RIDER OF THE MONTH

Maggie Gulasey

Maggie _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Gulasey

Rider of the Month Maggie Gulasey

@maggie_gulasey

PHOTOS BY: Jordyn Kelly WORDS BY: Maggie GulaseY

From learning to ride in a backyard to using motorcycles as her only form of transportation, Maggie has found her home on two wheels. She is an insanely gifted writer and designer, as well as a big time coffee drinker. What stood out the most to us in our time with her was her down-to-earth nature. Humility and humor ooze out of her naturally and she does an amazing job making you feel like you belong. We are always on the hunt to find folks to feature who love motorcycles and coffee, but it is always extra special when you meet riders who check those boxes while also carrying depth in their soul. Maggie inspires us to keep dreaming. We invite you to dust off the ol’ imagination and be reminded that there is more courage in your tank than danger ahead of you.

We are stoked for you to hear some of her story.

So we invite you to slow down.

...pause ...sip some coffee ...& enjoy.

I am Maggie Gulasey. An enthusiastic 35-year-old who rides motorcycles, listens to a lot of music, drinks coffee, reads books, designs things, writes about things, and definitely dances a lot. Though I may appear to have an unquenchable thirst for social activities, I am a hermit through and through who must consciously force myself to be an active participant in this world. Motorcycles have been profound for that.

I was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado which is about 30 minutes south of Denver. If you were to look up “suburb” in the visual dictionary, Littleton’s mugshot would be all over that definition. Though my hometown lacked a bit of culture, it made up for its blandness with its awe-inspiring natural environment. Nestled at the foot of the mountains, it is what fostered my lust for the outdoors and the ever-present desire for adventure.

When I turned 18 I thought I was too cool for school - literally - and graduated high school a semester early and got a head start on college. Rocking that emo life, I thought Denver would be the perfect place to sulk about with my fellow rebellious, music-obsessed buds. Though I technically should have been at home with my family, planning prom, doing high schooler things, I instead made my way to the “big” city to find my crew of misfits. Somehow Denver sincerely captured my soul because, with the exception of a few feeble attempts at living elsewhere, this is where I have resided since I was 18. I’m not mad about it.

About ten years ago I lived in this old, dilapidated house. It was the kind of house that children started witchy rumors about. But what it lacked in curb appeal and modern amenities, it more than made up for in the backyard. The yard itself was three times the size of the house and was falling short of its true potential. I knew I was underutilizing my backyard oasis but I was not sure what to do with it. That is until my roommate moved in and brought her unridden Honda CRF50F with her.

All I could see was a small bike and a big backyard. My yard was basically a mini track just waiting for that little dirt bike to destroy it. The only problem was neither one of us knew how to ride. We figured what better way to remedy that than through trial and error. So, we pulled that baby bike into the yard and bumbled about until we achieved something that resembled riding.

There was something about the challenge of learning how to ride, the instability and unfamiliar nature of the two wheels, and the satisfaction of taking off and feeling that freedom that sunk its claw in deep and forever hooked me. I knew in my gut that the two wheels were forever going to be a part of my life. Once I got the hang of the mechanics, I immediately wanted to take it to the street.

A few months later I started dating this guy who specialized in fixing vintage motorcycles. He was more than thrilled about my newly emerging passion for motorcycles and was adamant that I started on something small and old. He helped me find my first bike, a 1971 Yamaha G6. This thing was the cutest, most beautiful two-stroke you’ve ever seen. It was 80cc and the perfect bike to get comfortable on.

Apparently, I have this need for speed and quickly outgrew my G6. I only had it for a few months before I was ready to upgrade. Though I was sad to say goodbye to my tiny 2T, my next bike showed me what true love was.

True love is not only happy, shiny moments. It is riding out the ups and down and realizing your heart is relentless and will unconditionally care. I think most vintage two-stroke owners know exactly what I mean. My second bike, a 1977 Yamaha RD400, was one spicy, magical motorcycle that set my soul on fire. Simultaneously, it made me explode with frustration. When it came alive and ran properly, it would rock my entire world. However, I was also regularly stranded on the side of the road trying to clean my points and swap out the spark plugs in order to get it to run again. As finicky and temperamental as that bike was, I think it made me a better rider. Also, having owned modern bikes since, I have never taken them for granted; reliability is a beautiful thing!

