Sometime it's hard to be a woman... or is it?
 

Hi Ladies!
I'm writing a column for a new adventure motorcycling mag in the US called Outrider Journal Outrider Journal | The Print Quarterly for Dual Sport and Adventure Motorcycle Riding Enthusiasts

The first issue is due out in March next year and the editor says he has already been besieged by women riders wanting their perspective covered in the mag. Hurrah to that!

So he has asked for my first column to cover the female viewpoint and I got to wondering... what are the best and worst things about being a laydee on the road? Obviously I can draw on my own experiences but I would love to hear your thoughts too. Any musings most welcome.

Rock on!
Lois

Hey Lois,

Well I suppose it's the usual old stuff really....you know, assuming you must be the pillion, assuming you don't know what you're doing, can't handle the bike, can't do mechanics, plus comments about being allowed out on your own. But it does work in our favour too - how many times have you let somebody do something for you that you know perfectly well how to do but feign ignorance or fatigue because you'd rather they got dirty or cold or wet instead of you? Earlier this year, a very concerned policeman changed a tyre for me in the pouring rain. Very nice of him indeed as he offered (I was standing in a doorway waiting for the rain to ease) and he let me sit in his nice warm car while he did so, then followed me to make sure I was OK. Of course I was, but I wasn't in a hurry, and I certainly wasn't going to get wetter than I needed to. But I've learned not to refuse a spot of chivalry when I feel like it.

Regards,

Belle :thumbup1:

Chivalry isn't dead!
 

Thanks Belle!
That's exactly the kind of thing I was thinking of. It's nice when that stuff happens isn't it? It even happens in London sometimes!
Cheers,
Lois

Off-Air for far too long
 

Off Topic I know, but it's about time you got back on the air Lois, I've missed your columns and we need another book! :nono:

On air!
 

Thanks GasUp, you're very kind. Hopefully there will be new adventures, books, columns etc soon... the recession has not been kind to us freelancers but things are looking up I hope!
Lois
x

Tell you something else Lois.......I wish I had a quid for the number of times I've been riding with my husband, (and sometimes also with a female friend), and its been assumed by other riders or blokes in bike shops where we've stopped that he is the instructor and I/we are being instructed. This is despite the fact that he's only had a full licence for a few months while both me and Lucy have had our for years and are advanced riders, and invariably the bikes we're on are usually mine because I've got five and they've only got one each. And do you know what? He always leaves whatever bike of mine he's ridden, empty.

Shorter meaty dualpurpose please
 

For any SB's out there, why do we have to stick with a BMW that's expensive, a DR that can be lowered, or a nice wee 250?

Altho I've just got a collapsible stool-cum-centre stand maybe I fling it out as I come to a stop it and can dismount easily that way!

Resounding yes
 

Lois

From a not very confident rider, I really had my confident knocked on a recent trip because of the assumptions people made about me - like Belle said - a pillion, dont know how to ride, didnt come up with the idea or the plan, cant get myself out of trouble, cant fix the bike. Because no one would ever engage me in the adventure conversation I started to think I wasn't really doing THIS TRIP, I was a shadow following my boyfriend. I started to go a little mad.

By contrast one of the greatest things is to see the confusion on peoples' faces as you pull off your helmet and they see that its a girl. Or the best one is when I wear a dress to a "do" and then when it was time to leave pull a pair of jeans on and up under the dress, throw on my jacket, grab a helmet and leave. I love the versatility of being a lady biker.

Its fab also that as a woman you encourage other closet women bikers, or women interested in it, to start chatting and mulling over how they might start, or get back into it. Its nice to give confidence back to those ladies.

And oh my god would I love a shorter meatier dualsport bike. YES PLEASE. One where I can touch the ground with more than just my big toe, that I can throw around, and still do enjoyable speeds on the road. Bike manufacturers get on it! Please.

Cheers
Char x

Lois

What ever you write about, the result will be first rate.

I'm happy to see women riding their own bikes. I won't go on a group ride any more without at least one along. It seems to tone down the Alfa male syndrome I often feel riding with an all male group.

I feel strongly about a rider riding their own ride and staying within their comfort zone. This pertains to a pillion rider as well. I'm sure a pillion rider has confidence in who their riding with. But its no different than flying in a airplane with a pilot that flies only on the weekend and only when the weathers nice.

Good Luck!

daryl

Keep 'em coming!
 

Thanks ladies, and gentlemen!
These are all very interesting points - much appreciated. Oh how l long for the small powerful dirt bike too!
Lois
x

what is annoying as a woman....
 

When buying a bike mag, like the new adventure mag that everyone seem to be talking about in the HUBB lately (yes I bought one! :blushing:) :

The writers are middle aged white blokes, females assumed to be only pillions (small box for one), or wives patiently waiting the hubby at home, assumed knitting? Obviously all (the said husbands) are usually on massive tall BMWs...

