Determination is a powerful thing
"For as long as I could remember, I always wanted to be a Harley chick". This is how my discussion with Tina Miller started. After waiting nearly 57 years, she finally made her dream come true. This past year, Tina bought her first Harley- a 2017 1200 Custom Sportster. It sits in her garage waiting for Spring and some unusual customization. When it is complete, it will be as unique as Tina.
Tina grew up in an Amish community in Northeast Ohio. Not exactly the type of place you find many Harley-Davidsons. The horse and buggy were the preferred mode of transport. Still, Tina noticed the machines and they resonated with her deeply.
"I wheeled the bike out of the garage the other day to start it up." Tina exclaimed. "It sounded AMAZING!". Though she loves the thunderous sound of her Sporty, Tina is not yet ready to ride. You see, those unusual customizations are not done yet. They will need to be complete before Tina can experience the thrill of riding.
Tina was born with a deformity that eventually would cost her left leg. She has been wearing a prosthesis since she was four years old. Realizing her dream of riding never seemed realistic but that has all changed now. Determination is a powerful thing.
This Spring, that Harley-Davidson 1200 Custom will be modified to accommodate Tina's needs. It is being retrofitted with a hand shifter that will allow her to power through the gears with confidence. As if that wasn't enough, it will also be mated with a sidecar that will allow her take her daughter and Great Dane out on the road with her.
“I have always loved Harleys” Tina said, “but I always loved the people who ride them as well. They seem more concerned with those less fortunate then themselves. They are always fund raising… caring about issues… volunteering. I want to be part of that culture”.
When Tina took delivery of the bike last year, she climbed aboard for the first time expecting to feel the exhilaration that only a bike can deliver. Instead, she was overcome with emotion and cried. Bikes can do that to you. They can stir us in ways that we never imagined possible.
In parting, Tina told me that she hoped to inspire others who face challenges in life. Surely, the sight of Tina rolling down the road on that Sporty with side car, daughter and Great Dane onboard, will inspire all of us. That is how a Harley chick rolls.
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