A Ripple Relay is moving through B.C. to promote a women91裸聊视频檚 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 Kelowna. 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.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e talking biblical rains, and fog so thick,91裸聊视频� said Teresa Udell, who got the B.C. Ripple Relay going. 91裸聊视频淏ut we did it, and it was amazing.91裸聊视频�
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 Kelowna, 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 91裸聊视频� 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 it91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淲e lived in Vancouver and our mother said it wasn91裸聊视频檛 safe, because we might get hurt,91裸聊视频� she says, laughing. Now, she lives in North Delta, and she rides whenever she gets the chance. She91裸聊视频檚 been all over North America, including three trips to Sturgis.
91裸聊视频淚 didn91裸聊视频檛 want to waste any time,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 only have so many birthdays left.91裸聊视频�
Eline Mets is a motocross rider with an injured shoulder. She91裸聊视频檚 joined the rally to bring awareness to women riders in that sport. By chance, on that same day, she launched her television show . It91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淭hese are the women you don91裸聊视频檛 see on TV,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淵ou don91裸聊视频檛 hear about them, you don91裸聊视频檛 read about them.91裸聊视频�
Chilliwack91裸聊视频檚 Karen Norvell was in the crowd, but unable to make the Kelowna trip. People around town would recognize her by the pig-tailed helmet she sports while on her bike.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 so much freedom in riding,91裸聊视频� she says. 91裸聊视频淚t is a scary thing, but it91裸聊视频檚 a freedom like no other.91裸聊视频�
She grew up riding on the bike of her dad91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淧eople you don91裸聊视频檛 even know become your sisters, your brothers,91裸聊视频� she says.
91裸聊视频淭his ride gives a voice to the women,91裸聊视频� Udell adds. 91裸聊视频淲e matter, we91裸聊视频檙e here.91裸聊视频�
The elay comes to Canada on September 14.
jpeters@theprogress.com
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