12 January 2009

Canberra Scootergals are go

| johnboy
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The following in from the Canberra Scootergals:

    With an increase of over six percent in motorcycle and scooter sales in the last six months due to petrol prices at an all time high, Canberra is becoming more populated with scooter riders who prefer the easy commute to work, along with ‘no hassle’ parking.

    Now there is a new all female scooter group beginning in Canberra, cheekily named ‘Scootergals’.

    Tess Ryan, Scootergals founder said, “We aim to encourage fresh, new riders who may feel intimidated by joining established clubs, and who want to begin their passion within a female oriented environment.

    “We wish to provide a community for more experienced riders, to welcome other women to the joys of scootering.

    “Our aim is to be fresh, feminist, feisty and fun, to enjoy a democratic community that enables scooters of all descriptions from 50cc up the chance to ride within Canberra and its surroundings.”

    The Scootergals vision is to hold regular rides and tours, encompassing things other than scootering, and with a ‘retro’ feel. We also wish to further educate female ‘Scootergals’, with training on better riding practice and safety skills, and regular maintenance and mechanic nights. All of this shall be in a fun, community atmosphere.

    The Scootergals first event details as follows

    Time 11:00am
    Date Sunday 7th September
    Location Debacle, 30 Lonsdale St, Braddon

    Come along for brunch, meet new people and head out for a ride.

    If you would like more information regarding Scootergals, you can contact them through their email address scootergals@y7mail.com. We also have a facebook page.

Tess promises a Hooters on Scooters charity calendar real soon now.

[Photography by Steve McGrory]

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Skidbladnir said :

PBO said :

Oooh, an all female Rebels. Gotta love it.

Will they have their own compound in Queanbeyan?
And loyalty tests?

I would run their fluffy pink gauntlet.

Fair enough. I love anything on two wheels with something other than my hopelees legs to propell me. :O)

Mælinar - *spoiler alert* I've seen S04E1312:52 pm 11 Aug 08

If you have to go to stay-upright to learn to ride it, its a real bike. The LAW says that.

PBO said :

Oooh, an all female Rebels. Gotta love it.

Will they have their own compound in Queanbeyan?
And loyalty tests?

Oooh, an all female Rebels. Gotta love it.

Careful….

It’s only inclusive of Sepi if it’s a turn on to her.

Yes, lets go back to the Hooters on scooters idea, although I really don’t want to be called sexist by posting this!!

Happy to pose for some pictures, Ill supply my hooters if you supply a scooter 🙂

Isn’t that why they also call scooters step-through’s?

step-through != real bike IMHO.

Well how do you differentiate between Scooters and Motorcycles?? I hate it when people say ‘real bikes’. Mine is a real bike!!! :o)

Mælinar - *spoiler alert* I've seen S04E1311:50 am 11 Aug 08

TAGLINE , as I am also interested in Motorcycling – Comment by Scootergal, August 2008.

Thanks for that Madman, and keep me informed as I would love to support that! I have also spoken to Girls on The Move (GOTM) about having some sort of affilliation, as I am also interested in Motorcycling.

(My dream is to eventually own a Ducati!!)

Gungahlin Al said :

Sorry Mael but I don’t recall seeing any biking articles in recent times.
And like Madman, I’ve been on the receiving end of nasty stuff while riding.
I had a ZZR and was slammed from behind while turning into my driveway by a car doing 80.
Which reminds me – if you have a Gear Sack rack – get rid of it – damn thing almost broke my back. Swear by back armour!

Took 6 years of something like 10 hours a week in the gym and yoga and pilates and heaps of hurting to rehabilitate my back.

Got myself a big loud Dragstar that yelled out “stay the f@#k away from me” – smartest move a biker can make (other than giving them up I guess…).

Thanks for that, I’ve been thinking about getting one – I’ll stick with my backpack!

Scootergal, I’d be happy to help support with a breast cancer do, but just make sure it doesn’t coincide with the national Pink Ribbon Ride which is done every year on 19th October which is run in Canberra by the Women’s International Motorcycle Association of ACT.

🙂

Gungahlin Al12:25 pm 10 Aug 08

PS: good on you Tess for spreading the word. Enjoy your group – biking together can be a great social activity.

Gungahlin Al12:24 pm 10 Aug 08

Sorry Mael but I don’t recall seeing any biking articles in recent times.
And like Madman, I’ve been on the receiving end of nasty stuff while riding.
I had a ZZR and was slammed from behind while turning into my driveway by a car doing 80.
Which reminds me – if you have a Gear Sack rack – get rid of it – damn thing almost broke my back. Swear by back armour!

Took 6 years of something like 10 hours a week in the gym and yoga and pilates and heaps of hurting to rehabilitate my back.

Got myself a big loud Dragstar that yelled out “stay the f@#k away from me” – smartest move a biker can make (other than giving them up I guess…).

Mælinar - *spoiler alert* I've seen S04E1311:23 am 10 Aug 08

@bigred I’ve been thinking of a stormtrooper uniform for my black px200

Glad if anybody knows anybody from the Canberra legion pass on that I’d like to loan me a suit for a photo opportunity until I manage to purchase one.

but part of me supports limited skirt on scooters. It enlivens my commute. Makes me want to think about getting a pink vespa, like the one I saw at Motocentral a few weeks back. Lemme see, 180 cm odd tall 100kg male in full battle gear on a 120 odd kilo vehicle may look hilarious.

I think Sepi will be offended no matter what we do, so we may as well have fun.

