Comments on: Women only motorcycle events-sweet or sham?

By: Peggy Bouchard

Peggy Bouchard — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:53:49 +0000

Do guys ever have to worry about such nonsense! If they go on guys ride, is that a slippery slope. I think it’s great more woman are riding, and if woman rides get them out more, it’s great. I have my own bike, and enjoy rides with my girlfriends and mixed groups. I also still love riding on the back of my husbands bike, wrapping my arms around him, and enjoying the ride!
We woman are way to critical of each other, and worry to much about how we are perceived by others. Are we less respectable as riders if we choose to ride with just woman! Enjoy your ride, with whoever and stop worring about what it looks like.

By: Wyeth

Wyeth — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:25:49 +0000

I respectfully disagree with the poo-pooing of events for women, and I’m not clear why there would be an objection. As a 16 year female sportbike rider, I’d enjoy having more women to ride with, as well as seeing more women at the track. Currently I ride almost exclusively with men because there are so few women sportbike riders available. I don’t view women specific events as a comment on my own riding ability, I view them as a way to bring the female minority exposure to an awesome sport. Femmoto is just one example of catering to women and bringing in new riders. Bravo.

By: Lizzie

Lizzie — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:15:22 +0000

Well said, Wendi!

By: Wendi

Wendi — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:08:17 +0000

awesome question. i ride because i love to ride. the gender of my companions is insignificant. i enjoy giving a thumbs up to other chicks on bikes, but for me, my riding partners are just the peeps in my world who like to ride, male or female. it is kinda silly to make a day for any gender of riders – we all got the bug, right, so let’s just do it!

By: Lizzie

Lizzie — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:03:12 +0000

First of all, thanks to everyone for your insights (and welcome to Road Captain and Mrs. Road Captain!). I think it’s definitely a slippery-slope to have too many of these all-women events, but I think this is only the beginning. And the motorcycle industry is definitely jumping on board. How else can we explain the rampant success of Ridley’s automatic motorcycles?

By: Lady R

Lady R — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:06:57 +0000

I had several thoughts on this, and most of them have just been covered by Becky, Joker, Crusty and Mrs. RC. Sometimes, I wonder if the women only events are more desired by the women who don’t usually hang out with men to begin with. Heh? Personally, I like hanging with men and women, if they are my friends or just friends I haven’t met yet, I say we are all in it for the riding fun and experiences!

By: Mrs Road Captain

Mrs Road Captain — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:45:19 +0000

This topic (across many fields) has been a pet peeve of mine ever since the day I went off about Home Depot’s “Do it HERself” workshops (if she can’t learn alongside and hang with the big boys, then the only workshop she needs is how to paint…her fingernails)!! Anyway, the same basic idea holds water with motorcycling. It drives me nuts that there are so many events that single out women. “Separate but equal is inherently unequal!” So if they are holding separate events for us, in my eyes that is sending the message that we are inferior to the guys. I guess it is all part of that same corporate philosophy (quite evident in the merchandise they offer us) that all women motorcyclists are either (pardon my french) “butch” or whores.

By: roadcaptain

roadcaptain — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:36:45 +0000

Steve has some “interesting” posts over at Motorcycle Philosophy and that’s all I can say about that.

By: Joker

Joker — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:13:09 +0000

I like the co-ed thing personally. I don’t see anything wrong with an all-girl ride once in a while. Since women show up for it, there must be interest right? Too much of anything isn’t good, so I hope they don’t go crazy with it. There’s a lot of individuality that goes with motorcycling, but as bikers, we need to stick together too – the boys and the girls.

By: Crusty

Crusty — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:28:50 +0000

I agree with Becky that much of the women only jazz is fuled by the motorcycle industry. I think that women who are confident in their own abilities don’t need a woman only event. The gals..umm..chicks…ummm….ladies? that are just starting out or just thinking about getting a bike are the ones most likley to feel better about having just women around them at the events or outings. Personally, as long as you can keep up, don’t whine about your ass being sore or need to stop every hour to pee, it does not matter if your man or woman….lets ride! -Crusty

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:34:46 +0000

I think that’s an important question. For myself, I would rather ride with guys, as women in a group tend to be petty, and I usually tend not to have too much in common with them except the motorcycle. The International Woman’s Ride Day is kind of fun, but I don’t think it’s necessary to have women’s only events everywhere. I tend to think the women are the only people who care about such things, feeling more powerful with the group than alone. The trend is there, probably created by the motorcycle industry who is trying to entice the female motorcycle buyer so they can sell more product.

Bikerchickz

By: Mr. Salem

Mr. Salem — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:41:36 +0000

It’s a great question you pose, I think the answer lies in personal belief. Is she a good rider or is she a good rider for a girl? If you believe in the former the there is no reason for women only events if you believe in the latter then women only events are a necessity.