It is no exaggeration to say that nearly every single facet of my life has been impacted by motorcycles. From the people I call close friends to the men I have dated, they have guided me to some of the most remarkable humans from all walks of life that I would not have otherwise met. They have connected me to people all over the world to the point where I feel like I could travel anywhere and find a motorcycle pal to connect with.

As a motorcycle journalist, I have had the opportunity to go on once-in-a-lifetime adventures, riding an array of incredible bikes while exercising my passion for writing. Because of motorcycles, I have explored the most scenic areas of Colorado, the vast deserts of New Mexico, the gorgeous California coasts and canyons, the rainy yet beautiful parts of Oregon and Washington, the salt flats and moon-like landscapes of Utah, the untamed sections of Wyoming, and so much more. Motorcycles have taken me to places that would have otherwise gone unexplored if I stuck to traditional forms of transportation.

I am so adamant about that two-wheeled life that I decided to forego owning a car and only stick to my moto to fulfill my commuting needs for several years now. This has greatly impacted my life as I am restricted to how I grocery shop or run any kind of errand as well as when and where I can ride based upon the weather (this is especially difficult during the winter). Though only having a motorcycle for my mode of transportation does present a bevy of dilemmas, I would not want it any other way. It has made me tougher and more appreciative of the things that are easily taken for granted.

Overall, motorcycles have helped me carve a deeper connection to people, places, and most definitely myself.

The Denver motorcycle community is extraordinary. It is how I have met all of my best friends and how I continue to meet new, wonderful people. We are hungry to ride and consume all things motorcycle and are hungry to find like-minded people. As a result, we have plentiful motorcycle meetups, lots of group rides, countless motorcycle groups, tons of motorcycle-centric events, and any other motorcycle community engagement you can imagine. I am spoiled to live in a state that has such an astounding, supportive, and active motorcycle community.

Speaking of going on rides, I would argue we have some of the most epic routes your two wheels can navigate! Some of my favorite rides are the legendary Peak to Peak Highway, the Million Dollar Highway, Pikes Peak, and Lookout Mountain. There are so many more, but those are my personal selects. The reason I get starry-eyed over those routes is because of the jaw-dropping scenery, winding roads, and charming stops along the way. These are the kind of rides that when you are on them, you take a genuine pause, absorb your surroundings, and feel an overwhelming amount of peace and gratitude for life.

WHat is the most memorable ride you have been on?

Whenever I am asked to recount my most memorable ride, it takes me a while to sort through the many adventures and select the kind of memorable I want to bring up. Adventures can be remarkable for a multitude of reasons, leaning either positive or negative. The one I want to rehash involves a little bit of all those elements, which is why it was so noteworthy.

A few years ago I wrote for a beautiful motorcycle magazine called META. As a journalist for them, I would go on two-wheeled adventures and then weave together coherent stories that I hoped captured the reader’s imagination and ignited or reinforced a passion for riding. One such expedition was for a story called “Terra Incognita.” The premise was a lone terrestrial explorer venturing out on her two wheels and exploring the unknown.

In order to reach these “unknown” parts, the crew and I spent a week on the road, riding over 2,000 miles in Colorado and New Mexico. The vessel for this exploration was an R nineT, my first experience on the BMW and where I fell head over heels in love with the bike.

Over the course of a week, we encountered hurricane-like winds, torrential downpours, hail, snow, and scorching hot temperatures. To say I was not prepared to ride in those extreme conditions is an understatement. As sketchy and frustrating as it was in the moments, I came back from that trip calloused to temperamental weather swings and a more confident, unphased rider as a result. Sometimes it takes a little suffering to help you grow.

Not all moments on the trip were miserable, however. We had the opportunity to explore some of the more astonishing locations I have ever seen. Our motorcycles took us to the White Sands National Park, the UFO Watchtower, the Paint Mines Interpretive Park, the Carlsbad Caverns, and the Very Large Array. Each scene was uniquely stunning and utterly mesmerizing.

