Meet Cass Ficacci

It’s always amazing to see ladies who get into dirt biking, and it’s like they’ve found a missing piece to life! Cass is one of those girls who started riding relatively recently, but has gone all in with her love of dirt biking by riding every chance she gets, participating in local events, volunteering with local clubs, and getting into racing!

Her woods weapon of choice is a 2020 Beta XTrainer 300, that’s taken her all over some East Coast technical terrain and beyond. Meet Cass in our newest #FastFriends interview, and if you’re headed to OAO in September, you can meet her there and try out a Beta XTrainer 300 or 300RR yourself!

Name: Cassandra (Cass) Ficacci

Bike: 2020 Beta Xtrainer

Instagram: @crasserole

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED RIDING DIRT BIKES?

I took the MSF course in NYC 5 years ago. I was hooked immediately. Year one, I signed up for a track day at NYST. Did American Supercamp and had the BEST time. In 2018, my dad bought me a dirt training course as a Christmas gift. Since that class, I was constantly trying to find ways to get on a dirt bike.

AFTER YOU GOT STARTED, YOU WERE HOOKED?

There’s nothing like riding a motorcycle through the woods. I have spent a lot of time chasing that feeling throughout my life. I have found “it” here and there, but riding a dirt bike really takes the cake.

Being able to push outside of my comfort zone and feeling like I am constantly learning something new has been incredible. But it also has A LOT to do with the people. I was lucky enough to have a few friends in Brooklyn that got into dirt bikes around the same time. It was huge to get into the sport with friends that have known me at my best. And WORST. When it came down to it, they took away my last few excuses (no garage and no transportation) and I just needed to solve the bike part. That small group of Brooklyn misfits has turned into an incredible community of people that I love dearly.

WHAT TYPE OF RIDING DO YOU LIKE BEST?

Technical, rocky terrain please. I love that I don’t have to be fast and it’s so rewarding to get through sketchy, hard trail with my friends.

WHAT BIKES HAVE YOU RIDDEN?

To start, I had borrowed my friend Mike’s 2005 KDX220, tried a few friends’ bikes on the trails and rented a handful of bikes. My first taste was a TTR 125 at Supercamp. I recently rented a GasGas EC300 in Phoenix and loveddddd it.

I now have a 2020 Beta Xtrainer. The bike is so damn forgiving and let’s be honest… it has a lot more power than I have been able to tap into. My first ride on it was at Pachaug State Forest and I made it through.

If you know, you know.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACED IN LEARNING TO RIDE?

Myself. I made a lot of excuses of why I shouldn’t ride or wasn’t good enough. I still do that and it’s a real nasty hurdle. I have SO much fun on the bike but am also not very gentle with myself. I want to be stronger. I want to be faster. I want to be better. But that just takes seat time and learning to give myself a tiny bit of credit.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON AS A RIDER?

Honestly… having more fun. But also, hill climbs and descents. SOOO SKETCHY. It’s really hard to carve out time to practice while living in Brooklyn, so I have made a point to find training courses wherever I can. Signing up allows me to have dedicated time to suck a little less. I recently took a Megs Braap clinic in East Hartland, CT and training with Rachel Gutish at Over And Out’s off-road training camp.

WHAT SINGLE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A NEWER RIDER?

Be kind to yourself and ride with people who scare you. Ok, maybe scare is a little excessive, but find people that are faster and better than you. Riding in your comfort zone will keep you there. If you want to progress, it’s going to take time, a lot of crashes and definitely some breathwork to calm those nerves.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE YOU’VE RIDDEN?

Tamaqua, PA at OAO obviouslyyyyy!!!

Over the last year I have experienced some incredible East Coast trail, but I have to say… Arizona. I flew to Phoenix this past February to meet up with Beau from Ready to Ride Rentals and Meg Griffiths and it blew my mind. Gorgeous landscape and plenty of gnar with those two.

ANY RIDING PLANS YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO OR DREAMING ABOUT?

The Northeast has so many amazing events that fill most of my weekends throughout the year. OVER AND OUT, The Michaux dual sport and RORR dual sport are at the top of that list for local events.

Idaho and the PNW is calling my name for sure. There’s a ride in Idaho in September that I really hope to attend. Racing is the worst/best, but I hope to sign up for a few more races this year.

LADIES ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOOD GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS - IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’VE FOUND THAT FITS YOU PARTICULARLY WELL?

And don’t we need it!! I am a pretty tall and average sized person with hips, so it has been a journey for sure. I actually keep a google doc that includes brands, styles, cuts and inconsistencies for everything I try. The Fox legion pant was the first cut that I thought actually fit well. I find that Fasthouse men’s pants are the only “high-waist” pant which I love, BUT I legit have to size up 3 sizes from my normal 30 for them to fit. I also like the Bilt Luxe pants from Revzilla; somehow they’re a flattering pant for everyone I have seen rock them. I love the WLF Enduro jerseys.

Over And Out’s biggest event of the year in Tamaqua, PA is sponsored by Beta Motorcycles. We’re proud to have Beta on board, because they make some of the best bike models for female riders, offering more streamlined chassis with lower seat heights, low-end “grunt” or “ride ability” perfect for the technical terrain we see in the Northeast.

Even with supply chain shortages and bikes being hard to come by, Beta is coming through and sending us brand new units to be ridden by ladies at OVER AND OUT 2022! Ladies can jump on an XTrainer 300 or a 300RR and take each for a spin on a designated trail in order to get a feel for these bikes.

(And psssst! The Xtrainer will be available for sale after the event through our partners at Ryan Co Cycle Works)!