Obviously the clothes tested are only for blokes (Am I supposed to ride my bike around the world wearing a bikini or wearing some of the black leather bondage gear so popular in men's and bikes' mags where a chick is actually astrid a bike, usually in a very suggestive pose?- I wonder, where is the lad half naked then to compensate? )

No female role model... there are plenty of inspiring ladies out there though, I met many on the road or at the HUBB, why do we seem to not exist at all? Why none are writing in bike mags? Clothes, bikes, mags, it' all about the boys... :taz:

And as Charlotte said, the bikes and trip was MY IDEA on my side too!!! But people assume I'm just there to follow!
Time to get a voice. Go get them Lois! You should get a column on bikes mags. I would buy them more often if there was someone I can relate to.

As they stand, I am not interested on reading:
either about speed and thoughts (if such!) of some young lads testing bikes,
or,
about some old fart bloke (with receding hair line and bulging beer belly) trying the latest BMW 152000000 GS model around France and how his wife at home is pissed off that he's gone again on an "Adventure!"! And that old fart will never get the balls to get on a bike and go round the world in the first place!

Am I getting a bit bichy here :innocent:?

Cheers,

Hahaha!
 

Oh Maria, your message made me laugh so much. I am totally feeling your pain!
Not bitchy, just writing what every other female rider is thinking!
This is all great stuff girls, let's spread the word.
Lois
x

I resent your remarks. You are tarring (sp?) all us old farts with the same brush. Yes, my hair has gone but my belly is from pies and chocolate and my bikes are two old Suzukis and a GasGas.

I will re-tell a little story about preconceptions.
I went to look at a job with me and my partner (business not bed) and there were two bikes on the drive; a little Chopper/cruiser type thingy (Virago or some such) and a nice original FireBlade. The lady of the house was about 5ft nowt and very fit (sorry, sexist) and the chap was 6ft plus and built like a brick out house. After we had discussed the work we got on to talking about bikes.
Yes, you've guessed it. The cruiser was his and the 'Blade hers. She told us that they don't go rinding together because he's too slow and anyway, she likes to get to all the UK and European bike races with her mates and he isn't interested. Turns out that she had quite a collection of fast sports bikes as well as a moto-crosser.
He had got her into bikes when they married but hadn't expected to become a bike widower.

Ho Dear! What have I said? What have I done?

I am well known to my friends for my very clumsy writing skills. I'm more of a nerdy mathematician.
I did not mean to offend anyone and what I wrote was meant to be a funny (As joke) image.
So here we go: I totally and completely and humbly apologise to all the old fat blokes with receding hair lines, working in magazines, who get lent huge expensive motorbikes by big MC companies, to test ride them around around France; so that they can write honest and unbiased review of said bikes, and make hilarious jokes about the wife at home. And occasionally take a WAG with them but only as pillions. 'cause, You understand, a weemeen? On a bike???!
I also apologise that I do not buy those magazines because they do not relate to anything I experience as a biker or raise issues that concern me. And that I do not really trust their "honest independent" reviews.

From now on I will keep my posts unfunny and bland, as to not offend any one. And to questions as "how is border crossing XYZ" I will reply : "good with courteous efficient customs and guards" as to not offend border guards, and be taken for a racist if they are not of my nationality or ethnic or religious group.
I tell you what, I will make jokes and express opinions only behind closed doors and in dark alley ways as to not offend the PC Brigade and the thought Police that is coming our way in the very near future.

Sorry also for my bad English, after all I am only a "surrendering Monkey" (or "frog") as I 've heard many times at work in my 14 years in the City. I always thought it was funny. I think next time I'll take offence!


Cheers,

Maria

"When they started arresting communists, I said nothing, as I was not communist, when they went after the Gypsies, I said nothing, as I was not a Gypsy. When they started deporting Jews, I said nothing as I was not a Jew. When they came to arrest me, I protested... but it was too late".
Freedom of expression is a undamental right, being erroded everywhere under pretence of being PC.... we're all sleep walking into fascism.

Im glad....
 

hi Lois (know of but never met...yet)
I always have a rye smile when asked, usually by men, " so...how did your husband convince you to start to ride/go on this trip with him?"

when I reply..." well...I am older than him and have been riding 15 years longer than him and the trip was infact my idea....." it seems to leave them nonplussed.

I like that.

After almost 8 years on the road I am used to this - I come to expect it - but one day I live in hope that 'we' will just be accepted as bikers...regardless as to whether we have breasts or not...infact a lot of guys out there have bigger breasts than I do and these comments are never directed at them.....?

Aside from the comments from a few die-hard conventionalists - is it hard to be a woman?
no harder than it is for some men. I think that men have a lot to 'live up to'. what I mean by that is that there appears to be a lot more peer presure on them to be better, bigger, tougher than the man next to them whether it be at work or on a bike.
As a woman its my opnion that we put more pressure on ourselves rather than others putting upon us. 'We' think we should be stronger, tougher, more able than we are in most things that we do.

After many years of self-doubt about my riding abilities I have come to accept the fact that - yep...I drop my bike. Yep - I drop it sometimes in silly circumstances a lot of the time due to my height. I dont have long legs like my husband...he is 6'4"...I am 5'3". however, we DO ride the same pistes, have the same long and tiring days in the saddle but at the end of the day.....I feel safe and protected when in a dark and strange place in the middle of nowhere as he is by my side.
I wonder if I provide him with that same feeling of security and protection.....i doubt it.

