Photo credit: Ilya Kisaradov
You live in Saint Petersburg, Russia, but what city feels most like home to you?Photo credit: Francis Witch
How do you spend your days and nights? How much is work, and how much is play?Photo credit: Sergey Dmitriev
You are both a model and a photographer, which is rare. Which do you prefer and why? Which came first?Photo credit: Ilya Kisaradov
How does your work in modeling help your photography?Photo credit: Francis Witch
What inspires your photography? What do you hope to convey through your images?Photo credit: Kristina Solovyova
What advice can you give to young, beginner models who hope to be successful?Photo credit: Francis Witch
Many females, especially young ladies, struggle with negative self-image and believe they are not beautiful. Many compare themselves to “perfect” girls on Instagram and magazines and feel they can never be as good. What would you tell these girls?Photo credit: Sergey Dmitriev
You yourself seem to be without flaws. Do you have any that you will confess?Photo credit: Sergey Dmitriev
You travel quite a bit and seem to really enjoy it. What does travel do for you?Photo credit: Francis Witch
What has been your favorite place you've visited, and why is it so wonderful?My favorite and best place is the mountains of Kazbegi, Georgia. I madly love mountains. They are such great natural massifs that take my breath away, and when I am among them, I have such an incredible feeling!
Photo credit: Francis Witch
Not everyone can travel; what advice can you give for people who must stay close to home?Photo credit: Francis Witch
You love motorcycles, but what about them do you love? Do you have any favorites?Photo credit: Kristina Solovyova
What are your plans for 2019? What can everyone expect to see from you?Photo credit: Francis Witch
Kristina not only stuns in front of the camera, but she is also a devoted photographer, as mentioned above. Her travels always include photographing the scenes which move her, but she also captures life at home in Saint Petersburg. Her style and vision is uniquely honest with a surgical precision in her compositions.
Photo credit: Kristina Solovyova
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Thank you to Kristina for taking the time to be interviewed and sharing her work to be featured here. It is never easy communicating across a significant language barrier, but she proves that it is more than worth the effort.
Please support her vision, her work, and her spirit by following her on her Instagram page. There, you can see more of Kristina in both her modeling and photographer roles and all things beautiful.
Lesia graciously agreed to chat with me and answer a few questions that I, and I assume many others, had about her and her life in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She is highly active on social media, having multiple accounts that she somehow finds the time to maintain and update. I'll put links throughout and again at the bottom of this article; I urge everyone to browse each, because no two are exactly the same.
Photo credit: @gala.mandala
What is something about you that you wished everyone knew, but maybe doesn't?
Probably very few people know that meditation is one of the most important things in my life. It has changed my life, but I seldom tell anyone about it.
Photo credit: @egor_zhinkov
What are some of the best things about living and working in Saint Petersburg? Is that where you are from originally?
I was born in and still live in Saint Petersburg. I love this city and the people here. There are a lot of creative people in this city. And many good photographers.
What are some challenges in your life that you’ve overcome and how did you do it?
I have had many problems in my life like anyone else. To overcome any difficulties in life, only love helps. Love of people close to you. Love of your pets. Love of life in general. This feeling of love alone is the fundamental basis of everything; without it, a person can not really be strong.
Photo credit: @_mihashu_
Tell me all about each of your tattoos. What are they; where are they, and what does each one mean?
Two small tattoos on my fingers. An eye, because I love them, and the symbol "Om," which is a symbol of emptiness. I have two more, one on my arm and one on my leg. Those I don't tell their meaning because I want the people who see them to decide what they mean for them.
What has been one of the most memorable photoshoots you’ve done?
Each photo session is especially interesting. The shoot I did as the queen of Narnia with @mdart23 I really like.
Each photoshoot tells a story. If your life was a photoshoot, what would it look like?
It would definitely be a photoshoot without makeup! And it would probably something crazy with a lot of bright colors.
There will always be critics and people who say negative things. How do you deal with them?
Negative comments—I simply ignore or laugh at them. Because more often than not, people who try to offend me are just very funny to me. I am a very calm person and quite happy in life.
You have a very distinctive style—how is it a projection of your personality?
Like I said, I am a fairly calm and happy person. In life, I do not wear a crown and do not wear bright make-up. A lot of the time I wear large, stretched-out shirts. I love simplicity.
What do you think about the censorship rules of Instagram versus VK where nude images are allowed?
