What a great month October was! I attended my first GirlClutch group ride and met an amazing, diverse congregation of women riders. I’m always in awe of the power of motorcycling and how the passion for riding can bring women from different walks of life together. It doesn’t matter if you’re a college student, a bad girl, a mom or a business mogul, you’re a rider because you love it and that’s all that matters.
And what a jaw-dropping sight you all were riding down Pacific Coast Highway on your motorcycles – laughing, clapping and hollering as if you were part of a parade! We attracted so much attention that a bystander in an SUV couldn’t help but ask, “Is this a chick-bike thing?” Yes! That’s exactly what it is!
After enjoying the camaraderie and positive atmosphere during the October ride, I rode home thinking about how we, as riders, could play a part in helping more women experience this inspiring sport that creates such resolve and independence. I remember talking to my fiance’s sister, Veronica, and she told me a story about how she was sitting in her van after picking up her kids from school when she saw a woman motorcyclist ride by. The woman’s raven black pony tail whipped in the wind freely and the pulse of her motorcycle’s engine nearly shook the windows of the van she rode by. Veronica’s eyes lit up when she told me this and she said she wished so badly she could be like that woman rider.
This month, I urge each and every one of you to become a mentor to each other and new riders. When women ask you about riding, it’s okay to be realistic about the risks involved, but let them know the rewards of pursuing a life as a motorcyclist. Encourage new riders to get training and let them know we’re there for them in the future. Let them know they don’t have to be afraid because we’ll be here to guide them when they ride on the street for the first time.
This next month marks the launch of the Progressive Motorcycle Shows tour. This is where you’ll usually find women who are prospective buyers and are tentatively finding out about motorcycling. I’ve witnessed many women defeat themselves before they ever get started, just as soon as they try to swing a leg over a bike on display and can’t reach the ground on the other side.
If you happen to get the chance to talk to them, don’t be afraid to offer advice or mention riding communities like GirlClutch. If you see them wearily swinging a leg over the sea, let them know they can do it and offer help or instruction if they’ll accept it. If not, let them know there is a community out there eagerly waiting for them to join. This is often all it takes to change someone’s life. Ride easy ya’ll!
-Rachael Westfall
November, 2010
