Woman This Month’s Farah Baig has a chat with Bahrain’s female biker community.
Women can do anything they put their minds to. We’ve proved it time and time again, in every way and form through all that we do and put our heart and soul into. Women in Bahrain have a way of swimming against the tide and going after their passion – even if it means getting on a motorbike and turning more than just a few heads. The number of women in Bahrain’s motorbike community has steadily grown over the years, from just three or four a few years ago to about twenty skilled riders with the numbers consistently growing.
Could you tell us a little bit about Bahrain’s female biker community?
Alexies P. Schuckert (Philippines): We’re a community of like-minded women who try to get together weekly to ride and support each other in our passion for motorsports. For most of us, motorcycle riding is not just a passion; it’s a sense of empowerment and independence… it’s freedom. Occasionally, we team up with the guys on their bikes and enjoy larger group rides among the other various clubs around the island -all of which have always made us feel accepted, looked after, and taken care of. To sum it up, I would call this community more of an extended family than anything else. Be it female or male, this is a community of exceptional people. People who are always supportive and completely uncaring of what type of motorcycle you ride.
Aliaa Maher (Jordan): The social norm of a woman riding on the back of a man’s bike is changing fast, and Bahrain has seen a sudden growth of women riders in the past three years. The Bahrain female community is fast growing with more and more women, with diverse backgrounds, including two Bahrainis, young mothers, house wives and working womenventuring into this very male-dominated sport.
The community has women from a lot of different nationalities. Could you highlight this further on this?
NadiaShariff (India): The women riders are predominantly from the expat community with riders from America, Germany, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Jordan, Greece, Lebanon, South Africa and, of course, Bahrain!
That’s great! How diverse is the community in terms of age, nationality, etc. Any mums in the group too?
Nadia Shariff: I am a mum and I am very proud to be part of this riding community. Almost, everyone is a mum save for one or two in the group. We are quite diverse, with the age group ranging from the youngest in her early 20s and the oldest in her 60s with bikes that range from Harleys to Ducatis and Kawasakis too.
The female biker community goes on very early morning rides that help me unwind and relax during the ride and still be home on time to serve my kids breakfast.
How has the community grown since you first started riding in the Kingdom of Bahrain?
Anne Schumacher (USA): When I started riding in October of 2010, there were quite a few women riding motorcycles here in Bahrain with the HOG chapter. At the time I started to ride, I knew of only one Bahraini woman rider. Most of the women were expatriates, wives of Harley riders who were tired of being passengers and got their own bikes.
As the expatriate community is so interchangeable, contracts run out or people move away, many of the female riders that I started my journey with are no longer in Bahrain. There was a point where I was one of very few females riding in Bahrain, at least publicly. I do believe there are many sisters, wives and daughters who ride, but only with their own family.
Recently, there have been a few more women who have joined the ranks of rider rather than passenger and the female community is growing again; albeit, most are expatriate women again. I think the culture here and the image that motorcycles are for men inhibits some women from trying to ride.
Sajida, we hear you’ve been a part of the community for a long time. What’s your story?
Sajida Saeed Tabbara (Bahrain): I’m a retired University Professorwho fell in love with bikes at the age of six. I remember riding as a pillion when I was just eight-years-old. My father, who was a school headmaster at the time was so angry with the person who gave me a ride he nearly dismissed him from school! I was determined to have my own bike when I grew up, but females did not even ride bicycles early on in Bahrain.
During my career as a Professor, I decided one day that I had to go after my dreams and created a bucket list; biking was at the top of that list. I believe I was the first Bahraini female to own and ride a bike, but there were other lady riders of other nationalities.
As soon as I got my license, there was a trip organised by HOG to a rally in Jumeriah.
Everyone said that I had to go although I was terrified! I had only just got my licence and had bought a Harley that was 200 kgs heavier than the one I learned on. I was told that if I didn’t muster up my courage and go to the rally, I would never do it! All the guys vowed to support me and they did. I will never forget how I was always in the middle between the Bahraini riders at the rally every time we rode. They kept an eye on me and built my confidence and I owe them that.
I was a novelty and remember how my students at the university would come up to me and tell me that they had ridden with their brothers in secret, and how much they enjoyed it, but that their families would not allow them to get their licence. I supported them all and a few did proceed to become riders. One was a covered-up lady but that did not stop her becoming a rider. She went ahead, got her licence and bought a bike which she hid at a friend’s house for years before declaring to her parents she was a rider.
That’s amazing! What’s it been like since you became a part of the community then?
