{"id":3652,"date":"2025-05-28T18:42:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T16:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/en-eu\/?p=3916"},"modified":"2025-05-28T18:42:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T16:42:07","slug":"route-to-my-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/route-to-my-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Route to my heart"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A promise to her stepdad gave Michelle Chamberlain purpose on two wheels \u2013 and she\u2019s just getting started<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first time Michelle Chamberlain got on a motorcycle it was the back of her stepfather Stephen Davies\u2019 Harley-Davidson. In 2011, Stephen \u2013 a lifelong Harley fan \u2013 was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and that moment changed the direction of her life. \u201cBefore he passed away in 2012, I promised him I\u2019d learn to ride, get my Harley and do Route 66 in his name, raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That promise became a mission. She earned her licence, bought a brand-new 2013 Sportster\u00ae<\/sup> 883 SuperLow\u00ae<\/sup> and began clocking miles and memories. Along the way, she became known to the riding world as \u201cLady Harley\u201d, sharing her journey and passion for motorcycling with more than 100,000 Instagram followers. In September this year she\u2019ll fulfil the promise that started it all \u2013 riding Route 66 in Stephen\u2019s honour, carrying his spirit every mile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Born in Derbyshire, UK, Michelle moved to Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales at the age of eight. \u201cIt\u2019s on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, so I was lucky to call that home for most of my life,\u201d she says. \u201cIt definitely became my biking playground once I passed my test.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 34 and living in Cambridge, she\u2019s never far from a stretch of winding back road. \u201cIt\u2019s very much like Wales, but with fewer mountains and more rolling fields and beautiful, twisty lanes,\u201d she laughs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These lanes are the perfect place to take her Sportster out for a run. \u201cShe\u2019s been with me since new, and I\u2019m proud of every scratch and every bit of dirt,\u201d says Michelle. \u201cShe\u2019s lived a full life, and to me, that\u2019s exactly how a bike should be \u2013 ridden and enjoyed. I\u2019ll never get rid of her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelle has also added plenty of miles on other models, most recently taking a Road Glide\u00ae<\/sup> through France over five days, cruising through the Vosges mountains. \u201cI fell in love with that bike. It was big, but it handled like an absolute dream. I covered thousands of miles and can honestly say it\u2019s one of the most comfortable bikes I\u2019ve ever ridden.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes a Harley stand out to her? \u201cIt\u2019s more than just a machine; it has soul,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m drawn to bikes that make a statement the moment they roll up \u2013 bold lines, a deep growl and that unmistakable Harley attitude. But it\u2019s not just about looks, it\u2019s about how it feels when you ride it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her dream bike? \u201cThat\u2019s a tough one as the 883 was my dream bike. But the ultimate dream would be a fully custom Street Bob\u00ae<\/sup> or Road Glide, something that blends old-school chopper vibes with modern performance. Matte black, chrome touches, maybe a little purple detailing, because why not. Big engine, loud pipes and unapologetically me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelle studied law at Swansea University, and while her life took a different path after graduation she uses her legal background to advocate for causes close to her heart. \u201cThrough events, fundraisers and partnerships with organisations such as Mental Health Motorbike and PAPYRUS, a charity focused on preventing young suicide, I\u2019ve seen how powerful our community can be when we come together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As well as these causes she passionate about improving visibility for women riders. \u201cI push for stronger representation of women in the biking world because we\u2019re not just part of the scene, we are the scene,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelle is also a former pageant contestant, but don\u2019t expect clich\u00e9s. \u201cIt might sound like a wild contrast \u2013 pageants and Harleys \u2013 but honestly, they\u2019ve both shaped who I am in powerful ways,\u201d she says. \u201cPageants taught me confidence, discipline and how to hold my own in any room. Riding taught me freedom, resilience and how to trust my instincts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople assume pageant girls are all glam and no grit, just like they assume bikers are all grit and no grace. I\u2019ve lived in both spaces and proved that you can be both strong and feminine, tough and elegant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelle has gained so much from riding and now she\u2019s giving something back as a newly qualified instructor. \u201cI wanted to help other experience the same feeling of freedom and sense of belonging, especially women, who might feel intimidated stepping into a male-dominated space,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat I love most about being an instructor is watching someone go from being nervous to absolutely owning the road \u2013 helping them unlock a whole new side of themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Lady Harley isn\u2019t just riding, she\u2019s making good on a promise, building a community and proving that strength doesn\u2019t look a certain way. Whether it\u2019s the winding roads of the Brecon Beacons or the dramatic French mountains, one thing\u2019s certain, she isn\u2019t following the crowd, she\u2019s leading the pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My top five<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are Michelle\u2019s top five destinations from past trips and wish lists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Route 66, US: \u201cIconic for a reason. It\u2019s not just the road, it\u2019s the diners, old motels, the locals with stories that stretch back generations.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Vosges mountains, France: \u201cTwisty roads, jaw-dropping views, barely any traffic. Plus pastries and strong coffee \u2013 what more could a biker ask for?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Amalfi Coast, Italy: \u201cLess about speed, more about soaking it all in. Cliffside roads, Mediterranean views \u2013 a sensory overload in the best way.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Great Ocean Road, Australia: \u201cOcean on one side, rainforest on the other, roads that dip and sweep like a rollercoaster. High on my to-ride list.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Highlands, Scotland: \u201cMoody skies, rugged landscapes, roads that stretch forever. Wild and freeing. And there\u2019s nothing like pulling into a tiny pub after a long day.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Her dream ride? \u201cThe Pan-American Highway, from Alaska to Argentina. Glaciers, deserts, jungles, mountains, cultures, stories. It\u2019s the ultimate test of endurance, freedom and connection to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    A promise to her stepdad gave Michelle Chamberlain purpose on two wheels \u2013 and she\u2019s just getting started<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[6,8],"class_list":["post-3652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-community","tag-riding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3652"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3652\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3653,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3652\/revisions\/3653"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hog.thecreativeplot.com\/sv-se\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}