Why We Ride: Adriana De Cervantes

“Commuting in the city was a matter of convenience and function. The fact that it’s fun and connects you to a community of fabulous people is like a bonus that comes afterward.”

A professional. A motorcycle rider. A mother. A leader. A daughter. Is there anything Adriana De Cervantes isn’t? She is the world to so many, and through learning to ride at a young age; she has many people in that world!

What Was

Adriana’s interest in transportation with two wheels started the summer before her senior year of high school. Her mom bought a small scooter for her to ride around to get to the pool, run errands, and tool around on.  

“I remember my cousin was living with us that summer, so she was taking my car and leaving me without wheels. We used to rent these little scooters on Isla Mujeres, a small island in Mexico. One day my mom decided it would be fun and useful to have our very own little scooter in the garage. It was a Kymco People 150 - something we kept until very recently. Eventually, I learned it was illegal to have a passenger on a scooter in Pennsylvania without a motorcycle license. Both my mom and I agreed the only reasonable thing for me to do was go take the MSF class and get my motorcycle license… which, everyone else thought was crazy at the time. The very first time I got on a motorcycle, I was hooked, and I knew I wanted one.

Purchasing her first bike two years later, she initially left it tucked safely in her mom’s garage in PA and continued riding her bicycle around Brooklyn to school and work. But after finishing undergrad, she found herself commuting to Manhattan on a terrible subway ride, taking three different trains, and still having to walk a mile to work; it was miserable. And it was time to bring the bike to New York. 

“I started commuting from Brooklyn to Manhattan on my little Honda Rebel every day to the office and back. Even though many people think riding a motorcycle in traffic is dangerous, to me, it’s so much safer than being on a pedal bike. In my eyes, I had lowered my risk and, more importantly, cut my commute time by more than half. Things have changed a bit now - it’s not just me anymore. I have two kids whose faces I want to see when I get home, so I ride with a lot more caution. Before, it was just about making sure I got to work on time. Now it’s more about enjoying the journey. 

What Is

As a mom, she has made some other changes to her commuting behavior beyond the obvious; she tries to not ride at night in the off-season anymore, and bought a big bagger to feel safer and more visible on the road.

“I have a big bike now with two massive headlights, and an overall much larger appearance on the road… much harder to miss. Also, when I’m freelancing, most of my clients are able to meet  outside the city or virtually, so I am not dealing with a city commute anymore. I just started a new job in Princeton, and as soon as it’s above 35 degrees in the mornings, I’ll have an amazing commute to work on gorgeous back roads three days a week!

Nowadays, Adriana looks most to comfort and function for her ride. The days of endless layers for freezing commute days‌, or heat-trapping layers in the summer, are over. Being a sophisticated professional, she wants wares that will wear with her, from the office, to a shoot, and back on the highway or on back roads. Luckily for her, AV is here to help make those transitions not only more convenient and safer but expressive of her personal wardrobe preferences. 

“I have the leggings and enjoy the flexibility they have brought to my everyday life. They’re the perfect base layer under my kevlar overalls. I’m excited to get more AV gear customized to my body type. And I’ve got my eye on a pair of those boots!”

What Will Continue to Be

Besides growing fashion for the road and beyond, Adriana is passionate about the community of riders she is building and those individuals she meets on a regular basis. 

“There’s something to be said for the type of woman who chooses to ride. Who chooses to make motorcycles part of her life - I find the vast majority of female riders to be creative, entrepreneurs, and individuals who care deeply about the people in their world. For me, motorcycles have been an entryway to meeting these women that become lifelong friends.” 

Now riding with a tight-knit group of about 10-15 people, Adriana thinks of her road family as an extension of her bloodline. These are the type of people you make statements with, circle around and lift back up in dire times, and shout your excitement from the rooftops for. 

Finding a piece of their own peace is something Adriana is committed to and continues to hold hope for the future. Together we keep innovating for better tomorrows.