While surfing on Facebook one day, I came across a post from a popular Facebook page. The post was about women in motorcycle clubs, holding positions and wearing colors. The post spoke about traditional motorcycle protocol, and seek to shed light on the “uneducated” concerning women and their role in the motorcycle community.
One comment that immediately caught my attention, was from someone of a historical, and rather traditional motorcycle perspective. He stated that women were no more than sandwich makers and had no place in a motorcycle club. There were also a mixture of opinions concerning them riding motorcycles and it being a “man’s world.”
After reading the hundreds of comments, I thought that some were rather demeaning, and though I applauded their effort to educate on protocol, what I thought was lacking was the pure respect that was due to women that ride their on iron. I thought it would only be right to highlight a few sandwich makers and to show that some can ride with the best of men.
This isn’t about protocol nor is it about holding a position or wearing a certain cut. This is simply to show that times are changing, and women are making their marks on ground and riding their own.
Featured below are seven women, collectively, with over a half a million miles on iron!
1Abby Clabough Spaedt
- Riding for 38 years
- First motorcycle was a 1970 Sportster
- Current motorcycles are: 2001 Softail (bought brand new, currently 150,000 miles) and a 2017 Road Glide Special
- Have ridden in all the lower 48 states except North Dakota.
- Wrote a book “Shovelhead Redemption” about riding cross-country in 2007
- MSF and H-D Riding Academy Certified Instructor
- 2016 Hoka Hey Finisher. The entire trip was 13,000 miles.
- Tip to a new rider: Get out there and ride. Don’t practice in neighborhoods or parking lots, it’s so unsafe! The more you get out there in traffic and ride, the more comfortable you’ll be.
- Riding Inspiration: I am my best person on my bike. That’s where I belong, 100% at home, in my element. I am who I was meant to be when I’m riding. It’s hard to explain.
2Dolly Jus’tis Johnson
- Riding for 40+ years
- First motorcycle was a Yamaha 50
- Current motorcycles are: 2017 Road King Special and a 2018 Road Glide CVO
- Rode an estimated 25,000 miles this year
- Have ridden in all the lower 48 states
- Member of Harley’s Angels Motorcycle Club
- Longest trip was riding to 48 states in a two-week time frame
- Enjoys the Blue Ridge Parkway and the beautiful mountains
- Tip to a new rider: Just ride your own ride!
- Riding Inspiration: Being at peace and doing what I love.
3Kelly Kelz Valdez
- Riding for 10 years
- First motorcycle was a 2007 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14
- Current motorcycle is a 2014 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14
- Have ridden in all 50 states, which includes 7 cross-country trips
- Have ridden in 9 Provinces of Canada
- Longest trip was 11,000 miles in 38 days riding around the country
- Averages around 30,000 miles per year
- Member of Blaque Pearls MC
- Tip to a new rider: Take the motorcycle class!
- Riding Inspiration: Nothing inspires me to ride anymore. People used to inspire me until I learned many years ago that some do it for all the wrong reasons. I ride because of who I am, and I was always meant to live on 2’s. It’s like breathing to me.
4Minna Case
- Riding for 17 years
- First motorcycle was a Honda CBR
- Current motorcycle is a 2008 BMW R1200GS named “Tigger”
- Rode 27,000 miles from April to November
- Have ridden in all the lower 48 states, Europe and Thailand.
- Has completed over 25 Iron Butt Rides
- Enjoy riding in mountains and along the coast
- Favorite IBA Ride is the 50cc (New York to San Francisco, CA-2,954 in 46 hours)
- A member of the Yankee Beemers and the Vermont BMW Owners
- Tip to a new rider: Find the right bike that’s for you. Not every bike works for everyone!
- Riding Inspiration: Experiencing and discovering new places. Participating in the Tour of Honor has brought me to many beautiful places I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
5Narianne Massie
- Riding for 11 ½ years
- First motorcycle was a 1999 Honda 750
- Current motorcycle is a 2007 Honda Goldwing
- Longest trip was 8,000 miles in seven days
- Traveled across country multiple times to include riding through Canada.
- Averages around 18,000 miles per year
- Several Iron Butt Rides to include 3 Saddlesore 1000’s and a Bun Burner Gold (1500 miles in less than 24 hours)
- Enjoyed the Smoking Chase Tour, Whispering Giants, Tour of Honor sites, and visiting National Parks
- Tip to a new rider: Be safe and enjoy! Live life everyday like it was your last.
- Riding Inspiration: Fun, fellowship, breaking bread, heart-break, sorrow, new life and death are all inspirations for me….the way you see things from the road and the interactions with people.
6Sunshine Rogers
- Riding for 15 years
- First motorcycle was a 2004 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200
- Current motorcycle is a 2017 Road Glide (6th Harley-Davidson motorcycle)
- Averages about 40,000 miles per year
- Longest trip was 9,637 miles in 21 days riding to the lower 48 states and Canada
- Multiple cross-country trips to include riding to the lower 48 states [in one trip] twice
- Over 100,000 miles on a 2004 Softail Fat boy
- Enjoy riding through the mountains of Utah and Washington State
- Tip to a new rider: Learn your motorcycle and riding style before you start riding with groups and other people.
- Riding Inspiration: I’m inspired to ride by God, my motorcycle is my therapist while I’m riding. Riding fills my soul with joy, peace and love.
7Tameka Kurvez Richardson
- Riding for 10 years
- First motorcycle was a 2007 Suzuki GXR-750
- Current Motorcycle is a 2017 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special
- Average miles a year is about 20,000
- A Property of Outcast MC
- Have ridden to 43 of the lower 48 states
- Longest trip was about 13,000 miles, which included the US Four Corners
- Chairperson of the Bessie Stringfield All Female Ride (an annual event)
- Tip for a new rider: Ride your ride and figure out your comfort zone, while slowly working your way up to the level that you would like to be.
- Riding Inspiration: I am inspired through the legacy of Ms. Bessie Stringfield. I am also inspired by my sisters on iron, especially when I see them growing and improving their riding skills.
