ENJOY YOUR RIDE ON INTERNATIONAL FEMALE RIDE DAY!

It’s our day! Friday 1 May—an entire day dedicated to women riders everywhere—and what fun we’re all going to have! It’s true; we don’t need an excuse to delve into the passion we all love so much, this thing called motorcycling. But today we’re role models and by participating in International Female Ride Day we demonstrate first hand the many women who ride and inspire others to take up this terrifically rewarding activity in all its forms and styles; for women of any age or culture.

I find it unimaginable that not too long ago women were not allowed to compete in motorsport—refused at tracks in Europe and other countries. And the famed touring pioneers Theresa Walloch and friend Florence Blenkiron during their amazing England to South Africa trek in 1935 were arrested by local authorities for wearing pants! Not today, women have broken barriers, moved borders and motorcycling is one activity that continues to make obvious our limitless abilities; as mothers, CEO’s, daughters, wives and partners.

Today on International Female Ride day, as you wrap your hands around your handlebar grips, know that in Poland, England, Israel, Italy, Australia, America, South Africa, Canada-all around the world, women will be suiting up with the same goal -- JUST RIDE!
A synchronized activity across the planet, in the language that needs no translation--motorcycling.

HOORAY! And from me to you--enjoy your ride!

Thank you for being part of International Female Ride Day!

JUST RIDE! ON ROULE LA MOTO! KOBIETY NAMOTORY! DEVI SOLO GUIDARE! GEWOON RIJDEN!

Yamaha R6

Yamaha R6

LAGERFELD’S’ FUR HELMET NOT REALLY WOMEN’S ANSWER TO STYLISH GEAR

If you’ve not heard, about a week or so again, during a Paris Winter Fashion 2010 preview, the ever entertaining Karl Lagerfeld, renowned designer for Chanel (my personal fav) and Fendi, debuted his new line of genuine mink fur covered scooter helmets—with built in iPod capability! Here’s the pic:

The helmet is of fine quality--covered with authentic, not faux, mink, you know, from those cute little creatures. The French luxury artisan helmet maker, “Les Ateliers Ruby” have created the helmet for Lagerfeld, for if you know of Ruby (article on MOTORESS shortly), you’ll be aware of its amazing high quality standard. Road ready, full carbon fibre shells with ultra soft burgundy Napa lambskin linings (poor little lambs). Apple also collaborated with Lagerfeld on this project ensuring the iPod hook up lets you pipe music directly to the inner earpieces.

Lagerfeld was quoted saying “Now everyone is on scooters, even chic women, so we had to do the helmet," he said.
Let me break it down for you:

• Fur is not aerodynamic or conducive to your riding comfort—prepare for major neck ache! You will experience great discomfort from wind force. Perhaps a huge windscreen would resolve.
• Mink will not hold its charm when you’re riding in a downpour
• Fur is not the choice of a modern day woman– we all opted for fun faux fur a few years ago to save the planets little critters!
• You’ll have a tough time removing insects from the fur that have collided with your helmet-do while riding. Perhaps purchasing a live mink that’ll do some instinctual preening and rid the dead or alive bugs collected.
• Lambskin lining instils a feeling of guilt.
• iPod should not be used when riding! A crazy notion--mobile phones, music nothing should be in your ears while riding except for of course, your ear-rings. You cannot afford distractions!
  

The only benefit I see for such a helmet might be when, say, hiding out in a forest where falling branches or say, dropping squirrels may be a hazard.
Then again, there is an added benefit of your head appearing to have quadrupled in size due to the added layers of fur--you’ll have a slightly better advantage of being seen in traffic.

No word yet on when the helmets will be available for sale or their price point. One thing that’s safe to say is they'll certain to be extremely expensive-in more ways than one!
Shame on Karl Lagerfeld for placing fur fashion before the real world of riding comfort & safety for women.