This May the rumble from those April showers will continue a little longer as thousands of female riders hit the open road to celebrate the first-ever Women Riders Month. Harley-Davidson is staging a series of events designed to celebrate the number of women who have already hit the open road on two wheels, as well as encourage even more women to get behind the handlebars. Two of the larger Harley-Davidson Women Riders Month initiatives include activities for the Third Annual International Female Ride Day on Friday, May 1, 2009, and encouraging 100,000 women to learn to ride.
International Female Ride Day was started by Vicki Gray of Motoress.com and falls on the first Friday of May every year. The 2010 date is Friday May 7. The special day seeks to promote awareness and celebrate women riders of all ages across the globe. This year Harley-Davidson jumped on the bandwagon by declaring the whole month of May Women Riders Month with plans to stage special rides in New York City and Milwaukee to commemorate International Female Ride Day on May 1. There are other activities planned for around the country, so check with your local dealership,
womens club, or plan your own ride during the month and make some noise that May is Women Riders Month. Feel free to use WRNs Connect With Others page to reach out to women in your area. And then send in a story and a photo about your ride or event to our Readers Stories. We may just post it on the site.
Many of WRNs readers have participated in rider safety programs, like Harley-Davidson Riders Edge New Rider Course or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic Rider Course. Now its time to get your friends involved. Both Riders Edge and MSF are offering courses for the first weekend in May aiming to set a Guinness World Record for the number of women motorcycle riders trained in one weekend. The goal is get 100,000 women signed up and trained across the nation.
“Women have been enjoying the sport of motorcycling for the last century,” said Leslie Prevish, womens outreach manager for Harley-Davidson. “In the past two decades, weve seen a dramatic increase in the number of women whove embraced the sport. By declaring May as Women Riders Month, were honoring all of the women who enjoy the freedom and adventure found in taking control of their own handlebars.”
In the past 20 years, the percentage of women who have purchased new Harley-Davidson motorcycles has tripled, with women now accounting for nearly 12 percent of new Harley-Davidson motorcycle purchases. “We know there are thousands of women who are interested in the sport, but arent sure where to start,” said Prevish. “We are encouraging women to learn how to ride a motorcycle to increase the women rider community and help them along their journey.”
For more information on how to get into motorcycling including classes, beginners bikes, and much more visit WRNs Getting Started Page in the Beginners Guide Section, or go to RidersEdge.com or MSF-USA.org.
Look out for women-only Garage Parties at Harley-Davidson dealerships throughout the month of May. WRN Founder Genevieve Schmitt will be speaking at a Garage Party at Freedom Harley-Davidson in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver, on May 9 to deliver her “Making More Saddle Time” speech.
Visit your local Harley-Davidson dealership or log onto Harley-Davidson.com/WomenRiders to find out about Garage Parties or the opportunity to participate International Female Ride Day rides.
Thank you WRN! I have had a passion for riding since I was young being involved in motorcrossing and flattracking all around me. Windsor has had quite a few woman riders. Last year we did the International Ride for Woman and we have formed a Windsor Chapter, Chrome Divas. Meeting bikers everywhere, what a wonderful family.
Your article was great for us to be able to participate in more events. I now ride side by side with my girlfriend on our HD Softail Deluxe's, and we are looking forward to the month of May. International Woman's Ride Day, Garage Parties, meeting other woman at all bike shows, Huntsville Festival (which we read on your site).
There is no better feeling than riding down the road on two wheels and feeling the freedom of the ride. Having a bad day, RIDE, RIDE, RIDE. Every day we can, my husband and I are out there.
To have a month to let women know that it's OK to ride, that you don't have to be a guy to ride the open road is a great feeling. My finace and I just love to ride. Come on ladies, climb aboard! Here in Plant City we have Bike Fest Weekend. It's every first Saturday of the month. You have my personal invite to come and hangout in the country!
I just want to say in reading about all of you women riders out there, that it's wonderful to see so many women learning to ride in their 4s and 50s. I am 56, been riding for about five years and love it. I'm so glad that so many women are coming into their own and enjoying the freedom of the ride, the wind in their hair, and knowing who they are!