It seems to me that censorship in Instagram is stupid. I do not understand why women's nipples need to be hidden and then not men's. I like VK because everything can be done there.
You seem to be very confident; what advice can you give to models who may struggle with a negative image of themselves?
Probably the most important advice is to learn to relax, to not think about yourself so much and to have fun. This mindset will not only help in photoshoots, but it will also change your whole life.
How do you define "success?"
Success for me is to be a happy person. If a person has a lot of money but is unhappy...then this is a loss. It does not matter what happens in life—if you are happy, then this is a success.
What inspires you? What encourages you?
People inspire me. Nature. Music.
When you aren’t stunning the camera, what do you do? Hobbies, fun, obsessions?
I study at college, and I sometimes paint at home. I love painting!
If you had five minutes on a soapbox, who would your audience be and what would you say?
I guess if I had to say something that's important to people, I would tell them not to worry too much. I would tell them that there is an opportunity to enjoy the moment, regardless of the circumstances. I would tell them not to be very serious in this life, and that they can afford to be happy. Because—we all die. And not one of us can ever know when. All people need to learn to enjoy what they already have. We do not know what moment will be the last.
If any photographers or artists want to work with you, how should they contact you?
If someone wants to cooperate with me, they can write to me through my two Instagram accounts: @lesia_sito and @lesia__sito or my VK account.
What can we all expect to see from you in 2018?
You must look and then you will know! :)
To help get a better handle on the situation, I spoke with Emma Thieme from Maven Seats and Upholstery. She graciously opened up about her business and her life in rural Maine.
Standard first question--What is something you want everyone to know about you, but perhaps doesn't know?
I know you can buy a mass-produced seat cover off eBay for 50 bucks. I don't care. I have more soul than a factory.
Dispel at least two myths about Maine.
I think people assume Maine is just a place where old people live, that Mainers are out-of-touch, that there's no opportunity here for young people. In my experience, this is a great time to be a young person in Maine. Because I've chosen to live in small-town Maine, I'm a landowner, a business owner, and I'm not weighed down by thousands and thousands of dollars’ worth of bills every month. It's quiet and I'm alone in the woods a lot, but that's okay with me.
Another thing I love about small-town Maine is that cross-generational friendship is very common here. When I go to a party, all age groups are there having a good time. I'm doing an apprenticeship right now with a sheath maker in his 70s. I feel so lucky to be getting knowledge in a type of leather work that I know little about. And I know that if I were living anywhere else, I'd probably have to pay thousands of dollars or compete with hundreds of other people in order to get that one-on-one education. In Maine, passing knowledge down through the generations is just a part of our culture.
Confirm at least one myth about Maine.
Lobster is very good.
You live in Downeast, which isn't known for its ease of lifestyle or overflowing comforts. What about it for you makes it worth settling there?
What I love about this community is that it is very much out of the way. Before I lived here, I wasn't even exactly sure where it was, and I grew up just 70 miles away. It's debatable where it actually begins and ends but in general, "Downeast" is a moniker for Washington County. Situated along our jagged Bold Coast, it's one of Maine's most rural areas. It's beautiful, it's quiet, and it's rough.
The community that lives here is a mix of people who grew up here, people who migrated here for field or factory work and decided to stay, and people who are just misfits, looking for a place where life can be hard and real. So you can imagine that there are a lot of artists here, musicians, families -- and all of them are hard workers. I think that belief that usually applies to places like New York City, "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere," applies to this place too. There really is nothing solid to fall back on. If you want to survive, if you want to make your business work, your art work, or just your life work -- you've got to jump into a lot of different sorts of industries in order to support yourself and most of them involve manual labor. That makes for a very unique and versatile community of people.
I stay here because this environment is just good for me. I know that if I can make a creative, handmade business survive in Downeast Maine, I'm beating some crazy odds. So that's what I hope sets my work apart -- it has struggle in it.
How would you describe your own style, not only with upholstery but life in general?
My style has always been very handmade. When I was in college my mom and I made all of my dresses for dances. We would take a sewing pattern and then alter it so it would be even more unique. I may have been the only one in the entire school who made her own clothes. That desire to stand out has followed me my whole life. Everything I do, I want to be the only one doing it that way. So I take every opportunity that I can to learn new techniques so I can push beyond the masses. And that's filtered into my lifestyle too. I guess I've put myself in some interesting living situations over the years -- I lived on a sailboat for a little while, an off-the-grid cabin, plenty of those situations where eight people are living in a two-bedroom apartment...I'm no stranger to discomfort and I think that informs the life I lead today.
