SCRC Loudoun VA Featured Member - August, 2005

Name:   Karen Moore

Nickname:   Cookie

Marital Status:  Happily (most of the time) married for almost 6 years to Carl( who is also a member).

Location:  Berryville, VA

Hometown:  Moved a lot growing up. I was born in Southern California, then we moved to Silver City, NM for a few years, then to Tucson, AZ, then back to California, and ended up in Harlingen, TX before joining the Army and being assigned in VA. The area I lived in has been in the news lately because of weather. Harlingen is close to Brownsville and South Padre Island, down in the Rio Grande Valley. But I’ve lived in VA for over 20 years now, .more than half my life. Guess that makes it home for me now!

Children:  None of my own. Two stepsons. One visits every other weekend.

Age:  39. Planning a party for the big 4-0 next year!

Occupation:  Police Officer

Current motorcycle(s):  2002 HD Heritage Softail Classic.

How did you hear about the SCRC and when did you join?
Carl was running a tow truck part-time back in August 2000. One day a bunch of bikes rolled into Plaza Texaco (now Shell) to get fuel. It is located right there at the corner of Plaza Street and Rt. 7 in Leesburg across from the Roy Roger’s where we meet for our rides. He started talking to them. Turns out one of them was Willi (the first first officer of the chapter, for those of you who don’t know him). He invited us to join. The rest, as they say, is history.

How long have you been riding?
Got my license in November 2000 and my first bike in February 2001.

Have you ever taken a motorcycle safety course?
Yeah. Took it in October 2000. Got in last minute into a class at the Alexandria campus of the NOVA Community College. Great course.

What was your first bike?
A 1999 HD Dyna Convertible.

How many bikes have you owned?
Two

Why do you ride?
I never understood the addiction until I did it, even though Carl talked about it a lot, since he’s been riding for 20+ years. Then I rode on the back with Carl. Then I took the course and got my own. Now I completely understand the addiction. No matter how bad your day or week has been, or how angry or cranky you might be, you get on your bike and ride and it’s like that air just blows all of the stress off of you, even if it’s only for the time you are riding. It’s amazing and relaxing.

Have you ridden with an organized group before?
Only with the SCRC.

What modifications have you done to your bike?
I’ve just added different chrome pieces. Nothing major.

What accessories do you want to add to your bike?
I’m actually fine with it the way it is, other than wanting a custom paint job. What do I want, you ask? Well, that will be a surprise!

What is your dream bike?
I’m riding it. My Heritage was my dream bike when I first started riding. Then in 2003, my dream came true!

What kind of riding do you like to do — straight-aways or twisties?
A combo of both.

If you have a nickname, how did you get it? Tell the truth!
Well, I knew that if members didn’t have a nickname when they came in, they usually got one through an incident (often an embarrassing one) that happened in front of the group. So, I went ahead and nicknamed myself. The firefighters I know at Dulles used to call me The Cookie Lady, since I used to bake for them all the time. I shortened it to Cookie.

What is your favorite riding route?
Scenic country roads. One of my favorite routes I’ve ridden is a backroads route to Battlefield HD in Gettysburg. It’s about 85 miles and takes you through backroads, small towns, and has a minimal of big roads (a bit of time on 340).

Do you ride your bike to work?
No. Feels kind of awkward riding on my bike in uniform, plus I usually have my briefcase with me. Plus it’s only a 3.1 mile commute, so it doesn’t seem worth firing the bike up for that. I rode occasionally to my work at my last job.

What is the fastest you’ve ridden?
About 85 on I-81. Don’t like riding fast. I like to cruise and meander.

What is your favorite time of year to ride?
Fall. I love the turning of the leaves and the colors.

Have you ever been down? If so, how were you hurt and what did you learn from the incident?
Yeah. Once. Put my first bike under a guardrail the night I got it. They had to get a lift to raise the guardrail to get my bike out. I was lucky and walked away with some bruises and a dislocated thumb (couldn’t ride for 6 months because of that). I learned several things. They weren’t lying in the MSF course when they said "don’t use your front brake on gravel" and "look where you want to go". I came on that curve and saw the 15mph max safe speed sign and thought "I take this curve at 40 in my car". I was going too fast was headed into that guardrail, then hit gravel and jammed on that front brake. So, I guess I learned 4 things: Look where you want to go; don’t use front brake on gravel; when the signs says slow down, they aren’t kidding; never try to ride beyond your ability.

Have you ever done an "Iron Butt" ride?
Nope. Probably won’t. I’m not in it for that kind of thing. Doesn’t meet with my meandering mentality.

If not, what is the furthest you’ve ridden?
I’ve ridden to Niagara Falls, Canada and Gatlinburg, TN.

What was the worst weather in which you’ve ridden?
It poured for over 75% of the way to Niagara Falls. I was wearing fingerless gloves and it rained so hard, it actually hurt my fingers.

Do you know how to work on your bike?
No. No huge desire to learn

What is your favorite road song?
Rollin’, by Limp Biskit.

What was your most adventurous ride?
Probably Niagara or Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg was blast because I got to ride in the Great Smoky Mountains.

What rallies or events do you like to attend?
I try to go to Outer Banks Bike Week (which is really just an excuse to be in the Outer Banks) and Delmarva Bike Week every year. We usually go to Gettysburg Bike Week for a day. I hope one day to make Sturgis, just to say I did.

Is there someone who rides "two-up" with you?
No. I’ve never ridden a passenger. Don’t have any plans to any time soon.

Off the cuff from...Cookie
Riding is one of my great joys, that I never seem to get to do enough of (partly because I am weather dependent). But through riding, I have met some fantastic people and made some great life-long friends. I tell people who don’t ride but are "thinking" about it that if they try it, they will too understand the addiction.