When we are camping I'm the first to kick him outside if I think I hear a suspect noise or mad animal!

Im glad Im a woman!

Lisa
currently in Bangkok, Thailand en-route to everywhere else......

...like it!
 

KatGirl...I LIKE IT!! ...a lot :-)

how long did it take to think this up?? it about sums it up perfectly.
cheers:clap:

Maria, I was only playing !!!

Of course I wasn't offended.

I was just trying to point out that we all make assumptions based on our preconceived ideas. More often than not, they are wrong.

Kindest of very kind regards

BYT

Lisa, just a little comment from the other side, My wife is much the same as you in the above remarks. And just to add a little clarity, at least from my perspective. I do feel much braver when I'm with her, I'm happy to deck out of the ten, stand up for her, yes. However It's becuase she is there I react differently, I can tell you I'm a bl00dy great wus when I'm on my own! It takes alot of inner strength to do things - It's why I like to travel on my own, it forces me to face up to things that I know I can.

---

Lois - there's a common thread here about the reactions to women, and just to chuck a spanner in, I feel some kind of relief about seeing women on bikes, I think they bring a great deal to the world of bikes from sportsbikes to old relics. Some of the best conversations I've had is with women bikers and one or two of them I know are great riders, and one in particular also has the technical knowledge to back it all up, and she's show on a number of occastions that she's got bigger goolies than many men.......

Personaly, I just see bikers as bikers.... I'm sure there are lots of guys out there who think the same.

Now to clean the sodding car off for my wife......:freezing:

Great responses, thank you!
 

Hi all,
Thanks for the excellent comments, really warms my cockles on a snowy morning. Funny and insightful - I expected nothing less of course!
As has been pointed out by both men and women on this post, we're all in this together and each provide something for the other.
Hopefully see you all somewhere sometime...
Lois
PS How about Maria for Prime Minister?!

:blushing:

Oh dear and I'm supposed to be a moderator here.

I'm turning into a grumpy ol' woman!

I really need to give up the day job and get back on the road.
Ok I'm done with the ranting!

One big advantage of being a woman compared with blokes is, if there is a problem, and there are many problems on the road, women can sometimes be more assertive (some would say "fiery"!) rather than trying to tip toe around the issue.

When some idiot guy on a giant KTM crashed onto me, in Chile, destroying my bike, I was ready to compromise at first. As it became evident the guy washed his hands of it and I was left with over 4000 USD in repairs, I went straight for a kill and sued him. My husband was more keen on a conciliatory approach. Well not me! It got me results: I got some cash out of him! (It was lucky this happened in Chile though...)

I have no problems to kick arses when necessary so that things get actually done! But maybe as I said, because I am turning into a grumpy old woman? :helpsmilie:

Musings of a female newbie rider
 

Hey Lois,

Loving this thread, and wanted to add my thoughts as a relatively new rider (got my L-plates in July, going for my full-blown test next Sunday, yeeha!).

The best thing about being a "lady rider" is the attention you get - a lot of people definitely think motorcycling is cool, and even more so if you're a biker chick! When I pull up on the bike somewhere, there's invariably somebody who wants to have a look at it, asks about it, and wants to know if it's difficult to ride as a relatively petite lady (I'm 5 foot 2). All of which is a great way of meeting people - not to mention a real confidence boost! Love it!

Worst thing about being a girl on a bike is not having enough choice of bikes to play with!! I've got a low-slung cruiser (Suzuki Marauder) at the moment but would love to have a go on something that goes off-road. But pretty much everything I've looked at has a 10-foot tall saddle (ok I'm exaggerating a bit, but you know what I mean!) and is clearly designed with guys in mind. Even when I sat on a BMW adventure touring bike with lowered suspension recently, it just felt like a guy's bike, not something a girl would ride. So c'mon, bike manufacturers, how about an adventure touring bike for the girls???

Anyway, enough musings... Gotta get on and practise my slow-riding skills for my test next weekend...wish me luck!!

Jeanie :mchappy:

I'm glad you feel that way!

Can I tell you a little story? I hope this won't affend anyone. If the post ends up in the BIT bucket, I'll understand.

A little boy and girl were playing in a yard.

Little Boy:
Hey! Lets go behind the garage....I'll show you mine, If you'll show me yours.

Little Girl:
Ok!

Little Boy:
Pulls down his shorts.

Little Girl:
Lifts up her skirt.

Little Boy:
Starts laughing....Hey! I got something you don't have.

Little Girl:
That may be true....But my mum told me with what I got, I can get as many of those as I want.

I'm reminded all the time that women rule the world!

Ride Safe Everybody!

daryl

Hi Lois,

Sheonagh and Pat (aka Dusty old Bags) here. Also in Thailand (hi Lisa - we're doing the loop heading for Mae Hong Son) and we've been on the road for exactly a year now.

Huge advantages being women on the road - starting with Respect! Very good for the ego! Add our ages (61 me and 57 Pat) and people are amazed (we simper modestly...). It just makes us determined to stay as fit as possible for as long as possible.

When policemen in Peru stop you and you take your helmet off, they think - "oh my God it's my mother" and are very polite. We even escaped the clutches of an officious Nicaraguan cop without paying the bribe, though it took a while.

