International Female Ride Day 2013

                                     The beginning of the ride, Cook Street Village

What a day! The dawn broke and it was sunny, clear and warm. It was shaping up to be an amazing day in two wheels. Since I started two wheeling back in 2011 I have ridden in Island events and helped to create two if these and worked with very a team of dynamic women dedicated to empowering women and bringing attention to women's motorcycling and scootering.

We organized two rides, a day and evening ride. 55+ women gathered for the day ride and went on a lovely ride up Vancouver Island to our gathering point at West Coast Roar, amazing women's motorcycle store. The owners Greer Stewart and Joley Baker do so much more than just offering premium motorcycle gear and choice for women riders, they offer women empowerment to be more and do more, whether you are a motorcyclist or an everyday woman. After our safety briefing and road blessing we wove our way through the beautiful Cowichan Valley. It was quite a sight to behold all of these women on their motorcycles! It was breathtaking to look in your mirror and see the long ribbon of motorcycles behind me, each with a woman rider and enjoying the event.

We rode back to Roar for the closing festivities. This year we changed our focus a bit and raised money for an organization dedicated to helping women who have been in domestic violence situations and it was an honour to do this. We held a swag raffle at the end if our ride and raised $650 for Cowichan Women Against Violence. 

It was amazing to talk to the other female motorcyclists and share their stories and adventures. There is a strong sisterhood of riders on the Island and this event was magic!

I came home from the day event  grabbed a quick shower to shake off the road dirt and prepared for the evening ride I was hosting for those that couldn't make it and 8 of us ventured forth and did a relaxing tour of downtown Victoria, Dallas Road and Beach drive. Two gals were riding scoots which made it all the more wonderful!

I rode Scarlet for 12 hours on Friday and I was tired, happy, and euphoric at the end of my day. It was an incredible day!

                                      Wee Tessie on her mom's 2 wheeled chariot

      55+ women rode today this was our meet-up point in Victoria

    Diverse group of motorcycles including Debbi Ferguson's custom designed Kill Bill Chopper Fergi, she is an airbrush and paint artist.  Gorgeous!

      Girls just having fun at the beginning of the ride. 

This is the group that toured through the Cowichan Valley on the long ride in the afternoon.  We certainly were head turners, particularly when we rode by a construction site.  When we were parked a fellow driving by in his pick-up asked how he could join our group, my response was "You don't want to know, the entry test is pretty tough" - only kidding.

After riding all day I organized an evening group ride for those who couldn't make it to the grand day event, this was a perfect end to the day!  The ride was relaxing, the company fantastic.  The best part of our evening ride was all the people waving at us.  There was a mom and her two girls standing at a cross walk as we left my place and they were hopping up and down waving at us.  Girl Power!!

The group posing at Victoria's Inner Harbour in front of the Empress.

Our Ride stopped at Cattle Point on the scenic beach drive.  

Return to the Moto Lair 12 hours later.

 *Update the Ladies of  West Coast Roar just donated $1000 on behalf of all women riders to Cowichan Women Against Violence 

THANK YOU!

ROCK THE ISLAND EVENT - International Female Ride Day Friday May 3/2013

Come on Ladies lets ROCK THE ISLAND! May 3rd is the 7th Annual International 

Female Ride Day.

#femalerideday on twitter

WOMEN ACROSS THE WORLD will be taking to the roads riding today, from Canada to Britain to South Africa to India to Russia to Thailand to New Zealand to Brazil to the United States and Europe.  

IT'S EVERYWHERE!!! 

Women riders of all rides from sportbikes to dual-sports to cruisers to scooters come together to Celebrate the sisterhood of riding! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU RIDE, JUST RIDE!!!

Come ride with us and be a part of this fantastic day!

CHECK OUT THE VICTORIA IFRD EVENT PAGE - HERE! Remember to RSVP!

We will be heading up Island for the daytime ride to West Coast Roar 2490 Trans Canada Highway, Mill Bay, BC.  Check out WCR web page There will be a lunch truck at the location, live music, and spa services for 15 minute mini massages for $20.

Intinerary 

9-ish Coffee @ Moka House - COOK STREET VILLAGE

10:15am Kickstands up Depart for WEST COAST ROAR MOTORCYCLES - MILL BAY

10:30-ish PICK-UP Westshore @ TIM HORTONS MILLSTREAM (By FUTURE SHOP)

11:00am Lunch & Roundup @ WEST COAST ROAR *There will be a food truck, please remember to bring money for your lunch.  There will be live music from 11 to 12.

12:15pm Ride Safety Briefing

** There will be two rides leaving from ROAR

12:30pm Ride 1 -DEPARTURE FOR LONG & TWISTY RIDE (Oh yeah baby!)

2:00pm Ride 2 - DEPARTURE for 1 hour leisurely ride.

3:00pm Meet-up back at WEST COAST ROAR for raffle Prize Draws.  Tickets will be available to purchase. There are great prizes to be raffled off!  *Funds raised from raffle will be donated to Cowichan Women Against Violence. 

#femalerideday on twitter

**Please remember to practice safe riding habits and obey traffic laws and regulations.  RIDERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY AND LIABILITY, anyone not riding responsibly will be asked to leave.

