RIDING WITH THE LITAS

I’VE WANTED TO RIDE a motorcycle ever since my dad toured 15-year-old me around a Greek island, wind in my face, sun on my skin. But it took seeing several friends get their motorcycle licences — and many years — before I got my own.

There’s a particular confidence that comes from mastering a skill that is both terrifying and thrilling, counterintuitive and instinctive, exhausting and invigorating. When I got my motorcycle licence, I immediately wanted to ride everywhere, all the time. I knew I’d found my thing. But it took a little longer to find my people.

When I first started riding in 2010, women on motorcycles were uncommon. Now, we’re a rapidly growing demographic that has affected change across the industry. Instead of simply lowering existing bikes, or “shrinking and pinking” gear, manufacturers solicit feedback from women riders and produce ergonomically redesigned bikes and a broader range of apparel for this traditionally underserved group. And thanks to social media groups that focus on female ridership, women increasingly see themselves represented and have found ways to connect with one another.

One such group is The Litas, a global collective of women who share a passion for riding motorcycles. In just a decade, The Litas have connected and empowered over 29,000 woman-identifying riders in 344 cities across 36 countries, including Canada, both online and in person.

The Litas helped me find my place in the growing global fellowship of women riders. But even if you’re not a Lita yourself — or you’re just dreaming of feeling the wind in your face on the open road this summer — these Litas-endorsed Canadian routes and tips for riding safer are sure to inspire.