Sewing? Maine? Girl on a motorcycle? Stereotypes abound, but how do you break them?
It's funny, sewing has always been considered this very feminine art form, but pretty much all the leaders in the automotive upholstery industry are men. When I got my vocational training in custom auto upholstery, I was the only woman in the entire school -- not just the course. And even though I've tried to make it pretty obvious on my website and social media pages that Maven is a "one-woman business," I still get emails every now and then addressed "Hey man" or even "Dear Sirs." And yeah, only a small percentage of riders are women, especially in Maine. But I've never really worried about breaking stereotypes. If I keep doing what I want and creating the best work that I can, they'll break themselves.
Upholstering anything is wildly difficult, as I've found out. What are some of the unique challenges when working on motorcycle seats?
Curves. Curves take a unique understanding. Upholstering a motorcycle seat can sometimes be like upholstering this mini mountain range. Pattern drafting is where you address that. Your upholstery can only be as good as your pattern is, and pattern drafting takes a lot of skill and foresight. Knowing your materials is another big one. A lot goes into a motorcycle seat -- foam, thread, leather, vinyl, rivets, staples, the correct needle for your sewing machine, the correct sewing machine... it all takes confidence, industry knowledge and a belief that your method and materials will hold up in the elements.
What would you say to someone who wanted to try to do their own motorcycle seat?
Go for it. I would never discourage anyone from trying to create something themselves. What I would discourage people from doing is buying some mass produced seat or seat cover instead of supporting a small shop like mine. So much love and care goes into these builds, people are literally creating their own parts, conjuring them up out of scrap metal in their garages, and then when everything's complete they slap a vinyl seat from Thailand on there. It's just like, what? Doesn't that seem a little sacrilegious?
Large-scale parts companies have figured out that people want their seat to look cool, so they're cranking them out in factories all over the world for cheap. But custom upholstery is an old art form that should be kept alive. If riders and small-scale builders don't support it, the art side of it -- the part where you work with a professional to create something specifically for you and your machine -- might just go away. Paying someone to build your seat correctly and with passion will make all the difference. And in the process, you'll be supporting someone like me and you'll have a better product.
And P.S., don't just assume custom work is going to be too expensive. If I like your project, I want to work with you, even if you're on a budget.
What are some of your favorite materials to work with? What are some of your least favorite?
Leather is my favorite material period. Unlike "genuine leather" which is the scrap of hundreds of animals glued together and dyed, the leather that I work with comes as a hide. It has range marks, fat wrinkles and it doesn't arrive as this neat and squared off piece of yardage. Before I cut into a hide, I always remind myself that this was once an animal -- I know that if I don't respect that from the very beginning, my project's going to come out like sh*t.
I guess by default that would make my least favorite material vinyl but it's really not. Vinyl is great too. It's easy to take care of and in many cases it looks very similar to leather. It gets the job done and it's affordable.
I'm trying to think of a material that I hate and it's actually difficult. When I was a kid I had this pair of polyester, synthetic jazz pants. Once a piece of ash got on them and the pant leg melted completely off. So that was nasty, I don't want to touch that material ever again.
What's the process for getting you started on a seat (asking for a friend)?
So the first step is having your pan. This is very important. No matter how many times you ask, I do not make seat pans. But the pan is all you need for me to take over -- whether it be already covered in foam or completely bare. Then you email me. Give me some details on what you're looking for: Do you need any modifications done to the shape of the foam? Do you want leather or vinyl? Do you want to add memory foam/gel? Do you have a specific color scheme in mind? If you're on a budget, what is it?
If all you know is that you want your seat recovered in black leather and you hate covered buttons, that's good for me. If you trust me, I can create a seat that is completely custom and that's made to flow with your bike. But if you have a specific design in mind, that's cool too. It's always helpful to send a reference image if there's a certain look you're going for. And I will always need to see a photo of your bike.
You have some favorite builders; who are they and what about them draws you in?
I love to keep up with Vintage Steele and Madhouse Motors. They're in New England like me, so I love to watch both of them blow up over the winter when they're working on their custom builds. We have such a short riding season in New England so it's cool to see people bringing it inside and nurturing their passion through the really rough months -- and in the case of Vintage Steele and Madhouse, making a living off of it. That's very encouraging.
