Last Update: 28 October 2021
A few more days and it’s International Female Ride Day© (2008) so I thought I’d put an entry into my blog as before this week flies by. I truly cannot wait to enjoy the kick-off and get out there on 2 May flaunting my female rider-ness along side all the other women!
It’s crazy busy at MOTORESS. We’ve responded to many emails and inquiries about International Female Ride Day©. Plus we didn’t expect the ride day t-shirt to be so successful! Thank you to the women who wrote in last year and made the suggestion. I’ve been on many interviews with radio/various media where each time I’m asked the question, “how I arrived at the idea of International Female Ride Day©?”.
I respond underlining one of the main reasons which was simply to emphasize the many numbers of women who ride.
We do have our own very special place in the seat of a motorcycle; a place not to be compared to or likened to that of any male, and importantly – not to be exploited, or objectified. – Vicki Gray
If we all get out there, on one particular day we’ll deliver the message of “See! Here we are, and we are many!”. The diverse styles, the young and not as young; married, single, widowed, straight or gay. Here we are! At the same time we celebrate women riders and inspire others, those who’ve not yet taken up the activity. Due to an extreme overload of activity at MOTORESS I’ve not been able to stop until now, to reflect on what a gigantic celebration this has become – that this is! Even women in Australia are celebrating with us! I’ve been able to meet and discover fascinating women motorcycle riders all around the world. throughout North America, South Africa, Russia, India, – it is a great reward indeed. I’m also incredibly fortunate reading the enthusiasm women are sharing by way of the hundreds of comments. “Thanks for creating such a day—I love the idea!”, or “We’re all jazzed up about the day!” And some women rider clubs will celebrate their anniversary as Female Ride Day brought them together.
And when Harley-Davidson headquarters in Milwaukee contacted me and referred to the day as an “inspiration”—well, I felt truly flattered.
Then there are those that feel women should not be treated special or different from the men. Yet we, the women know better. We are unlike men. We’re not greater, not lesser, just unlike men. Those differences are clear and acknowledged in sports, in Olympic competitions, in our ailments, in our history or restraint in our thought mannerisms. We do have our own very special place in the seat of a motorcycle; a place not to be compared to or likened to that of any male, and importantly – not to be exploited, or objectified.
During my most recent interview I realized there was one very important factor I kept forgetting to mention. It was the fact that every single woman motorcyclist participating on the first Saturday in May, International Female Ride Day, is herself a role model inspiring other women who don’t ride or have not yet taken up the sport.
So proudly take your lead on International Female Ride Day demonstrating to other women what a wonderful joy it is to “JUST RIDE!” And at the end of the day, indeed, I came up with, introduced and propelled a concept that with its participation of women riders around the world – resulted in its fate and success!
Have a wonderful International Female Ride Day© on May 2nd wherever your ride takes you! #justride #ifrd
1 comment
Nice article, it gives interesting ideas for the reader.