International Female Ride Day – Stand up and Take a Bow

Months ago, the 7th edition of International Female Ride Day (IFRD) rumbled across the world’s planet and it was –phenomenal! Women motorcycle riders on all makes and models got on their two-wheelers (and three wheelers), rode together, synchronized on one special day worldwide for the seventh occasion of IFRD. 

It isn't until the morning of the day, that first Friday in May, when I’m about to turn the ignition key on my own motorcycle that I pause and find myself overcome by the reality of the day. This glorious moment hits me! It's International Female Ride Day - I’m overwhelmed with the reality. I imagine the ladies in Australia, in India, Cape Town South Africa, Yukon, Iceland, Russia, West to East coast Canada and all points America- doing the very same as me - gearing up to JUST RIDE. And to think I made this happen - yes, I did, I created International Female Ride Day!

As an advocate for motorcycling; for women and motorcycling, this event without a doubt allows me huge personal reward. It’s not been an entirely easy journey though, and I've had to deal with some incredibly disheartening challenges- so much so that on numerous occasions I've contemplated "throwing in the towel". The fact that I’m self employed and that this campaign is nearly a full time task but provides no income for me is a challenge all on its own- bitter sweet you could say. It’s exciting and motivating to steer while being incredibly taxing on my personal self and my company. Yet my drive proceeds - doing the best I can. Yes, I fall behind on tasks- designing the annual icon, making it available on line and in various languages, website updates, Facebook page / group / event management, tweeting, responding to hundreds of inquiries, designing t-shirts, working with the industry and associations –policing; it's incredibly fatiguing, like this long sentence!  All costs for the project are personal. But adding to it all are the battles I've faced from other women. Jealously, material theft, wordage and date disputes, copyright infringement; those who have attempted to work against the effort. These are a minority yet a reality. One year I recall many sleepless nights while I contemplated the actions I would take to protect IFRD from a powerful global brand who- since introduction - have done their best to re-brand and take credit for the event. On the other hand within guidelines, I've assisted the industry on creating special events to promote their businesses; manufacturers’ national campaigns- and assisted women’s clubs who sadly, ended up preventing other women (those who are not members) from participating in their arranged happenings. Yet, when I weigh it all out, IFRD is worth it and coincides perfectly with all the reasons my brand RaceGirl in the nineties was born, succeeded now by MOTORESS; purely for the women and motorcycling! Thousands of women around the world continue to take a role and inspire us all within this unified camaraderie. And isn't it amazing all this within a world continuously dividing us from each other? 

When I’m asked by friends and those in the motor-sport industry to stand up and take a bow for IFRD’s successes – it’s purely from a place of privilege. IFRD has allowed me the opportunity to become acquainted with – and introduce make known to the planet - the most amazing women! It’s these women who’ve demonstrated by way of their ride day participation – IFRD resonates with them too.

And me, well, I’ll be ok; I always seem to manage. And yes, next year the running’s of this world wide action will be the same- too few hours in the day, far too many demands, no sleep and budget anxiety. Yet would I trade it? Not in a million IFRD synchronized worldwide women’s ride day miles!

Motorcycle Instructors Need Training Too

At the end of May Canada hosted the ERTS- European Rider Training Symposium. This was staged and implemented by the FIM recognised CMA (Canadian Motorcycle Association) and the CSC–Canada Safety Council. A few instructors were selected, myself included, to present specific modules during the event aimed at assisting the attendees. The delegates were my peers, motorcycle instructors from around the world looking forward to new training experiences and viewing the levels of instruction riders receive in Canada.

As North America is the home of the great cruiser-  Indian, and Harley-Davidson, there was indeed a cruiser module offered. Also an impressive police demo module using Harley-Davidson police motorcycles. We also presented a scooter module sponsored by KYMCO; dirt bike course (with an additional focus on training kid/ youth) and my module, advanced rider training using BMW Motorrad Canada's fleet of motorcycles.
It was a stellar event with an added bonus for me due to the attendance of the KNMV (Royal Dutch Motorcycle Association) instructors! I knew and had worked with most of them in The Netherlands.  It was very much like a reunion for me and you can imagine how I enjoyed being able to use/speak Dutch with the fellas!

