Motorcycle Explorer September 2016 Issue 13 | Page 16

So events like Babes Ride Out, where only women gather to ride and share a more feminine space together, are comparatively uncommon. But for those girls who have stepped into the world of motorbikes, they provide a rare oasis of female energy where we can enjoy the riding and the wider ‘moto- dynamic' in our own way. after a red light, those of us at the front waited cheerfully and patiently, enjoying the opportunity to stop and take in the stunning landscape whilst the others caught up with us. I’m pretty confident that things would have been different if we had had men in our group. When I rode through Peru and Ecuador with Paul, him on his 660 Tenere and me on my DR 200, I was For many guys, motorbiking is all about getting always the one who wanted to stop, take photos places fast and being competitive; for most girls and soak up the surroundings; often he wanted it is completely the opposite. During our time on to push on, determined to cover enough miles or the road together, I saw how we were motivated reach a certain destination that day. And I see more by the value we place of being part of a this style with other male riders too. Neither is group and sharing experiences together. There right or wrong - men and women are just was no competition amongst us, despite the essentially different. That’s why the chance to different bikes we were riding - from 125s to ride with just women is such as gift, and 1200s. Often we would pull over to take photos something us girls should all strive to do more and share a joke, never in a rush to get back in of. the saddle. Even when the group became split