Ventures old and new
One of the things Vicki would like to do in her new role is reinstate in-person group meets, which she feels are very important for bringing together officers from different chapters. “It’s really nice for women to hear what others are doing and take inspiration,” she adds. It’s at the grassroots level that she feels a real impact can be made, and she recognises that the demographics of chapters can vary significantly, meaning that LOH focus needs to be versatile.
An initiative that Vicki has seen great success with on a local level is the annual Ladies’ Day that she runs at her own chapter, Sherwood Chapter, which sees free taster riding sessions being offered to women. Every year, while some enjoy the experience but conclude that it’s not for them, others are hooked and go on to obtain their full licence. It's something that Vicki would like to see held at chapters across the country.
Vicki is also keen to boost the profile of LOH on a broader level. “I’d love to get LOH to go to events as a group; I feel there are events that maybe we could nominate, such as the Women in Motorcycling Exhibition, where we say that there’ll be a few of us going, turn up and say hi.”
One project that Vicki is particularly passionate about establishing is a series of ‘Ladies’ Tech Nights’, ideally hosted at H-D® dealerships with technicians on hand to answer questions big and small. The aim would be to create a relaxed, unintimidating environment where no one feels embarrassed to speak up. Vicki sees it as offering “Harley® riding 101, whether it’s for a 10-minute journey, or a 10-day tour – what are the things that you need to know to do? Checking your tyre pressures, filling up your bike, what happens if you overfill your bike...”. The list goes on and would range from the basics up to more complex questions about performance upgrades and modifications.
“It would be open to pillions [too], because they are very much part of the ride,” says Vicki. “If you have an accident and you need to pick up the bike, they’re a valuable pair of hands. If your other half is filling up and you notice your tyre looks a little funny, that’s another set of eyes.” |