Today, May 7, is the 2010 International Female Ride Day and I want to wish all female motorcycle riders out there a very happy day of riding.
The International Female Ride Day is a campaign for women aimed at promoting women motorcycle riders. This event occurs annually on the first Friday of the month of May. A special day to celebrate women motorcyclists, worldwide, International Female Riding Day was created by Motoress International with the aim of highlighting the number of women actively enjoying motorcycling and inspiring new women riders to take on the sport. Rides are organized internationally in celebration of this event signaling to women around the world to join together on their motorcycles, no matter the type, size or style and - JUST RIDE!
Most people think that women make bad drivers and the idea of women riding motorcycles is akin to running with scissors – an accident about to happen. In recent years though, more women have been seen riding motorcycles. In a 2008 census conducted by the Motorcycle Industry Council in the United States, some 5.7 million women rode motorcyclists in America with numbers increasing ever since.
I picked up dirt bike riding not too long ago and as most experienced riders will tell you, it’s all about technique. Once you master it, you can ride any type of motorcycle, regardless your size.
Since my adolescence, dirt bikes have always appealed to me because they are more streamline and come in a multitude of bright colours. The main draw back when I was kid, was the fashion. Motor cross riders had the most colourful and garang-looking outfits. Their full-faced helmets, knee-high boots and colourful jerseys made them look like multi-coloured storm troopers! After picking up the sport recently, I’ve learnt that it is hard work to develop the necessary riding skills to ride both on- and off-road. Off-road riding is unlike road riding because it takes guts to maneuver your bike out of dicey situations. Learning stunts like popping a wheelie (where your front tire is mid-air), doing donuts (making circles on the ground with your motorcycle) and jumping with your bike are considered relatively advanced if you are a newbie.
Sometimes, just getting your bike out of a rut is already an adventure by itself. It is an endless journey of self-discovery because you find yourself improvising and overcoming things you never thought you could.
Being licensed to ride a motorcycle in Singapore is a three-part process. You have to pass the Class 2B test (to ride bikes 200cc and below), Class 2A test (to ride bikes 400cc and below) and then finally the Class 2 test (to ride any class of motorcycle). Unlike driving a car, riding a motorcycle exposes the rider to tricky road conditions and harsh elements and as such, riders must be trained to control their bikes and anticipate volatile traffic situations.
I’m not quite there yet but I look forward to the day I get my Class 2 license because my dream motorcycle is the recently launched 2010 Ducati Monster 696. It is a sheer beauty and there is just something very alluring about a girl pulling into a petrol station on a Ducati, removing her helmet and shaking her long locks into place. But for now, I will continue to live vicariously through other women who are already riding Ducatis.
So, to commemorate the 2010 today, I encourage all Singapore women motorcyclists to just ride! And to all motorists, if you happen to spot a female motorcyclist on the road today, please give them a celebratory honk and friendly wave because these female riders are shining examples of beauty, style and guts!
