Motorcycle Explorer September 2016 Issue 13 | Page 14

During the weekend I didn’t count the number of girls, but
there were well over a hundred. I had expected most would
be from the UK, but was surprised to discover how many had
travelled from overseas. There were girls from the United
States, Ireland, Canada, France, the Netherlands. And some of
the ‘locals’ had ridden a long way to be there, including from
Scotland - hundreds of miles to the north.
On the whole we were a fairly young crowd, but the age
group spanned decades. The experience of the riders was
also broad; some had been riding for years and arrived on
Harleys, BMWs, Street Triples and the like, but many were on
125s, including about fifteen who were still learning and
riding on L plates. One group, all on 125s, set off together
from London on Friday morning, but because learner riders
are not allowed to use the motorways in the UK, they had to
travel on the back roads. It took them over ten hours to reach
the campsite, quite a feat on such small bikes, and for some it
was the first time they had ventured outside London on their
motos! I was so impressed by this and proud to see the
commitment of these girls, determined to join us and take
part in the weekend despite the daunting journey facing
them.
We all camped together in a farmer’s field adjacent to a large
barn where a stage, dance floor and bar had been set up,
along with a few brands selling motorcycle gear. Amongst all
the fun and socialising, the main event was the Saturday ride
out, with three road routes and some off-road training on
offer for us to choose from. Each group a motley crew on a
wide variety of machines, and sporting an eclectic range of
moto-fashion and some colourful helmets, I think we were an
unexpected and novel sight; we caught the attention of locals
and fellow male bikers alike who all wanted to come and chat
when we stopped, or wave as we passed by. Even Paul, who
has ridden many thousands of miles on the roads of UK and
was enjoying the Brecon Beacons alone on his Tiger, said he
was struck by the unique sight of thirty or so girls on 125s
riding together as a group into Merthyr Tydfil.
Of course this should not come as a surprise, because
motorcycling has traditionally been, and still remains, a very
male-dominated activity. In the UK, only about ten percent of
full licence holders are women; it is slightly higher in the USA,
at around fourteen percent. But this male dominance goes
beyond just the statistics. In most sectors of the motorcycle
community, the male attitude also dominates. There are a lot
of alpha males on two wheels and a lot of testosterone on
display, to greater or lesser degrees. This can be intimidating
for some women, or simply off-putting to aspiring female
riders, as it is not an environment they are likely to be
nurtured by or enjoy.