Local women join world bike relay
A group of over 70 women roared out of Waitangi on Saturday morning to play their part in a global initiative designed to raise awareness of the growing number of female motorcycle enthusiasts.
It kick-started the New Zealand stage of the WRWR (Women Riders World Relay) which took four days to complete — with each day broken up in to two legs — before finishing in Invercargill on Tuesday.
Kerry Payne from Opua, rode her 865cc Triumph Speedmaster in the first day of the rally which left Waitangi for Hampton Downs and then on to Taupo, roughly a 500km ride. The WRWR rode in to Wellington (through snow on Desert Road) on Sunday, hopped on the ferry on Monday and headed to Christchurch before finishing in Invercargill on Tuesday.
Payne headed back home after completing the first day, noting many riders did this, leaving the rally at some point and going their separate ways while others joined on (thus a group of 150 thereabouts completed the second leg of Saturday's ride to Taupo). All up, an estimated 300 riders were expected to take part in at least one stage of the New Zealand stage.
She said the WRWR was aimed to show manufacturers — of bikes, riding gear, helmets, accessories etc — that more women were riding now, and tear down the historical perception that motorcycles were “made and built for blokes”.
“A lot of women who have been on the road have only been riding for the last 10 years or so. It’d be good [for the industry] to start making stuff for women,” Payne said.
The Opua general store worker noted the WRWR also doubled as a really good way for like-minded enthusiasts to meet, interact with each other and get in contact with other riders from their own areas.
“It [going on the ride] was quite incredible, felt quite empowering ” she said, noting the riders ate together every night.
She was also impressed at the way police had responded; at some points they stopped traffic to allow the rally to run through unimpeded.
Payne said the WRWR had gained some really strong momentum. New Zealand was the 51st country to take part and the turnout at Waitangi had been impressive: “People thought there would only be about 10 to 15 women doing it.”
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The WRWR started in Scotland in February where a baton was carried by the group of riders and passed on to those continuing the event across the globe, firstly in the UK, Europe and Asia before it made its way over to Australia and subsequently, New Zealand. Next up is Canada, then the States before the rally is officially wrapped up in Dubai.
All riders taking part have an opportunity to sign a scroll accompanying the baton and have their image taken with the baton.
From the WRWR website: “We organise and participate in a world-wide women’s motorbike relay, covering even the remote, the daring and the vast parts of our world.We aim to continue this event and more through global sponsorship.
“Through our sheer masses, borderline bonkers aspirations, unity and determination, the women of WRWR can pull off the largest recorded world-wide motorbike relay. WRWR have a small team from numerous countries worldwide who are collaborating to organise the event.”
"It’d be good [for the motorcycle industry] to start making stuff for women."
Kerry Payne