Put aside any preconceived notions you may have about women bikers. They are not the female version of Hells’ Angels or menacing figures akin to the always angry anti-woman figures in cut-off plaid shirts and leather chaps. Though they may don the chaps for fashion and practicality, they are,, more often than not, professional women and, in that respect, they are similar to their male counterparts who find motorcycling to be a liberating experience. That whole wind-in-your-hair, freedom-of-the road exhilaration and thrill thing is more than just a cliché and, remember, these notions become clichés precisely because they are true.
Women riders make up just about 30 percent of the motorcycle riders on the road today. Learning to ride a motorcycle can be a life-changing experience for women. Rolling out spoke with one of our favorite motorcycle mamas — although you’d never know it to meet her — about the reasons she decided to join the club. Cynthia Ellison, former beauty salon owner, aesthetician and masseuse, is a woman of culture who enjoys a refined lifestyle and road travel with her husband, Roger Lennert of the Legal Aid and Defender Association, and former executive director of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association. –roz edward
Why ride a motorcycle?
For the same reason a man does. It makes you feel good. The wind at your face, the power, the freedom and the empowerment create a feeling that’s unlike anything else, and, then, there’s the camaraderie of bonding with other riders, whether you’re in a club or you get together with friends for short- and long-distance rides. We acknowledge each other and recognize that we have this special thing that bonds us. Plus, there is nothing between you and the road, and you’re seeing everything close-up. It’s like being the master of your own destiny or the captain of your own ship. Riding a bike is a unique experience each and every time you start it up
What type of bike is best suited for a woman?
Most women motorcyclists are smaller and lighter than their male counterparts. There are a lot of motorcycles on the market that are more suited for a smaller and lighter rider. A Harley Sportster is good, if you’re going to do the bike thing. You don’t have to be musclebound to ride. Just get the right bike.
What about attire for the woman biker?
The best thing is riding your bike, and you’re color-coordinated. I have on a helmet, so people don’t have any idea of who I am, how old I am or anything else. I ride in red leather gear, and I have an Egyptian scarab [symbol] painted on my matching helmet. You can, essentially, assume another persona and return to yourself when you get back home.
What type of women ride bikes?
All types, and there are women that ride 24/7. It’s their only mode of transportation. I’m a weekend type of gal, and I take my Harley out for fun. There are those girls that are bad girls and live the biker lifestyle you see in the movies. But I am a good girl, a Harley girl that likes a good party, too.