I'm purely a seamstress, I don't have fabricating experience, so I'm always amazed by someone who can build a motorcycle almost completely from scratch. When they're finished, what they've come up with is a work of art. It can only be made by a certain set of hands. That just really defines handmade for me and it's something I can relate to. I know that when I make a seat it's never going to look like factory or like someone else's work. I made it with my hands, and they work in their own unique way. Motorcycle building seems similar in that respect.
What inspires you and gets you going on days that you maybe feel less inspired than others?
Just the reality that no one makes my schedule but me. I've been working for other people since I was 15 and I've always hated the feeling that someone else is in control of my time. With Maven, I have a shop to work out of, I have people who want to support my trade, and all of that keeps me going because I know I'm luckier than most. And honestly, the knowing that anything could happen and my business could fail if I slack off, that definitely keeps me going too. I get to challenge my skills and make something new every day, I can't take that for granted.
You've had some interesting rides in your life. What has been your favorite and what are you riding today?
At least this year, I didn't get to ride as often as I would have liked. But I did upgrade to a 2009 BMW F650GS this season and I got to go on some short trips around Maine. My favorite road that I found was Route 52 in Midcoast Maine, it's a really windy back road from Belfast to Camden that swirls around Megunticook Lake and through Lincolnville Center. I also operate Maven off of one of Maine's most iconic motorcycle roads, Route 182 or the Blackswoods Road, so I'm pretty lucky in that regard. Someday, I'd like to ride solo across the country. I don't know what route or even what country, but that trip is a big goal of mine.
Do you believe you are following your dreams? What more lies ahead for you in the coming year and even decade?
I do believe I'm following my dreams. It's always been a goal to work for myself and to work creatively, and Maven allows me to do both of those things.
In the coming years, I hope to develop some leather accessories. Before Maven, I made a lot of leather bags, wallets, cuffs, and earrings so I'd like to get back to that once I get some time.
And when I'm not working on upholstery, I'm writing, which has always been a large part of my identity as well. So I'm nurturing that part of myself too and I'm excited to see where both paths lead me in the coming years. I'd love to see if I can bridge them in some way.
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For more information and to start the process of getting your seat done:
www.instagram.com/maven_seats/
Photographs supplied by Emma Thieme and used with permission.
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Anyone who is even vaguely acquainted with us knows that we are strong believers in Shinko tires. The value is obviously attractive, but that would be nothing without a solid performance. Plus, we just think they look cool. We love them, but to get a more inside track on Shinko, we picked the brain of Jackson from Shinko Tyres, Australia and Bruce Collins Enterprises.
What's something everyone should know about Shinko tires, but maybe doesn't?
That Shinko started out manufacturing in 1946 in Japan and still to this day is a Japanese company.
Your tires actually look good, the tread design, the sidewalls, everything. How much thought goes into the aesthetics of each tire design and how do you balance it with performance specs?
A lot of thought goes in to the design of new tyres; the factory consults the distribution channels for feedback and conducts R + D on all new developments. Most of the new tyres and dimensions that are released are released for a specific purpose. For example, the 270 Super Classic series is designed to be an old-school-looking tyre with up-to-date specifications for a cross-ply construction tyre.
What would you say is the most iconic Shinko tire and what about it screams "Shinko?"
A very hard question to answer; I’d say the 240 Classic simply because it was one of the original staples of the brand and still remains a popular tyre.
Approximately how many riders across all Moto-sports are sponsored by Shinko? Is there one area of Moto that Shinko is more heavily sponsoring?
This is very hard to quantify, here in Australia there is no doubt our biggest presesnce is in Drag racing and Off-road racing. This varies by area, of course, but I know in the US there is a very strong presence in Drag racing as well.
Photo credit: @samdolbel_
How do these sponsorships support the brand of Shinko? How do the riders benefit from the sponsorships?
For Shinko as a brand here in Australia, it’s about building brand awareness in all facets of motorcycling. Sponsoring riders is a great way to build that awareness provided the riders give support back to the brand, it’s a real two-way relationship. The riders benefit from being able to ride with best tyres Shinko produces and some of the best tyres on the market. All sponsored riders ride with tyres that anyone can buy unlike other brands.
Photo credit: @shinko_tyres
I hear a lot of people requesting sponsorship by Shinko, what advice can you give those seeking to be sponsored?
