Two Wheels, One Community: The Inaugural Americade Women’s Ride

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Organized by Annick and sponsored by FÉROCE, the inaugural Americade Women’s Ride established a new tradition for the long-running motorcycle rally. Over twenty female motorcyclists participated in a 100-mile journey through the Lake George region, fostering a supportive and ego-free environment for riders of all skill levels. Participant interviews highlight a diverse group ranging from industry professionals and safety coaches to world travelers and multi-generational enthusiasts. Beyond the scenic ride, the event served as a vital networking platform, allowing women to share technical advice, promote safety programs, and form local riding partnerships. Ultimately, the initiative succeeded in its goal of strengthening the female motorcycling community by creating a space where women could connect through their shared passion for adventure.

For more information:

Americade Rally

Jess and Whimsy's Adventures Worldwide @goruffly

MSF Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Motorcycle Owners of America Foundation

Instagram - @msf__usa

Transcript

Americade Women’s Ride

Annick: So I'm here at Americade doing the first women's ride, and I honestly don't know what to expect as far as women showing up. But let's just show that right now we've got an excellent showing of women who have come to do the ride. So let me pan a little bit. Hello, ladies. Hello. We also have a little bit of a film crew And then people coming together

The weather's supposed to be absolutely gorgeous for the whole day. Sometimes at Americade you will get lake effect rain, but it is looking like clear skies. We have a beautiful route planned and I'm really, probably the most part that I'm excited about, besides the views, the nice riding, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, is really having all these women come together to meet each other and just grow the community and get more women riding and to show that you can ride no matter what your experience is and you can come together and just have a good time outside in beautiful areas and explore the world in a very different way and perspective.

 * Intro *

Annick: All right, we're gonna, we're gonna walk around here. Look at all these women that showed up. I mean, woo! This is awesome. If anybody's running from the FBI and can't be on video, let me know. I mean, look at this. Look at this showing. Holy cow. All right, in about two minutes we're gonna do the group talk. So I love that you're all lining up.

You heard, you got the memo. Uh, I'm gonna do the talk down there, so if you want to just park your bikes and then kind of, you know... Okay. Uh, we met at AIMExpo. I was wondering. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's great. So we'll, we'll, we'll catch up more with the- Sounds good. Okay, cool. Cool. All right, so I'm gonna let everybody kind of line up….

We did a Rider’s Brief to organize and set expectations for the ride. All together, including me, over 20 women showed up!

When I presented the idea to Americade to do a Women’s Ride, they were completely supportive. It ends up that in all the history of Americade, which was established in 1983, there has never been a women’s ride. FÉROCE became the sponsor of the inaugural event.

Kick stands up, and we headed out of Lake George on a 100 mile ride which took about three and half hours. One of the ladies on the ride - Lindsay Comer - kindly shared her helmet footage so you can see some of the roads we took. It was a beautiful route.

We made a few stops along the way and I had the opportunity to interview some of the women on the ride. I think you’ll enjoy their stories. 

Speaker 7: So 

Speaker 5: yeah. Would you like to tell me what state you're from, your name, and why you came? 

Speaker 8: I'm from Pennsylvania in the Hershey area. My name is Wendy and I'm coming back after more than 10 years of not being here. 

Speaker 5: Oh, really? 

Speaker 8: Yeah. 

Speaker 5: Great. Well, thank you so much for coming for the ride. 

Speaker 8: I'm glad you're leading the ride.

Speaker 5: Yeah. What made you decide that you wanted to do the women's ride? 

Speaker 8: Uh, just been ri- been leading my own all week. 

Speaker 5: Oh, you need a break. 

Speaker 8: So I need a break. 

Speaker 5: All right, cool. Yeah. Well then just relax, hydrate. 

Speaker 8: That's where we're at. 

Speaker 5: All right, cool. 

Speaker 6: My name is Shelly Sumpay and I am actually local.

I'm from Corinth, New York. 

Speaker 5: Oh, fantastic. So what made you want to do the women's ride? 

Speaker 6: I just wanted to join ladies and get to know the group. Um, just meeting some ladies here. 

Speaker 5: I really appreciate you coming out. Yeah. 

Speaker 6: Thanks so much. I appreciate you doing this for us. 

Speaker 5: No problem.

 Would you mind telling me what state you're from and your name? 

Speaker 8: Uh, New Hampshire. Tracy. 

Speaker 5: Mm-hmm. 

