2012 MOTORESS Rolling Ahead Continuum of Motorcycling for Women!

Very best wishes of the New Year! I hope amidst usual attentions to family and friends, you are eagerly planning your 2012 motorcycle journeys, vacations, races or motorcycle bike purchases! There is nothing better than the excitement that comes from planning a motorcycle riding adventure! And if you are like me, you’re currently in the midst of a cold weather season which makes it all the more filled with anticipation!

As a woman rider and motorcycling advocate – or better yet, complete fanatic- (everyone should be on a motorcycle!);  the year ahead appears exciting for women riders! The upcoming 6th International Female Ride Day on 4 May is not long away! A world of women riders is expected to once again take part! And later on in the year, the AMA Women and Motorcycling Conference is scheduled.

2011 gave women motorcyclists more firsts in motorsports, race wins, touring mileage achievements and certainly individually measured attainments than years before. Congrats to all (see MOTORESS sections news and MOTORessence for details!)

The industry at large will continue it's interest in the female rider demographic- the last under developed riding frontier- along with today’s youth. They’ll be creating ever more ‘buzz’ in our direction as they continue to market to women and place strong media spin toward our gender. The boomer has fizzled out – today’s woman is not seeking ‘empowerment’ but new experiences- as has been the case  for most of the past decade! Even women of the late 1800's /early 1900's were  then also thrilled to ride a "powered" bicycle. Today's women also seek adventure, mental challenge/growth, distractions and plain ole'- fun!

From there to here it's not been easy - a financial struggle through the challenges our economy has given us. MOTORESS remains “unstoppable”, fuelled by the growing demands of our readers/visitors- you! And we’ve got the industry's best partners! (Visit our partners next time you’re on the site- click their banners!) 

This year marks my 29th celebration of the year I discovered motorcycling; became a licensed motorcyclist! I personally have so many riding plans -still, including a few races this year! Would you believe I’ve never during all these years given up motorcycling or taken a pause from it including-  not owning a motorcycle outside of a few months when I relocated continents? And three decades later, I continue to work for the day when women are no longer a phenomenon in motorcycling but the norm or even the dominate gender! And I think we're getting closer! 

MOTORESS promises to continue thrilling you in 2012!

The MOTORESS New Year's resolution: to ensure MOTORESS continues providing the best product (content), support (education) and service (information) to our readers /customers while maintaining our core guidelines of "Connecting Women with Motorcycling!"

Looking forward to riding with you once again throughout 2012!

Enjoy Your International Female Ride Day Women Riders!

It’s here again, the 5th year where we all get on our motorcycles or scooters, together, and JUST RIDE! Did I know 5 years ago this idea would be global? Did I believe it would be embraced by women around the world? Absolutely, YES! That was the whole idea from the get go!

You see, International female ride day was created by a female rider- yes that would be me. It was created from the heart of a woman, passionate about motorsport and with women’s best interests in mind. Five years later, it may be difficult to believe with the manner this events expanded global strength; that it is not a marketing ploy. Indeed the industry supports it as they do the woman rider segment; and yes there are industry leaders that would like to make the campaign their own (and believe me, what you don’t see is the fight, my fight and the work involved to ensure this action remains as full ownership to women riders. It’s by no means an easy task!) But it is purely about women riders– all ages, all skill levels, and all forms of riding styles! Women agreed with the concept, its freedom and it's very simple request - JUST RIDE.

Triumphantly International Female Ride Day has unified us across numerous cultures, in motorcycling-  riding together on this first Friday in May! And now, after the prep and promotion is complete, I have the chance to reflect and while I do, I imagine women in Moscow, in Yellowknife, Cape Town, San Jose, and Montreal who are on their motorcycles/scooters this very same day. Emotions stir –it’s really remarkable! But you must feel it too!? I remember the first photos I received in 2007– every woman in each photograph donned the biggest smile! That’s what motorcycling does!

This campaign is for women who enjoy riding motorcycles. It’s about creating awareness, inspiring others and simply showing we do it; we always have and we’re darn good at it. There is no fee, no subscription, no cost, simply be on a motorcycle. Women riders are still the minority – for many reasons be those choice, perception, culture, and social values. In earlier years there were larger hurdles such as not being permitted to partake in racing. But those who ignored the rules and competed, often won, without a podium, trophy or acknowledgement - simply because they were women. But over recent decades motorsport boundaries are being broken and "firsts" captured by women again and again!

I’ll be riding with you today as we show ourselves in force around the world and share in our camaraderie  for the activity, the thing I love most in life, motorcycling. I’ll especially think of “Bikerni” India’s young women rider enthusiasts. They’re still faced with challenges and cultural restrictions such as not being permitted to ride to work or respecting evening curfews. But they worked it out and will all JUST RIDE because really, it’s all we simply want to do!

From my motorcycle to yours, thanks for riding along!