Motorcycle riding has long been male dominated. Now, women are taking the wheel(s)

Jennifer Anderson’s inaugural motorcycle ride, atop a borrowed Harley in Denver, was a nerve-wracking experience that nearly brought her to tears as she navigated a steep hill’s winding road.

“I was really nervous,” she recalled. “I was scared.”

Now, over two decades later, Anderson stands as a prominent figure within the local biker community and serves as the deputy director of Laconia Motorcycle Week. She is part of a growing cohort of passionate women motorcycle enthusiasts who consider themselves integral members of the biking community. They lead clubs, organize rallies, and teach others the art of riding.

“Five years ago, I couldn’t believe how many women riders there were,” Anderson reflected. “Now, it’s just normal.”

Many of these riders gather annually in Laconia, New Hampshire, for Motorcycle Week, the world’s oldest motorcycle rally now in its 101st year. The event draws hundreds of thousands of visitors who enjoy scenic rides, antique motorcycle displays, and a bustling outdoor festival with street food and entertainment.

For Cindy Lou Egalka, biking has been a lifelong passion rooted in family. “It all started when I was five or six years old,” she reminisced. “My father sat me between his legs on his 1948 Indian Chief, and I was hooked. That’s why my license plate says ‘Hooked.'”

Others, like Donna “Wheelz” Mahoney, faced challenges breaking into the male-dominated sport decades ago. Mahoney, who learned to ride at age nine in Canterbury, New Hampshire, was among the first ten women licensed to ride in the state.

“I used to motocross with the males, and they had an issue with me until I rode with them,” Mahoney recalled.

While women have been part of biker culture since its inception, their numbers have significantly risen in recent years. A 2018 survey by the Motorcycle Industry Council revealed that 19% of motorcycle riders are now women, up from just over 9% a decade earlier.

Today’s female riders draw inspiration from historical figures like Adeline and Augusta Van Buren, who embarked on a pioneering cross-country motorcycle journey from Brooklyn to San Francisco in 1916. In 2016, their descendants and a hundred other women bikers retraced their route.

Reflecting on the history of Motorcycle Week, Anderson noted the presence of female riding clubs as early as the 1930s. “I’m talking about the very early days,” she emphasized.

Gloria Struck, an idol for many like Egalka, exemplifies the legacy of women riders. Joining the Motor Maids in 1946 at age 21, Struck remains an active rider well into her nineties, earning induction into the Sturgis Hall of Fame and the American Motorcycle Association Hall of Fame.

Today, female riders often find community and support in all-female clubs. Donna Mahoney belongs to the Chrome Angelz, a nationwide riding club with chapters across the U.S. and around the world, providing camaraderie and a sense of belonging.

Jovi McMahon, who established the New Hampshire chapter, emphasizes that the club serves as both a riding club and a support network. “We’re there for each other,” McMahon affirmed.

For Tiffany Chonko, riding represents freedom and empowerment. As a coach at Orlando Harley-Davidson and a member of the Iron Lilies, she sees a significant shift in societal acceptance toward women riders.

“Twenty years ago, seeing women on big bikes or traveling solo wasn’t socially accepted,” Chonko remarked. “Now, it really is.”

With biking becoming more normalized for women, seasoned riders like McMahon are passing down their passion to younger generations. McMahon’s granddaughter, eagerly awaiting her turn to ride, represents a new wave of women embracing the thrill of biking.

Anderson envisions a future where the love for biking spans generations of women. “Now there are new generations saying, ‘I got into it because my mom always rode,'” she noted with pride.