Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Aldrich.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2022, I packed up my life, loaded up my dogs, and moved to Arizona for a fresh start. Unfortunately, that fresh start quickly turned into one of the hardest seasons of my life when I lost my home and two of my dogs in a house fire.
After rebuilding, life surprised me again in 2024 when I met an incredible man who introduced me to motorcycling. He taught me how to ride, helped me earn my license, and gave me a hobby that would completely change my life. Tragically, just one week after I got my motorcycle endorsement, he was killed in a motorcycle accident.
Suddenly I found myself grieving again and trying to figure out what came next.
As I worked through that loss, I decided to channel my energy into something positive. I started creating motorcycle content focused on rider awareness, safety, and community. Part of it was wanting to advocate for riders, and part of it was hoping that if more people recognized me and my bike, maybe I’d be a little more visible on the road too.
What started as a creative outlet eventually grew into a personal brand and an amazing community.
Around the same time, I founded Sith Happens Book Club. It began as a small group for bookish biker women, but it quickly became clear that women from all backgrounds were looking for the same thing: community, friendship, and a safe space to belong. What started as a niche club grew into a thriving community of hundreds of women who support each other through life’s highs, lows, and everything in between.
The funny thing is that I created the club hoping to help other people find connection, but they ended up helping me just as much. They carried me through one of the most difficult periods of my life and became an incredible support system.
Today, one of the things I’m most proud of is our annual Book & Bike Market. Every May, we bring together readers, riders, authors, creators, and local businesses for a community event that includes a giant Free Little Library. It’s our way of supporting local authors, small businesses, literacy, and giving back to the community that gave so much to me.
If there’s one thing my journey has taught me, it’s that even after unimaginable loss, community has the power to help you rebuild, heal, and create something meaningful.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. If life were a motorcycle ride, mine has included a few unexpected potholes, detours, and the occasional “are you kidding me?” moments.
Between rebuilding after losing my home, navigating grief, and growing a community from scratch, there were plenty of times when I was making it up as I went and hoping for the best. Running a book club and community also comes with its fair share of challenges, from event planning to putting out the occasional metaphorical fire.
That said, every obstacle taught me something. I’ve learned to adapt, keep moving forward, and find humor where I can because sometimes you either laugh or cry, and I’ve found laughing is usually more fun.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an archaeologist working in cultural resource management, with a GIS background, and I’m currently dipping my toes into ceramic analysis.
Outside of that, I also create motorcycle content focused on rider awareness and community. I’m kind of known for mixing education, advocacy, and a little chaos in a way that (hopefully) makes people pay attention.
What I’m most proud of is building community wherever I go—whether that’s protecting cultural sites or helping people find their people through my book and biker community. I tend to be the “turn ideas into reality” person, which is equal parts fun and slightly unhinged, but it works.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Honestly, adaptability.
I’m a veteran, an archaeologist, and a community builder, so I’ve learned pretty quickly that nothing ever goes exactly to plan. Whether I’m in the field or building spaces for people to connect, things are constantly shifting.
I’ve gotten good at staying flexible, rerouting when needed, and keeping things moving without losing my sense of humor in the process. I think that ability to adapt, stay grounded, and just figure it out has been the biggest key to my success.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimperialbiker
- Other: https://discord.gg/kEsW6nA6dq
Image Credits
Just Simple Photography (Personal Photo)
Gashead Photography (Image 2)
Storybook Photography (Image 4)