Yesterday we went into a Honda shop in Sukhothai to look for some bits and they ended up changing our oil for us (which we'd bought elsewhere) and washing our bikes all totally free of charge - because the lady manager (yes!) took a liking to us.

Disadvantages - Pat was constantly directed to the gents in Korea as she is 5'8" and has long legs (big advantage the rest of the time) and was even sent into the men's onsen in Japan which she exited in a hurry.

We're a bit chicken about wild camping (sorry Lois not as brave as you!).

Keep up the good work! All the best from both of us.

On advice of legal counsel, I deny all responsibility for the content here. This is for information purposes only. Do not try this at home.

Dear Auntie Lois,

Slightly off topic and maybe one for the "mens section" of the mag, but I'd like to see something about how we get more of you ladies to ride.

I know plenty of what we could charitably call recreational riders. Sports bike or Cruiser, does 2000 miles a year to the coffee shop of choice with a 7 day tour to some event. The wife/girlfriend seems to either get left at home or stuck on some hideous pillion seat with a rucksack bigger than she is wishing she'd stayed at home. I think a good proportion of these couples are fine on the basis that "absinth makes the heart grow fonder" or whatever the phrase is.

However, some of use like having our other halves along. My wife rides pillion and we have the outfit for when we want to bring the Dog, tent you can stand up in, contents of beauty salon, contents of wine cellar etc. This is close to having cake and eating it, but there is however still a limit. What would add greatly to the flexibilty of these expeditions is if my wife would get her license. We'd have a choice of bikes. I'd happliy ride the outfit while Karen enjoyed the Bonneville and it'd be great to take the MZ places that might require a tool kit knowing I had a support bike/outfit along*.

*I'm not struck with the idea of (Does Al Murray voice) "A GS for the man, nice little F650 for the lady", I'd prefer two the same even if they were both the smaller bike, but even this has to beat two adults on a CBR600RZZRABCDE and I guess gives both riders the bike they like? (I have an advantage here, I simply don't get the feel of bikes, they are just machines to me so really won't care less if both bikes ended up as Harleys or Ducatis or whatever, it'd just be more work finding the right tyres).

So; How do I stop my wife crumpling at the knees at the thought of doing her CBT to see if she likes it? Why, despite me saying time and time again that they are only machines (which I drop reasonably frequently) does she insist that I'd be upset if she dropped one of "my"/the bikes and we therefore havn't got space for one for her anyway? How come if the pillion seat is so great she doesn't want to ride?

Confused of Leeds (Andy)

PS:

Ladies who want off road but can't do a GS/KTM, imagine one with a narrowed as well as lowered seat (helps) and consider the likes of the Triumph Scrambler (not just a dressed up cruiser) and older GS (more of a conventional shape). I've found the bike doesn't need to look like a GS to do the journey, it's about tyres, bash plates etc.

Totally agree on the "getting things done" advantage, but I'm sure the middle approach between tippy toeing round it and the things my dear wife shouts at Rugby matches (in the firm knowledge that the prop forward who's head she'd like to see stamped on will come looking for me not her) might be the way?

Knitting BTW is a very useful skill. No need to put up with badly made, ill fitting winter kit for the middle layer when Karen and her mum make to measure. Hideoulsy 1970's/the goodlife as it may look, my knitted tank tops that come over your bum and seal the jacket-trousers gap are a big factor in being able to ride at minus stupid. Ditto the scarf that buttons on the chest, seals the collar but doesn't restrict/chaff. Wool insulates when wet too. One tip though, put a cork on the needles when packing in a canoe sack!

You might have yourself to blame. I learnt to ride after my first ever long distance pillion ride. If the rider had been more considerate, I might still be riding pillion now. So, in a roundabout way, he did me a huge favour! :D

Basically though, you can't make someone do something they don't want to. I would hazard a guess that most women riders on here learnt to ride because they wanted to, not at the behest of their partners. And a lot of those that did may have bikes gathering dust in garages now. You can take a horse to water...and all that.

Debs

hi maria,
if you dont like what you (dont) read in most bike mags whats stopping you taking a leaf out of lois' book and submitting an article of your own?

emeline pankhurst rode a motorbike, she wouldnt just sit there sulking, she would untwist her knickers, dust off that old typewriter from the secretarial classes she took before trapping a husband, and jolly well knock one out before getting his tea.




















TeeHee!:mchappy:

and another thing...
 

Pat who is very good at maps and spannering wants to add her bit:
Disadvantages of being a woman on the road (or anywhere for that matter):

Heaven preserve me from men who think they understand maps and snatch your's off you assuming you don't know where you are. Ten minutes later it is returned with a grimy fingerprint and a triumphant "you are here" comment. Yes I knew that.....

the mechanics who insist they know better... like
a) the one who insisted "O" rings must be glued down with great globs of gasket sealant
b) those who insist on winching up every nut and bolt including those into alloy housings to something I cannot undo without a tame gorilla
c) the one who wanted to squirt degreasant into all the oilways before putting the oil filter back.

and many other examples which result in a big argument!

