She mused on the fact that the word “feminism” has become almost synonymous with “manhater”, and in a pursuit to distance themselves from this, women have become polarized on the issue.

Moreover, she added that attention needs to be paid to the men behind the movement. Men who support women should be celebrated. “Feminist men are not threatened by strong women,” Shannon stated bluntly. Spreading a trend like this starts by raising men who accept women as equals. Attesting to the fact that women are strong does not make a man weak, and that idea must be emphasized.

Oppression against women still manifests itself in our culture in ways that have evolved so as to be more-subtle and, therefore, harder to combat. The sexualized nature of women portrayed in the media, the consistent trolling of public figures on the internet and the prevalence of mistreatment of victims of sexual assault are all issues that Shannon feels should be paid the same attention that the women’s suffrage movement obtained back in the early twentieth century.

This sociological discourse left us compelled to discuss one of the most relevant, and alarming, topics currently running rampant in our society: the lack of urgency society has adopted revolving around sexual assault cases. Shannon shared with us that she feels society needs to begin to believe women who are victims in these cases. The word “rape” is so stigmatized that society has developed an inability to discuss the issue and has alienated those who need the most support: the victims. If we move forward in this arena, a huge leap can be made in society’s progression of equal rights for women.

For change to occur, we must first adopt a sense of unity with other women. Upon the foundation of sisterhood, a dialogue may begin pertaining to the epidemic of voiceless women worldwide. Furthermore, the men who are setting the examples for the equal treatment of women need to be illuminated and revered. Most importantly, women need to believe and listen to one another. A deeper understanding for each other is essential in igniting the flame necessary for a revolution.

Daughters of the Road proudly stands as a platform to express these sentiments, and hope to be a resource for women seeking to come together under the umbrella of gasoline culture. Shannon Galpin may have been inspired by the mission of our initiative, but her dedication to the women of Afghanistan and her commitment to the betterment of women worldwide has made her one of our role models.

To read more about her journey, initiatives and platforms visit www.shannongalpin.com and Mountain2Mountain.org

J Shia of MADHOUSE MOTORS

With humility and an unwavering diligence, J. Shia of Madhouse Motors represents an elite caliber of people who grind - both literally and figuratively. As a motorcycle mechanic and builder, she brings unique talents molded with skill to the forefront. As a business owner, she shelters a plethora of bare bones motorcycles and the people willing to breathe new life to them. J and her team have restored and built a multitude of motorcycles over the years and continue to deliver pieces that stand the test of time.

Camaraderie has always been a pillar of the motorcycle community. It is the foundation upon which we build riding clubs, it is the basis for the subtle wave we send to passing riders, and it is what binds us together as a subculture and separates us from the masses. When Kristen first introduced me to J. Shia and the work of the Madhouse Motors team, what shined through amidst my fervent scrolling of their photos (which depict many powerful, yet beautifully-crafted machines) were the intangibles: family, passion, artistry and soul. It is the unique recipe of these ingredients that this team has mastered, and continues to replicate time and again, that qualifies J. Shia and her entire Madhouse team as legends in the making.

Attempting to be diligent in my preparation for this interview, I attempted to locate some background information on J.’s life and her many accomplishments. I was perplexed to find that this woman, who at this point I have grown to worship, is essentially “off the grid” and relatively absent from internet coverage. Upon admitting this discovery to J., ever so humbly, she replied:

“I guess I stay low-key because I’d rather be a part of the community than stand out under a limelight. I have to brand myself as it is, and I’d rather only do it as much as necessary to get new customers or projects in the door. I’d rather focus on building momentum for the shop and showing off the projects we do.”

It is this humility and grounded-nature that sets J. apart from many of the icons being broadcast within the industry today. Madhouse’s focus is always on the machines and the craftsmanship, not the pomp and circumstance of being a part of a growing clique within the biker community.

Upon inspection of both J.’s personal Instagram and that of Madhouse, one may notice the simple beauty reflected in the photography of the images. J. began her formal education in art school studying to be a travelling documentary photographer. Her artistic vision is evident in the attention she pays to the minute details of both the photographs and the machines depicted therein.

Tracing the roots of the motorcycle bug - mounira shia in lebanon

One can trace J. Shia’s mechanical roots back to skilled metal workers in Syria and Lebanon. With the rust and grit coursing through her veins, it is easy to assume that J. has been wrenching with her immediate family from day one. Much to our surprise, she told us that, while a majority of her immediate family are riders and mechanics, her mentor in the moto community is Sayre Anthony (Head Mechanic at both Madhouse Motors and Nova Motorcycles). To “whom I credit for most of my personal growth as a mechanic and the growth of the shop as a whole,” she shared.

