Press Release | September 19, 2019
Female Motorcyclists Embark on 12-Month Ride Around the World; Tour the United States September 25 Through October 12
This is a press release from Indian Motorcycle…
Medina, MN (September 17, 2019) – Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, today announced its support for the Women Riders World Relay, a world-wide motorcycle tour exclusively for women that strives to ignite a global sisterhood to inspire unity and passion across cultures worldwide. Motorcycle ownership among women has steadily increased in the United States. In 2009 only 10% of motorcycle owners were women, while a 2018 survey from the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) reports that number has climbed to 19% over the last 10 years.
The global relay enters the United States on September 25 through Calais, Maine. Guardians of the baton will ride a total of 18 legs spanning 18 days before passing the baton into Mexico out of Laredo, Texas on October 12. During the tour, the Women Riders World Relay will stop at historic motorcycle landmarks including the Wood Museum of Springfield History which is home to the birthplace of Indian Motorcycle and the Indian Motorcycle Collection in Springfield, Massachusetts; The AMA Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio; the Indian Motorcycle factory in Spirit Lake, Iowa; and a day of dirt riding with the Colorado GS Girls.
“No matter gender, race, or religion, riding around the world is an incredible feat, and we’re proud to be support these female riders who enjoy the escape, the freedom and the comradery you get when riding motorcycles,” said Reid Wilson, Vice President of Indian Motorcycle “When we first learned about the Women Riders World Relay, we wanted to help in any way possible, as our core values aligns with theirs. We are proud to welcome and support our women riders and hope to inspire courage, unity and pride for generations to come.”
Women Riders World Relay was founded by UK motorcycle enthusiast Hayley Bell to shine a light on a widely overlooked segment of riders. The global ride made its very first debut on February 26 and will conclude in the United Arab Emirates in February of 2020. Hayley, among other female riders, help pave the way for the growing landscape of women riders through inspiring events such as the Women Riders World Relay.
For the U.S. portion of the tour, the WRWR will consist of 177 women and 12 men with 10 women who will be riding the entire US route. Here are just 4 of the women you will find on the US route:
- Hayley Bell (Warrington, England): Founder of WRWR. She has been riding for 5 years, and has experience on the road, track and dirt. Self-taught mechanic on her own bikes and one day plans to design and build her own bikes.
- Liza Miller (Santa Cruz, California): Liza has been riding motorcycles for 41 years and currently owns a co-op garage called the Re-Cycle Garage. In addition, she hosts and produces the Motorcycles & Misfits Podcast and was a recipient of the Friend of the AMA award in 2019.
- Porsche Taylor (Inglewood, California): Founder and Publisher of Black Girls Ride Magazine, has been riding since 2003. The WRWR Ride will mark her 24th cross country ride.
- Colette Tindall-Edeling (Brisbane, Australia): Upon learning of the relay, Colette announced that she would like to ride the whole relay. After being told that it would be nearly impossible, she has been riding for 6 months, in 43 countries, on 5 bikes and over 48,000km.
Ride leaders of the Women Riders World Relay will be riding Indian Motorcycle Chieftain and Roadmaster motorcycles, bikes that offer modern, streamlined designs, technology, multiple ride modes, and comfortable riding position appeal to female riders of all skill levels.
For a complete look at the global ride route visit Women Riders World Relay. To learn more about Indian Motorcycle, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com