Speaker 8: New Hampshire. Kathy. 

Speaker 7: And 

Speaker 5: did you b- you both came together, right? Yeah. Okay. So what made you decide to do the ladies ride? 

Speaker 8: When we saw it, actually. 

Speaker 5: Yeah? Yeah. On, uh, was it on the website or the- 

Speaker 7: It was on Facebook.

Speaker 5: Oh. 

Speaker 7: I, I put interested a few weeks ago. 

Speaker 5: No problem. It's been fun so far. Thanks for arranging it. All right, 

Speaker 7: no problem. 

Speaker 5: Thank you. Enjoy the ride. The route's gonna be really nice. 

Speaker 7: Yeah. 

Speaker 5: Can you n- mind telling me what state and your name? 

Speaker 9: Uh, I'm from V- I'm from Virginia, and my name is Victoria. 

Speaker 5: So you rode all the way up here? 

Speaker 9: Yeah. 

Speaker 5: What made you decide to do the women's ride? 

Speaker 9: Uh, I just wanted to meet more women, honestly.

That's great. I had been meaning to go to, like, the, like, the coffee breakfast stuff before, but I was never awake in time, so. 

Speaker 5: That's good feedback. Yeah. That's why not that many women showed up. Yeah. 

Speaker 7: I like 

Speaker 4: this. This was late enough 

Speaker 7: in the 

Speaker 4: morning- 

Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Exactly. 

Speaker 9: So- I got to sleep in a bit ... I could get up in time.

Speaker 5: This is why we ask the questions and we change plans. According. Yeah, exactly. And where are you from? 

Speaker 4: I'm from New York. I work for MSF directly, and I just wanted to come out and see a lot of women and support all of the women riders out today. 

Speaker 5: That's fantastic. And impromptu, you decided to, uh, be our sweep, which we really appreciate- I was the- With the safety 

Speaker 4: vest

I was high vis. 

Speaker 5: Yeah. Representing high vis. That's so great. And you guys also have a booth at Americade. 

Speaker 4: We do. 

Speaker 5: Yeah. 

Speaker 4: We have the, it's actually New York State Motorcycle Safety Program, but we are the Motorcycle Safety Foundation- 

Speaker 5: Okay ... 

Speaker 4: as well. And we also have DOH, who has also gotten involved in safety, the Department of Health- 

Speaker 5: Yeah

Speaker 4: with their injury prevention. And we also have the state troopers and the county PD in with us. 

Speaker 5: Oh, that's great. 

Speaker 4: So we do have a little bit of people in acting, trying to get everyone to be safe around motorcycles. 

Speaker 5: Great. And did you take a class to learn how to ride? 

Speaker 3: Yeah. 

Speaker 5: Did you take a class how to learn how to ride?

Speaker 3: Uh, not to learn how. 

Speaker 5: Okay. 

Speaker 3: My, my first MSF class came, I used to ride with a women's club, uh, back in New Jersey, and we decided to do it one day. I had been riding for eight years, and it was the ERC back in the day, right? I took it and I'm like, "How have I not died yet?" It was so, it was so mind-blowing. Yeah.

And, uh, and then they talked me into coaching, and that was 31 years ago. 

Speaker 5: Yeah. Well, can you t- share your name and where you're from? 

Speaker 3: Oh, sure. Miriam, uh, Miriam Romais 

Speaker 5: from Saratoga. Excellent. And you are actually also involved in the motorcycle industry? 

Speaker 3: Uh, yes, I am. I am a, a director of the MOA Foundation- 

Speaker 5: Fantastic

Speaker 3: one of the directors. 

Speaker 5: And what does MOA Foundation do? 

Speaker 3: Um, well, uh, part of, uh, there's BMW MOA Right ... Motorcycle Owners Association, and the MOA Foundation, um, or the MOA Foundation is we try to help riders be safe. Yeah. Right? We h- we, uh, raise the funds for the rebates and scholarships so that riders can take the safety classes.

Yeah, yeah. Whatever, like, whatever safety course there is. Okay. And, uh, and they can apply to get a rebate, and it doesn't matter what you ride. You don't have to own a BMW, right? Anybody can apply for the scholarship. 

Speaker 5: Okay. And where would they apply for the scholarship? 

Speaker 3: Uh, MOA Foundation website. 

Speaker 5: Okay. 

Speaker 3: So, uh, bmwmoaf.org.

Speaker 5: Okay. Open to anyone. 

