pride2011
JULY I. 2011
K9m a
Vroom Va-Va Voom!
Dykes on Bikes revels in resurgence
BY RYAN J. PRADO
They were tough to miss during the 2011
Portland Pride Parade: a veritable legion of
leathered-up lesbians rumbling a horde of
Harley Davidsons down the road. The vol
ume of the motors was no accident. The size
of the group was no accident. Dykes on
Bikes was back, in bigger numbers—and
they’re ready to bring the noise to Pride all
over the state.
Now led by Melanie Davis, longtime
Portland Latino Gay Pride Chicas Celebra
tion organizer and publisher of El H ispanic
N ews, and her partner Gabriela Kandziora,
Dykes on Bikes has witnessed a resurgence
in participation and visibility—especially
during Portland’s Pride Parade, when 38
bikes putted in unison to the delight of
onlookers.
“I think motorcycling for women in gen
eral is becoming more popular,” Kandziora
explains. “People are attracted to the track
record we’ve set with our riding in the
past.”
The couple launched a Facebook page
called “Pride Rides” in order to better con
nect Dykes on Bikes with the larger Oregon
Pride community. The exposure has helped
generate networking opportunities with
other organizations such as Eugene Pride
and Lincoln C ity’s Iris Pride Festival; Davis
and Kandziora hope to organize rides for
both events.
In addition, the couple spearheaded this
year’s pre-parade Dykes on Bikes breakfast
at Dingos—a Mexican grill located on
Southeast Hawthorne—to coordinate with
riders while spurring momentum for the
upcoming event. The breakfast is now slated
to be a Dykes on Bikes tradition before the
group rides in future Portland Pride
parades.
“In the general motorcycling market, they
have [the 70-year-old] Sturgis annual ride,”
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Davis explains, “but as part of the queer
community, we have so many pride celebra
tions throughout the summer and through
out the year that we can hop on- our bikes
and go to a 100,000-people gathering at any
time.”
Dykes on Bikes hope to hear from the
larger community about other destinations
where the group can show their spirit. Yes,
those hogs could get even louder come
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“We thought if we could get more cama
raderie in Dykes on Bikes to other parades
around the state, it would be a lot more fun
for everyone,” Davis says. “We won’t be sur
prised if our numbers have doubled next
year.” *!•]
3 F lo o r O f C r u is in g S p a c e !
Steam Room Opens In June! & f
For m ore inform ation about Dykes on Bikes,
search f o r “P ride R ides” on Facebook.
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