It’s all about having a strong proposal and telling us how you can support the brand, not the other way around. A lot of proposals tell us how Shinko can support the rider by paying them, $1,000,000 and providing them 1000 tyres. This isn’t the best way to ask for sponsorship.
There is always a lot of talk about having proper pressure in our tires for safety and performance. Just how close do our pressures need to be to the manufacturers' and tires specifications?
This is one of the most important things when it comes to riding, having correct tyre pressures. Tyre pressures should be checked before every ride and manufacturers and tyres specifications should be matched as best as possible.
Photo credit: @thistlemoto
Should tire pressure be set to the factory recommendation for the bike or for the values listed on each tire?
It depends who you ask, we say to the recomendation of the tyre. However, you must be aware that the maximum pressure and the recommended pressures are two different things. Ensure you have the recommended pressure in your tyres.
Photo credit: @arjanvandenboom and @paul_vanml
There are more than a few riders and builders who are very loyal to Shinko in preference to other brands. What do you believe sets Shinko apart from the other tire manufacturers.
Simply, great tyres. A lot of thought goes in to the design of them and they perform on the road as good as (and usually better than) Chinese-made equivalents from the bigger manufacturers.
Photo credit: @moto_doll by @jasonlphotos
If I wanted to buy a new set of Shinko tires, what are all my options for purchasing?
Online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores. Here in Australia, every single Motorcycle retailer has access to Shinko tyres.
At Thistle Moto®, we build primarily small vintage motorcycles in the 100-450cc range. What Shinko tires excel for this size? What about for the bigger vintage Fours in the 650-900cc range?
For the smaller capacity and some of the larger ones, the 712 series is a staple. The performance and price is second to none for this style of bike. For the larger capacity bikes the 230, 777 and 712 series basically cover all the fitments.
Photo credit: Shinko Tires, USA
What are advantages and disadvantages of a tubeless versus tubed tire? What should be the factors in deciding one over the other if either are an option on a wheel? Can any of the tubeless Shinko tires also be run with a tube?
There is advantages and disadvantages but usually you don’t have a choice. If your rim is a tube-type rim and has a hole for a valve run a tube-type tyre. Same goes for tubeless rims, run a tubeless tyre.
If, God forbid, Shinko were to disappear from the marketplace tomorrow, what would be the hole that was left?
It would leave a huge hole in the market, a 200,000 tyre a month hole. This is how many tyres Shinko produces for Motorcycles alone per month. Not only would a leave a 200,000 tyre a month hole but some of your favourites tyres from other manufacturers would go missing too.
What can we expect to see from Shinko in 2018? Any secret projects or major updates in the works?
There is always new things under development, but that’s top secret ya know.
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If you would like to learn more about Shinko and their products, including a fitment guide that actually works, you can visit the following official websites:
Instagram: @shinko_tyres and @shinkotiresusa
]]>First standard question: what are some things about you that you definitely want everyone to know?
I am somewhat small and fine ... I was taught very young to understand that the bike was not made for me; on the one hand because I was a girl and that according to some people the bike was reserved for men, and partly because I would never have the strength to hold a motorcycle. You must know that there is one thing that makes me advance in life: my spirit of contradiction and the fact that I always want to surpass myself, to give the best of myself!
And that's how I got the maximum rating on the motorcycle license ... And yet it was not won! I fell many times, my passenger was more than double my weight, ... My legs were covered with bruises!
That is where I came up with the idea of my pseudonym "P'tite motarde" ... a model that shares her unpretentious passion on social networks. Moreover, I receive a number of messages from girls hesitating to pass the license because they are told exactly what I was told a few years ago.
You mentioned that you started riding when you were 6. What was your first bike and what interested you in motorcycles?
I've been riding since I was 6 ... I started the bike a few years later ... as a passenger behind my father. I do not remember his first bike ... but he had a Yamaha FZ1 and now a Harley Davidson V-ROD. Two totally different motorcycles but both of which have a lot of charm.
So it was my father who made me love the motorcycle for the first time. Then one day I enrolled in the license, without asking my parents for advice, which I knew was going to be negative. It was with anxious eyes and at the same time full of pride that they then saw me ride for the first time. I've had two bikes that were on the track as well as the road: a Honda CB500F and a Yamaha MT07.
After only a few kilometers, I realized that I did not really know the world of motorcycling ... I discovered this feeling of freedom, this happiness to see landscapes all more beautiful than each other, but also ... a family!
What are the things you like about the culture and community of motorcycles that surround you? Is there anything would you change?
