2023 International Female Ride Day: Comoto women riders share their take on IFRD

For the past 17 years, IFRD has occurred on the first Saturday of May and the mission is simple: for women riders everywhere to simply get out and ride and be seen. Whether it is solo, with a group, or an organized event, the idea is for women riders to show up en masse and create public awareness of our numbers. This year, I reached out to a few of my fellow colleagues across the Comoto family of brands to find out what their plans were for IFRD and what the day means to them. 

Emily Tracy, Store Manager at Cycle Gear of Merrillville, Indiana

Jen Dunstan: How long have you been riding and what motorcycles do you own and ride?

Emily Tracy: I grew up around my family's Honda dealership so I started riding and racing dirt bikes when I was pretty young on a CRF70F and CRF125F. When I started working for the fam, I bought a Grom and a CB650R — and recently just bought my old CRFs from my dad to have some minis! 

JD: What does IFRD mean to you?

ET: Being a female rider is something I grew up thinking was normal, so it's empowering to see more and more women getting on two wheels. International Female Ride Day to me is just another day to have an excuse to get out on two, but it is something that inspires more women to do so as well. 

JD: What are your plans for this year's IFRD?

ET: Going forward with our new store, I'd love to host some rides or meets for IFRD to help our local women find others to ride with!

Maja Blackwood, RPM REVER Pro Specialist

JD: How long have you been riding and what motorcycles do you own and ride?

Maja Blackwood: I’ve been riding since I was a young child in Colombia. I currently own a 2014 Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron XL883N, a 2018 BMW G 310 R and G 310 GS of the same year, a 2003 Honda CR85R, and a 2006 Yamaha TT-R125LE.

JD: What does IFRD mean to you?

MB: IFRD is just another day I get to ride and enjoy the passion that’s made me feel so free since I was a kid. Another day to create awareness about women who share this love for motorcycles, and a day to inspire other women to ride for the first time. The difference is, this day we get acknowledged globally and have another reason to get together and celebrate how far our efforts have brought us as female riders.

JD: What are your plans for this year's IFRD?

MB: This year I’ll be joining the Litas Los Angeles on a ride to Central California to celebrate IFRD. I am lucky to get to spend time with such an inspiring group of fellow female riders.

Sophia "Sophster" Anton, Parts/Customer Service Rep at J&P Cycles

JD: How long have you been riding and what motorcycles do you own and ride?

Sophster Anton: I've now been riding for about eight years and own a 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster punched out to a 1250 with many mods, as well as a Suzuki RM80 two-stroke dirt bike.

JD: What does IFRD mean to you?

SA: To me, IFRD is an important cultural and social time of the year that focuses and reaches out to all women who share common interests and passion for two wheels and the open roads with the benefit of making a great riding day out of it!

JD: What are your plans for this year's IFRD?

SA: My plan this year is to host a local ride with my New Jersey Litas branch, @thelitasnorthjersey, through a hidden gem in New Jersey called Old Mine Road! Afterward, we stop at a local bar and grill called The Log Cabin. 

Amanda “Pants” (long story, just go with it!) Wathern, Customer Experience & Training Manager for Comoto

JD: How long have you been riding and what motorcycles do you own and ride?

Pants Wathern: I got my endorsement back in 2014 but didn't get my first bike, a 2015 Yamaha SR400, until May 2015. I started working for RevZilla as a Gear Geek in August of 2015, so if you do the math you can calculate exactly how nervous I was walking through those doors at the Philly HQ on my first day! Now, my job is to train the Geeks! My main rides these days are my 2016 Triumph Bonneville T100 and a 2020 Honda CB500X. I also have a 2018 Yamaha XT250, but learned the hard way I probably shouldn't have ridden it to Montana from Vegas (and back) ... and I'm not the greatest wrench. I'm hoping to have it back together for Get On! ADV Fest in Sturgis.

JD: What does IFRD mean to you?

PW: So many things! When I first started riding in Indiana, it definitely felt like a boys’ club and I just did everything solo (which is extremely frustrating when you're learning on a bike that's kickstart-only). I found solace online with women like Alicia Elfving (@motolady), Kinga Tanajewska (@onherbike), and our very own Jen Dunstan (@jrod_racing), who were some of the few really putting the female rider voice out there back then and it was amazing to see. It's what inspired me to apply to RevZilla. Fast forward to now and I'm working with both Jen and Alicia to help strengthen the voice of all of our female riders within Comoto. It's wild to think about!

JD: What are your plans for this year’s IFRD?

PW: My college bestie Kat, who I convinced to come over to RevZilla as a Support Geek back in October 2021, just got her endorsement (woo!) and for her birthday I surprised her with the title of my SR400 that I learned to ride on. The catch is that it's been sitting for a while so we're trying to get it running for IFRD. I'd love to take her on her first ride through Red Rock Canyon here in Vegas. Those of you who have ridden that scenic route know how magical it can be on a motorcycle!