Twiggy
Pack Dog
My idea of the best alarm in the morning is the roar of an engine, the smell of 2 stroke and petrol instead of bacon and eggs and the knowledge that tomorrow, it’s going to hurt. I love the idea that I can wake in the mornings and know, on my bike I will overcome obstacles, sweat, swear like a sailor, bruise, bleed and fight. I live for this feeling. I am an ultimate biker. The addiction that I live with leaves me often broken, bruised, in pain and with the best euphoria nothing else in the world can give.
I started riding after many years of wanting to, a mere two years ago. I started with a 990 adventure, in a parking lot with a pillion. We sent the pillion for psychological testing right after that. I started track riding, loving the speed, although I was slower than a granny with a Zimmer frame at first. But I had a passion, glowing deep inside me. Soon I had dropped over a minute and within a few months of me having never touched a bike, I got my knee down. I started commuting, doing breakfast runs, being a pit girl, going to ET and touring the country and neighbouring countries on a bike. I would have slept with my bike in my bed if I could.
But I was only a road bunny, thinking off road was MX and that rocks were for Dassies, boy was I wrong. One fateful day my boss lent me his KDX 200 and I learnt a type of riding that left me with not only a slipped disk, but a new found place to push my limits. So every weekend off I went with the little green peril and found a new punishment for myself and the bike. Within a few months I had done Daytona, Mariasburg and 3 fences De Wildt – epic ride with broken ribs. I can wheelie my bike, ride with no hands, sit side saddle, stand on the saddle and generally do stupid things. I still did road biking, loving the power, but I had become a dirt biker.
About 9 months in, I could outride a lot of the guys I ride with, do things that would have my mother in the mental institute and my favourite thing to do on a bike, was fly. Now the jumping the KDX is like trying to get an obese chick to do show jumping, not ideal, but I still did it. I found out later that it’s called free riding.
So one fateful day at Mariasburg while I was launching myself OFF the big Dunes, with the guys on the ride contemplating my sanity, I met a FMX rider. We started chatting and he asked me if I had ever thought of doing FMX? I had always loved it, even when I couldn’t tell my four strokes from two, but me, actually do it? It’s a dream I couldn’t even conceptualise. But with some advice and support from a road rider who I admire, I took up the offer of a few lessons. Within 3 lessons, having never seen an MX track, I had mastered consistency, could break line of vision and started getting my feet off the foot pegs over a table top.
Now I have this dream, this obsession, this addiction for flight. I have come to realise that the key components to this jumping thing is a touch of insanity, tick, dedication, tick, passion, tick, hard work, tick, lack of self preservation, tick and brass balls, tick. But I have been left with the age old problem, I cannot advance any more with the bike that I have. But I cannot get sponsorship without doing bigger and better tricks.
But I will not take this lying down, I am a fighter, if nothing else. I have got keys to The Compound, which I can practise on at any time. Originally this was not an option, I could use it only when it was open. But with some convincing, a little bit of charm and some compassion I have a training ground. I have sourced a Mechanic willing to do any work on my bike for me, free. Kawasaki South Africa have given me a support, any parts I need I can get at cost from the factory. I have sourced a foam pit, which is set up and ready to be ridden as soon as I get a bike that I can launch into thousands of litres of foam. I have a secondary pit, which is just waiting for foam to be added which I can use as well. I have huge discount on a full kit from a reputable dealer. I have changed my work schedule so that afternoons I can train, be it on the track or off. I have read every available FMX article, book or webpage I can get my little grubby paws on. I do martial arts to keep myself strong and flexible, train every morning and do free weights. I ride enduro every weekend to keep bike fitness up.
This is not a whim, this is my goal, Freestyle motor cross.
And if you give me money? What will you get out of it? Well advertising is one thing. Every guy looks at a girl when she is off loading her bike at the track, I am unique, I don’t even need to pull narly tricks to get noticed. I have done modelling, promotions and manage a pub. My road bike is parked outside that pub every night. I am on every social network site I can find. I am at different tracks every weekend, riding enduro or getting air. Being so passionate about this sport I am well known within all different circles. I know road riders, enduro riders, rally riders, trail bike riders, MX riders and FMX riders. Oh and let’s not forget the huge tax break you get.
I have a dream, will you help me?
