We had the good fortune of connecting with Tony + Anna Aldridge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tony + Anna, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

When we initiated Westside Motorcycle Collective as a brand, our primary focus was on reintroducing “freedom” into motorcycle rides and transitioning away from the conformity prevalent in most rides we had experienced with other groups. We observed a growing need for a ride group that embraced a distinct riding style, diverging from the conventional “parade” group riding commonly seen. While we enjoyed riding with friends in groups, we were not fond of being compelled to adhere to strict formations en route to our destination.

To test our idea and gauge if others shared similar sentiments, we launched our social media presence on Instagram and we have been growing ever since. The clothing brand was conceived out of the necessity to support the rides and events, drawing inspiration from Hardcore, Metal, and Punk music, as these genres seamlessly align with the riding style and philosphy of our group.

What should our readers know about your business?
what sets you apart from others: Westside Motorcycle Collective is our passion for motorcycles and our goal of making joining a motorcycle ride group more appealing to someone who has never experienced it. We want our group to help people who may be nervous to join a group or go to an event, find a safe place where they can go a make friends while also learning how to ride from skilled motorcyclists.

What are you most proud of or excited about?: We are most proud of the community we have built and we are most excited about seeing how big this community can grow and where this takes us.

How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? Consistency with our rides and our social media content was very consistent as well. We also worked really hard to develop strong relationships with partners in the industry both from a vendor standpoint but also a helping local businesses feel the impact of having over 100+ motorcyclists at their restaurants and bars. No, it was not easy. We have given up a lot to ensure that our rides are safe, that the routes we choose are well thought out, and so our vendors and destinations are all taken care of so that the community of riders we bring together can have a great time and everyone wins.

What are the lessons you learned along the way? I think our biggest lesson is that these rides are about the person on the motorcycle it is about the person enjoying themselves on our rides and enjoying the experience after the ride with the Westside Motorcycle Collective that keeps them coming back and everything we do is for them. Knowing that they could be anywhere else but they chose to spend the day with us, we owe them a great experience.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story? Everyone is welcome, we really make sure that everyone feels welcome when they come on our rides. It does not matter the type of bike you ride, your age, background, or what language you speak. As long as you respect other riders, and have a good time you are welcome here. We do this because we love our community and have a vision of keeping it alive and strong so future generations can enjoy the beautiful rides we put on.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The first thing we would do is get them a motorcycle! Then we would cruise through Venice and Santa Monica, take the incline down and ride PCH through Malibu hitting topanga canyon to old topanga then hitting mulholland and dropping down Kanan dume.. Our First stop would be to head to Neptunes Net for some fish and ocean views, followed by a ride up Kanan to Mulholland and then stopping at Old Place. From there we would take a canyon down like Latigo and ride PCH back soaking in the salty air. We would end the ride at Hinano Cafe for a burger and a beer. Hanging out there enjoying some music we would then walk the pier and watch the sunset. After Sunset we would park the bikes and head to Whole Foods on Lincoln in Venice for some Street Tacos to end the day before heading to The Venice West for some live music.

There are so many amazing places in Los Angeles we have come to love. Clutch in Venice (shoutout Oscar), Mercedes Cafe, The great steak and hoagie (shoutout Sergio), Venice West, The Shack, La Cabana, Casablanca, The Firehouse, and so many more to count!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We would like to shoutout Bartels Harley Davidson in Marina Del Rey and more specifically the sales team. When I bought my first bike from them they invited me out on rides with them and taught me how to lane share, ride canyons, and cruise in a group and do it safely. I learned so much from them in regards to coordinating rides, leading groups, and safety that I don’t think I could be doing this without the time I spent in the Malibu Canyons with them.

Website: westsidemoto.com

Instagram: @westside_motorcycle_collective

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidemotocollective

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