Having said that, we have come across many wonderful mechanics who have let Pat loose in their workshops, lent her tools etc and not taken offence when she says how she wants something done.

..a few ramblings...
 

I've found that most mechanics have been great and have taken at face value what I have said is or may be wrong with my bike. They never mind me being in the workshop and I never feel in the way. That said...Simon is usually working with another mechanic on his bike at the same time...is it because he is also there? I would hope not.

I agree with Deseed - no amount of persuation, gentle or otherwise can convince someone to do or try something (whatever it may be) until they themselves are convinced. However, once a rider there is no going back! you may even regret it as now everything will be duplicated and this means double the cost as well! doh

"A GS for the man, nice little F650 for the lady"....I couldnt work out if this idea made me defensive over a femal standpoint or if its demeaning about the F650. ?? I'd like a bigger bike but I would not be able to touch the floor (Im only 5'3") and at the end of the day its about getting a bike that you are comfortable with whether that be the image you want to convey or how it makes you feel when you are riding it.. a bike has to 'work for you'.

so I think my point it is to Threewheelbonnie- if you want your wife to ride she must choose her own type of bike and not start off with one of yours. even though you say that the bike is just a machine to you, she sees it as YOUR machine. she has to understand the benfits of having her own bike rather than you trying to get her to see the benfits that you see.....if you understand what I mean!?

BTW - its my opinion that its not the bike that limits the rider but the rider that limits the bike...

when i first started to ride again after not being able to afford a bike for a few years I found that the mainly male group of riders were (apart from a few) full of bravado. Testosterone levels were high and for some reason I think they always felt they had to proove they were a better rider than I was.

do men generally feel threatend when a woman rides her own motobike..and if so why?

so - just a few of my ramblings. this appears to happen more and more the closer to 50 I get! :(

I feel that I would be doing my better half (Arja) an injustice by voicing an opinion in her name but as a male chauvanist (and proud of it) I will name a few facts of which we are very proud.

FACT: Travelling around the world by motorcycle was Arja's idea.
FACT: I like having Arja on the back of the bike if she was on a different bike I would not feel able to protect her.
FACT: Arja doesn't carry loads of perfume and make-up and I don't think she is any less of a beautiful woman for lack thereof.
FACT: We each play a different role, I am mechanical she is emotional together we are a team.
FACT: Arja doesn't ride and probably couldn't find a bike her size anyway so that suits my ego just fine ;-)

Everything else we work out on the road. Afterall life is meant to hold surprises otherwise it would be boring. doh

Hope to drink a beer with you lady riders and drink a cuppa tea with you fellas on the road sometime. :rofl: Cheers to some role reversals. beer


Look forward to reading the less than entirely chauvanistic MC mag (now that Lois has a column) which to be honest I don't read because they are boring and usually just full of mid-something lifeless males with beer guts (yes I'm trying to offend them) that have nothing better to do then bitch about the latest rear fender design looking like a cats rectum... :offtopic: RANT RANT RANT One day I'll probably be one of them (if it hasn't happened already hehehehehe)

Lady's I think your all roll models to other women to get out there and ride. My wife has taken up riding and enjoys it. Lois, your book (...Loose) was a great inspiration I'm sure to many women.

Lisa, I'm sorry, but you've been on the road for so long, I have a hard time even thinking about you having problems as a gal on a bike. I just take you for granted as a rider. You have way more experience than I may ever have.

I love that more and more women are riding. Lois, I think your idea here is a good one. e men should certainly read it as well. In this day and age, women are proving more and more each day that you can pretty much do everything us guys can - if you want to.

But not too many guys, well maybe I better say none that I know of, look pretty in a bike suit riding a bike. That's something you all have over us guys.

Great topic Lois :)

I've been riding for nearly 30 yrs and sadly, the same discriminations that existed when I was a learner, still exist :(
My riding experience has been all tarmac (except those "oh shit" moments). Am yet to pluck up the courage to go off-road and travel beyond the usual boundaries....

Our usual first challenge is at the bike dealers who can be extraordinarily sexist. I am consistently directed towards the mid-range cruiser - that is, if they've bothered to talk to me at all!
This attitude seems to be implanted in the average male rider too.
When faced with such negativity, is it any wonder that women are put off!

The only dealer that treated me with the upmost respect has been my local BMW dealership, who encouraged me to test ride a lowered 1200GS (I am 5' "2").

It was my own idea to ride a bike. I sold my car to buy a 125 and bikes became my life. Some women feel pressured to ride by their partners and even if they want to ride, there is additional pressure to progress quickly onto a larger machine - something which may seem very daunting!

There are many female role models but unfortunately, the media do not give sufficient coverage. After all, the male-oriented media do not want their wife / partner to get any sudden ideas of their own to go travelling around the globe on 2 wheels! :rofl:

I'm all for promoting motorcycling to women. But I have to admit, there are times when I also despair.... :rolleyes2:

PS - I purchased the Ladies on the Loose DVD from Horizons and I have to say my expectations were surpassed! Brilliant work!!

