Female Riders Revving Up and Riding Out

Celebrating International Female Ride Day

What initially sparked your interest in motorbike riding?
I’ve always loved road trips, but I felt something was missing. I realised I was looking for a new dimension to the road trip experience. Watching my partner Jackson zip around on his motorbike, grinning from ear to ear, planted the seed. Hearing my dad’s old biking tales added to the allure. So, I took the plunge and got my license.

You’re just starting on your two-wheeled adventure, but what does your ultimate ride look like?
I’ve already checked two dream rides off the list: cruising from Sydney to Phillip Island for the MotoGP and riding Great Ocean Road – both while still on my L-plates. Now, I’m eyeing warmer destinations up north for the next adventure.

Have you inspired other women to get their licenses? And do you ride together?
Absolutely! My friend Isabel and I got our licenses together. Convincing her to join me was a no-brainer. Now we ride together all the time and enjoy every minute of it.

Do you belong to any female riding groups?
Not exactly. I’ve got an awesome crew made up of Jackson’s family, my uncle and cousin, and a great bunch of friends, with more getting their licences all the time. It’s like having our own gang.

Jess Gardiner - WR250F
Australia’s Queen of Off-Road Racing
Feature Story: Paying It Forward

Do you have any plans to celebrate International Female Ride Day 2024?
Yes, Absolutely. I will be in Norway racing in the FIM E-XPLORER world championships. They have a dedicated women’s championship, and every team must have one female rider and one male rider. I think it’s really cool how much they are pushing for equality! 

How do you think the participation of female riders in off-road events has changed/improved since you started competing?
Participation has always come in waves of good and bad for competition. As ladies, it is harder for us as we are expected to do things like start a family at some stage, etc., and this can cut our careers a little shorter than those of male competitors. However, some incredible women, such as Kiara Fontanesi, come back and still hold strong in the sport. A decent number of young girls are coming through the racing scenes at the moment, which is great to see.

What plans do you have to assist the next generation of female off-road racers? 
I run my own JGR off-road race team, which has included a junior girl for the past few years. This is her fifth year racing under my team and she is now in the senior ranks competing against me and pushing me along of course. I also run coaching schools and trail ride tours via the company I run with my partner, Jeremy, called Offroad Riding Institute. We run ladies-only trail rides as well as ladies-only coach and camp weekends to keep the fun environment.  Why should we let the boys have all the fun? This sport is truly a sense of freedom and everybody needs to feel the love for this sport!

What motivated you to hold a coaching clinic on International Female Ride Day?
IFRD is about all women riders celebrating their love of motorcycles, enjoying motorsports, and highlighting the diversity, strength, and comradery of women riders. I am passionate about advancing women in motorcycling, so I thought what better way to celebrate the day than at a coaching day with other women in motorcycling, where I could share my knowledge and experiences with them. 
 
Have you identified any challenges or obstacles female riders face in what has traditionally been a male-dominated activity?
I think one of the biggest challenges for women is that when we get into motorcycling, we have not come from a background of motorcycles or grown up with motorcycles, so we don’t have a large knowledge base. This makes it difficult to know where and how to get started. I think this feeds into another challenge for many women, and that is when we are new to something or don’t have the knowledge, we often tend to doubt ourselves.
 
Share an enjoyable experiences or memorable moment that involved riding motorcycles
One of my most enjoyable experiences was my honeymoon trip to the World Superbikes at Phillip Island, which has now become a yearly WSBK road trip. Every February my husband Rob and I do a road trip on our motorcycles to celebrate our wedding anniversary and our love of motorcycling.

Joann Atherton - Ténéré 700 
It’s All About The Adventure
Feature Story: Stepping Up For Adventure

Thanks to people like Greg Yager from RideADV encouraging more females to participate in the sport of adventure bike riding, more girls than ever are doing it. What’s the most enjoyable part of taking part in a women-only adventure ride?
The most enjoyable aspect of a women’s only adventure ride is truly the comprehensive experience it offers. After a weekend of riding, you emerge with a smile, having shared an incredible adventure with like-minded women. Together, you create lasting memories navigating awesome trails, sometimes getting dusty, wet from water crossings, or muddy, or all three, and sharing plenty of laughs along the way. There’s a remarkable natural camaraderie within the female riding community that I’ve consistently encountered during these trips. You naturally develop a strong network of friends while also benefiting from valuable technical riding advice from experienced riders and trainers.

What advice do you have for any females who are sitting on the sidelines, but keen to get started in adventure bike riding or riding of any kind?
I waited a long time before I started riding a motorbike but had always pictured myself doing so. My advice to anyone feeling the same is this: if you’ve ever imagined or dreamed of riding, even just once, then that’s your green light to go for it! So just do it!

What are your tips for getting started?

• Find and do courses for the type of riding you want to do.
• Set yourself up with the right bike and the right gear. The best thing I did when I started adventure riding was changing from a heavier adventure bike to a lighter adventure bike. This advice came from the benefit of joining ride events and discussing options with the experienced crew members at RideAdv. 
• Seek our ride tour companies and local ride groups. There is immense value in riding with an experienced ride tour company. They provide not only support but also encouragement and valuable insights that enhance your ride journey.
• Riding may be challenging initially, but maintain a positive attitude and keep at it.
• Every ride is an opportunity to learn and grow as a rider.  I have repeatedly attended several RideAdv women’s only and introduction rides to benefit from the crew’s skills and technique instructions with plenty of ride time to practice. They have been excellent and very supportive, playing a key role in my riding journey and deepening my love for the adventure riding experience with each ride.

Natasha Miranda - YZF-R3
Starting from the ground floor
Feature Story: Instant Devotion

It seems to be a bit of a mystery where your interest in motorcycle riding originated.
That’s true; I didn’t grow up in a motorcycle family; I’d never ridden a motorbike previously, and I can’t even drive a manual car, but something inside drove me to it.

Explain what it was like when you finally accomplished your goal of learning to ride and you took to the streets for the very first time. 
That’s something I’ll never forget. I instantly fell in love with it; the only problem I have now is finding enough time to go riding. Most days, I’ll ride to and from work, and then once home, I quickly get changed and head out for another ride. 

What bucket list rides do you have planned? 
I’m working on a Queensland adventure, but I won’t be taking the direct route. I’m mapping out an inland route that will take in all the great riding roads. I’m also keen to ride The Great Ocean Road as well as doing day trips to the Royal National Park, Macquarie Pass, Southern Highlands, and the old Pacific Highway. I’m also keen to get some on-track coaching and do my first track day.