Every. Day. Ride #38 with Storm

Hey! I’m Storm (yes, I’m named after the X-men character!)  I’m StormjStewart almost everywhere online. I have a little red Honda Dax named Adam and I love all things tech, gaming and recently automotive! If I’m not creating content I work as a commercial model and general freelancer.

How and when did you get into riding? 

I’m a fairly late entry into the world of Motorbikes, I always found them pretty cool but had no real interest in riding them until my agent was frequently sending jobs my way that required a female rider and simultaneously my Dad got himself a motorbike and I thought it would be a fun activity to do together. It felt like too many things were telling me to give it a go! I got my full License in 2023 and haven’t looked back.

What are the best and worst things about riding?

The community is by far one of the best parts of riding, as a new rider having a bunch of friendly people to ask questions of and learn from has made this experience infinitely better than had I had to navigate it alone. Also the freedom you have when travelling, you experience the world differently on a motorbike.

The worst part? The cold, and how expensive this hobby can get (no one warned me about that!). Not to mention the constant worry that, in London especially, Motorbike thefts is pretty high. I sadly experienced that myself with Adam (got him back luckily!) The community turned me on to Litelok at that point for better security solutions and I’ve used them with every press bike I’ve had since.

Tell us about your most memorable ride to date?

I think my most memorable ride so far was my first solo trip on my Honda Dax to Kent. Admittedly not the furthest journey, but on my tiny bike and never having done something like that before, it was exhilarating! The planning, the navigation, the gear, trying to manage my luggage on a bike that barely fit me, and then the sense of accomplishment once I arrived. It was incredible to see just what I could do. And to top it all off I got to meet riders on the way and at various stops, chatting about our bikes and different journeys they’d been on and the well wishes they had. Everything about that trip was brilliant. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and has certainly given me a taste for more!

What’s the best piece of riding advice you’ve ever been given?

“Ride your ride” it took me a while to truly understand the significance of this. Initially I thought it was about not pressuring yourself to keep up with others in a group ride, but now I feel like that encompasses everything from the brands of gear your wear, the model of bike you have. Your ride should be unique to you, you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing, make it yours, enjoy it!

How do you keep your bikes secure at home and on the go?

At home I have two LiteLok X1’s on the front and back wheels and a bike cover… and I do pretty much the same when I’m out and about, they’re brilliantly portable. Having a tracker helps my peace of mind too!

Share your best tips to help others keep their bikes safe?

Always be better safe than sorry. It’s remarkable how quickly thefts happen, especially in the UK, you may think it’ll be okay for a few minutes, but sadly that’s all some of these thieves need. Get a tracker, get enough security that trying to get to your bike is more hassle than its worth.

When someone asks what kit you recommend, you say?

That’s basically been a mission for me in the last year or so, it can be incredibly overwhelming, and for women, sometimes incredibly hard to source things that actually fit you. But I would say take it down to the absolute basics and go from there because it’s not cheap!

A good helmet, earplugs, a good jacket, good gloves, a good pair of jeans and protective shoes are the basic foundations, make sure they’re actually rated and tested for the road. If you’ve got one of each of those, you’re in a good place!

What’s on your riding bucket list?

I’ve really been enjoying the solo rides on my Dax, I think I’d really like to try doing a tour of the UK, some scenic rides and some picturesque hotels, I think that would be a lovely start!