Canadian women take part in Women Riders World Relay, stop in P.A.

Wendy Funk, from Regina, has been riding motorcycles for 12 years.

She said they picked up the WRWR baton at the Albert border a few days ago and are making their way to the Manitoba border where they will pass off the baton. They plan to make a stop in Regina tonight.

Funk encourages any woman interested in riding to reach out.

“Just sit down and talk with someone.They’ll be completely honest with you. Anybody can do it; any woman can do anything they want,” Funk said.

Women are the largest growing demographic in the motorcycle industry, according to Funk.

“Between 20 and 30 per cent of the industry is women riders. That’s how quickly it’s grown and it increases every year.”

For Funk, she’d like the industry to recognize the larger demographic of women in the industry and start making the equipment, bikes and accessories a little more accessible for women.

“I’m a little bit lucky. I have a Harley and Harley Motor Clothes has one heck of a good division of clothing,” she said.

Donna Neyedly, from Edam, is also a part of the group and started riding in 2013.

She said when she was little she would ride dirt bikes, which inspired her to get her learners permit at 50.

“My guy got a bike and he encouraged me to get my licence,” Neyedly said.

She said it’s hard to be a female in a more male-dominated activity.

“The only thing is the clothing. Nothing fits properly, but they’re working on that. A lot of Harley shops have more things of us to ride, to wear and more vendors are coming through with different things,” Neyedly said.

She encourages any woman interested in riding to get the proper gear and to sit on every bike they can to get the right fit.

“You can have someone that’s five-feet tall riding and we have girls that are over six-feet tall riding. Bikes will fit any way because they can make them fit you,” Neyedly said.

As of June 7 of this year, the WRWR travelled through 40 countries with 1,279 individuals taking part. They covered 31,367 kilometers in 101 days.

In mid-September the WRWR plan to travel from one end of Canada to the other in just 10 days, passing the baton between each province.

by Sarah Wallace

Canadian women take part in Women Riders World Relay, stop in P.A.

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