Sajida Saeed Tabbara: My experience was bittersweet at the beginning… Defying stereotypes, especially as an educator, was very challenging. In 2011, a group of people waged a social media war on me and called me nasty names on a forum. I was called loose, unprincipled, a bad role model and a corrupting influence on young Bahraini women. This went on for three months until my own students at the university put an end to and stood up for me by posting on that forum in my defence. I have since ridden my bike with joy and without too many funny looks, which I still get occasionally. I have since gone on many trips abroad in the Middle East and Europe.
I love riding my bike. It gives me a sense of unparalleled freedom and control. I love the feeling of comradery with other riders, especially female riders, and I feel safer in a group.
How does it feel to be a part of a community of women with a common interest?
Birgit Hobaugh (Germany): It is always great to be part of a community, to feel the sense of belonging and support in times of need. For many years, it was always the same number of ladies riding together with the men’s group.
The biker community, in general, is a very close-knit community and is always there to help one another, but the fast-paced growth of this new lady biker community is amazing and clearly shows the support and encouragement provided by the group in the onboarding process of the new comers. Over the years the numbers have increased and we can finally ride together as a lady bikers group. I have been on several of these rides and gatherings. It’s great to network and sometimes just be a woman, taking photos with no inhibitions and the camaraderie of it all.
How does it feel to be a group of strong women engaging in an interest that is more commonly associated with men?
Priya Shankar (India): Seeing a woman ride a bike not only grabs eyeballs but also makes heads turn…with some muted comments: both positive and negative. However, when you go out in a group, you see the respect and get open-mouthed looks or even enthusiastic waving and thumbs ups. It’s great to be part of a group that supports you and helps you understand the stress of riding, even though I must admit when I started it was a much smaller community and most of the support and training I received were from my fellow brothers and a solo sister, who played a very significant role in not only getting me on the road but encouraging me to go on road trips to Oman and Europe.
I feel riders are always up for helping each other out and sisterhood/brotherhood comes foremost. When I traveled to Oman, we were three ladies in a group of twenty men. One of the things you realise as lady riders is you inadvertently look out for each other, whether it’s a trip to the women’s or overcoming a challenge. I remember, on this trip we had to cross a part which was a steep hill with soft sand. Seasoned riders were falling down like matchsticks and the three of us kept telling each other, “We can do it!” and we aced it the first time without any mishaps. When we got to the top, we jumped off the bike and hugged each other. It was an amazing feeling when a journalist walked up to us and said: “So many experienced bikers fell off their bikes, but you girls rocked it!” It also taught us that one’s ability is greater than the model and make of the bike or in this case – gender.
What are some of the challenges you might’ve faced when first riding in Bahrain?
Anna D (Greece, Germany):` First of all, we have to consider that every day is always our first day of riding. We never know what kind of challenges you will face during your ride whether day or night.
For me personally, I was very scared. Thank God I had a riding-mentor supporting me. To overcome my fears I was riding every day. As a result, I sold my car and started using my bike as daily transportation in order to improve my riding skills.
Anna, you’ve ridden over 100,000 kms since 2017 in Bahrain alone. Could you highlight some of the safety measures you take when riding together? What could improve the riding conditions for bikers in Bahrain?
Anna Diamantidou: Make sure your bike is fit: technical wise, tire-pressure etc. Safety gear is very important so wear the right shoes, safety jacket, gloves, etc. When group-riding, respect and protect each other and follow certain road signs and protocols that both: protect the riders and inform the other vehicles of the changes the riders will be making. If you are new in the group, inform the road captain and ride with seasoned riders. There is always a team that rides with the group, the sweepers who block the traffic for the riders and the marshals, usually for larger groups to keep the group together and liaise between the captain and sweeper.
In addition, it’s important to have regular cone training, ride as often as possible and respect the drivers. Communication, not aggression by drivers and riders on the road, is vital.
How often does the community of female bikers in Bahrain ride together? Can you tell us about some of the activities you participate in together?
Aqeela Naser (Bahrain): We ride twice a week when the weather is good – Tuesday night and Saturday morning. On Saturday mornings we usually get together for breakfast, coffee and a catch up after our ride.
This year, we celebrated Bahraini Women’s Day which included breakfast and a photoshoot. In the past, our lady riders have supported Ride in Pink in support of breast cancer awareness, aside from charity drive rides including visits to old age homes, special needs societies etc.
Has the coronavirus outbreak affected your ability to get together?
Nadine Fawaz (Lebanon): Yes, as a lot of them of are a bit afraid to get out. Take me for example, I have not gone for a group ride since the pandemic started in order to protect my family and loved ones. Even though biking gear is quite safe since we need to wear masks, gloves and a helmet as a norm and maintain distance between bikes when riding, a lot of them prefer solo rides.