My only complaint about the event, was the fact that while busy teaching the continuous rotation of groups, I had no opportunity to experience the other modules. I would have enjoyed the police bike challenge, you know, small turns on a huge wide bike! But I did manage to grab a few rounds on the race track (Toronto Motorsport Park) Friday after completion on the Can Am Spyder by BRP. And also to ride through the off road module.

Teaching your peers also required a cross over in method from training learners and intermediates to coaching those rather well trained- and motorcycle instructors at that. Personally, I’m accustomed to this while teaching on the track.

Though these folks had to finance the trip (travel from EU, Guatemala, Germany, Belgium, etc.) and symposium fees themselves, you’ll likely agree with me, it’s important if you’re serious about your motorcycle training profession. Like anything else, you’ve got to ensure your skills don't expire and are up-to-date with training methods. Furthermore as an authority, one needs to be well versed with up and coming trends in motorcycle safety and instruction. As an example/reference - ABS (Anti Lock Braking Systems) will by 2017 be mandatory on all motorcycles. ABS has existed for a number of years yet many instructors in North America have not yet tried ABS on a motorcycle. Quite the opposite when comparing to Europe where most have it on their motorcycles already!

We’ve a long way to go regarding training basics in most categories. And as my Dutch colleague Frits Lindeman, an expert in motorcycle accident causes stated- a decade ago the focus [in The Netherlands] was on skills. Now there’s a higher importance placed on risk assessment. It is recognized that most riders only ride as fast as their skill level permits. When these skills are improved upon, it was discovered that this simply created faster riders. By evaluating riding techniques an instructor is now able to coach and teach the rider how to recognize the potential dangers surrounding them.

As instructors, you can rest assured we are eternally evaluating, advancing and bringing to you better concepts, tactics and methods to ensure security while you motor along enjoying motorcycling!

SCOOTER RALLY MAN CATCHER MADNESS BUT ALWAYS TIME FOR LIPSTICK

SCOOTER RALLY MAN CATCHER MADNESS BUT ALWAYS TIME FOR LIPSTICK

I’ve got to say that was the craziest fun I’ve had in a long time—huge kudos to Rob Harris of CMG for coming up with the entire idea! Thanks to KYMCO Canada for their major role as main sponsor and rally assist.

The event was a total blast! I am entirely addicted and can’t wait until the next one—2011! I didn’t tell you that my “Mad” entry was as the “Man Catcher”—--as you can see I managed to catch a few fellas—with surprisingly, little resistance. I think it was the red bra bait! What is a “Man Catcher” you ask? Well, after snaring men, they're then put through training courses (hence the army garb they wear once captured) and when ready they’re released for the greater good of woman-kind. They’re taught how to efficiently cater to women’s needs from all levels-- the etiquette's of domestic duties--taking out the garbage, cleaning & repairing motorcycles, washing the car –you get the idea!
The entire theme of the rally is ‘madness’ plus the fun of a competition to obtain “mad points”. Well, I didn’t do too well, yet not too badly either. But because I decided to speed through the rally (the roads were so fine)—I ended up flying by some valuable mad point opportunities. However, I did arrive 2nd back to home plate though, accompanied by Dean and Jason (thanks to their great map reading--by the way, that's another great benefit of the 'Man Catcher' training program!--tsk tsk I know). Ah well, it's always about the ride for me— and this time, the added bonus of being surrounded along the way with such fun lovin’ crazies! I particularly enjoyed the antics of team "Zeppo". Gentlemanly nutty madmen who all brought such fun to the whole deal!

You will notice however, that a few of my men went “AWOL”! Here pictured one trying to get away on one of team Zeppo’s scooters— and the Zeppo’s were assisting!

Read more about the event here on MOTORESS.com.
PS—there are more photos on facebook under Mad B rally! And on our MOTORESS facebook fan page!

And yes, there's always time for lipstick--no matter the activity!**photos provided by the talented "Mondo Lulu" website here!

MADLY PARTICIPATING--SCOOTER ENDURANCE RALLY !