At 57, I'm returning to the freedom of the road after 20+ years of doing without that freedom. bought my 2000 H-D 1200 Custom last and feel it is one of the best things I've done for myself. After having Hondas, Kawasakis, and Yamahas, this is my first Harley, and I love it. I hope to put many more miles on it during our short riding season.
What a great idea! I started riding in 2005 after taking a MSF Basic Riders Course and purchased an 883 Sportster that October. I logged more than 7000 miles before I traded up to an 2007 Softail Custom which I love. Baby Blue and I went to Sturgis last year putting more than 4000 miles on her. I hope to make the Dragon's Run this summer.
I finally found my passion. here is nothing as free as having the wind in my hair and the sound of my pipes in my ears. I hope to ride on May 1 with all the other great women in NYC.
We have three events planned for Women Riders Month in Sarasota, Florida. All women with all makes and models of motorcycles are welcome. See the April issue of Born to Ride Magazine or stop by Rossiter's Harley-Davidson for more information.
The events are: May 1: Women Only Dinner Ride; May 2: Women Riders Month Party at Rossiter's H-D; and May 3: Women Only Garage Party at Rossiter's H-D (Riders and those who might want to ride). We will be signing women up for the new rider course, door prizes, vendors, gifts, and more!
This article makes me even more proud to own and ride my 883 Custom Sportster. At 54, I can't imagine a better time and place to be a female rider. Kudos to you for this article and to Harley-Davidson for honoring women for an entire month.
So awesome! I believe that female riders are a symbol of the strength that all women possess inside. I have found freedom, confidence, independence and a sense of pride from the moment I bought my first Harley. And I would tell the women who would love to ride but don't think they can: go for it! I'm a slender, kinda clumsy girly girl and I ride my 883 Sportie like it was a part of me. As a matter of fact, I'm ready for a bigger bike and am considering a Night Train.
In December 2005 my then fiance and now husband walked into Wildfire H-D in Villa Park and picked out two 06 Sporties, 1200 and 883. in March when they were delivered (it was pouring out) I had no clue how to ride. Being a passenger since I was a little girl on the back of my dad's Honda I wanted to be a rider.
As soon as the weather broke my hubby would take me to the school parking lot and taught me first and second gear. I then took the class at the end of June and finally had that little M on my drivers license. He weaned me into traffic (I was terrified) and in August I took my first long trip putting more than 400 miles on it. Boy was I sore. After that, every day it was warm out I was riding. Ladies, it is an experience you will never forget Get out there and ride.
I started riding about six months ago. I am 44 years old and this is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to get behind the handlebars. Thank you for the article and the encouragement. I am planning on participating on any events as much as I can. I ride a Harley Dyna Street Bob, but am contemplating adding a Honda to my garage.
What a great idea! Thanks HD for recognizing the female riders. We are a growing number and I could not be more pleased. Keep up the good work, especially those riding for the breast cancer cure. Thanks to the dedicated women and men who ride for the cure. I am a two-year survivor and I ride!
Hooray for a Women Riders Month! I've taken Rider's Edge twice. The first time, I took it with my husband, and was the only woman in the class. I was incredibly intimidated, and ended up dropping out and not finishing the class. I decided to try again a year later, and was excited to find that my local H-D dealership was offering a women's only Riders' Edge class. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I'll tell any woman who's willing to listen what a great time I had. If your local dealership or CC doesn't offer a women's only class, ask them if they'd consider setting one up. You won't regret it.
I have been riding since June 08. I want every women to know if you have the passion to ride, then ride. It doesn't matter what you ride, as long as you are riding. Since I started, I feel like at 47 I have finally found the part of me that was missing. It's the best thing I ever did for myself. I love my 03 Anniversary 1200 Sportster Custom.
Ride your own ride.I think having a month designated to women riders is awesome!
I participated in a “Ladie's Garage Party” once at a local HD dealer with a local WOW group. I do not ride a Harley but felt the topics they were offering would be beneficial. Was I disappointed! It turned about to be an opportunity for the dealer to offer a few alcoholic drinks and do a fashion show of the new HD line of women's clothing and accessories.
