I've been doing that for 45 years.
Posted on 02/05/2018 6:49:35 AM PST by SandRat
TOMBSTONE — In the town too tough to die, being a biker is no longer a men’s club. In fact, the ladies of Tombstone’s American Legion Riders are breaking stereotypes about what it means to be a biker.
On a windy Saturday afternoon, the legion riders at Post 24 file in for the group’s regular meeting on historic Allen Street in Tombstone. The sound of heavy boots thud down the halls of the biker bar to the back room where a sea of leather-clad bikers filled the seats along long white tables.
Some members of the American Legion are what one would expect in a biker group: older, gruff-looking men, with long beards and bandanas tied around their heads. But the American Legion is an all-inclusive chapter with a group of biker women who enjoy taking life by the handlebars.
“We all ride in front,” Karen Arnold, the chapter’s secretary, said with a laugh. “We’re drivers!”
The culture of the motorcycle industry is dominated by men, but that’s changed over the last few years. Arnold and other women who ride notice that the industry is growing fast for female riders.
“When I first joined the riders, there were very few women,” said Joanne Weier, commander of the Tombstone legion chapter. “Now, look at how many there are here.”
For the ladies of Arizona’s oldest American Legion chapter, it’s the group’s culture that’s kept them around because it’s about family and support more than anything. The group is focused on supporting veterans and patriotic events, but that same level of support extends to fellow riders.
Vicki Bottenberg, a newer rider to the legion’s Tombstone chapter, said she was personally affected by the camaraderie in the group when six riders came to her house and to help her move.
“They have done a lot for me,” Bottenberg said with a smile. “It’s a good family.”
Arnold started riding with the legion two years ago and got involved through friends in the group. Since then, the legion has had a big impact on her life. Like Bottenberg, aside from the bond the group because of motorcycles, Arnold’s felt a great amount of support from other riders. With the legion, there’s no distinction between men and women — they’re one big family of riders.
“They are there when you need them, the support is great,” Arnold said.
But that’s not always the case with motorcycle groups. In some groups, the atmosphere revolves around the tradition of a motorcycle brotherhood, according to American Legion President Robert Davenport. He said some, but not all, motorcycle clubs do not allow women to become official patch-holding members and even consider them “property” of the club.
What sets the legion apart, he said, is that it’s not a club. The legion is a national organization of riders dedicated to giving back to the community and supporting veteran initiatives across the country.
“We are definitely not a motorcycle club,” Davenport said.
Though the industry is growing slowly but surely for women, Bottenberg and Arnold hope they can inspire other women to join the group or at least hop on a bike.
“People say: ‘Wow, you ride that? Well, I can do that too, then,’” Arnold said. “They are kind of surprised in a way.”
Even though the ladies of the legion make up a small portion of the chapter’s membership and they hope to attract more women to the group, they’ve never felt more included.
Because for everyone in Tombstone’s legion, it’s all about living life on the bike.
*ping of possible interest*
I ride with a bunch of guys. We always have breakfast first. We consider ourselves an eating club with a riding disorder.
Charming.
Ride to eat
eat to ride
I have that painted on my helmet.
i wonder where stereotypes originate...
then a story like this comes along...
Yoiks!
Why did I look
Not the biker chicks I remember from the magazines
Don’t bother clicking to see the biker “chicks”.
You have been warned.
these puff pieces come out every few years. this could easily have appeared in 1990 or 1980 or 2000
The Biker Chicks Have all become Married biker “Hens”.
“I can barely hold up my Sportster”
That’s why trikes were invented. :)
I prefer my 4 wheel drive truck.
Sounds about right.
You need more practice, and if you get a chance check out the vlogs/blogs/how-to videos from Valkyriegirl. She rides a Valkyrie (One LARGE bike) and gives tips that work for everyone on how to handle anything with 2 wheels.
I’m 5’7” and rode at 135 pounds. After 2 years I was able to ride anything - even Victory Visions. I rode the the V8 powered “Big Dog” as well. I have a hard time with adventure bikes, but I know how to handle those as well. All using techniques taught by her.
I have a friend who has been riding for 500 years. Seriously, this guy is the best rider in my opinion. He’s 5’1” and he can handle any sized anything with precision and comfort. Every ride I do with him I want to go home and write a book about. It’s purely magical when people who “Simply get it” go for a ride in a group.
But I’ve had female riders in my groups. We don’t make any deal of it at all. The biggest problem I have with women riders is that they choose what their -boyfriend likes- rather than what they like. Just like guns though. They carry on the opinion of the men, and not of themselves. If they did, they would all ride Ninja 250s (Which are some of the most pleasant bikes in the world to simply have fun on)
Nice FXR!
Mine is in pieces all over the back building, waiting on some disposable income.
Awesome! I will. Thanks “Lady”!
Not guilty.
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