Some great comments here. Lois--I loved your books.
I have usually found that bike mechanics are less 'sexist' than car mechanics , and less likely to try and bull-shit you about a mechanical problem.
My main gripe as a women is----why is it so difficult to get clothes that fit ?? Finding boots to go over my leathers (and calves!!!) was a nightmare , and even finding a winter textile jacket was difficult--all the shops are full of male-fit jackets , with maybe one type of female-fit jacket.

Great thread.

The decision whether or not to ride is the same for both genders. My philosophy is that it's better to regret something you've done than something you haven't.

One of the things that defines us as people is how we handle adversity and, judging by the above, female bikers have had plenty of practice. They've also had plenty of success in overcoming it and can be justly proud.

'At first the dripping water makes no impression on the stone'.

Regards, Mick

Let's hear it for the boys!
 

Gosh! We do have a good quality of males on Horizons don't we?
Lois
x

Too many boys...
 

+1

I just didn't want to be the first boy to post on the 'girl's' thread. Not mentioning any names, but thanks Darren. Once that sacred rule was broken it became a free-for-all!! :rofl:

If it's misportrayed as male chivalry then so be it, I'll bare it on the chin.

Hi Ladies, just my 2p worth, as a Ex serviceman of 22 years & riding legally from the age of 16, I have NEVER assumed that ladies can or can not do something as good as a man.

My mother long gone now had a Enfield we are talking 1945 onwards, as did my father.

the bike club I belong too has quite a few mothers & single ladies some have cruisers or smaller bikes others have sports, some & only some of the speed merchants are the ladies! lol

I am with a IAM group & the group is i would say is evenly divided to 50/50 male lady 5 years ago not so.

my own lady doesn't ride other than pillion, except when she was in her teens she had a scooter & last year went travelling with her sister & hired mopeds in nam for a week, they also did the easyrider tour thing, why because it suited.

bottom line is I have as much respect for ladies now as i did when i was younger, if my bike ever broke down and a lady rider offered assistance i would accept it if she knew more than me good I will learn something.

But Ladies please do not tar all of us men as thinking the dark ages, I still open the car door for a lady just good manners.

Slightly off topic.

I once had a clutch cable go on the bullet. What you would describe as two little old ladies came along (I'd kept going to the middle of a village). I was on the phone telling a mate I'd be late, but these two ladies, both in their seventies if not older stood there and had an argument about the best way to change a clutch cable. They had both driven ambulances during the war and were not impressed with my mole-grips and push/pull technique, fearing the new cable would go the same way as the old one (it did about a month later). Wish I'd had more time to chat. I'd fear for the health of any grease monkey who tried to rip those two off.

Andy

Some of my favourite bikey chick-pics...

This gal, one hand on the bars, sideways, foot clutch AND a hand-change .... *Phwoaaarrr* but she must be (if still alive) about 80 now...

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...arleychick.jpg

And another ...

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...cati250ev8.jpg

Not convinced she's a rider but ...

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/dukegirl.jpg


Now, I can't be the only guy in the world who loves coming across a nice shapely gal on a bike ... Dangerous curves indeed ...:innocent:
(no 'in your endo' intended either:nono:)

G

Thoughts...
 

Hey Lois
I belatedly get in on the thread..couldn't resist as you can imagine.
I think I'm probably in a minority as not only do I ride solo or with a pillion, but also sometimes riding through countries overseas with a bloke on the back (a huge gasp in Iran with almost a standing ovation from the chador-clad women who were watching).
at times I've had male hitch-hikers riding pillion, and none have ever stepped out of line.
I've also ridden with my boyfriend on the back and others have always assumed that he must surely be the owner and rider and as an act of charity (or blindness) has allowed me to ride. Particularly funny when things have gone wrong with the bike (my beloved Thelma) and the attendant men refuse to listen to me, insisting on getting all their info from the boyfriend who although he rides, he knows about as much about knitting as he does about a 1990's airhead (the bike, not me).

I've always found there is nothing to be gained in taking the feminist high ground (and believe me, I've tried) I've just had to smile and let things take their course.
The number of times I've been able to tell mechanics what is wrong but they will not believe me because of my gender are numerous?c?. But again I have learnt to live with it, and I'm not even a reasonable mechanic, I just know my bike.
So back to what are the advantages, I have never had to pay a single bribe, except the fat guy on the border crossing between Mauritania and Senegal.

The disadvantages, well that is a tricky question, probably when men are doing the worng thing to your bike and you're trying to tell them but because you're female they don't believe you at all.

However, I would never change a thing, for the joy of doing what I love best,
http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/M..._bdhvZ-S-2.jpg
http://tiffanystravels.smugmug.com/M..._CwMaf-S-1.jpg

...agree!
 

Hi Tiff...nice to 'see' you!

yeah - I agree, for a lot of the time as a female you do just have to take a deep breath and a backwards step.
your comment of "nothing to be gained in taking the feminist high ground (and believe me, I've tried) I've just had to smile and let things take their course"...really does go against the grain and very difficult to do and totally the opposite of the way I was brought up....but needs must in certain countries especially.

