A Ripple Relay is moving through B.C. to promote a women鈥檚 worldwide motorcycling event, and on May 31, a group of the bikers converged in Chilliwack.
About two dozen women riders met at Mountainview Harley Davidson to prepare for their leg to 91大黄鸭. Some were old friends, others were just meeting for the first time. They were every size, age and background, but they all share the love of the open road. And they had an adventure ahead.
The ride began at Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada Highway near Victoria, B.C. earlier this week. A group of nine women from Vancouver travelled there to kick it all off, and met with 11 women from Vancouver Island. They rode the Malahat together, even through terrible weather.
鈥淲e鈥檙e talking biblical rains, and fog so thick,鈥� said Teresa Udell, who got the B.C. Ripple Relay going. 鈥淏ut we did it, and it was amazing.鈥�
Once in Vancouver, the women rode around Stanley Park, out to Fort Langley, and to White Rock throughout the week. When the leg that took off from Chilliwack got to 91大黄鸭, they were to meet another group headed to Balfour, near Nelson.
Cat Ablett, one of the Chilliwack bikers, says that women are the fastest growing demographic of riders 鈥� and the industry is starting to stand up and take notice.
The Ripple Relay is about increasing that presence, and showing there is room for women on the road.
But it鈥檚 also about connections, and many of the riders have met women online all over the world. The Ripple Relays are meant to build momentum for the Women Riders World Relay, that got started back in February. It will hit about 82 countries and connect tens of thousands of women riders. The ride is being tracked online with a GPS-fitted baton.
For the Ripple Relay, the women travel with a large, handmade coin. And before they set out from Harley Davidson on Friday, they took turns taking pictures with it, signing their ride banner, and writing their names in a ledger for posterity.
Every one of the riders has her own story. When Pat Jacobsen wanted to start riding motorcycles, she had never even ridden a bicycle.
鈥淲e lived in Vancouver and our mother said it wasn鈥檛 safe, because we might get hurt,鈥� she says, laughing. Now, she lives in North Delta, and she rides whenever she gets the chance. She鈥檚 been all over North America, including three trips to Sturgis.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to waste any time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 only have so many birthdays left.鈥�
Eline Mets is a motocross rider with an injured shoulder. She鈥檚 joined the rally to bring awareness to women riders in that sport. By chance, on that same day, she launched her television show . It鈥檚 been in the works for a few years, but during the stop in Chilliwack she nervously hit the publish button. Once done, she took a look around at the gathering crowd of women bikers.
鈥淭hese are the women you don鈥檛 see on TV,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 hear about them, you don鈥檛 read about them.鈥�
Chilliwack鈥檚 Karen Norvell was in the crowd, but unable to make the 91大黄鸭 trip. People around town would recognize her by the pig-tailed helmet she sports while on her bike.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much freedom in riding,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t is a scary thing, but it鈥檚 a freedom like no other.鈥�
She grew up riding on the bike of her dad鈥檚 bike, and as a mom she encourages her own kids to get on the road, including her daughter Abbie. They love the biking community, and want to see more women get involved.
鈥淧eople you don鈥檛 even know become your sisters, your brothers,鈥� she says.
鈥淭his ride gives a voice to the women,鈥� Udell adds. 鈥淲e matter, we鈥檙e here.鈥�
The elay comes to Canada on September 14.
jpeters@theprogress.com
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