Denise Maple is the founder and CEO of VaVaVroom which offers stylish motorcycle clothing and gear for women.  Ms. Maple will also be hosting a blog here at CWN about her adventures growing a business in the motorcycle community.

Hop on board for Denise’s twisting ride from bank executive to Grrl Rider and entrepreneur.

[CWN]  In reading your bio I was fascinated by your progression from an up and coming bank executive to a biker.  Was there any one particular defining moment where you realized you were prepared to make such a radical change in your life goals? 

[Denise Maple]  When I first slung my leg over the seat of a motorcycle while I was still in banking, I experienced a profound sense of exhilaration and fulfillment. While I didn’t speed off into the sunset or replace my business suits with black leather duds, I knew that riding would be part of my life from that day forward. After 17 years of corporate life, I decided VaVaVroom couldn’t wait.

Your company, VaVaVroom, has a tag-line of “I’m one of those girls”.  Can you tell us about that and the key goals of your company.

DM - The inspiration for “Those Girls” came from my friend Vicki’s mother.  I guess her mother thought that we (Vicki’s friends) were a bad influence for taking Vicki away from her husband and kids for a girl’s weekend. She disapprovingly said “Oh, your going with ‘those’ girls”. When I heard about that, I said “I’m going to make a t-shirt that says ‘I’m on of those girls’. And I did. Although Vicki’s mother was the inspiration, it really is about not letting your self be defined by others’ expectations.

Our mission is to provide fashionable, functional motorcycle apparel to women of all sizes.  Currently, we have motorcycle and scooter-inspired ladies tops in sizes from Extra Small to 5XL. We will be expanding our line to include riding jackets and pants next year. We have high growth plans and expect to be available in over 100 stores by the end of next year in the US and Canada. We really want to make our growing line available to as many women as possible. We will also strive to reach more women through www.vavavroomonline.com all over the world. We’ve had customers order from as far as the UK.

CWN – Can you talk a bit about your first ride?  I read that you began your biking experience on the back of a Harley.

DM - I was dating a guy that had a 2000 Harley-Davidson Road King Classic (still my favorite bike to look at).  I was nervous at first about riding with him. My dad had always told me to stay away from motorcycles!  But as I rode on the back more, I started to enjoy the feeling of freedom of being on a motorcycle.  When we went out to Sturgis in 2001 I started noticing more women in the driver’s seat. The more I saw, the more I thought “well maybe I could do that too”.

What bike are you riding now?  And if money was no object do you have a specific “dream bike” you would like to own?

DM - I currently ride a 2007 BMW R1200GS. I love the versatility of it. I can take it on the dirt, the track, and the open road. And it’s nimble enough to scoot around the city.  If money was no object, I would have a stable that included a Road King Classic, a BMW R1200GS Adventure, and a track bike (maybe a Ducati).

Do you think that most men find female motorcyclists sexy, intimidating, or both?

DM - For sure, both. But if a guy is secure with himself, he shouldn’t be intimidated. : )

You mention on your website that you are tall for a woman and as a result had trouble finding clothes that fit properly.  How tall are you and how did that influence your design choices for your clothing line?

DM - I am 5’ 11”, so VaVaVroom riding pants will be offered in tall sizes.  It is also nice that the current fashion dictates longer sleeves and bodies for the t-shirts. When I was doing my research for my initial products, I found that shorter and plus size women also have a hard time finding motorcycle clothing that fits, so I try to either offer a wide range of sizes or make my clothing (like the upcoming jacket) adjustable to many shapes and sizes.

Your website claims that you have a broad range of size choices for women.  Is VaVaVroom different in that respect from other clothing lines for female riders?

DM- Yes. Many gear manufacturers do not even go above XL, although most offer at least up to a 2XL.  It is very difficult to find anything over 3XL.  There are only a few that offer tall and petite sizes.

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs looking to succeed in the motorcycle market?

DM - Most that enter the motorcycle market have a passion for the sport. That is a good start, but other factors are essential as well. Some business savvy is necessary to understand the intricacies of marketing and finance. If you don’t have this knowledge, partner with someone that has it.  Also, look for other markets that might have a need for your product or service as well. Motorcycling is still a relatively small market. The scooter market is really growing right now and should not be overlooked.

I see that you are involved in a charitable project called “Bottomless Closet”.  Can you tell us about that?

DM - The main focus of Bottomless Closet is to help women in the Chicago area get back on their feet by providing job-readiness, interview training and clothing suitable for interviews and new jobs.  Many women are struggling just to feed their families and pay the rent. There is no extra money for nicer clothing for a potential job. When I volunteer at Bottomless Closet, I typically provide women assistance in choosing the appropriate clothing for any given interview or job. Bottomless Closet schedules time for women to come into its “boutique” where there is a host of donated clothing to choose from.  I love watching women walk out of the boutique with a look of confidence and hope that did not exist when they came in.

Ok, one last fun question… if you could be ANY actor for just one day who would you be?

DM - This is a tough one because I am mostly happy being myself. But, if I had to choose I would say Angelina Jolie because she has some sweet rides and she gets to kiss Brad Pitt.

Visit VaVaVroom's website at: www.vavavroomonline.com

Denise Maple's CycleWorldNetwork Blog