Biker Chicz of North America by Edward Winterhalder and Wil De Clercq
Radio - Feb 3, 2011

WE’VE COME A LONG WAY BABY!

As early as 1907, women like Mrs. C. B. Clark enthralled spectators by riding her motorcycle in a sixteen-foot latticed globe aptly called the “Hazardous Globe of Death.” During those early years, Margaret Gast, May Williams, and Jean Perry performed on the so-called “Wall of Death,” a large perpendicular, barrel-like structure with a platform around the top edge from which spectators could watch the riders as they sped around the inside of the walls held in place by centrifugal force. 

These women were pioneers at a time when it was considered unacceptable behavior for a lady to even ride a bicycle. Women were expected to stay at home and not go gallivanting about town on their own. Any woman who wore riding gear like leather jackets and pants was subject to mockery and put herself at risk of violating what was considered to be the proper dress code.

A good example of this were the Van Buren sisters—descendents of former US President Martin Van Buren—who were arrested in 1916 and fined for publicly wearing trousers while on a cross-country motorcycle trip across the United States. The Van Burens, who were the first women to make the cross-country trip on separate bikes, traveled over 5,500 miles from New York to San Francisco in 58 days, which included the day they spent in jail for breaking a dress code.

These days, studies indicate that 12 to 18% of motorcycle enthusiasts are women. No longer are women considered the “weaker sex,” unladylike, misfits, or gender traitors, as in the past, for riding a motorcycle. Women-specific marketing programs are now the norm. Women are treated to a wide array of information, including demonstrations on how to pick up a bike, how to customize their bikes for fit and function, and conducting pre-ride safety checks. Riding clothing and gear for women is also in abundance with manufacturers and designers focused fit and style.

In Biker Chicz of North America, the authors have compiled in-depth profiles of 22 fascinating women who ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Each chapter features an individual whose life story is compelling, intriguing, fascinating, and inspirational. They are women who have followed their dreams and dared to live life on their own terms.  

Cris Sommer Simmons – Co-founder of Harley Women Magazine; freelance writer/photographer; author of The American Motorcycle Girls 1900 to 1950; three-time Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee.

Mandy Rossmeyer Campbell – Manager of family-owned Destination Daytona Harley-Davidson, the world’s largest Harley dealership.

Lucky Belcamino – Founder/president of the East Coast Biker Chicks Motorcycle Club; professional poker player; culinary chef.

Gevin Fax – Model; actress; musician (Klymaxx); one of four women profiled in TNT’s 1995 documentary about female Harley riders; has an MA in Physical Education.

Sasha Mullins – Author of The Chrome Cowgirl Guide to Motorcycle Life and Biker Lady; Living and Riding Free; singer in the Nashville band Motorodeo; has appeared in eight biker themed TV shows.

Becky Brown – Electrician by trade; founder of the Women in the Wind Motorcycle Club; three-time Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee.

Betsy Huelskamp – Certified personal trainer; freelance writer; adventuress; featured in Discovery Channel’s Motorcycle Women, National Geographic’s Hell on Wheels, and TLC’s Faking It. 

Gina Woods – Chicago area radio personality; host and executive producer of the Open Road Radio show.

Laura Klock – Holds motorcycle land speed records at Bonneville; the only female in the world to hold consecutive speed records with her two daughters; co-owner of Klock Werks Kustom Cycle.

Deborah DiMiceli – Model; actress; entrepreneur; featured along with Jewel and Jillian Michaels in Harley-Davidson’s 2009 women’s promotional video ad campaign.

Vicki Roberts Sanfelipo – RN; founder of Accident Scene Management; author of A Crash Course for the Motorcyclist.

Pepper Massey – Avant-garde motorcycle consultant; has worked for the City of Sturgis, Sturgis Rally Department, Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame, and the National Coalition of Motorcyclists. 

Lorrie Penteluke – Co-owner of cutting edge greenhouses that grow organic edible flowers; co-owner of Eagles Nest Motorcycle Shop; has appeared in three motorcycle related TV shows.

JoAnn Begey Bortles – Renowned custom bike painter/artist; writer/photographer who has written six how-to paint books; has been a contributor to numerous American motorcycle magazines.

Lauralee “Freedom” Conklin – Adventuress; motorcycle nomad; windmill electricity technician by trade.

Meg McDonough – First female officer in the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club, originators of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally; works in sales at Cowboy Harley-Davison.

Marilyn Elmore Bragg – Freelance travel writer; editor; blog author; worked in the parts and labor end of the motorcycle and marine industries until 1990.

Catherine “Katmandu” Palmer – Artist; public school art teacher; worked behind the parts counter of a Harley dealership for fifteen years.

Gloria Tramontin Struck – Member of the Motor Maids since 1946; daughter of the founder of Tramontin Harley-Davidson.

Banshee “The Lost Soul” LaDucatti – Computer programmer; grew up in a hardcore 1% outlaw club extended family environment; operates a successful computer business.

Andrea Perrino – Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver; owner of Psyched Up! Professional and Personal Training.

Danni Stockley – Has a BA in Humanities; writes a column for The Riders Mag, a popular Canadian bikers magazine; director of the Chrome Divas Motorcycle Club of Central Ontario.

Biker Chicz is easy to read one chapter (one chic) at a time, but difficult to put down. Women riders will find each of these stories relatable. Each of the women has a fascinating story to tell of confidence and independence. Despite their common traits, most of the women are different as night and day.  Some are introverted, others extroverted; some are family oriented, others are loners. All are intelligent, freethinking, and inspiring. Without their Harleys, all admit though they would not be where they are today.

About the authors: Edward Winterhalder lives in Oklahoma and is one of the world’s leading authorities on motorcycle clubs and the Harley-Davidson biker lifestyle. He was a member, and/or an associate, of outlaw motorcycle clubs for almost thirty years. The creator and executive producer of the “Biker Chicz” and “Living on the Edge” docu-reality television series, Winterhalder has appeared worldwide on television networks such as Bravo, Prime, CBC, Fox, National Geographic, History Channel, Global and History Television.

Wil De Clercq has worked as a freelance writer and editor, visual artist, and in such diverse fields as demolition, the merchant marines, faux finish painting, advertising copywriting, and film and television production. He has been a dynamic force in the world of motorcycle journalism for more than twenty-five years and lives in Ontario, Canada.

Biker Chicz of North America is available wherever books are sold, in more than 150 countries, and distributed by the Ingram Book Company and Baker & Taylor.