On Saturday, May 7 a dozen motorcyclists—nine women and three men—took part in the 10th annual International Female Ride Day. The ride started in Cache Creek at noon, with the riders—who were from Ashcroft, Logan Lake, Lytton, Lac La Hache, and Prince George—making their way to Merritt, then back to Cache Creek via Hwy. 8 to Spences Bridge.
It was a beautiful day for the ride, which was welcomed by organizer Elaine LaMarre, who moved from Prince George to Ashcroft in August last year. The hot, dry weather was a contrast to the conditions she was accustomed to further north. “I was doing the ride in Prince George, but we usually had rain, sleet, and hail.”
While the event is meant to encourage female riders, men are welcome to come out and support it. “The goal is to get women out and moving,” she explains.
The ride isn’t a race, although LaMarre acknowledges that some riders are more competitive than others. “It’s a fun opportunity to meet people, connect with other women, and introduce new riders to riding.”