For many, the siren song of open-air driving is impossible to resist. And really, why not succumb to the call of the motorcycle, when you have great weather, the beautiful routes of the Methow Valley to explore, and good company to ride with? Such is the philosophy of the organizers of the Pacific Northwest Spyder Fest, which was held over the weekend in Winthrop.
Approximately 85 Ryders on approximately 255 wheels roared into town on Friday, where they stayed at the Virginian Resort and spent the weekend touring the valley, both in town and out. The festival is an opportunity for like-minded Ryders to get together with others who share their passion for riding and specifically for the CanAm Spyder, a three-wheel motorcycle (two in front, one in back) which launched in 2007 and was a game-changer for many who dreamed of riding but found a traditional two-wheel cycle to not be a good fit.
PAC NW Spyder and Trike Ryder group leader Kim Farnham says that she wanted to ride a motorcycle ever since she was a young adult, but didn’t think she would ever realize her dream because she couldn’t ride a typical cycle, and converting a two-wheel into a custom “trike” was too expensive back then. But, she says, “I could barely contain my excitement when I saw one going down the road a few years [after it launched]. I was immediately on the computer reading as much as I could about the Spyder.”
What’s unique about the Spyder, says Kim, “is that it has two wheels in the front and one in the back. No need to hold it up at a stoplight! And it has six gears with a reverse. The more I read, the more I realized that I could finally become a rider.”
In March 2016 Kim gained possession of her first Spyder, and with permit in hand took her first ride to Leavenworth. “As a first-time rider,” says Kim, “the Spyder was so easy to ride, and most importantly I felt totally safe on it.”
Regarding this past weekend’s festival, Kim says “I pulled together this event for all the trike riders, because they are the ones that make this event successful.” She acknowledges the generous support of the event’s sponsors: LifeStyles Honda from Mount Vernon, Enumclaw Powersports, Paulson Motorsports from Lacey, and Larson Powersports from Fife.
There are myriad ways to experience the beauty of the Methow Valley, and cruising around on a three-wheeler with the wind blowing through your hair (that is, the hair that sticks out below the helmet you’d better be wearing) is just one of them, but it’s a darn great one, says Kim. “There is nothing more exhilarating than being on a motorcycle with miles of road in front of you. For me, riding is a passion!”
