Women Who Ride
When I set out to write this article about the female motorcycle riders on staff at Barrie Harley-Davidson® I asked myself, "Who are these sexy biker chicks?" You know, that stereotypic image of a tough beer swilling broad, sporting tattoos and wearing skimpy denim shorts while flashing her boobs at every passer-by with a taunting smile from her pillion throne. Sorry boys, this vision of Barbarella exists only in your dream fantasy.
The women I interviewed were confident, smart, independent, powerful and fearless.
True, some of them had ink, owned denim shorts, drank a variety of beverages from protein shakes to Jagermeister, white wine to a whiskey sour and unanimously were endowed with breasts. The real female riders were moms, sisters, wives, and daughters. They formed a community of women who were linked by common interests, their solidarity based on shared experiences, conditions and concerns.
They were not Amazon warriors engaging in a mythical quest to best their male counterparts. What they sought was neither equality or superiority, but serenity. Their personal journeys are a reflection of who they are; encompassing both past, present, and future. Let the introductions begin!
Jennifer Rimmer, Sales Associate
For Jennifer, all things with wheels were just a natural way of life. With both parents and older sister all being avid riders and outdoor enthusiasts, Jennifer's first ride in 1991 (at the ripe age of 4 yrs.) was a 50cc mini dirt bike. That was soon followed by numerous snow machines, dirt bikes, quads and accompanying bumps and bruises and scraped knees. Her exposure to the sport included family trips to biking events and rallies as well as bike auctions since her family owned and operated a small private dealership and repair shop.
Whether on her skies or on the bike Jennifer describes the feeling as "calming excitement." The single act of riding helps you to focus all your concentration to the task at hand, emptying your mind of all other extraneous annoyances.
Jennifer claims that this "zoning out" helps her to center herself, equating it to a bubble.
When asked if she would recommend the activity to other women she answered without hesitation that it is a self-fulfilling form of therapy. You can be as relaxed or as challenged as you choose to be: either by pushing your limits and stretching your own comfort zone, or just be along for the ride enjoying the solitude and introspective conversation between bike and rider.
Motorcycling continues to be a family focal point for Jennifer and her key motivation in perpetuating the tradition as she grows her own family. Motorcycling, like any other activity, should be an individual choice, not dictated by gender or age, but by desire and determination. As Jennifer says, "Just do it!"
