Happy International Women’s Day to all of our female readers and members! Whether you’re a pillion or a rider, we’re happy to have you here at FL Bikers and within the general motorcycle community at large.
This year, International Women’s Day happened to fall during one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the country, the Daytona Bike Week. Our team attended the rally and we can tell you first-hand that there were more women riders and pillions and motorcycle enthusiasts in attendance than there has ever been!
In the past, we’ve touched on how integral women are to the motorcycle community here in Florida: The riding clubs they create, the events they help put on, and what the future looks like for our 2-wheel sisters. But while International Women’s Day is as good a time as any to look back on the history of women in the motorcycle world, we think it’s better to look toward the future… and more specifically, the 14th annual International Female Ride Day (IFRD).
If you haven’t heard of it, IFRD is OUR version of International Women’s Day. It’s the day the entire motorcycle community comes together to recognize and celebrate the women who ride. This one-day event, which started back in 2007, takes place every year on the first Saturday in May. This year, IFRD will be held on May 1, 2021.
IFRD was started by Vicki Gray, the founder of Motoress.com. At the time, the online magazine was one of the first to specifically target women within the motorcycle community. Even though the first ride was much smaller than what it has since become, it was still a spectacle that crossed borders and overcame language and cultural barriers even in its inception. Since 2007, women from dozens of countries – from Greece, to the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, North America, and even India have participated in the event. It seems that women the world over were ready for a day to celebrate their skills on two wheels.
One of the things that has made it so easy for this event to spread and grow is just how easy it is to participate. All you have to do is 1) be a woman and 2) ride your motorcycle around your community on the first Saturday in May. You don’t have to register or be invited. You don’t need to buy anything or join a specific organization. It doesn’t matter if you ride solo or as part of a group. You just get on your bike and ride.
Many women, however, do choose to ride in groups, but that shouldn’t discourage solo riders from participating and even posting to social media with the hashtags #internationalfemalerideday and #ifrd to display their pride and inspire other women to take the plunge and learn to ride. In fact, social media can be a great way to connect with and find other women riders near you.
While it’s true you don’t need to buy anything to participate, if you want to commemorate the day with an official IFRD t-shirt, Motoress sells them on their online store every year for exactly that reason.
Whether you’re riding solo or as part of a group or club. Whether you’re wearing an official t-shirt or not. Whether you’ve been riding your whole life or have just started out. If you’re a woman, we hope to see you out on the beautiful Florida streets come May 1st to celebrate your love of riding!
Until then, Happy International Women’s Day (again) to all of our female readers.