This weekend is the “Mad B-(astard) Scooter Rally” and I’ll be riding my KYMCO Bet & Win 150cc competing on the “media team” in the 150-200cc category. The rally is the brain child of CMGonline (motorcycle news) and sponsored by KYMCO Canada! Participants are riding all brands of scooters!

We’re starting off at Gatineau Four Points Hotel, Ottawa-Gatineau--there are about 75 riders riding through a 560 km journey or if riders opt for the 'bonus route' we'll end up riding about 749km's! The route, unknown to any of us right now, will go through Quebec and Ontario. The start is before the crack of dawn Saturday morning the 12th and should bring most of us back to the finish line, the hotel, 12-14 hours later! “Mad-points” can be accumulated and won for finding certain hot spots along the way--additional points for costume including your scooter. So I’ve got a theme and I can assure you my scooter looks quite bizarre! Curious? -let me show you a picture next week!

I’m also testing a product called the Air Hawk 2—a special motorcycle seat cushion that’s intended to make riding for long hours more pleasurable for the buttocks! Well, 12-14 hours in the saddle should make for an appropriate test! Give you the scoop on that later too.
And we were all asked to raise money for the great cause "Kids Help Phone"—special thanks for the pledges I received—special note to Tony at Mountain Cycle Inc. and BMW Motorrad Canada for being so generous!
Now... time to get some sleep in preparation for the coming madness!

SCOOTERS TODAY ARE NOTHING TO LAUGH AT–SMILES GUARANTEED!

Each time I mention to riders or non riders that I have a scooter (KYMCO 150cc Bet & Win) people smile or chuckle aloud—as if to say “yeah right”. They’re thinking, how could this former European race competitor, track coaching instructor, 2stroke jump loving off road enthusiast ride a scooter? My goodness many are not well informed when it comes to the thrills of “scooter” riding. The scooter has come a long way since the first step through “Skootamoto” created in 1919, British engineer Granville Bradshaw (even though the very first motorcycle was a step through --“step through" a scooter defining characteristic). We live in an era where scooters are now high on performance, diverse in use, fun, affordable, “green” and easy to enjoy.

Scooter’s engine capacities range from 50cc to 500cc even 850cc—KYMCO’S new 500cc Xciting (appropriately named!) even has ABS. Apparently latest terminology states anything above a 250cc is a “maxi-scooter”--not certain I agree because my KYMCO 150cc will do 120km/h—more than maxi-mum speed limit in most North American cities. There are scooters for touring, for the city, for performance and even for racing—view the YouTube videos I’ve linked here below showing scooter racing—you’ll love em!

A world that daily bestows upon us breakthroughs in technology-- scooters have not been overlooked continuing to make leaps and bounds into our motorcycling cultures. Oh --- what’s that you say? They're not potent (macho) enough? Not cool enough? I suppose there’s that too--the stigma or better yet perception of being less of a rider if on a scooter—well, another old fashioned measure. And consider if you are in Italy or Paris--you'll be considered the hippest of hip on your scooter. Got a scooter, you got "in”. And you should see how the likes of Valentino Rossi handles his scooter or Giancarlo Falappa who rode me all through one British Brands Hatch World Superbike (WSBK) paddock/pits (he’s aggressive!) parking outside Ducati Italy hospitality to enjoy lunch. Super fun!

Personally, my scooter is a most pleasurable add-on to my motorcycling wardrobe —my sportbike for the street or track, my off road bike for the dirt/trails, my KYMCO for urban riding or when on some racetrack for track side transport.

Perhaps we can liken this to our [vast] variety of shoes--runners for fitness, hiking boots for the outback, strappy sandals for the yacht, knee-high boot with a skirt, stilettos for the nightclub and so on.

Motorcycling comes in so many pleasurable variations and a scooter (scoot: "to go suddenly and speedily; hurry) is an extended, must have (must do) form of this activity--motorcycling.

Riding a scooter doesn't mean replacing a [typical] motorcycle and for millions it's all they ever want.

View the scooter race Video one /Video two

SCOOTER RIDERS URBAN TACTICS

A few weekends ago I was invited to provide a practical workshop aimed around urban survival, for newly formed ScooToronto club, now 58 members. Members of the club also invited Pekka Jokiniemi training constable for the Toronto police operations. We were to work together to provide the club a Saturday filled with urban tactics.

