Author: Art Gib
Title: A History Of Women In Motorcycling
Article: The most common image of a motorcyclist is a large weathered man with tattoos and leathers, flying down the highway on a chopper with his long hair streaming behind him. But what’s missing from this picture? Motorcycles are often associated with men, but women have been riding, enjoying, and accomplishing daring feats on motorcycles just as long as men.
In the early days of motorcycles, around the late 1800s early 1900s, motorcycles were created as a means of faster transportation than a bicycle. In fact, early motorcycles were basically just bicycles with motors attached. These early machines were also much cheaper than cars. For this reason, they were considered a better option for transportation than cars and many families bought them in order to get their family from place to place. It wasn’t uncommon to see female riders on these motorized bikes.
In 1916 women weren’t allowed to vote, nor were they considered equals to men, but that didn’t stop adventurous women from proving they could accomplish great feats with courage and determination. Augusta and Adeline Van Buren were two sisters from New York City and descendents of former president Martin Van Buren. At the time, the nation was preparing to enter the battlefield of World War I. The Van Buren sisters wanted to prove that women could be trusted as reliable dispatch riders in the war. To do that, the two sisters planned to ride their motorcycles from the East coast to the West coast and become the first people to make the transcontinental journey on two solo motorcycles.
They were even arrested a few times on their journey, not for speeding, but for wearing men’s riding clothes, including leather jackets and leather leggings. During their journey they also became the first women to reach the summit of Pike’s Peak on motorcycles. These two pioneering sisters not only paved the way for all female motorcyclists, but for all strong, independent women.
During World War II several women made their mark as motorcyclists and racers, particularly Theresa Wallach of England who rode as a dispatch rider during the war. After World War II, several notable women helped pave the way for female motorcyclists including avid rider Margaret Wilson and stunt rider Debbie Evans. Today more and more women are enjoying the sport. Gone are the days when a woman could be arrested for wearing men’s riding leathers. Now there are riding clothes like women’s leather jackets made specifically for women who love to ride. Thanks to courageous women who paved the way, women have made their mark in the world of motorcycling. GR Harley (http://www.grharley.com/) is about harley davidson women”s leather jacket. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com