However, I have often wondered just how hard it must be at times for you when in certain circumstances I have had to totally back off (like you, I know my bike!) and walk away and let Simon take over. ggrrr. But...I at least have 'a Simon' to take over the majority of the time if necessary. :Dyou just have to 'fight' on if at that point in your travels you are on your own.

oh BTW-sometimes its Simon and not me who has to flirt with the guy at the border/ check point etc..!! to ''get away' with not paying out!. LOL. ..then I seriously DO have to walk away and take a deep breath to stop myself from having a fit of the giggles. :-)

:mchappy:

Sometimes the hardest part of being a female on the road can be your own partner (especially if he is at home). I'm heading off the Middle East in a couple of months time and he is totally against it. Of course, he knows me and my riding style, but it has caused a lot of tension. The person you need to back you the most is the most negative. I'm not downplaying the risks, I know them, but I still am very keen to go..Iran especially. Not sure if others have experienced this. It's breaking my heart..and his as well obviously. :(

Not just a womans problem.

I get it when I go away too. The difference for me is that my wife understand it's something I do, it's me and it sort of defines me. She understands this and accepts it, but it doesn't mean she likes it.

Ok, in touch with my female side time... I'll admit I always get the 'missing wife' momment, and it usually lasts a day, about 5 - 10 days in and usually after a crappy day. Normally a phone call home is all thats needed. My wife is my rock, and all I ask of her is to be there. I understand she doesn't like it and try to ensure that I don't do or say anything that gives here reason to get upset about it.

In your case, maybe your fella needs to understand it's something that you want to do, and it's therefore part of you. You have a duty to try to make it easy for him, but don't just ignore the issue.

Lois touches on this topic in Red Tape & White Knuckles.

I've been the one left in the UK before while my ex-girlfriend was in SA for 10 months. It was very very hard and I didn't want to put anyone else through that so when I went on my big trip I broke up with my then girlfriend (different one). She then hooked up with my lodger which made my 'triumphant return home' a bitter pill to swallow. I've come to the conclusion that being in a relationship and travelling on bikes just don't mix (for me anyway)....

...sometimes you are lucky
 

henryuk! please dont give up...it does work out you just need to find 'the one'. I have ridden bikes far longer than Simon and we were lucky enough to just 'find' one another. We are the best riding buddies as well as being married, or you will find a lady like GasUp's got! they are out there!

Adastra- this must be hard, I have never experienced this, however, I am sure that Tiff has. how about sending her a PM and having a chat? Im sure she wouldnt mind.

one of the most important things to remember is that your partner is just worried for you and showing concern, however, they also need to respect your wishes and if they find this impossible, you need to consider if they are the right partner for you in life in general.........
only my opinion! dont mean to cause any friction anywhere!!!

Hi Lois,

Just a suggestion.

As much as I hate to use a Dirty word, But MCN are currently running a campagin about getting women into biking, and more having female "biker" Role models it might be worth seeing if your project can be applied here as well.

Thanks

Not giving up quite yet but 'the one' is hard to find when I'm spending most of my time elbow deep in an engine, at work or on the road..... Maybe it's time for a Horizons Unlimited 'singles' meet! Although that would probably be interpreted as 'one cylinder only' (or have 300 blokes fighting over 10 women)!

It's always struck me as a bit curious that the noticeable female prescence at bike events are normally wearing their undies and don't look like they'd risk breaking a nail for a clogged fuel line, let alone anything more taxing - see the 'fuel girls' at the upcoming Revolution show?!? I reckon biking as a sub-culture would need to address it's objectification of the female form before it can address the balance!

Not that those girls aren't easy on the eye, I just don't have pannier space for make-up and heels!

Ladies, please bear in mind that it's not always easy being a man either.

Especially when some brazen trollop with a broken down motorbike flutters her eyelashes at a chap.
She knows she can fix it, you know she can fix it, she knows you know she can fix it. But you fix it anyway..............well, you never know your luck:innocent:


One of my favourite photo's from around 1974. My beloved wife.

Hey all,

Best story about benefits of being a girl? Crossing into Ukraine, right in front of me at the border (as in, wandering back over the line to chat to me while their paperwork was being sorted out) was a group of Austrian riders, all male bar one lady pillion. They warned me the border guard had "suggested" they each put 5 euros in their passport if they wanted to get through "quickly".

Off they go and I move forward. Same booth, same border guards. Not a single mention of money changing hands, and one of them even went to ask a colleague how to say "have a good journey" in English.

My work is male-dominated (I'm often the only girl on a site of 50-100 people), so I sometimes feel I lose track of a specifically "female" perspective (I tried clothes shopping the other day. It didn't work.) But I think that unless someone is actually trying to insult you personally, just take them as they come and work with it. Some will patronise you, but most are just trying to do what they think is most polite, or most helpful to you.

And Phoenix, if you want to try off-road riding, I see you're Yorkshire-based, come on a Northern mini-meet. There's a few girls usually, and the men have got very good at helping me pick my bike up (cos no matter what sex you are there's no point in doing that on your own if there's someone to help) :innocent:

Laura

Well off topic, sorry, but are there any Northern meets pending? I really need to learn how to pick up my F650 Funduro :confused1:

None pending right now, but we're probably due one soon, keep an eye out on the HU Meetings Uk thread.

Laura

Hi Dee, my mate Ged video'd Tiffany's talk at last years Ripley meetings, here are the links...