I arranged to meet with Pekka the day before in order to coordinate our training methods and goals--all in sync and ready we were. Pekka trains the motorcycle police who start out learning on those big police motorcycles, either a Harley Davidson or a Honda.

Saturday, and only about a dozen of the club showed up (6 had canceled) we met at the 51 division Toronto police station (I was hoping to find myself a few police men or test ride a police bike, but no luck—this time) and used their training room facilities to talk traffic survival before heading out to the parking lot. One of the members of ScooToronto had designed a “think” causing slide presentation which challenged the members traffic smarts. What I really enjoyed were the many tales each rider had and how they were keen to relate and share —additionally interesting were their stories of challenge within the urban jungle of city riding. Plus many of the members, being that the club was so new, had not yet made acquaintance with each other—made for some real camaraderie.

So off we went – we made available some good exercises for slow speed control as one of the initial lesson start ups— on a scooter its achieved by keeping the rear brake lever applied as the throttle’s turned up to the friction zone. The scooters ranged from 50cc to 400cc. I had to depart within 90 minutes of our riding lessons to pick up the really cool KYMCO gift previously sent for everyone, and when returned (city traffic and a SKYDOME baseball game!) my time was up and had to head out for a prior commitment leaving Pekka to handle the group—high speed braking exercises were underway.

I took a few photos and even captured Glenda, one of the clubs founders on her brand new sea green beauty. If you live in Toronto, check out ScooToronto meet up page.
there's always a ride in the agenda be it short or long distance--and they're a super bunch of people.

National Female Ride Day-to-Remember

What a beautiful National Female Ride Day Toronto kick off last Friday May 4th under a glorious blue Friday sky at the Canadian National Exhibition entrance—the Princes’ Gates lending to a superb back drop and an easily accessed city location.

Women riders arrived from outside Toronto North, East and West to participate and share in the kick off. RTI (rider training Institute) management, also a sponsor of the campaign joined in. Then KYMCO Canada arrived with the team, the branded truck, their scooters. Bob Calwell, Kawasaki's Sales Manager arrived from Guelph en route to head office but stayed to join in the kick off as well. When I arrived at 7.15, City TV was already waiting to get this on film. Then Inside Motorcycles showed up and well we had a wonderful supportive group.

After the kick off we went on a city tour, very challenging on an early Friday morning—should have been called a city stop light tour as all we did was sit at traffic lights.
After the city riding we headed to the BEACH where we had breakfast. After, everyone dispersed going on required ways. I went riding around the city and stopped at a few dealerships. Ducati Toronto/Lamborghini who noted all the goings on this morning by Princes’ Gates. Then later by Cycle Canada where I spied the National Female Ride Day poster hanging in their entrance window. I spoke to a sales guy inside and mentioned it was National Female Ride Day today; he said, “Yes that’s right, I know all about it”.

A little later a phone call came in from Global TV saying they caught about 15 women pulling away from a stop sign and wanted more details of the day. Later I saw their TV bit on the evening news, they had captured and interviewed some members of the famous MOTOR MAIDS.

The Ottawa Citizen released an article on 4 May which enabled many females who still hadn’t’ heard about the day, to get out there on their motorcycles.

Many women riders enjoyed the day—their details including photos are arriving. Astounding to say the least. Some with a little story and many accompanying thanks for initiating such a day. I've even received a photo from Jackie, from the Ottawa area, of herself and her 1952 Harley—she had learned to ride in 1949. Brilliant!

Then there are the “VTwin Mama’s” in America who not only participated but also had members include a pink flower in their photo— terrific contrast. A delicate pink flower and the power of the motorcycle.

Yes very rewarding, the first National Female Ride Day a great success—awareness heightened, spotlight brightened as it shone on the varieties of women riders, all ages and all types.
National Female Ride Day also made obvious the numbers of women riders—those new to the activity and those who’ve been motorcyclists for most part of their lives.

One remark that's been shared in many of the emails is that next year should be international —this was always the plan so yes, International Female Ride Day 2008 May 2nd.