As I just said ... the world of motorcycles is above all a great family. There is no distinction of age, sex, displacement, race, religion, level ... We are all gathered around a common passion (even if it can be lived differently) -- the motorbike.
Something to change ... I would say that the universe of the bike remains rather macho and as a girl it is difficult to make a small place and to be respected.
What has been your favorite motorcycle and what do you ride now?
Of all the motorcycles I've tried, the one I liked most is unquestionably the Yamaha MT07! Its weight, its distribution of mass, its seat-height, ... much like a bicycle, very nimble! I also like the the torque of the twin-cylinder.
Also, I'm in love with the beautiful Italian Ducati. A small Multistrada for the roadtrips, a street fighter for the smallest trips, a Panigale 899 for the track ... it's a beautiful dream, for sure!
Unfortunately, I am currently a motorcyclist without a motorcycle. I had a serious motorcycle accident a little more than 4 months ago which earned me two and a half months in the hospital, and my motorcycle did not survive the crash. But I do not want anyone to pity me! I am very lucky to be alive and I look forward to the physician's agreement to ride again.
In America, there are several cultures of motorcyclists who do not always approve of others. Are there different types of riders in France and how do they get along?
I do not think there are any problems between the different types of bikers ... in general we all get along well and we usually all give the famous "V" sign when we meet on the road.
Are you considered rebellious or dangerous because you drive a motorcycle? How do people respond to your love for motorcycles?
It is indeed a cliché that lasts ... For people who do not know the world of motorcycle, the biker is a rather masculine, rebellious person who uses vulgar language and has a strong, bad character ... A picture that I wish to break.
In the beginning, my entourage did not understand this love that I have for the world of the motorcycle. There were a few remarks until they saw this big smile under the helmet and they understood that this allowed me to flourish.
Describe your favorite road to ride. What do you like about it?
You have to know that I drive both on the track and on the road. The circuit that I enjoyed most when driving with my CB500f is that of Ledenon, near Nîme, France. It is reputed to be one of the most technical circuits in France. It allows me to let off steam.
As for the road, I would say that as long as there are beautiful curves, beautiful landscapes and friends, it becomes my ideal road. I love to go for long hikes, or just for the day leaving very early in the morning and returning late at night ...carrying only a sandwich in my bag. One of the best ways to rest your mind!
What is your perception of the "American biker"? (Be honest, we will not be offended!)
It could be "a little caricatural" ... but I'll have a go! For me the cliché of the American biker is a rather imposing man, bearded, with tattoos and a leather jacket (or a tattooed woman and dressed in leather) driving a beautiful customized Harley-Davidson.
Yes, I told you it was going to be caricatural! And I hope to have the opportunity to come and see for myself in the United States soon.
You also have to ride horses, you said. What are the parallels with motorcycles? What are the differences?
A lot of the bikers I ride a motorcycle behind tell me that the riders are much better on a motorcycle than on a horse. But, while riding a horse we learn a few bases of driving a motorcycle: balance, but also the look. We all know that the bike goes where our eyes look ... it's exactly the same with a horse!
What about motorcycles attracts you so strongly? What does riding mean to you?
As said before, I have a small weakness for the Ducati, despite the fact that most are rather expensive, unfortunately. Riding for me is a real outlet, a way to forget the time of one or more gasoline-filled daily hassles. It is a real breath of fresh air.
What is the current price of gasoline for you?
Around Lyon it is around 1.49 Euros for a liter of SP98.
What perfume do you prefer (if any)?
At the moment I love the perfume "Intense" by Jean Paul Gaultier. Who said the bikers can't be feminine?!
Hair up or down for riding?
Well ... on that side it's complicated to remain feminine ... The hair tied down and stuck in the neck strap to prevent them from getting tangled, otherwise they form dreadlocks like Bob Marley.
You are studying to become a dental surgeon. How did you get to that? Just started or almost finished?
Since I was very young I wanted to orient myself in medicine, yet there is no one in the medical field in my close family. I was looking for something that combines the social, the hands-on, the intellectual and the artistic ... which I found only in dental surgery. In France, to be able to access these studies, you have to spend a year in medical school in order to pass a very selective competition where we must be among the first to continue. Great pride for me!
At the moment I am juggling my physiotherapy sessions, my courses, my revisions and my patients ... it's a real marathon!
What are your plans for the future?