Speaker 3: Open to anyone. 

Speaker 5: All right. And Miriam, thank you so much, 'cause I, uh, I roped you into helping ... at the last minute. My pleasure. And you said yes. Yeah. So thank you. Absolutely. Anytime. All right, cool. I'm standing behind you. Let me know where are you from and your name. 

Speaker 10: I'm from Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey. My name is Linda. 

Speaker 5: Excellent. 

Speaker 10: And I've been coming up to Americade for- I think one of my older T-shirts say 06. 

Speaker 5: Mm. 

Speaker 10: So I try to come up every year. I love riding up here, um, ski up here and stuff. Do you- It's just 

Speaker 5: beautiful

you know the area very well? 

Speaker 10: Just because I've been coming up here so often and riding and- 

Speaker 5: Yeah ... 

Speaker 10: you know, you go up through Vermont to the Grand Isle. So, you know, over to Canada and stuff. It's just beautiful here. But- It's my favorite place to ride ... 

Speaker 5: what made you decide to do the women's ride? 

Speaker 10: Um, to meet women, 'cause I'm always riding with guys.

Speaker 5: Yeah. 

Speaker 10: When I got my first bike, there were no women that I knew that rode at all, and even my mother looked at me and said, "Uh, are you crazy?" You know? I didn't like riding on the back of my boyfriend's bike. Yeah. You know? I started out on a dirt bike, street legal, on, uh, black and blue all summer. 

Speaker 5: Mm. 

Speaker 10: But, you know, I advanced over the years and still my friends are like, "Oh, my God, she's going on her motorcycle again."

You know, "Text me when you get there. Make sure." 

Speaker 5: Yeah. 

Speaker 10: But, you know, you just can't sit home and do nothing. 

Speaker 5: Exactly. And how has it enriched your life? 

Speaker 10: Um, well, meet all different kind of people. 

Speaker 5: Right. 

Speaker 10: Um, you see all different parts. I've been to, um, Gettysburg and, um, we did the, uh, what do you call, down in Washington DC- 

Speaker 5: Yeah

Speaker 10: a couple of years. You know, 50,000 motorcycles- 

Speaker 5: Oh, wow ... 

Speaker 10: in the Pentagon parking lot. 

Speaker 5: Yeah. 

Speaker 10: Um, it's just... You know, you ride in a car, it's like la, la, la, la, la. Mm. You, you're on the bike and you're just, the smells and the, you see everything. Yeah. You know, if, if you're an aware person. 

Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 

Speaker 10: But sometimes you say, "Did you see that?"

"No." 

Speaker 5: But 

Speaker 10: it's, you know, it's like all different kind of people. Yeah. You know? It's great. It's a great community. And I went to the T-Mobile store on Tuesday. 

Speaker 5: Yeah. And 

Speaker 10: we were talking to the guy and he's like, "Oh, you're with the motorcycle crew." Yeah. Mm. And I was saying that when your car breaks down, you pull over to the side of the road, 500 cars go by you.

Yeah. A motorcycle pulls to the side of the road, three motorcycles stop. "You okay? You need anything?" You know, "What's going on?" Right. So it's just like a whole community. The people are really nice, most of them. But, um, you know, Americade, I like the rides. Yeah. I've been

coming up here for years, but they still take you on roads that you've never been on. 

Speaker 5: Right. 

Speaker 10: So it's great. Love it. 

Speaker 5: Thank you so much for joining us. 

Speaker 10: Well, thank you for doing this. 

Speaker 5: Oh, my pleasure, believe me. 

Speaker 10: Like I said, I've s- I've seen your meetings. 

Speaker 5: Yeah. 

Speaker 10: But it's like, "Nah, I'd rather go ride." 

Speaker 5: Yeah. 

Speaker 10: You know, type thing.

So glad you're doing this ride. 

Speaker 5: All right, good. 

Speaker 10: Thank you. 

Speaker 5: Good. 

Speaker 11: Ladies, I need to talk to you, but I need to pan out and see what this looks like because this is an R. Crumb illustration come to life.

Mm.

All right. So hold this. Tell me, what state and your name? 

Speaker 12: I am right from here. 

New York. we saw this ladies ride, said, "Let's go for it." 

Speaker 11: That's awesome.

Speaker 12: Yeah, just showed up, and I was like, "Yep, that's for us." 

Speaker 11: That's cool. So what, how did you come up with this awesome machine?