I think it is fair to say that sometimes in order for something to be memorable, it doesn’t always go as planned. Though we couldn’t have controlled the weather, we made it through the treacherous conditions and our reward was the incredible spots our motos brought us to.

WHere will your journeys take you this summer?

My adventures got a head start this year and I can only hope that’s telling of what’s to come when summer actually hits. I had just returned from a four-wheeling excursion in Moab at the end of March to immediately turn around and jet off to California with a few friends to attend the Biltwell 100, a desert race that took place in Ridgecrest.

It was the first motorcycle event that I (and probably most people there) had attended in over a year. Being around so many moto buddies in one place at one time did some kind of unimaginable refresh to my soul.

It also let loose the pent-up travel bug that had been suppressed for far too long, though it was definitely necessary. All I can say is, thank you vaccinations!

A few days ago I returned from a dirt bike trip that took place at a bucket list location: Swingarm City, a dirt biker’s paradise located in Caineville, Utah. When you arrive, you immediately feel like you zoomed off in a spaceship and landed on the moon. It is sandy and desolate with massive, steep features you can test your skills and drop your stomach on. I felt rusty and uncomfortable and desperately needed to shake off the winter dirt bike cobwebs. Despite being unpracticed, I enjoyed every single second I was there.

If I were to plan the rest of my summer, it would be filled with countless adventures like those aforementioned. As long as they involve good people, new places, and motorcycles, I am one happy girl.

For those rare moments that I am not on my motorcycle or doing something moto-related, I am designing websites as a user experience designer for an awesome agency or I am doing freelance writing. I am spoiled with my job and am grateful to work for bosses that appreciate and encourage the two and four-wheeled offroading adventures. They are supportive of my passion for motorcycles and will even occasionally join me at the dirt bike track!

Outside of work, I am excited by good food, coffee, and music. As someone who studies nutrition as a hobby, I love to cook and enjoy eating healthy. The quality of ingredients is important to me and that even translates to my love of coffee.

Having worked as a barista for nearly a decade, I was and still am quite passionate about coffee; how it is grown, sourced, roasted, and brewed are all significant to me. Though I appreciate all kinds of varietals, some of my favorite coffees have been naturally processed Ethiopian or Kenyan beans. My favorite way to brew at home is with a Chemex. Something about the ritual of preparing your cup of coffee in the morning is endlessly romantic and I am forever addicted to it (and the caffeine, of course).

I am also completely enamored with music. It does not matter what I am doing, I will have music playing in the background, setting the mood and creating the soundtrack for the moment. Right out of college I started working in the music industry. I did everything from working in box offices at music venues, planning and promoting shows, managing bands, taking care of the green rooms, and organizing music festivals. Though I lacked the talent to actually play any instrument myself, I was passionate about supporting those who did. My love for music runs deep and having the perfect tunes accompany me on my motorcycle rides is imperative. If you ride with me, you are guaranteed to catch me dancing on my bike.

I kind of feel as though music, coffee, and motorccles go together quite nicely so it is no surprise that those are my interests. They have been with me for most of my life and I don’t see any of them going anywhere.

What advice would you give people who want to start riding, but don’t know where to start?

I think the first place to start for any new rider would be to take a motorcycle safety course. Depending on the state you live in, this could kill two birds with one stone. First, you learn the basics of riding while building a solid foundation for safe riding skills. Second, at least in Colorado, you can obtain your motorcycle endorsement.

When it comes to motorcycles for the new rider, I would recommend the path I took. I started with a small, vintage bike. It wasn’t expensive nor was it too much power, making it very simple and safe to learn on. Though you may outgrow it fast, at least you are starting with something mellow and cheap-ish.

Lastly, start getting involved in the community! I have never met a more welcoming group of people that are willing to help a new rider out and share their experiences. Find out where your local bike nights go down or utilize social media to join some groups or follow fellow riders in your area. If you live in Colorado, hit me up, I will happily help you out as best I can!