We hit the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of the SNAKE SHAKER last June. Hard to believe this little betty has fully developed from a daydream, to a mile munching machine.

We hit the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of the SNAKE SHAKER last June. Hard to believe this little beauty has fully developed from a daydream, to a mile munching machine.

with everything that has been going on in the world, I thought it would be important to share it's endeavors. After a long winter hibernation on the east coast, it's a beautiful time to get back out there and on the road. 

The Snake Shaker slithering around Cheap Thrills, Asbury Park NJ

Due to unseen circumstances of COVID-19, a lot of the summer events have been cancelled. Which sure, it's a huge bummer, but part of a mentality I have been inquiring is to look on the bright side. We all are able to connect via internet (SEE YOU ON THE INTERNET) and you know that next year's events will be SPECTACULAR to make up for it. We all have good things waiting for us and our motorcycles. We just have to remain positive and strive for the times we can be together. So, this season would be a great time for change. Change up your bike! I installed (with the help of Cal, of course) a USB battery tender charger under my seat. Do you know how many times my phones dies on trips? Part of riding a bike confidently and being comfortable is a back up plan in case of emergency. I do get bitten by the bug to do some modifications, but they are little ones. I think about changing out the buckhorn handle bars for some pullbacks, but I still hesitate because it already has such a clean classic look. Sometimes I think, should I put 4' over tubes, change out the headlight for square ones? Aren't we ever evolving people?
One thing we did change is we ended up putting a bigger front sprocket on the bike. The Snake used to scream in the high gears, and by replacing this with a bigger one, quiets it down tremendously. The only thing I am getting used to reworking the throttle with this, which takes a bit more "pizazz" of the wrist when pulling out of stops. I even picked up a great book bag from @biltwell that holds everything. I picked up my own wrenching tools.

I do have some fun surprises in store relating to Retrofit Cycle Works... more information coming soon!

I will tell you that the last three months have made me reflect on life and weave more positive strides into my personal life. I want to be a better human being (rewiring healthy lifestyle habits and revamping routines for better mental health). I once wrote that my bike is my church and my home. This is so very true, yet, there are times I get road jitters. I listen to my body and rely heavy on my gut when it comes to the bike. I think when you ride you develop a third sense (I'm going to call it, the "third GEAR sense"), your eyes scan the road or possible dangers. your stomach tightens. I stay humble to the road and watch my throttle. It's ironic because the balance with the mind of this wild sounding machine is tranquil peace, like a meditation. Isn't that life? the balance of good and bad?

A spiritual path calls out to us all, and when we pick up a bike, aren't we listening? Listening to the roads of freedom? I hope everyone can get a chance to sit with themselves and truly listen to what they want out of life.

Ride with the moon.

On that note, here is to many more miles on the machine I call my home and my church!

-Mundy Builds A Chopper

Summer updates..

It's October already!

The time has flown by! The Snake Shaker has been on the road for five months and I managed to put just over 1,500 miles on it.

So here are updates!

My bike made an appearance in issue #10 of Gnarly magazine, where I spoke about the build journey and inspiration on the bike.

Here is a photo link to check out more pictures!

https://gnarlymagazine.com/blogs/news/snake-shaker-photo-feature

 Here are some shots from the summer...

Rode to Strange Days!

A few snaps from my birthday....... I turned 30 this year!

Road the Snake Shaker to the Gypsy Run.

Small photoshoot for Weird NJ magazine!

 I ended up putting 2' over tubes on the snake. It made a huge difference in the ground clearance in the front.

To The Secret Bike Show.

I try to ride every chance I get, and now with colder weather creeping in, it makes me feel a bit nostalgic for the summer. My main concern is becoming a better, experienced rider. Although the colder weather is coming, I'll still try and squeeze as much riding out that I can. I started school and it's been a wild ride of balancing work and school. Sometimes I get stressed out and focus on the happiness my bikes brings me. 

Here were some rad shots by taken by Cal for the Gnarly shoot. 

I couldn't be happier with the way the Snake Shaker came out. I am so proud of it. Once winter comes, I do plan on doing some more modifications to it.

ON the move...

I received a little token in the mail from Sara Mulvery at @revelerytintype. I had the chance of meeting her on my first Babes trip over a year ago, and I really dug her personality (not to mention her killer tattoos). I see her all the time at bike events, working her butt off. She sets up her booth and takes actual tintypes of people. Her website sells beautiful art. It’s almost like reading an old book and imagining the scenery of a cabin or flowers in a field. She’s definitely one of the people I’m really happy to have met during moto events. Here is her website where you can check out her stuff! I’m really excited to see her art take off and see her portraits of people.

www.revelrytintype.com

On a side note, I find that the outdoors literally is another heaven on earth. Since building the chopper, I’ve been dying to explore the area around me, especially abandoned sites in NJ and old history. I have been a huge fan of strange oddities since being a small and (slightly) morbid child. Cemeteries fascinate me. So much history that seems almost forgotten. Here is a photo I took for “Weird NJ”, which is a magazine that is super fantastic. If you are looking for ghost stories or old history, it has it for you! 

www.weirdnj.com

I can close my eyes and think back to the countless “goosebumps” books and “Scary Stories To tell in the Dark” that I would read in my clubhouse. I had a small black and white notebook where I would write scary stories. I could smell the summer air in the back yard and think back to my mom calling me for dinner as dusk broke down the day, being trailed by my trusty companion dog. It was such a fun age, I was nowhere near makeup or what was popular. I was totally unaware of my looks or how much pressure society would put on me to grow up. Nostalgia hits me so hard. 