Speaker 12: Well, I bought it on eBay about 20 years ago. And we just put it together, and she's getting a little old though, like me. 

If she keeps going, I keep going. 

Speaker 11: There you go. That's so awesome. 

Speaker 12: Yeah. 

Speaker 11: So what are some of the cool rides you've done so far? 

Speaker 12: This year? This is my first one this year. 

Speaker 11: Yeah, it's been a late season for us.

Speaker 12: Yeah. 

Speaker 11: Yeah. 

Speaker 12: I'm road captain of the 83 from Moy Hall, so we're getting ready for, uh- 

Speaker 11: Is that the Hog Chapter? 

Speaker 12: Nope, that is the American Legion Riders. 

Speaker 11: Oh, okay. 

Speaker 12: Yeah. 

Speaker 11: Great. 

Speaker 12: Yeah. 

Speaker 11: Are you a veteran? 

Speaker 12: My mother was. Oh. Yeah, and I went under her. 

Speaker 11: Oh, that's wonderful. 

Speaker 12: Yeah, she was one of the very first Air Force people.

Speaker 11: Really? 

Speaker 12: Yeah. 

Speaker 11: See? The Spirit of Adventure Yeah Yeah The '

Speaker 12: 80s, yeah 

Speaker 11: Yeah 

Speaker 12: She was like me 

Speaker 11: Oh, that is so cool 

Speaker 12: Yeah. 

Speaker 11: Do you fly as well? 

Speaker 12: No. Oh, 

Speaker 11: okay. 

Speaker 12: Yeah, 

Speaker 11: I haven't flown. 

Speaker 12: She had a little more balls than I got. 

Speaker 11: That's awesome. That's awesome. And what's your name? 

Speaker 12: Tammy. 

Speaker 11: Oh, wait, hold on. Let's give Tammy the mic. 

Speaker 12: Oh.

Can we please? 

Speaker 11: Tammy. Hi. You're the, you're the passenger? 

Speaker 13: Yes. And? 

Speaker 11: And it's 

Speaker 13: awesome. 

Speaker 11: Yeah? Yeah. And 

Speaker 13: she's my bestie. 

Speaker 11: Aw. We go 

Speaker 13: on lots of trips together. 

Speaker 11: Oh, that's so awesome. 

Speaker 13: This thing is awesome. You can eat in it, you can drink in it, you can stretch out, you can relax in it. She's 

Speaker 11: right there. Yeah, and 

Speaker 13: you can wave at everybody like you're in a big old parade.

Speaker 11: I love it. Yeah. I love it. 

Speaker 13: It's, it's a lot of fun. 

Speaker 11: That's so cool. It is. Thank you for coming out. 

Speaker 13: Yes, you're welcome. It was fun. Glad we did. Good. She called me last night, "What are you doing tomorrow morning?" I said, "I don't know. Why? You want to go on a bike ride?" She said, "It's all girls." I go, "Okay, I'm in."

Speaker 11: That's why you need a bestie. Yeah. Yeah. Partners in crime. 

Speaker 13: Yeah. 

Speaker 12: 60 

Speaker 11: years. Yes. Really? Yeah. Oh my God, that's so awesome. Our 

Speaker 13: mothers knew each other. Yeah. 

Speaker 11: Really? Yes. Was your mom in the Air Force, too? 

Speaker 13: No. 

Speaker 11: Okay. 

Speaker 13: No. Um, sitting on the tables in our little seats together. 

Speaker 11: Oh my gosh- Yeah ... so you grew up together.

Speaker 13: Yeah. 

Speaker 11: Yeah. See, these are the stories I love, right? Yes. Yeah. It's like so beautiful. She's got the most- That is really cool ... 

Speaker 13: yeah. I'm a little older than her, so I'm a little more mature. You should see the old lady memes that she sends me. 

Speaker 11: This'll be you.

Yeah. This is us. A lot of fun. That's so great. It is fun. Thank you for coming out. 

Speaker 12: Thank you, hon. 

Speaker 11: Cool. Thanks 

Speaker 12: for having us. Yes. Thanks for doing this. The first one I've ever been on with all ladies. 

Speaker 11: Well, it's the first time Americaid's had it. 

Speaker 12: It's awesome. 

Speaker 11: Yeah. 

Speaker 12: And we'll be here next year if you have it.

Speaker 11: All right, good. Good. Good. Oh, we're 

Speaker 12: proud 

Speaker 11: to be part of it the first time. Yeah. You know? Yeah. It's 

Speaker 12: awesome. So cool. So now we can say in 20 years from now we went on every one. 

