Featured Women And Their Motorcycles

I am obviously brand new to all of this, but so far have found the female biking fraternity extremely friendly and encouraging of new riders joining the fold - I have in my life often been the only female in quite a few situations (often for months at a time) or one of a tiny minority and perhaps that colours the way I see things. I know how it feels to be the one having to "prove" myself against male standards and expectations, often needing to do things far better than men in order to gain respect and acceptance. Perhaps traditionally that has been the case in biking, so adding more females to the fold can only strengthen the cause - we actively like to see other female riders out and about and generally have a chat and grow stronger in numbers, working to change attitudes. I am fortunate in that I have come to biking late in terms of having to fight to be recognised, but I imagine that the early days were probably more difficult for women. There also (HUGE generalisation I accept) seem to be far fewer egos and a willingness to share mistakes - maybe as so many of us have come into biking relatively late compared to men. I DO have an issue with an expectation from some quarters to be overtly feminine to fit in / fit the "pink" mould and that sometimes means that I fit in a little less but really all I want to be seen as by any other biker is a person who also enjoys riding a bike.

Male bikers also seem pretty welcoming to females out and about and I have encountered very few problems beyond being patronised occasionally - but less welcoming to other males. (Again a massive generalisation, I have met some really unfriendly women and some brilliant men, of course and am far from being a man hater!!!).

 

Pleased to hear it!

 

Jenny Tinmouth is also a great TT racer. Once having the lap record for a female racer I believe ? Someone might be able to confirm or correct me on that. Don`t know if Jenny still does the TT though.

 

I posted this on another thread, but it seems appropriate here.

My Great Aunt Marjorie, circa 1930. A true trail blazer!

 

Brilliant photo!

 

@Mrs Visor, I so appreciated your thoughtful post. Your comments and experiences in many ways mirror my own thoughts and observations. When I do meet women riders they are typically very friendly and encouraging of others. Unfortunately, what I'm finding is that there seem to be fewer and fewer women riders around in my area. I'm really not sure why. And the women I have ridden with over the 11 or so years I've been riding seem to be riding less and less or stopping altogether which saddens me greatly. There is something different about riding with women than with men and I think you've described that different well. That all said, I love and am grateful for all of my men riding buddies who I truly consider "friends" and not so much "men friends". I am never patronized by my men ride buddies but have been by some dealership staff--but even that is quite rare (thankfully).

I am in complete agreement with you on two brilliant points you made. First, there are some really unfriendly women and some brilliant men--and vice versa. I do think it comes down more to the individual person than the persons gender. And the other point is that, like you said, "really all I want to be seen as by any other biker is a person who also enjoys riding a bike". The love of motorcycles and riding is what links us to one another--male or female.

Oh yes, and one more great point you made. As women riders, we are riding on the shoulders of those pioneer women riders before us. And I thank them for it.

 

Aunt Maude in the early 1920’s on her “The Bradbury 4hp”, proving 100 years of unbroken motorcycling in my family.

 

I think it’s more of a tiny aunt Maude!, evidently I met her a few times when I was a child but I have no recollection, she and her husband were both keen motorcyclists according to her son, he’s still with us at 90.

 

@Iceman, I don't know how I missed this post! Thanks for sharing this information. Did you post any additional info in another forum or thread? I definitely want to read more about these women, particularly Beryl Swain.

 

Just now saw your post, @Iron. Thanks for the support and encouragement! I'm seeing these posts late relative to when they were posted, but I may be seeing these posts at just the right time. And here's why I say that. This coming Thursday I'm meeting with a friend of mine, Roe, who is the new General Manager at the smaller of the two Harley dealerships in Tucson. The two of us, along with the new marketing director Alexa, are going to brainstorm how to encourage women riders and encourage more women to ride. I've been mulling over how to do just that and, in conjunction with his new position, Roe has been thinking about that, too! So seeing your post and that of @Iceman have given me encouragement as well as some ideas and information as I start on what could be a very cool new motorcycle adventure. Any ideas or more info is welcomed!

Check out this women's riding "collective" called The Litas. There are chapters all around the world and in Arizona there are chapters in six cities and towns--but NOT Tucson! So forming a Litas chapter is one idea. @Mrs Visor, perhaps you could be an honorary Tucson chapter member! But we shall see what the future holds.

https://www.insurance.harley-davidson.com/the-open-road/safety/the-litas

 

Watched the full Elspeth Beard video a little while ago, a true biking legend in her own time. It was a great watch and well worth giving it time.

 

Of course you can be an honorary Tucson member, @Iron. Especially if I have any say-so about it which should be a slam dunk if I'm one of the organizers. I love your "make it..." list. Short and sweet and it pretty much covers all the bases. Thanks!

The first brainstorming / planning meeting is tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon. I heard through one of the dealership employees that the GM already shared the overall idea with all of his dealership employees at their last staff meeting so he's enthusiastic! I'll keep you posted on the progress.