In the near future ... to finish and succeed in my studies. I would never put my passion for the bike before these; it is far too important. So to settle in my dental surgery office, and then get away from the city to get closer to the beautiful roads. Then, you understand, acquire myself a motorcycle of course! I have a few road trips planned including Mongolia, Iceland, North Cape in Norway and ... a Harley Davidson on Route 66 that I would like to share with my father.
Afterwards I leave the future to decide!
What is love for you? What is "art?" What is "beauty"?
Love for me? Complicity, confidence, little attention, ... two motorcycles, and a lot of madness!
Art...Valentino Rossi on a motorcycle? It's not about riding, it's about art!
In my opinion, a beautiful person is someone you want to know, someone who is benevolent, aware of the happiness of being alive. And not someone superficial ... Otherwise the curves of a Ducati Panigale 899 are beautiful too! hahaha
What is your superpower?
Being a biker is not already a superpower???
Who are you deep down? What defines you?
I think and hope to be someone simple, accessible. I am rather discreet and shy, but it does not prevent me from meeting many bikers and having a great time!
If I had to define myself in a word I would say ... "passionate!" When I do something, I do not do it halfway.
Beach or mountain?
Without hesitation ... the mountain! I am someone who cannot sit still for very long, and the mountain is synonymous with sensational sports such as paragliding, downhill biking, skiing, and ... beautiful curves as well as beautiful scenery for the bike and the Photo. I can not stay more than 10 minutes without moving on a beach towel!
What advice can you give to people who have trouble finding their way in life?
I think the basis of everything is to believe in oneself and for that one must know oneself ... When we know who we really are, what others think is not important and it cannot reach us. Do not underestimate yourself, go to the end of your dreams, your desires, ... we have only one life, and it is to be lived thoroughly!
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In any case it was a pleasure for me to participate in this interview! A big thank you to Thistle Moto and obviously to Will for having contacted me.
"Bonne continuation," I give you a "V!"
Be sure to follow Clementine on all of her pages. She has an amazing amount of great content on each of them and you can't help but be inspired by her work.
Instagram: @ptite_motarde_
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/clem01090
What are a few things about you that you always want people to know? The basics, so to speak.
“I always want people to know that I am going to be a pain in the ass, but that I am also going to be the most non-judgmental, easy-going person they’ll probably ever meet. Over the years I have found that I can compare myself more and more to a vintage motorcycle. Like, I’ll look like fun, maybe even be reliable and we’ll share some good times – but, along the way I’m going to give you hell here and there and you’ll probably have to fix me because that’s just how I was built.”
Motorcycles are an obvious passion of yours; what others do you have and balance?
"Love those two wheel buggers, for sure. Right now I have ten motorcycles in my collection. This is the least I have had hanging around. It’s been much worse, per say. This past winter I actually had to do a third addition to my barn for storage purposes. Between three vintage cars and currently ten motorcycles – I have my hands pretty full considering I deem this all to be just a hobby. Over the years I have had a lot of Honda CBs come and go; plenty of old two strokes in and out of the garage – but, the ones that always stick around are the weird rides that are finicky and, at least what I consider, rare.
Here’s what I have in the collection to date:
- 1964 Yamaha YD3 250cc “Rat Bobber”
- 1965 Moto Guzzi Stornello 125cc
- 1965 Honda Dream 305 CA77
- 1966 Suzuki S32-II Olympian 150cc
- 1966 Ducati Scrambler 250cc (early narrow-case racer)
- 1968 Yamaha YCS1 180cc
- 1969 Honda CB175
- 1970 Harley Aermacchi SS350
- 1973 Jawa Californian 250cc
- 1976 Triumph Bonneville 750 T140V
As far as the vintage cars go, I have:
- 1931 Ford Model A
- 1954 Kaiser Special
- 1959 Ford Thunderbird
How would you describe your style of work? Restoration? Resto-mod? Full out custom one-offs?
“Not sure I really have a particular style. A lot of what I do is just picking up old bikes from people who are looking to junk these beautiful relics. When I started this hobby I was outside day/night tinkering away mechanically and doing a whole hell of a lot cosmetically too – all for what? Myself I guess. It’s not like I had a customer waiting or a certain direction to go in with the bike(s). I just wanted the fucker to run half decent at best and to look ok while doing so. After my third or so bike, I took less interest in making sure the motorcycle was spotless visually and spent more time making sure it would get me further than 25 miles from home. I’d say 90% of my parts are fabricated or repurposed from a matching motorcycle. So I guess if I had to choose….I’d say maybe I’m more restoration?"