Speaker 11: Exactly. Exactly. That's what I love to hear.

Speaker 15: Janine Camarata, Clifton Park, New York. Excellent. What made you decide to come out today? Uh, well, I've been coming to the Americade for 30 years, and when I first came it was just guys. Yeah. And my whole family rides, my sister rides, my nieces, and I just wanted to connect with more women and get out there and build some community.

Speaker 14: That's great. Well, are you gonna make sure that they come on the next ride? Yes. Well, my, my sister moved out of town, but I hope my nieces, maybe next year, uh, maybe we'll get them to come up from North Carolina. Oh, that would be really cool. It'd be awesome. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it's wonderful. Women just connect different than men do, and, you know, we support each other, and I just love, uh-

Speaker 15: that you had so many people coming today. Yeah. It's awesome. It's a great showing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Very cool. So getting lots of, lots of practice in and just enjoying the ride.

Speaker 17: What's your Instagram? Uh, our, MSF Instagram. What's your Instagram? It's @MSF_USA. Oh, okay. Perfect. 

Speaker 16: Yeah, she's our program coordinator. I'm the program coordinator for the state. 

Speaker 17: Oh, okay. Great. 

Speaker 16: Yeah. I'm, yes, I'm the manager.

She's the coordinator.

I'm Cheryl Bubrock. I am from Claverack, New York, about an hour and a half south of Lake George.

Run the office for NYS MSP, which is the New York State Motorcycle Safety Program out of Scotia Glenville- 

Speaker 17: Wonderful ... 

Speaker 16: for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. 

Speaker 17: Right. That's great. And I, uh, recruited both of you to come on this ride. Yes, you did. 

Speaker 16: Yes. You, you personally came and asked, so I figured, you know, gotta go.

Speaker 17: Oh, you know. Love it. Always make the ask. Yeah. Love it. 

Speaker 16: Well, that's why we're here. 

Speaker 17: Yeah, and I really appreciate that you both decided to, to go, and took time off, 'cause you're actually up here working. Yes. And so you are playing a little bit hooky. 

Speaker 16: Not really. Not really. No? We're, we're promoting safety.

We've seen everybody. 

Speaker 17: Okay. 

Speaker 16: So... Yep. And everyone's riding really safe. 

Speaker 17: Yeah. Right? 

Speaker 16: Yeah. It's all, it's all about networking and promoting being safe. Yeah. And an event like this is a great opportunity for us to just talk to other people and- Yeah ... encourage it. 

Speaker 17: Yeah. 

Speaker 16: Right. That's 

Speaker 17: great. 

Speaker 16: So. And if these women are passionate, we'd like them to come back and be rider coaches.

Right. 

Speaker 17: Okay. 

Speaker 16: And even if they're out of state, I'm sure other states are looking for rider 

Speaker 17: coaches 'cause we always are. Yeah, yeah. It's good to know. Exactly.

Speaker 19: Kim Merellie. I'm from Syracuse. 

Uh, we come every year to Americade and ride new roads and hang out. 

Speaker 18: Are you with these ladies? 

Speaker 19: No, I'm with her. 

Speaker 18: Oh, okay. She's 

Speaker 19: my friend. Okay. We just met Dale.

Hi, Dale. Hi, how are you? 

Speaker 18: Good. And, uh, how'd you hear about the ladies ride? 

Speaker 19: Uh, Facebook. 

Speaker 18: Oh, excellent. 

Speaker 19: Yep. 

Speaker 18: All right, great. So, 

Speaker 19: yeah, weather was nice, so we decided to join. 

Speaker 18: I know. We, we lucked out. It's getting a little cloudy, but I think it's gonna be all right. 

Speaker 19: Yep. 

Speaker 18: Yeah. So, uh, do you come every year for Americade?

Speaker 19: Uh, yeah, the past few y- few years. I've only been riding since 2020, so- 

Speaker 18: Excellent ... 

Speaker 19: the last, uh, yeah, three or four years I've been coming. 

Speaker 18: Great. And you're on an Indian? 

Speaker 19: Yep. 

Speaker 18: Yep. And what are you riding today? 

Speaker 19: I am riding a Street 

Speaker 20: Glide. 

Speaker 18: Oh, excellent. And your name and where you're from. 

Speaker 19: Kristen Minch. 

Speaker 18: Yes. 