As most often happens when we get to speak to people whom one finds inspirational, we were eager to know what inspires J. Shia. What are her aesthetics? What motorcycles get her blood pumping? In the realm of photography, J. aspires to channel legends like Bruce Davidson and Shelby Lee Adams. When it comes to bikes, she admits that her inspiration is dependent upon the nature of the build and the customer themselves. She implies that inspiration is easy to find in an industry “with so many talented folks out there.”

She did share that she’s in love with all things vintage, specifically pre- and mid-WWII era machines. “I’m most proud of a few restorations we did over the past winter on some bikes from the 1920s and 1930s. I’m a bit of a history geek, so I was super happy when we got the jobs,” J. said.

There is neither a bike too obscure, nor an engine too small for J. and her Madhouse family. Pride in true craftsmanship and the heart of each hand that touches it is left imprinted on every build Madhouse puts out. Everything they produce seems to acquire its own identity before it leaves their shop: from a beautiful little Honda Dream (cb77) to a rugged and historic 1951 Gillet Herstal (Belgian military bike), the perfection of each machine stands as evidence of the kind of dedication that can only be dredged up from a special place of the soul, one that is devoted only to truly passionate endeavors. It seems that J. and her cohort have harnessed this passion (one that many spend their whole lives chasing) and reproduce it again and again for each of their builds, making them unique in a scene where words like vintage and custom often become trite.

Ironically, what makes J. herself so unique, are some of the very qualities that many consider “normal”. She endures the standard daily grind: Waking up early, getting her “kiddo” ready for his day, loading her truck, opening shop, and depending on caffeine as the lubrication that keeps that machine running. She never subscribes to the idea that she is a pioneer in the women’s scene, insisting that what she and the Madhouse “family” have built is more of a community accomplishment than a singular effort. That community not only holds the employees of the shop, but the customers and the greater Boston riding community.

J. shared a bit of what makes Boston a haven for riders:

“...the people in Boston who ride are unbelievably supportive of each other. I’m not sure if that’s unique—I hope other city riding scenes are the same—but Boston riders are really fond of helping each other out and supporting each other with everything from builds to breakdowns.”

Images of lively barbeques coupled with video clips of bikes ripping through dirt prove to us that this Madhouse family has found a way to make their passions their livelihoods.
 

“I think what sets Madhouse Motors apart from other shops is that we’re not in it for the competition; we just want to make and fix bikes so that people can enjoy them. The shop is a place where my friends and family can hang out and enjoy each other’s company. The Madhouse outfit is a ‘family’ business, but most of the people who make the whole thing work aren’t related by blood.”

Ever-clinging to her cool demeanor, J.’s most valuable advice, characteristically, is also the most simple: “Do it because you love it, share your knowledge and keep the competition to a minimum.”

If presented with an album of their work, one can see that the Madhouse Motors credo of ignoring the instinct to compete, becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy: In the commitment of the Madhouse team to ignore competition, they have achieved a level of their craft that has made them a force to be reckoned with within the builder community, therefore putting them in a class all of their own.

Yet, what I love most about what J. and Madhouse Motors have built is neither held together by bolts, nor powered by fuel, but is an abstract. They carry an unpretentious image that concerns itself solely with family, motorcycles and community. There is beauty in simplicity and J. and the team at Madhouse Motors have become the champions of that ideal.

To drool over their raddest of creations and to follow J. and the team in action, check out www.madhousemotors.com or follow @madhousemotors and @jshia on Instagram.

Father/Daughter Cross Country Trip

Since I was 17, my dad and I have been taking cross country trips on our motorcycles together. In 2010, when I first got my motorcycle license (matter of fact, the weekend after I passed the test) we set off on a 5,000 mile trip to Sturgis, SD. After many rides throughout the midwest, and the east coast, we set our route to head west this year. We took time off for the summer and road tripped in celebration of Father's Day!

My dad had spent his weekends off for the past several months rebuilding a 1997 Ultra Classic for me to ride on this trip. When I arrived back home, we still had quite a bit of work to do. Seen in the clips, we take over his space in the shop and bring the bike to life. We were rewiring the systems, replacing the stator and rotor, putting in a power clutch, replacing tires and wheel bearings.. the list goes on. This trip was essentially the test ride. A whole 5,000 miles of it.

Part one of this video includes us from Florida - Memphis, TN - Rodneys Cycle House in Little Rock, AR - Mojave Desert in CA.

Part two and three are now up as well on the Lady Lassen Youtube channel. Check them out, let me know what you think, and subscribe for more videos and adventures to come!