Please let me know, I have full quotes for everything I need to get started and a proposal of exactly where I am, and where I am going. ANYTHING is appreciated and ANYTHING (PG of course) I can do in return.
[email protected]
Thank you
Twiggy aka Keryn Ehlers
I started riding after many years of wanting to, a mere two years ago. I started with a 990 adventure, in a parking lot with a pillion. We sent the pillion for psychological testing right after that. I started track riding, loving the speed, although I was slower than a granny with a Zimmer frame at first. But I had a passion, glowing deep inside me. Soon I had dropped over a minute and within a few months of me having never touched a bike, I got my knee down. I started commuting, doing breakfast runs, being a pit girl, going to ET and touring the country and neighbouring countries on a bike. I would have slept with my bike in my bed if I could.
But I was only a road bunny, thinking off road was MX and that rocks were for Dassies, boy was I wrong. One fateful day my boss lent me his KDX 200 and I learnt a type of riding that left me with not only a slipped disk, but a new found place to push my limits. So every weekend off I went with the little green peril and found a new punishment for myself and the bike. Within a few months I had done Daytona, Mariasburg and 3 fences De Wildt – epic ride with broken ribs. I can wheelie my bike, ride with no hands, sit side saddle, stand on the saddle and generally do stupid things. I still did road biking, loving the power, but I had become a dirt biker.
About 9 months in, I could outride a lot of the guys I ride with, do things that would have my mother in the mental institute and my favourite thing to do on a bike, was fly. Now the jumping the KDX is like trying to get an obese chick to do show jumping, not ideal, but I still did it. I found out later that it’s called free riding.
So one fateful day at Mariasburg while I was launching myself OFF the big Dunes, with the guys on the ride contemplating my sanity, I met a FMX rider. We started chatting and he asked me if I had ever thought of doing FMX? I had always loved it, even when I couldn’t tell my four strokes from two, but me, actually do it? It’s a dream I couldn’t even conceptualise. But with some advice and support from a road rider who I admire, I took up the offer of a few lessons. Within 3 lessons, having never seen an MX track, I had mastered consistency, could break line of vision and started getting my feet off the foot pegs over a table top.
Now I have this dream, this obsession, this addiction for flight. I have come to realise that the key components to this jumping thing is a touch of insanity, tick, dedication, tick, passion, tick, hard work, tick, lack of self preservation, tick and brass balls, tick. But I have been left with the age old problem, I cannot advance any more with the bike that I have. But I cannot get sponsorship without doing bigger and better tricks.
But I will not take this lying down, I am a fighter, if nothing else. I have got keys to The Compound, which I can practise on at any time. Originally this was not an option, I could use it only when it was open. But with some convincing, a little bit of charm and some compassion I have a training ground. I have sourced a Mechanic willing to do any work on my bike for me, free. Kawasaki South Africa have given me a support, any parts I need I can get at cost from the factory. I have sourced a foam pit, which is set up and ready to be ridden as soon as I get a bike that I can launch into thousands of litres of foam. I have a secondary pit, which is just waiting for foam to be added which I can use as well. I have huge discount on a full kit from a reputable dealer. I have changed my work schedule so that afternoons I can train, be it on the track or off. I have read every available FMX article, book or webpage I can get my little grubby paws on. I do martial arts to keep myself strong and flexible, train every morning and do free weights. I ride enduro every weekend to keep bike fitness up.
This is not a whim, this is my goal, Freestyle motor cross.
And if you give me money? What will you get out of it? Well advertising is one thing. Every guy looks at a girl when she is off loading her bike at the track, I am unique, I don’t even need to pull narly tricks to get noticed. I have done modelling, promotions and manage a pub. My road bike is parked outside that pub every night. I am on every social network site I can find. I am at different tracks every weekend, riding enduro or getting air. Being so passionate about this sport I am well known within all different circles. I know road riders, enduro riders, rally riders, trail bike riders, MX riders and FMX riders. Oh and let’s not forget the huge tax break you get.
I have a dream, will you help me?
Please let me know, I have full quotes for everything I need to get started and a proposal of exactly where I am, and where I am going. ANYTHING is appreciated and ANYTHING (PG of course) I can do in return.
[email protected]
Thank you
Twiggy aka Keryn Ehlers