I think camping has a weird root to that feeling. I know that a lot of people would disapprove of a woman camping on her own, I and get that. There are some Forensic Files episodes that cloud my thoughts. I know that there are risks... but I am more interested in being independent and careful enough to take care of myself. I love the idea of waking in the morning being totally self-sufficient and making my own coffee by a percolator. Maybe there is a part of me longing for freedom in the sense of doing something myself. I have my motorcycle which gives me the freedom, why not use it? 

I’ve been doing my research on the wilderness and I just received a book in the mail.

I have vivid daydreams of the heavenly treasures that are among us. It’s hard for me to go to church and understand everything because I’m not sure how I feel about it, but being connected to nature. I feel like that is my church. Riding my bike down winding roads, that is my church. 

I feel closer to heaven and the moon, and even my mom because she’s back in nature, sending me signs.

MUNDY BUILT A CHOPPER

MUNDY BUILT A CHOPPER.

I did it. We did it. My heart is exploding. I'm riding my machine that I built. The machine that I poured so much of time, money and effort into. The machine that my friends and lover slaved over. The machines that have MY welds holding it together.

Babes Ride Out East Coast was another one for the books but this year. It was so special. We squeezed the bike out three days before Babes. Like I mentioned before, a friend once said... "if you aren't rushing for an event, then it isn't a chopper".

When the bike came together, I felt so emotional. I was feeling so many things and I was NERVOUS to get on a bike that pretty. (how silly is that??) I decided to bite the bullet, ride it for the first time to work. So MANY nerves!!!!! The bike RAN GREAT.

Chopper riding is SO different. You learn fast that a rigid is no joke. I got so many looks from people. The bike fits like a glove. The Snake FITS my soul.  The seat feels great. I am getting used to feathering that throttle more, for more power. I wasn't used to that, I realized my old bike powered like a VESPA (LOL).

I had planned a "pre-babes" party at my digs. I had BUTTERFLIES in my belly. My house was filled with pre-babes giggles, plans, and laughs. It was amazing. I had girls I had never met in awe of our motorcycle themed house. I had the backyard set up for photo shoots.

(I live next door to a horse farm, so it was perfect background. 

We did have a slight setback. Upstate Kate was in a accident coming down. My stomach dropped when I read her group text. I saw the words "Went down" and I felt woozy. The good news was, she was ok... unfortunately, her bike was not. The woman warrior STILL came for Babes. I know it was hard to be around bikes and I'm sure it was tough to internalize the motorcycle accident, but she STILL wanted to come. I'm really proud of her. She just recently updated me on her new bike... a sweet little Triumph.

The morning came, and I was ALL NERVES.. MY BIKE WAS READY. It was time for the group ride up to Narrowsburg and start our babes adventure. My heart RACED when I turned the motor over.

I kissed Cal goodbye, and started the journey. Riding with Amy, Sarah and her friend Tara...

The ride is always fantastic. Except for dodging them POTHOLES. Rolling in with the girls is always soul shaking to me. When I rolled into babes I instantly saw Jessi Combs. My heart leaped out of my chest (THAT woman is incredible.) and to think she saw MY bike???!?!! Seeing that dust kick up from your tires is surreal. To be honest, I think I looked forward to Babes more than Christmas this year.

Setting up camp is always fun. It literally is like summer camp. I love seeing old friends.

I entered The snake into "The Real Deal" moto show. I was loving every minute. Jessi Combs came around and she snapped a couple of photos of my bike. She even touched my bike!! My heart literally melted. 

I was incredibly PSYCHED when Jessi, herself, announced "The Snake Shaker" as the winner of the "Judges's Choice". All the hard work we poured into it, all the late nights, the sweat, blood and tears paid off.

Jessi Combs pulled me aside later that night and gifted me a bag of welding equipment. I couldn't believe it. I am so proud and empowered. Three weeks before last year's Babes Ride Out, my mom had passed away from cancer. I didn't know if I had it in me to get out of bed and go.. I felt so much grief and loss. The first thing I ever learned how to weld was a hand made marker her grave.

I have truly changed since putting a power tool in my hand. I realized how short life is and how bad I wanted to make every moment in this life count. Untamed and wild. I felt this vibe of my mom when I carried my bag back to my tent. The fabulous women I am surrounded by, the healing and empowerment. 

We danced. Abby, Amy and I RIPPED up that dance floor in the after party.

I walked under a moon lit sky with Sara pan. I ate ice cream with Kelly and Upstate and shared person stories. I got tattooed. I had to celebrate my witchy ways ;)

I wouldn't of traded any of those moment for anything. I realized I had more treasures to take home than I could carry on my bike so Cal rode up with the side car. Sunday is always bittersweet when it comes around at Babes. It is literally like summer camp. It goes to saying goodbyes and watching how their lives unfold until you see them next year. parting ways is ALWAYS so bittersweet.

I was tired, I was beat but the snake shaker and I bonded. Riding my machine with Cal on Sunday felt beautiful. 

Fast Forward, it's July. I have been riding the Snake every day (that isn't raining) We added longer fork tubes, and my turning ratio is much better. I love this bike. This bike is a part of my soul. It's everything I have ever dreamed of. 

So, Now that I have built a chopper.. it certainly doesn't end there. Now... this blog will be dedicated to where I travel to and camping trips on "The Snake Shaker"

That was Babes Ride out, folks! Next weekend, Strange days............