#girlsrideout motorcyclists to rumble through Newark for International Female Ride Day

Over 40 female motorcyclists will be rumbling through Newark this weekend, for the annual International Female Ride Day.

Saturday, May 4, marks the 18th annual female ride day, and Newark has been chosen as the finish point for the Lincolnshire based #girlsrideout Facebook group’s ride.

Founded in 2019 by Roch Hall and Donna Robinson, with other like-minded women who ride motorbikes, #girlsrideout boasts nearly 500 members and meets monthly for socials and ride outs.

International Female Ride Day is an opportunity for motorcyclists who are women to ride together worldwide in solidarity and to raise awareness, as number of female motorcyclists is increasing but still only represents between 10 to 15% of all motorcyclists on the road.

Newark based motorcyclist Chantelle said: “Its so important for us to be visible, to be a role model for girls coming after us so they know a motorcycle is a viable option for them. I started riding a bike 30 years ago and we were definitely unusual in the 90s.

“We have women in #girlsrideout who've had their bike licence much longer than me and others just starting out. There are women who race, women who ride dirt bikes, people who like a steady pootle and stunt riders — but we all 'just ride'. That's the slogan for the International Female Ride Day — to ride for the sheer pleasure.”

The bikers’ journey through Newark will also be a double celebration, as it coincides with one of their members getting married at The Gilstrap Centre.

Spectators can catch the #girlsrideout motorcyclists descending Beacon Hill at approximately 3pm.

In 2022 the UK retained the Guinness World Record for the most female riders in one place, with over 1,549 riding into the Triumph Factory in Hinckley.

#girlsrideout is also helping to raise the profile of women in the sport — or hobby — and has even been featured on ITVX’s The Motorbike Show.

Last year the group were granted unprecedented access to park their bikes in front of RAF Cranwell Officers College on the actual parade ground, the first time ever that motorcycles had been on this ground.

They have also visited Lincoln Cathedral and RAF Scampton.