I feel that I would be doing my better half (Arja) an injustice by voicing an opinion in her name but as a male chauvanist (and proud of it) I will name a few facts of which we are very proud.

FACT: Travelling around the world by motorcycle was Arja's idea.
FACT: I like having Arja on the back of the bike if she was on a different bike I would not feel able to protect her.
FACT: Arja doesn't carry loads of perfume and make-up and I don't think she is any less of a beautiful woman for lack thereof.
FACT: We each play a different role, I am mechanical she is emotional together we are a team.
FACT: Arja doesn't ride and probably couldn't find a bike her size anyway so that suits my ego just fine ;-)

Everything else we work out on the road. Afterall life is meant to hold surprises otherwise it would be boring.

Hope to drink a with you lady riders and drink a cuppa tea with you fellas on the road sometime. Cheers to some role reversals.


Look forward to reading the less than entirely chauvanistic MC mag (now that Lois has a column) which to be honest I don't read because they are boring and usually just full of mid-something lifeless males with guts (yes I'm trying to offend them) that have nothing better to do then bitch about the latest rear fender design looking like a cats rectum... RANT RANT RANT One day I'll probably be one of them (if it hasn't happened already hehehehehe)

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TurboCharger + Francois (our BMW R1200gs) '07
www.riding2up.net, blog.riding2up.net

Lady's I think your all roll models to other women to get out there and ride. My wife has taken up riding and enjoys it. Lois, your book (...Loose) was a great inspiration I'm sure to many women.

Lisa, I'm sorry, but you've been on the road for so long, I have a hard time even thinking about you having problems as a gal on a bike. I just take you for granted as a rider. You have way more experience than I may ever have.

I love that more and more women are riding. Lois, I think your idea here is a good one. e men should certainly read it as well. In this day and age, women are proving more and more each day that you can pretty much do everything us guys can - if you want to.

But not too many guys, well maybe I better say none that I know of, look pretty in a bike suit riding a bike. That's something you all have over us guys.

Great topic Lois

I've been riding for nearly 30 yrs and sadly, the same discriminations that existed when I was a learner, still exist
My riding experience has been all tarmac (except those "oh shit" moments). Am yet to pluck up the courage to go off-road and travel beyond the usual boundaries....

Our usual first challenge is at the bike dealers who can be extraordinarily sexist. I am consistently directed towards the mid-range cruiser - that is, if they've bothered to talk to me at all!
This attitude seems to be implanted in the average male rider too.
When faced with such negativity, is it any wonder that women are put off!

The only dealer that treated me with the upmost respect has been my local BMW dealership, who encouraged me to test ride a lowered 1200GS (I am 5' "2").

It was my own idea to ride a bike. I sold my car to buy a 125 and bikes became my life. Some women feel pressured to ride by their partners and even if they want to ride, there is additional pressure to progress quickly onto a larger machine - something which may seem very daunting!

There are many female role models but unfortunately, the media do not give sufficient coverage. After all, the male-oriented media do not want their wife / partner to get any sudden ideas of their own to go travelling around the globe on 2 wheels!

I'm all for promoting motorcycling to women. But I have to admit, there are times when I also despair....

PS - I purchased the Ladies on the Loose DVD from Horizons and I have to say my expectations were surpassed! Brilliant work!!

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Elaine

Striving to live the ordinary life in a non ordinary way

Some great comments here. Lois--I loved your books.
I have usually found that bike mechanics are less 'sexist' than car mechanics , and less likely to try and bull-shit you about a mechanical problem.
My main gripe as a women is----why is it so difficult to get clothes that fit ?? Finding boots to go over my leathers (and calves!!!) was a nightmare , and even finding a winter textile jacket was difficult--all the shops are full of male-fit jackets , with maybe one type of female-fit jacket.

Great thread.

The decision whether or not to ride is the same for both genders. My philosophy is that it's better to regret something you've done than something you haven't.

One of the things that defines us as people is how we handle adversity and, judging by the above, female bikers have had plenty of practice. They've also had plenty of success in overcoming it and can be justly proud.

'At first the dripping water makes no impression on the stone'.

Regards, Mick

Gosh! We do have a good quality of males on Horizons don't we?
Lois
x

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www.loisontheloose.com

+1

I just didn't want to be the first boy to post on the 'girl's' thread. Not mentioning any names, but thanks Darren. Once that sacred rule was broken it became a free-for-all!!

If it's misportrayed as male chivalry then so be it, I'll bare it on the chin.

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TurboCharger + Francois (our BMW R1200gs) '07
www.riding2up.net, blog.riding2up.net

Hi Ladies, just my 2p worth, as a Ex serviceman of 22 years & riding legally from the age of 16, I have NEVER assumed that ladies can or can not do something as good as a man.

My mother long gone now had a Enfield we are talking 1945 onwards, as did my father.

the bike club I belong too has quite a few mothers & single ladies some have cruisers or smaller bikes others have sports, some & only some of the speed merchants are the ladies! lol

I am with a IAM group & the group is i would say is evenly divided to 50/50 male lady 5 years ago not so.

my own lady doesn't ride other than pillion, except when she was in her teens she had a scooter & last year went travelling with her sister & hired mopeds in nam for a week, they also did the easyrider tour thing, why because it suited.

bottom line is I have as much respect for ladies now as i did when i was younger, if my bike ever broke down and a lady rider offered assistance i would accept it if she knew more than me good I will learn something.