Please talk to the dealership and find out what they are really offering. Check with other women who have attended prior events. I truly hope my experience was an isolated event and not the norm. It was an insult to us who take riding and safety seriously. I own and ride a Honda; I don't just own and wear the logo.
I have been the guest speaker at about 15 Garage Party events over the last two years. I can tell you that Harley-Davidson corporate lays out an informative and educational program that dealers are recommended to follow. It is up to each dealer to follow the program that is set up as stations (model line intro, tech briefing, Motorclothes, Riders Edge, etc.) or do their own program.
Barb, you must have attended an event by a dealer who used the Garage Party more as a social event and less as an educational opportunity. Most of the GP's I've spoken at have used the “station” approach set up for mostly new riders as that is for whow Garage Parties are designed. I'm sorry you experienced what you did, but you offer some sage advice to readers to ask ahead of time what will be going on at the Garage Party. Some dealerships don't exclude men, so it make sense to find out as much as you can and not assume you you know what a Garage Party is. Each dealership executes the concept differently.
To Genevieve,
Great Web site, encouraging articles, and worthy information for woman riders. With that said, I have been riding my classic 1986 GL 1200I Gold Wing for 21 years. Have ridden in about 40 states and seen countryside and cities unlike anything imaginable. In 2007, I purchased a Honda VTX1300S and have more than 10,000 miles on her. I advocate the riders course for everyone, and encourage women to “ride your own.” You won't regret it!
Will this month be for all women riders or just for women who own a Harley-Davison motorcycle? I would like to honor the month by riding my Honda, but I would like to know what the criteria is for enjoying the company of riding with other women, and celebrating the rides.
It's for all women riders, that's why there is a picture of women on sportbikes and other cruisers in this article.
I've been riding for 11 years now. I ride a Honda Shadow VLX. While Harleys are great bikes, they are just not for me. I hope that everyone is included in Women Ride Day, not just Harley riders.
PS. I'm 4 feet 10 inches tall and weigh 88 pounds. I love riding!
Yes, Women Riders Month celebrates all riders regardless of brand.
I would love to have 100K women bikers to ride with. At the very least… an extra 200K sets of tires on the pavement behind Mealer Companies.
What does it take (excluding castration) for a once extremely handsome man, to join a women's riding club? I mean… besides a motorcycle.
Great piece! The Red River Harley-Davidson dealership in Wichita Falls, Texas, is planning a big party and an all-woman ride for the women in our area.
Hormones & Chrome… What a powerful mix!
I have been riding for almost 10 years starting with a Buell, then to a Low Rider and now a 50th birthday surprise of 2009 HD Street Glide, all made to fit me. Riding is a big part of my life. It also keeps my blood pressure down, but the best part of riding is meeting new people, especially women who now have a new look not physically, but mentally.
Women riders glow with confidence, willing to step out and enjoy their life. It is surprising how they grow in maturity just on two wheels. Great medicine!
The Motor City Harley-Davidson Rider's Edge program is pleased to participate and offer “ladies only” classes for the first weekend in May. Combined with our very active HOG Chapter, Motor City H-D is proud of our many accomplished female riders, and trained passengers, as we encourage continuous training and safe riding habits. The Motor City Ladies definitely have it together and put their “pride in the ride.”
I think this is a fantastic idea for women riders. My friend Tannis Fuhr will be riding her 08 Harley Police Electra Glide from Florida to Canada raising money for breast cancer. Our ride is called the Conga II and we are encouraging all lady riders to join us along the way.
You can see our ride route and jump in by going to our Conga II Reunion Breast Cancer forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/Conga2/start
or our Women Who Ride Forum http://forums.delphiforums.com/distaff/start
We have 70 confirmed lady and men riders when we start our ride on May 9 from Hudson, Florida. We plan on stopping at every Harley-Davidson dealership along our route. Hope to see you gals somewhere along the way!
Not everyone rides a Harley. Are there any other events from other dealers?
Hooray for women riders on all makes of bikes! There are a lot of us out there not on a Harley.