Speaker 19: And I am from Syracuse, New York.

Speaker 18: Oh, fantastic. So do you two ride often together? Is this like your partners in crime- Yes ... for, like, going out and doing adventures? Yes. All right. 

Speaker 19: Yeah. Every weekend that we can get out- 

Speaker 18: Oh, that's so great ... we 

Speaker 19: ride around. 

Speaker 18: Are you part of any women's clubs or anything like that? 

Speaker 19: No. No. 

Speaker 18: Okay. All right. Love it.

Me neither. All right. This is why 

Speaker 20: we're making them. 

Speaker 18: Yeah, exactly. For sure. Thank you for coming out. 

Speaker 20: Yeah, thank you. Thanks for having us. Hi. 

Speaker 18: Hello. 

Speaker 20: I'm Dale. 

Speaker 18: Hi, Dale. 

Speaker 20: And I'm from Binghamton. 

Speaker 18: Binghamton. 

Speaker 20: Yeah. Nice. So we f- I found new riding buddies- ... 'cause they're only an hour away 

Speaker 18: from me. This 

Speaker 20: is the whole point of this.

Yeah. Yeah. This is the whole point of this. So it was awesome. Okay. All right. I was 

Speaker 18: so happy. Yeah. 

Speaker 20: Because now I can get on and an hour- A dinosaur barbecue Perfect. Yeah. 

Speaker 18: Oh, that's a great place to meet. Uh, that makes my heart swell because this literally was the whole point of just trying to get everybody to connect and to find new people to ride with or figure out, like, all right, what are you doing?

It's like, one of you can't ride. Well, you know, now you got your new buddy. 

Speaker 20: Exactly. Right. Absolutely. 

Speaker 18: Yeah. 

Speaker 20: Absolutely. Been riding since 2004. 

Speaker 18: Excellent. 

Speaker 20: And, uh, I've been coming to Americade since 2005. 

Speaker 18: Excellent. Yeah. This is great. We got a nice range of riding experience today. Yeah. Which is, like, really beautiful.

Speaker 20: And I'm also a member of Motor Maids. 

Speaker 18: Oh, you are? 

Speaker 20: I am. 

Speaker 18: Oh. 

Speaker 20: And a wonderful women from all over the place. 

Speaker 18: Yeah. 

Speaker 20: And it was nice to find women to ride with. 

Speaker 18: Yeah. Have you gone- So- -to any of their meetups? 

Speaker 20: I have. Um, I went to the Mother's Day brunch in Ottawa, uh, in, uh, excuse me, in Ontario. 

Speaker 18: Yeah. 

Speaker 20: And our next, uh, regional or n- national convention- Mm-hmm ... is in St.

Catherine's, and that's also in Ontario. I went to Springfield, and I went to Dublin, Ohio for their annuals. Oh, nice. And it's nice to ride, that you have to ride there. 

Speaker 18: Oh, really? 

Speaker 20: It's a requirement. 

Speaker 18: Really? 

Speaker 20: Yeah. 

Speaker 18: Okay. 

Speaker 20: To ride. 

Speaker 18: Yeah. 

Speaker 20: And it's been lovely to find other women to ride with. Oh. 

Speaker 18: Which 

Speaker 20: is nice. 

Speaker 18: I love 

Speaker 20: it.

That's why I came here. 

Speaker 18: I really appreciate that. Thanks for coming out. 

Speaker 20: My pleasure. 

Speaker 23: I'm Amy Mountcastle. I live in Plattsburgh, New York. Have you been coming to Americade for a while? No, this is my first Americade. Really? Yes. I went to Dirt Daze twice, but this is the first Americade even though I live very close by. But I thought, "You know, I really wanna check it out," so I'm happy I did.

Speaker 24: Oh, that's excellent. How'd you find out about the women's ride? Uh, I was looking on the Americade website, and I had missed the opportunity- Yeah ... to sign up for, uh, a ride that I wanted. And so I was just scrolling through and I said, "Oh, there's a women's ride, and it's free." Yes. How good is that? Yeah.

Exactly. You don't e- Yeah ... That's a great... I'm glad you brought that up, 'cause you don't have to pay to do this or have the Americade band or anything. Yeah. Yeah. It, it was a really great opportunity. I'm, I really appreciate it. Awesome. Yeah. What are you riding? I am riding a KTM 390 Adventure. Excellent. Is that one of many bikes or the only bike?

