Group for women motorcyclists holding open ride this weekend, bike show next weekend

TAMMYE NASH  |  Senior Editor
nash@dallasvoice.com

Hey women of North Texas: Have you ever felt the urge to find yourself a motorcycle and get out on the open road, but you didn’t because you didn’t want to ride alone?

Well, here’s your chance to answer that call.

DFW Ladies on Wheels (L.O.W.) Riders is having an open ride Saturday, June 18, and women riders of all ages, orientations and skill levels are invited to join in.

The group will meet at 4 p.m. at the Cedar Hill Home Depot — on the northeast corner of the intersection of FM 1382 and Hwy. 67, according to spokeswoman Robin Funk. After deciding where to eat, the group will ride together to dinner and then head down to Ennis to take in a flick and the drive-in movie.

DFW L.O.W. Riders is the North Texas chapter of the statewide women’s motorcycle group headquartered in Austin, Funk said. The organization, which celebrated its 10th year in May, also has chapters in Houston and San Antonio.

Funk said the DFW chapter currently has about 14 members, and holds open ride events about once a month to try and increase their numbers.

“We are mostly just a group of women who like to ride. We have members at all skill levels. Some are just getting a bike and want to ride with a group to learn the rules of the road and for safety. Others have been riding for years,” she said.

Funk herself has been riding for about 15 years, and she said all but three of the chapter’s current members have at least 10 years’ riding experience under their belts.

Still, the newbies shouldn’t let that scare them away. “Like I said, we welcome riders at all skill levels, and we try to schedule a variety of events that everyone can enjoy.”

DFW L.O.W. Riders are also giving non-riders to get in on the fun with the first of what they hope will become an annual DFW L.O.W. Riders Bike Show on Sunday, June 26, starting at 3 p.m. at Sue Ellen’s, 3014 Throckmorton St. in Dallas.

They’ll have plenty of bikes on display, with awards presented for “Spectators’ Choice,” “Best Femme Bike” and “Best Butch Bike.”

Entry fee is $15 plus one can of food to be donated to Resource Center Dallas’ food pantry for people with HIV/AIDS.

“We do a lot of food drives. We’ve had drives to donate to the North Texas Food Pantry, and of course, donations we collect at the bike show will be for the Resource Center’s food pantry,” Funk said.

Joining the L.O.W. Riders a good way for women to get involved with the community, too, Funk said, noting that while the group is open to all women bikers, “we seem to get the best response from the LGBT community.”

Funk said that the DWF L.O.W. Riders try to schedule at least two rides a month; some are closed — for members only — while some are open. They also try to schedule longer rides for members, too.

“Scheduling is always a problem — trying to find a time when the most people are able to go. But we do the best we can,” she said. “We’ll have members going to Koyote, Texas. And several of us, including me, are riding to Canada this year.

“Right now, our main purpose is to just get together and ride, to enjoy each other’s company and being out on the road,” Funk added. “But we want to add other events and we want to add new members. So if anyone is interested, they should come out and join us for the open ride this weekend, and come to the show the next weekend. They’ll have a great time.”

For more information on DFW L.O.W. Riders, upcoming events and how to join, go online to DFWLowRiders.net.