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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 2004)
January 9. 2004 > ju s t o u t organization founded by a California woman in enjoying the pleasure of revealing the fact that 1982, W OW now has more than 3,500 you’re a woman.” members across the United States, Canada and Mosier adds that the motorcycle industry is several other countries. The group’s mission is not doing an adequate job of marketing to “to unite all women motorcycle enthusiasts for women. “We’re constantly talking to local recreation, education, mutual support, dealers and shops, begging almost for them to recognition and to promote a positive image of pay attention to our disposable income. It’s motorcycling.” starting to come around, but it’s very slow. It The Portland-area chapter formed in 1998 dixzsn’t make capital sense not to pay atten and has grown from a few founding members to tion. If you’re marketing to us, then you’re about 50 strong. Women of the Rivers co- listening to us. If you’re listening to us, then director Laura “Garhot” Mosier grew up in a you’re handing us pnxluct that we want. I motorcycle family. i think you can ask almost any woman out there “Motorcycling is extremely demanding,” she if she has a pair of gloves that fit and the says. “There’s you, your bike and the environ answer would be pretty much ‘no.’ ” ment. And nothing else.... It’s a commitment Women of the Rivers gtxis on day and to oneself to be on a bike and riding well.” overnight rides, three- to four-day retreats and The group meets monthly and plans rides week long getaways. Some recent trips have through to the next meeting. During gcxxl included Mosier, Cave Junction and the weather they have a trip planned every week Astoria Bridge (a group favorite). end. “We want to keep people’s wheels in Mosier rides a 2002 BMW R1200C and a motion,” says Mosier. 1980 Suzuki G S1000 and kxiks forward to her The group consists of expert, intermediate “helmet time.” She explains: “We get on the and beginning riders, with the more experienced phone with each other and say: ‘It’s been a kxiking out for the least experienced. “Motor rough day. I need some helmet time.’ It’s better cycling is very challenging, and we don’t want than therapy because you can’t think about anyone riding beyond their limits,” says Mosier. anything else. And sometimes that’s better “To improve you need to push those limits, but than talking about all the problems.” pushing limits is very different from riding Women of the Rivers members range from age beyond them.” 25 to 60. “When the visors come down and the Women of the Rivers holds clinics, attends bikes fire up, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone open houses at different motorcycle shops and not smiling inside those helmets,” says Mosier. has a fxxuh at the Seattle International Motor Mosier’s love of riding is evident and in cycle Show. fectious. “You’ve got you, your bike and the Mosier is a part-time instructor for Team environment, and all three are awesome,” she Oregon, an organization that provides motor exclaims. “Sometimes you’ll see a bald eagle cycle safety and skills training. She emphasizes or flowers or meadows or mountains and that motorcycling is not a gendered activity. that’s your wonderful environment; the bike “They’re always going to assume you’re a because it handled that turn awesomely; it’s guy out there, especially when you’re riding you because you’re so excited you actually well. If you’re tearing up turns and coming scream inside your helmet with joy. It’s a sen through at a gixxl speed, they’re always going sory delight.” i n to assume you’re a man,” she says. “You get to kind of live in a man’s shoes and take the C ontact P o r t la n d W omen R iders at viragovyxyn@yahoo. co m . Join the listserv at autos. groups. yahoo. com/group/ pdxwomenriders. Annual dues for WOMEN OF THE R ivers is $30. The group meets the .second Sunday o f every month. Visit them at www.heva.net .com/chamalwow or e-mail andulthots^yahoo. com . It's a you parade. 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