MILWAUKEE — As the 120th Harley-Davidson Homecoming celebration continues, one of the focuses of the third day centered on the Women’s Ride, supporting breast cancer research.
Terri Coughlin of Milwaukee is one of the participants of the ride. She has been riding for 30 years. For her, it all started when she was hired by Harley-Davidson.
“I worked some of their events and it was really empowering to see the women who were riding and I wanted to be one of those women on a bike,” said Coughlin.
She said she doesn’t work for Harley-Davidson anymore, but being a motorcyclist will always be in her blood.
“Just the fact that I can and people are amazed, and it’s such a freedom to ride when you are out there and my friends here, we went out to California,” said Coughlin. “It was the best ride I’ve ever had.”
Tiffany Renee came all the way from North Carolina to be a part of this year’s Harley-Davidson’s Homecoming Women’s Ride.
She has been riding for 11 years.
“I have a husband who has been riding for 20 years and riding with him, I used to be on the back of a motorcycle and then I started to see more women riding so that encouraged to ride on my own versus riding in the back, so that definitely picked my brain to get my own,” said Renee.
It also brings Renee joy to be able to ride in support of the Susan G. Komen and their efforts to find a cure for breast cancer. She said this is because this ride represents what the bike community is about.
“Anytime that we can contribute to any kind of research towards to help women out or to help anyone out, we are definitely going to show up in numbers and be there to support,” she said.
Renee also encourages other women who are interested in riding to give it a try.
“There’s always someone willing to help you and coach you through it and there is nothing you can’t do and as a woman myself, I love encouraging other women to go out and enjoy themselves and enjoy life,” said Renee. “It’s a therapy that is very necessary for us.”
Coughlin believes this makes riding unique from other activities.
“That’s what great about these women’s rides is that we can pull in the women and recognize that they are important to the sport and that we are a big sisterhood when we are together,” said Coughlin.
They both hope to see more women riding in the future.
According to USA Today, nearly 20% of all riders are women.