My name is Poonam, I was born in London and I grew up in Mombasa, Kenya. Now I'm living in Cologne, Germany. I used to be an Engineer at Ford Motor Company, but recently I took a more creative path. When I’m not busy building a biking community with Petite Bikers (or going on bike rides :-) ), I’m working on designing websites for QLTY media as well as setting up my second business, Rose Kitchen. A few other facts about me are, I'm an identical twin, I love travelling, yoga, nature, cooking and painting.
Who or what got you into riding?
My partner got me into motorbiking. I used to have a moped and I always complained about how slow it went, due the laws in Germany I could only legally ride a 50cc moped. He was already riding a motorcycle so he kept trying to convince me to get my license. To be honest, I never thought motorbiking was for me. I brushed off the idea a million times. Mainly, because I am very small and I didn’t fit the criteria of what I thought a biker girl should be. Also, I was kinda terrified. But he was very supportive and encouraging.
What do you ride? And what does your bike say about you?
I ride a Ducati Scrambler, which I love. This bike is elegant, versatile and beautiful. I think my bike says I like beautiful things and I’m a chilled out, 'enjoying the view' type of rider.
How does it feel to be a female rider in this male-dominated sport/lifestyle?
As strange as it sounds, I know more women than men who own motorbikes in my area, I can definitely see a shift happening in this male dominant sport. It feels great to be part of a change. When I was studying engineering I was 1 of 6 women in a class of 60, so I was expecting biking to be the same. However, it’s been very different, and through Petite Bikers I’ve come across so many women around the world, all types of women that enjoy biking.
What is the most memorable experience or most fun you've had since riding?
My most memorable experience was a road trip my partner and I did from Cologne to Tuscany and back. Not only did we see some beautiful landscapes, explore quirky towns and eat delicious food; I also got to face a lot of fears about motorbiking, like hill starts, riding in the rain, long-distance riding, and gravel roads. Because of that, I took a lot out of this trip.
Bonus question: If you could no longer taste salt for the rest of your life, or sugar for the rest of your life which would you choose?
I would choose never to taste sugar again. I love salty food, I am a spice addict, I eat chili powder with mostly everything, including apples, mangoes and tomatoes. I also eat a lot of potatoes, so I don’t think I could survive without chilies, garlic or potatoes.
That trip from Cologne to Tuscany sounded amazing! And to find out more about Poonam’s wonderful blog please visit Petite Bikers at www.petitebikers.com or follow her and her journey on Instagram @petitebikers.
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