But Ladies please do not tar all of us men as thinking the dark ages, I still open the car door for a lady just good manners.

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We are the Pilgrims, Master, we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.

Slightly off topic.

I once had a clutch cable go on the bullet. What you would describe as two little old ladies came along (I'd kept going to the middle of a village). I was on the phone telling a mate I'd be late, but these two ladies, both in their seventies if not older stood there and had an argument about the best way to change a clutch cable. They had both driven ambulances during the war and were not impressed with my mole-grips and push/pull technique, fearing the new cable would go the same way as the old one (it did about a month later). Wish I'd had more time to chat. I'd fear for the health of any grease monkey who tried to rip those two off.

Andy

Some of my favourite bikey chick-pics...

This gal, one hand on the bars, sideways, foot clutch AND a hand-change .... *Phwoaaarrr* but she must be (if still alive) about 80 now...



And another ...



Not convinced she's a rider but ...




Now, I can't be the only guy in the world who loves coming across a nice shapely gal on a bike ... Dangerous curves indeed ...
(no 'in your endo' intended either)

G

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I wish my wheelies were intentional...

Hey Lois
I belatedly get in on the thread..couldn't resist as you can imagine.
I think I'm probably in a minority as not only do I ride solo or with a pillion, but also sometimes riding through countries overseas with a bloke on the back (a huge gasp in Iran with almost a standing ovation from the chador-clad women who were watching).
at times I've had male hitch-hikers riding pillion, and none have ever stepped out of line.
I've also ridden with my boyfriend on the back and others have always assumed that he must surely be the owner and rider and as an act of charity (or blindness) has allowed me to ride. Particularly funny when things have gone wrong with the bike (my beloved Thelma) and the attendant men refuse to listen to me, insisting on getting all their info from the boyfriend who although he rides, he knows about as much about knitting as he does about a 1990's airhead (the bike, not me).

I've always found there is nothing to be gained in taking the feminist high ground (and believe me, I've tried) I've just had to smile and let things take their course.
The number of times I've been able to tell mechanics what is wrong but they will not believe me because of my gender are numerous. But again I have learnt to live with it, and I'm not even a reasonable mechanic, I just know my bike.
So back to what are the advantages, I have never had to pay a single bribe, except the fat guy on the border crossing between Mauritania and Senegal.

The disadvantages, well that is a tricky question, probably when men are doing the worng thing to your bike and you're trying to tell them but because you're female they don't believe you at all.

However, I would never change a thing, for the joy of doing what I love best,

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Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

Hi Tiff...nice to 'see' you!

yeah - I agree, for a lot of the time as a female you do just have to take a deep breath and a backwards step.
your comment of "nothing to be gained in taking the feminist high ground (and believe me, I've tried) I've just had to smile and let things take their course"...really does go against the grain and very difficult to do and totally the opposite of the way I was brought up....but needs must in certain countries especially.

However, I have often wondered just how hard it must be at times for you when in certain circumstances I have had to totally back off (like you, I know my bike!) and walk away and let Simon take over. ggrrr. But...I at least have 'a Simon' to take over the majority of the time if necessary. you just have to 'fight' on if at that point in your travels you are on your own.

oh BTW-sometimes its Simon and not me who has to flirt with the guy at the border/ check point etc..!! to ''get away' with not paying out!. LOL. ..then I seriously DO have to walk away and take a deep breath to stop myself from having a fit of the giggles. :-)

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Lisa
www.2ridetheworld.com

Sometimes the hardest part of being a female on the road can be your own partner (especially if he is at home). I'm heading off the Middle East in a couple of months time and he is totally against it. Of course, he knows me and my riding style, but it has caused a lot of tension. The person you need to back you the most is the most negative. I'm not downplaying the risks, I know them, but I still am very keen to go..Iran especially. Not sure if others have experienced this. It's breaking my heart..and his as well obviously.

Not just a womans problem.

I get it when I go away too. The difference for me is that my wife understand it's something I do, it's me and it sort of defines me. She understands this and accepts it, but it doesn't mean she likes it.

Ok, in touch with my female side time... I'll admit I always get the 'missing wife' momment, and it usually lasts a day, about 5 - 10 days in and usually after a crappy day. Normally a phone call home is all thats needed. My wife is my rock, and all I ask of her is to be there. I understand she doesn't like it and try to ensure that I don't do or say anything that gives here reason to get upset about it.

In your case, maybe your fella needs to understand it's something that you want to do, and it's therefore part of you. You have a duty to try to make it easy for him, but don't just ignore the issue.

Lois touches on this topic in Red Tape & White Knuckles.

I've been the one left in the UK before while my ex-girlfriend was in SA for 10 months. It was very very hard and I didn't want to put anyone else through that so when I went on my big trip I broke up with my then girlfriend (different one). She then hooked up with my lodger which made my 'triumphant return home' a bitter pill to swallow. I've come to the conclusion that being in a relationship and travelling on bikes just don't mix (for me anyway)....