Rider Profile - Carol Taub
It's a challenge to find Carol Taub off her 2005 BMW R1200GS. She rides – a lot! Carol describes herself as retired from the health care field, “old enough to do whatever I want and young enough to enjoy it!” She's widowed with 2 sons and 4 grandchildren.
In the summer of 1980 Carol, was renovating a newly purchased house and the plumber took her on his motorcycle to pick out bathroom tiles – her first ride ever. At the time, she was a single mom of 2 boys, ages 10 and 13, who were about to leave for summer camp giving her a month to reorganize her life with no other distractions. The plumber, easily sensing her enthusiasm, suggested that she take a course to learn to ride.
The single act of learning to ride “changed my life more than anything else I had ever done before or since.” By the end of the course, she had her own motorcycle, a 550cc Kawasaki , and a growing interest in her Instructor. He started inviting her to motorcycle events and although it's a cliché - it was like entering a whole other world. Here were men and women whose only common interest was riding but in all other respects they were as diverse as could be imagined. Five years later Carol and her instructor were married.
In 1983, she bought her first BMW, a 75/6 with 3,000 miles on it. She sold it several years ago with 140,000 miles on it. Over the years, Carol has owned 4 BMWs - the 75/6, a K100RS, a GS/PD 1000cc on which she put 200,000 km and her current bike with 120,000 km – all hers.
Her fondest memories are of the motorcycle trips she and her husband took to both coasts in Canada and the USA as well as to Alaska (her favourite), Labrador, twice to Newfoundland and of the many friends they made along the way.
In 2003, shortly after retiring, her husband died suddenly and she was faced with a choice of continuing with her passion or taking up a new interest. Needless to say, she chose the latter, helped by a friend who joined her on a 6 week odyssey. Mostly, it's the BMW rallies and all the friends she's made there which draw her back.
Now she often rides alone but it was very scary at first. “My first solo trip was an ambitious trek to a BMW rally in Spokane , Washington and the first night I cried myself to sleep. All the "what ifs" were running through my mind and scaring me to the point of despondency . I persevered and each day became easier as none of the "what ifs" materialized. I discovered that it's easier to meet fellow travellers as a solo rider and I now relish my time alone on the road, stopping when and where I wish, selecting my roads and destination on a whim and meeting other travellers on motorcycles, bikes, in cars or tour buses.”
Carol avows that she will continue to ride BMWs “because of the many friends I have made in Canada , the USA and Mexico who are members of International BMW Organizations I could never give up the support offered from these groups by riding a different brand although I am sure the bike itself is equally good or even better.” She intends to keep on riding as long as she is able. .