Well, hobbies are perhaps not the right word, but we can come to that later.
I thought long and hard since coming out as Transgender, society tends to still think of certain hobbies as "Male or Female" hobbies such as sewing and dressmaking, if you announced in your local pub that "David, Jack or Simon's" hobby is making dresses I'm sure you will get a few remarks even today never mind just in the 1970s UK.
But in reality, you can have any hobby you enjoy doing, a lady can love fast cars as much as a man can as well as fixing them. Motorcycle travel was once seen as mainly a male hobby, but now several very successful female motorcycle riders blog about their travels on two wheels, have a look at any of the following YouTube pages.
https://www.youtube.com/user/onherbike
Not forgetting Saffy who gets 2,045,064 viewers to her channel that can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@SaffySprocket
These three ladies travel further, longer and to more remote places than 95 per cent of male riders, ever do on two wheels. Saffy holds down a full-time job as well as filming her adventures. So being a keen motorcyclist isn't gender-based, If you like doing something just do it and don't worry. I personally sew and make various things to wear or use. I do DIY and that includes some quite ambitious jobs as well as still riding motorcycles, baking and creating some fantastic dishes that the family enjoy, so my advice is don't limit your hobbies as you will end up being quite unhappy with your life. I know from personal experience how it can go. when I first came out absolutely everything changed, I tried to be this new me, but I soon became sad and not my usual self, my children were the first to notice and spoke to my partner who confirmed their thoughts on their parent now appearing unhappy, despite transitioning and coming out. After my immediate family spoke to me about it, I thought about what might be making me sad... I realised that in my rush to be finally identifying as a female. I had actually given up some of the things I loved doing that made me happy as a person. So upon reading this, if you have stopped doing the hobbies or pastimes you enjoyed because you thought a man or woman would do that think again. If it's possible to be done, then anyone can do it.
PS I really do enjoy sewing and making items and now have 7-8 sewing machines I love fashion and also making some lovely bags that I use daily. I've made quilts for beds and quilted throws, recovered seats etc.
One of my major passions is riding motorcycles either on-road or off-road, my latest purchase is a Royal Enfield Scram, that I've just saved up and bought, I guess I have lockdown to thank for not going out, so I was able to save some money towards a new bike.
The Enfield is not the best bike ever made I guess, but it represents how one of the greatest Motorcycle manufacturers first produced British motorcycles, that were sold around the world and was lost due to various reasons to be reborn in India. They produced the 1950-styled Royal Enfield Bullet a 350 and 500cc motorcycle for many years, they are now producing motorcycles people want and exporting around the world once again.
A short history of the company is below.
In November 1891, entrepreneurs Bob Walker Smith and Albert Eadie buy George Townsend & Co. of Hunt End, Redditch. Townsend’s is a well-respected needle manufacturer of almost 50 years standing which has recently begun manufacturing bicycles. The duo won a contract to supply precision parts to the Royal Small Arms Factory of Enfield, Middlesex. To celebrate this prestigious order, they rename they're undertaking the Enfield Manufacturing Company Ltd. and call their first Bob Walker Smith-designed bicycle, the Enfield. The following year, their bicycles are renamed Royal Enfields and the trademark ‘Made Like A Gun’ is introduced.
In 1901 the first Royal Enfield motorcycle is produced. Designed by Bob Walker Smith and Frenchman Jules Gobiet, it is launched at the Stanley Cycle Show in London. The 1 1/2 hp engine is mounted in front of the steering head and the rear wheel is driven by a long rawhide belt.
In 1957 Johnny Brittain won the Scottish Six Days Trial on a Bullet for the second time and also finishes top of the British trials championship. The 250cc Crusader model is launched in Britain in 1957. Producing 13 bhp, the motorcycle features a unit construction engine and alternator electrics with coil ignition.
In 1967 with only two models left in production at the start of the year – the 250cc Continental GT and the 736cc Interceptor – Royal Enfield’s Redditch facility closes and the site sold to developers. Production of the Interceptor continues at Enfield’s underground facility at Upper Westwood, near Bradford on Avon, until its closure in June 1970.
In 1977 Enfield India begins exporting the 350cc Bullet to the UK and Europe. Sales grow rapidly as the bike develops a following amongst classic motorcycle enthusiasts.
In 2015 the company acquires Harris Performance, a renowned British motorcycle design and fabrication firm, to enhance its engineering and product design capabilities. In 2017 the new Royal Enfield Technology Centre opens at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, near Leicester in the UK. A team of over 100 engineers, designers and testers begin work on research, development and long-term product strategy.
In 2021 Royal Enfield celebrates 120 years of Pure Motorcycling.