YouTube - RIPLEY 2010 - Film 9

YouTube - RIPLEY 2010 - Film 10

Then you just need to lay your bike over on some grass and practice.

Have fun! :thumbup1:

That's the scary bit - I wouldn't want to hurt her :rolleyes2: I will probably puts some soft panniers over the tank and rear end and fill them with pillows off the bed

Thank you for the videos

Picking up the bike
 

Obviously the thing you have to be careful of is your back, you'll have heard all the "use your legs not your back", but the other useful tip, as given to me by my osteopath, is to use your stomach muscles too - they act as a sort of corset, keeping your posture right and protecting your back.

Hope that helps!

Laura

Dee, the bike in the video is my mate Reggie's brand spanking new Serow. Not a mark was put on it after several gentle lay downs and lifts. Be brave, it won't damage your bike. My Tiger has "fallen over" several times on gravel and in carparks on tarmac without any damage other than scratching the bar ends. However, I did have my Givi paniers on and that saved the rear of the bike. But grass is a very forgiving surface, unless it's frozen solid.

One thing you don't have when practicing is any adrenaline, When you drop one in anger you will find that it weighs nothing when you pick it up as long as you do it straight away. Good stuff that adrenaline! :taz:

When I walk into a mechanics, and there are calendars of girls draped over bikes, i'm not sure where to look. Does make my blood boil, especially at the bike shows. I did ask one specialist woman's bike kit supplier to have hunks in not a lot of clothes walking round for the ladies next time. They thought I was mad. Hey ho.

Henry- know what you mean about the dating thing, my problem is that quite a lot of men I have come across find a woman biker quite intimidating!

Being a third generation biker, and one of three girls, my parents are so proud of me taking on the 'tom boy' role, at all the bike meets, my dad takes pride in introducing me, and tells people of my latest exploits, although he is far too quick to jump in when he sees me struggling with mechanical issues, I find myself just standing back and watching.

I don't know if many of you are mothers, but I personally know some women who have stopped riding because they don't want to risk being squished and leaving kids.... but there are lots of other pressures involved, time, money, and how the parenting is shared between partners etc. It does mean however, that there is usually a fair bit of women's kit on ebay that has only been worn a few times and then its sold on.

I do find that if I am stuck at the traffic lights, and its clear i'm a woman (so hair hanging out, or pink jacket), men especially on bigger bikes will try and outrun me.

Another gender based biking discussion in my household recently sprung up, I was explaining my next trip, and saying I wanted to do more wild camping. My mother was worried by this, I did ask if I was a son, would she be as worried? She quickly tried to shift the subject, and said, i'm sure you'll be fine, so long as you have your she-wee with you. Charming.

Funny, I also find that if I'm at lights and another bike pulls up they try and outrun me, I'd never even considered the possibility that they had mistaken me for a woman (until now)! I am quite short I suppose, and the pink jacket doesn't help........

But the best reason for trying not to look like a woman when travelling on a bike is the look of surprise when you take your helmet off - especially after being pulled over by the police for "speeding".:mchappy:

more of everythig
 

I haven't passed my test yet, but I've been researching bikes and biking for some time (expensive migration to Aus has put back plans)

I agree with a lot of people here, given the number of women biking (and I mean biking not getting off by sitting on pillion draped and slobbering over some grease monkey's shoulders) you'd think there was plenty of material out there for articles.

Personally I'd like to see a women's biker mag. How many magazines do we all have to buy or web sites to trawl through to get up a tiny collection of female gear, helmet and bike reviews??

And please explain to me why women's safety gear is often lower cut and thinner? My bloody bones hurt just as much as any fellahs in an accident. I don't give a sh!t if they don't make pink Kevlar yet sunshine, just put the black stuff in my bloody jacket!

I'm glad Lois has done the trips she has, (and if you'll forgive me Lois) given her height, frame and smaller powered bikes she's done them on, if I ever I get to the 'oh this is too hard' train of thought, I think about Lois' trips and think 'f!ck that, yes you CAN!!'

We want gear, bike, trail, hotel/hostel reviews, we want reports on female bikers, be it bike messengers or rtw for past 5 years. In Aus, we have awards and window stickers for female friendly businesses. One day they won't be necessary, but in the meantime, how about we hand out something similar to the fellahs in the garages/hotesl/borders around the world and thank them for their efforts?

There's enough of (us) out there with enough tales to tell, what are we all waiting for? We're women aren't we? Let's get on getting on.

(deflates soap box and returns researching):blushing:

Caf has had all the same preconceptions................. her riding motorcycles was what got us together in the first place. http://www.curryhunt.co.uk/web_image...allory_004.jpg

Oh, please, yes a short dual sport!
 

I could have written this! word-for-word!

A lowered BMW 650 GS is the only thing I've been on that was a great fit, but I'll never be able to afford such a bike, at least not new. I sat on a Triumph Scrambler, and it was a total big toe situation - I wouldn't trust myself on it, though I LOVED it (I also couldn't afford such right now). All you women over 64" make me so jealous.

For now, I'm on a 1982 Honda Nighthawk - not at all a dual sport, but it's low enough for me!