Speaker 23: Well, uh, so no, we've got, uh, we've got an XT250 and then we also have a little BMW 310, uh, R. So we're kind of experimenting. I've ridden, I had a BMW 750GS and I had a Magna, which I s- uh, spotted the same thing over there, Honda Magna, years ago. But my first bike was a little Yamaha 200 street bike with an electric starter, and that was new back then.

Speaker 24: Right, right. Yeah. Yeah. Then I, uh, and then I got a 360XS, uh, Yamaha, so. Oh, that's fantastic. Been riding. I love riding. How long you been riding? Uh, if I say it'll date me, but I'm thinking something like between 45 and 50 years. That's awesome. Yeah. But you know, over, over the years you stop for a while and start again.

Speaker 23: Yeah. But, yeah, I love it. Yeah. And you bring up an important point with that, 'cause like sometimes life just gets in the way. It does. And, uh, you know, I just retired very recently, and- Congratulations ... now work is not gonna get in the way. Exactly. Exactly. So where's your next, like, big adventure? Haven't thought that far ahead, but I do plan to go to Dirt Daze and just work on skills.

Excellent. 'Cause I think that's the most important thing. Skills, confidence, strength. We were just talking to one of our riders about strength training. Yes. Doing all that stuff and, um, it makes riding really fun. 

Speaker 24: True words. And 

Speaker 23: more confidence, too. 

Speaker 24: Yeah, that's for sure. Yeah. That is for sure. Thank you so much for coming out.

Speaker 23: Thank you. Thank you for doing this.

Speaker 26: Uh, my name is Lindsay and I am from Vermont. 

Speaker 25: Lindsay, you are in the motorcycle industry, and what do you do? 

Speaker 26: Um, I work for a brand called Indie Ridge that makes protective motorcycle boots and gloves, but our main thing 

Speaker 25: is boots.

Motorcycle boots. That's awesome. How'd you find out about the ride? 

Speaker 26: Um, I know you. That's you. I know you and I saw you post about it on Instagram, so I found out about it from seeing you post on Instagram. Oh, sure. And I was like, "I'm gonna go." That's awesome. So I live up here, so, well, not far from here.

Speaker 25: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you're a photographer. Yeah. And you were, took some photos. Yes. And you actually took one of the favorite photos of myself that anybody's ever taken. Oh, that's nice to hear. Yeah. Yeah. So 

Speaker 26: I really appreciate that. The one at the Färht- 

Speaker 25: Yeah. So what next events are you gonna be at? 

Speaker 26: That's a good question. Um, I am hoping to go to Dirt Daze and possibly going to Babes Ride Out in South Dakota.

I'm contemplating that- Oh, 

Speaker 25: cool ... 

Speaker 26: in August. 

Speaker 25: Yeah. 

Speaker 26: But, but most likely Dirt Daze, for sure. And, uh, is there anything between now and then? I'm sure there's lots. 

Speaker 25: There probably is. 

Speaker 26: Yeah. 

Speaker 25: I'm sure I'll see you at some local events. 

Speaker 26: Yeah. 

Speaker 25: Thanks so much for making the ride up. 

Speaker 26: Thank you for having it. This was a great time. 

Speaker 25: Excellent. 

Speaker 26: It's good to see you, too. 

Speaker 25: Likewise. 

Speaker 26: You. You sure I don't have chocolate in my teeth? 

Speaker 25: I'm sure. 

Speaker 26: I ate a chocolate bar earlier, and you just never know if, like, the water rinses it off and I forgot to bring gum, so.

Speaker 25: We all suffer from that. Yeah.

Speaker 32: Um, I'm Megan Schwartz. Um, I'm from Syracuse, New York. Um, I came up here, um, for Americade. Uh, saw the Women's Ride and thought it was a great opportunity to meet with other women riders, um, build a community Just have a great ride and a fun day. That's awesome.

Speaker 31: So how was the experience? Awesome. Oh my gosh. I've gotten a lot of great tips from bikes to gear. Um, so I think that's been a really valuable experience. Um- Are you a newer rider? Uh, three years. A little over three years. All right. Excellent. Yeah. And what are you on today? Um, I'm on a Honda CB500F.

Fantastic. Beautiful color. Yes. So shiny in the sunshine. I wish we had some. Yeah, I know. It just got cloudy.