What would you say to someone who loves the look and idea of owning a vintage motorcycle, but is concerned about reliability?
“I love this question. I’m always talking to people about this whether they’re paying attention or not or whether they’re even interested in motorcycles. Like I said, I do sell some vintage motorcycles now and then and when I do I make damn sure the buyer understands the maintenance that is constantly required. I really don’t believe there is such a thing as a reliable vintage motorcycle. The older things get the more quirks there are that pop up and that should be a no-brainer. Ya know, hypothetically speaking *wink wink* - don’t look at a moderately restored 1974 Honda Scrambler CL360 and ask me if it is going to safely get you to and from work every day. I’m not a fortune cookie over here, but I’m pretty confident in saying it certainly will not be as reliable as something manufactured say within the last ten
to fifteen years. In my own opinion, if your primary concern is reliability – steer clear of buying a vintage motorcycle.”
How did this all come to be for you?
“My Dad is a civil engineer. He’s a private contractor, but for the last forty years has had a steady job with a well-known company here in the Northeast. He bought our 31’ Ford Model A when he was 17 years-old back in 1972 and repaired it himself and made it his local driver. When I came along in 1990 – there was still plenty of heavy equipment around the property as well as dozens of vintage cars, a single motorcycle, hand-built golf carts and old guitars everywhere. To this day I remember riding with him in that old Ford to get lottery tickets at the nearby convenience store, visiting at my Grandpa’s house and playing on the old Mack truck, climbing on bulldozers and taking golf-carts out unsupervised when I was three years-old. I guess it was just in my blood that I would end up finding, repairing and collecting my
own cars and motorcycles twenty five years later.”
If you could change one thing about the vintage motorcycle scene, what would it be?
“I want to see more camaraderie among the vintage community. I love talking to anyone who has an old bike, if you’re parked with a vintage ride – I’m gonna be that person that stands and waits for you to come back so I can tell you how awesome it is. I want to see more people out there proudly sharing their vintage rides and telling the stories behind them and taking a genuine interest in the next girl or guy’s bike.”
What are your plans for the future?
“To ride and own every motorcycle in the world. Nah, I don’t know. I’m twenty-seven years old and I have no fucking idea what I want to do. I work at a glassblowing studio, I work on motorcycles and I sell weird original art. I’m a difficult one to tie down to a typical 9-5 job. I’m not blaming that on lack of a college degree, I blame that on the fact that I have too many interests and no time to sit behind a desk and push papers, or talk on a phone about pushing papers. I see it this way: I could die tomorrow – I could die next week, or I could die 70 years from now. My plans are to be happy with what I’m doing in the moment. Maybe I’ll write a book. Maybe I’ll just go be in a TV show. I don’t know. I’m really up for anything.”
Rainbow, unicorn or Rambo?
"Rambo. Who doesn’t love Stallone.”
What bike do you consider your daily-rider?
“My 1976 Triumph Bonneville 750 T140V. I wouldn’t call it daily, but when I want to take it out it moves pretty fucking well. Don’t for a second think I leave the house on it without a backpack full of tools though….”
What's the most you've ever spent on a pair of jeans?
“I have this awesome go-to shop that has had my favorite pair of black jeans in stock for like the last seven years. It’s always some kind of deal too – like, buy one and get another 50% off. They’re all I wear. If it wasn’t for these black jeans I would never be wearing pants.”
Coke or Pepsi?
“Coke. But, can I toss some Jack Daniel’s in there?”
Ever been in love?
“Absolutely. If anyone harmed or stole my 1966 Ducati Scrambler 250 I’d go full blown Rambo. Now that’s love. Oh, I also have loved every golden retriever I have owned…..such personalities on that breed. As far as humans go – no, people will come and go, but a 66’ Ducati and a golden retriever will never leave your side or piss you to the point of divorce. I have never heard of someone filing for divorce from their motorcycle or pet.”
What's your most beloved, favorite tool?
“Socket wrench. Every problem I have had with a motorcycle has always lead back to a shitty spark plug. I literally do not leave home without some new NGKs and the socket wrench.”
I'll publicly thank Taryn here, and you can thank her via her Instagram page: @nycekt where she does a much better job of posting content than I do. Reach out and take her advice: be the camaraderie and live your vintage.
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