International Female Ride Day 2012 Vancouver Island

Scarlet on her first International Female Ride Day, May 4, 2012

On Friday, May 4th,  a diverse group of  30 female riders met for a day of fun and riding.  The morning weather was not promising, with rain and wind being the flavor of the moment.  All I could think was. "Mother Nature can't you give the sista's a break?!" The Victoria IFRD team of Alison Smith, Debra Roberts, Bobbi Bjornholt, Chantele McPhee and myself worked very hard putting the event together.  We were so fortunate to have swag donated by several local businesses that support female riding.  

The purpose of IFRD is to promote motorcycling for women and to let the wider world know that we are out there on two wheels on everything from sport bikes - cruisers to scooters.  Founder Vicki Grey of Toronto, Ontario, started the ride event in 2007, each year the ride grows.  This is the biggest IFRD day to date with riders from countries across the globe from places as far away as India, Kuwait, Italy, US, Canada, and Europe.  The event empowers women and encourages them to be a part of the motorcycling sisterhood. Vicki has been involved in motorcycling as a sport as a racer and as a professional motorcycle instructor and coach.  She has inspired many a female rider and contributes to the motorcycle world with her blog Motoress.  

Riders from across the motorcycle spectrum, sport bikes, adventure touring, cafe racer and cruisers met up for our Rock The Island event and WE DID JUST THAT!  Two local media outlets covered the event and we got out our message of safe motorcycling and our call to car driver's to drop their handheld devices, practice safe driving skills and remember to shoulder check before changing lanes and to be cognizant that there are other road users.  Two separate routes covering Vancouver Island were done, with riders going out to Sooke and Jordan River and the other run down the beautiful Saanich Peninsula.  Mother Nature finally decided she was going to cut us a break and let the sun shine through and a happier group of women could not be found anywhere on the island. We met up at Savage Cycles to gather for some fabulous swag draws and talk about our adventures.  It was an amazing day.  I can hardly wait until next year!

 The meet-up - Timmies on Millstream

Lunch at Original Joe's in Langford

Group Two out in beautiful Sidney by the Sea - notice our beautiful parking job!

 Diversity of motorcycles

 Finally back at Savage for Swag draws - tired and happy!

 SWAG ALERT!!!!!!

 Myself and two other Moto Mama's on a lovely evening run through downtown Victoria in front of the Fairmont Empress.  Our Moto Mama friend Cindy couldn't make it out during the day, so we held our own IFRD event. We tootled downtown Victoria and completed the scenic Dallas-Beach road loop.  I was on my bike for 12 hours by the time I pulled up back at home, exhausted, happy and contented.

Beautiful horse drawn carriage riding by our steel ponies.

 Round trip for me today was 182.5 kilometers

I can hardly wait until next year!!!!

International Female Ride Day 2012 Vancouver Island

Female riders are Rocking The Island  

International Female Ride Day

Friday, May 4th, 2012

Meet-up:  11:00am Tim Horton's - Millstream

There will be 2 routes to choose from Sooke/Jordan River run and the Peninsula Run.  Rain or Shine.  Get ready to ride, wear your gear and prepare for possible rain.  * Remember to bring your camera!

Remember at the end of the day to make your way to Savage Cycles 2956 West Shore Parkway between 4:00 to 5:00pm for FABULOUS swag draws.  

SWAG ALERT:   2 one year memberships to Adrenalin Motorcycle Co-op,  1 Advanced Rider's course,  1 pair of leather boots, Gloves, Deluxe detailing kit, Spa gift certificates, Restaurant gift certificates, T-shirts, magazines and much more!

Your Victoria IFRD organizing team; Alison, Chantele, Debra, Bobbi & Dar wish you all a SAFE AND WONDERFUL day.  RIDE SAFE!!

**Riders are responsible for their own personal safety and liability.  Ride will be held within posted speed limits and traffic laws.  

GET OUT AND RIDE!

May 4th, 2012, Victoria, BC, International Female Ride Event

Victoria, British Columbia, 2012 INTERNATIONAL FEMALE RIDE DAY event.  All are welcome!  *Bikes must be able to maintain highway speed.

Date: Friday, May 4, 2012,    Gorgeous West Coast Scenery and lots of lovely twisties to ride! This is a breathtaking ride which showcases how truly beautiful our Island is. We will be doing a modified ride for new riders and more experienced riders will continue onto a more technical ride. Don't forget your camera!  We even have swag which has been donated by generous businesses across the island ~ Thank you!


In Town Meet-up:  10:00am Moka House in Cook Street Village *Departing 10:30am

* Main Meet-up:  11:00am Timmies @ Millstream/Costco


We will be stopping in Sooke for Lunch.


We will meet back at Savage Cycle between 4:00 to 5:00pm for  Swag Draws.  Our SWAG is fabulous!  Examples of some of the swag: 1 Advance Rider's Course, Custom Ear Plugs, restaurant gift certificates, spa gift certificate, Motorcycle boots (1 pr), Motorcycle gloves, Deluxe detailing kit and many more fabulous goodies!


For those who can't attend the day ride there will be an evening ride(s) to follow, route(s) to be determined.  * They will be posted


**All riders need to wear proper riding gear and ride within their abilities.  

 *There will be a group for NEW riders which will be making more stops as necessary.  Everyone will be involved and no one left behind!  Remember SAFETY FIRST!  This ride is not about speed and we will be riding within the set speed limits, all traffic laws and regulations will apply.  Participants in this ride are responsible for their own safety and liability.