By Diane Glass

I finally know what to ride “pillion” means, thanks to the article on tips for two-up riding by Rick Wheaton in the October issue. My husband and I had never heard the term used before.

I have had the pleasure of riding pillion for almost 10 years now, on the back of a Gold Wing with my husband.

Once a year, we are fortunate enough to travel with four couples on adventures that include less-traveled roads with lots of sweepers and twisties in Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, including riding through many of our national and state parks.

When I first became a passenger, I was so nervous, feeling completely out of control, that I had to have a glass of wine before getting on the bike. And, yes, this could be early in the morning.

So here are some tips for those new pillions out there who want to get on the back of a bike and be a good passenger with an experienced rider they trust and know.

1. Please cover up and wear proper clothing. This is a time for more, not less. Gloves, boots, helmets, proper jackets and nothing less than jeans to cover your legs. Yes, it is harder to find motorcycle clothing for women that fits correctly and is comfortable. But it is out there.
2. Eat a bigger breakfast than normal. There are many long rides with few places to stop to eat. Riding is about riding, not eating or frequent stops. Take along water and whatever you would take when hiking. Nut and fruit mixes, your favorite chocolate snack, breakfast bars, beef or chicken jerky are all easy to consume and share at pit stops.
3. Always take the opportunity to relieve yourself when the group stops to stretch, take pictures or have a drink of water, even if you think you can make it to the next stop.
4. If your hair is long enough for a ponytail, always put a hair tie on before putting your helmet on. Any hair outside the helmet will be very hard to get a comb or brush through after riding all day. It is very painful to get all of the knots out if you forget.
5. All toiletries and beauty/grooming accessories must fit in a quart zip-lock bag, just like when flying. Everything comes in travel sizes now or can be put in small travel bottles. Good sunglasses that wrap around your face, sunscreen and lip balm are the most important accessories.
6. You must wear the same pants over and over again on a ride. There is simply not much room to pack clothes on a motorcycle, especially if rain gear is needed. All you really need are riding boots for day and night. Maybe flat sandals to pair with summer clothing after the ride in very warm weather. I love my Harley boots. But our trips almost always include hiking, so I just wear my comfortable Ahnu leather hiking boots. If you can’t live without a hair dryer, then maybe you should not go on a motorcycle trip.
7. Don’t plan on riding long on a bike that does not have a backrest.
8. Good music can help calm your nerves and is sometimes in sync with what you are seeing and experiencing. The song “I Can See For Miles,” by The Who, came on while we were crossing the Monte Cristo Range in Utah last trip. If you can’t relax, you could ruin the trip for the rider and yourself.

So if pillion riding is for you, sit back and enjoy the ride. And know that a big glass of Pino Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon awaits you at the end of the day. But be willing to have a beer, it may be all that is being served!

Diane Glass is an AMA member from Wrentham, Mass.