Speaker 33: All right. Yeah. Name and where you're from. I'm Victoria. I'm from Virginia. And you came up just- Go Hoos, UVA. And you just came up from? From Virginia. Okay. Yeah. Just for Americade? Yeah. I have family in Upstate New York, so, uh, my dad and I rode up to see family, and then we've made it a tradition to come to Americade every year for pa- past five years.

Oh, that's excellent. Yeah. So you ditched him today to join the ladies ride? Yeah, yeah. Women are better. The guys kinda suck. Well, we love your dad, right? He, he's an exception. Oh, okay. All right. Good, good, good. He pays for my gas at least for this trip, so. There you go. You gotta give a shout-out- Yeah ... as your unofficial sponsor.

Speaker 34: Yeah. I've been, um, riding with him basically my whole life. I don't even know... I genuinely don't remember the first time I got on a bike. And the plan was he actually wanted me- Yeah ... to get my motorcycle license before my car license, and I kept putting it off 'cause I had DMV and, and test anxiety. And I get home from one day, I was 19, he's like, "Get in the car.

We're picking up a bike." And I was like, "What do you mean?" He was like, "I'm taking money out of your account. We're picking you up a bike." Like, I didn't have a choice, 'cause he, he knew I kept putting, I kept putting the test off. So his way of convincing me to finally go take my fricking test was to use my money to buy a bike and be like, "Here's your motivation."

"Go take your test." And what'd he get you? Um, my first bike was a, um, 500R Ninja. Oh, excellent. So it was, like, just a 500 Ninja- Yeah ... but it was like an older 2000s model. Yeah. And then this is my second bike. Which is? A, it's 24 Z900. Fantastic. Pretty big jump in horsepower, which he wasn't happy about, but 

Speaker 33: That's awesome.

And where are you guys gonna head out from after this? 

Speaker 34: Um, uh, we're just staying here for tonight and then we're gonna start heading back to Virginia tomorrow. 

Speaker 33: Excellent. 

Speaker 34: Yeah. 

Speaker 33: Thanks for coming. 

Speaker 34: Yeah. I'm glad to be here. I'm glad I decided to come on the women's ride. 

Speaker 33: Cool. Yay.

Speaker 36: I'm Jess Stone. I'm originally from Toronto. 

Speaker 35: And you also travel a lot on your motorcycle, so tell me a little bit about that.

Speaker 36: So I'm currently on an around the world trip. It's called Go Roughly Around the World with Whimsy, my co-pilot.

This year we're gonna be going to Africa, to start Africa, then Europe and Asia. 

Speaker 35: What made you decide to join the Women's Ride? 

Speaker 36: I wanted a chance to be with other women. Uh, this is my first time at Americade, so I thought this would be a great place to, to meet other women riders because I don't get to see them a lot when I'm on the road like this, and it's great to, to meet up and, and see what they're all up to.

Speaker 35: That's excellent. And how long are your stints on the road? 

Speaker 36: So, phew, uh, generally we ride for four days and we stop and we work for three days, and we've been on the road now for a number of years. Uh, so it's still gonna be probably another five years though until we can complete this around the world trip.

Speaker 35: That's wonderful. Thank you so much for joining us today. 

Speaker 36: No, thank you for having me.

Annick: We're done with the ride, and I have to say that it exceeded my expectations. The weather was fantastic. We had a great showing of women, and there was such a variety of riders there, from cruisers, sport bikes, adventure bikes, trikes, and some crazy three-wheeled concoction that was just very cool. I also was really happy to see that there was such a, um, a presence of women of different ages.

So we probably span, I don't know, 30 or 40 years between the youngest to the oldest, and that makes my heart super warm and happy. It was just great to meet these women, get their stories, and to have some of them connect where they were like, "Oh, you know what? We're in the same area, so we are going to go riding together."

And that is all I wanted to accomplish. So huge thank you also to Honda for loaning me the CB Hornet 750, which was a perfect bike for this ride. Very easy, nimble, just a joy. Just a joy. So easy.

The pace of the ride was so good, and I have to say that I don't know if it was just the women or what, but it was the most laid back, easy, non-ego group ride I've ever been on. Um, I think that the women enjoyed it from what I heard and what I saw, and I can't wait for the next one. So like and subscribe.

You know, you'll be able to follow and see when we're gonna do the next ride and, and more specifically, next year at Americade, where hopefully we'll be able to grow this and grow the women's community in motorcycling and get more women on board with motorcycles and also just all the current riders to come together and meet.

So thank you so much, and as always, ride smart. Ciao.

* OUTRO *