Yes, lets go back to the Hooters on scooters idea, although I really don’t want to be called sexist by posting this!!
I thought it might be a good idea to do something for charity, possibly for breast cancer or something like that.
I’ll be Miss December, that way I can cover up in a Santas elf costume…

Mælinar – *spoiler alert* I’ve seen S04E13 said :

Can we all just agree to leave it at motorcycle riders all take individual responsibility for their safety, and their level of safety gear when they turn the ignition key ?

EVERY single thread on motorbikes recently has needlessly degraded into a conversation about wearing safety gear. The law states quite equivocably that the only requirement is for a motorcyclist to wear an Australian Standards approved helmet, any prophylactic beyond that is up to the rider.

That’s it, finito. Don’t like it ? Go find a feedback line for the RTA or something.

**SUITABLE DISCLAIMER**
I wear full kevlar armour when I ride my scooter.

Now, onto topic.

Bigred, no shortage of skirt when you are on a PX200, I get plenty of admirers.

That’s true, but needless to say, it’s turned into a trend for scooter riders not to wear anything else.

Maybe next time when you pull over to help another scooter rider and you have to stop the bleeding from all around their flesh degraded body parts, that you too might like to bring up the point of safety gear at a given chance – but sorry if it offended you at this given time.

Can’t see how much off topic it is from the shortage of skirts on a px200 comments, maybe you should call suprè hotline if you have a problem with the length of their skirt manufacturing!

**SUITABLE DISCLAIMER**
I wear full kevlar armour when I ride my scooter.

Please Note, the Kevlar is for stopping friction related injuries. Anyone out there thinking of using Kevlar motorcycle apparel in a shootout, think again. You don’t want to be like that kid from Texas who robbed a bank with his leathers.

Mælinar - *spoiler alert* I've seen S04E1310:51 pm 09 Aug 08

Can we all just agree to leave it at motorcycle riders all take individual responsibility for their safety, and their level of safety gear when they turn the ignition key ?

EVERY single thread on motorbikes recently has needlessly degraded into a conversation about wearing safety gear. The law states quite equivocably that the only requirement is for a motorcyclist to wear an Australian Standards approved helmet, any prophylactic beyond that is up to the rider.

That’s it, finito. Don’t like it ? Go find a feedback line for the RTA or something.

**SUITABLE DISCLAIMER**
I wear full kevlar armour when I ride my scooter.

Now, onto topic.

Bigred, no shortage of skirt when you are on a PX200, I get plenty of admirers.

watch out scooter girls, motorbike madman wants to crash some of your social rides! I’ll be a supporter or whatever you want me to be!

But yeah i have the same views as a few do above me. As a motorcyclist which i use for primary transport since fuel is so expensive in the vx s commodore, i frequently see alot of scooter riders who rarely wear anything extra then the compulsary AS1968 helmet, and it scares me to death. I only just recovered from a motorcycle accident i had a month ago were i did come off at 40-60km with FULL safety gear. The only injuries i had was a torn ligament on my thumb and alot of internal and external bruising. I would have been shredded if i hadn’t been wearing what i was, and because of that- no matter how far i travel on my bike, you’ll see me with all my safety gear on. Sometimes you’ll see me with jeans on if i’m going somewhere i can’t quickly dress out of my safety pants, but even then jeans will only help me for 4m on the road even if the slide is less then 4m i’ll still be badly jean burnt, but i’d have to be travelling less than 20kmph.

So i really wish scooter riders would be more aware of safety clothing, cause as a fellow rider, if i see you have an accident or see you on the side of the road i will be concerned and will be the first to help you and clean you up till the meds arrive.
And you won’t be the first for this month i’ve had to help already.

Ride safe!

… but did the rider wear short skirt and fishnets?

I hated it when I couldn’t catch a short skirt on a PX 200 while on my yamaharley. I went and got a big bike after that.

AND MY Scoot easily does 100.

Of course, Al. The photo (and others we have for publicity) are simply that, publicity shots. I personaly own Joe Rocket gear, and part of our education of fellow scootergals shall be in the wearing of decent protective wear.

Can I also say that the wearing of decent kevlar clothing is something that I have known some men to forget about, not for the sake of coolness, but because they just couldn’t be arsed??

I have heard enough horror stories about coming off with your jeans around your ankles and bones where your elbows used to be to know better. 🙂

I think that was G. Al’s point iCanberran – coming off at 60km/h will still do NASTY damage without safety gear.

Scooters really are a bit of a w*nky method of transport. Personally though, I don’t think they’ll need safety gear as every scooter I get stuck behind in a 80 or 100 zone can barely manage to do 60!

Gungahlin Al5:21 pm 09 Aug 08

Having come off a bike a couple of times, I have to say that it seriously makes me cringe every time I see a girl scootering while wearing flimsy clothing (like in the pic).

Do girls on scooters think that sliding along bitumen at anything under 8okph doesn’t hurt?
Doesn’t shred clothes? Doesn’t shred the skin and flesh beneath those clothes the same way taking to your hands, elbows, feet, knees, back and arse with a cheese grater for 5 minutes would?

It does and it would. Ever seen the mess left behind after skin grafts? Just for the sake of looking cool? Not a real cool look in bikinis afterwards…

I’d rather come off a large bike at 100 in safety gear than any bike at 30 in streetclothes.

Scootergirl might wear decent safety gear (dunno) but plenty of girls around here don’t. I hope you’re pitching “brains in gear before scooter in gear” Tess.

[off soapbox]

The swarm is a great club, and I recommend people who want to join to go right ahead. Scootergals is a different type of club, and in no way connected with The Swarm, which is a club by invitation only.

Canberra is big enough to have more than a few groups, clubs, whatever within it realm.

And copies of the film ‘Quadrophenia’ (1979).

Mælinar - *spoiler alert* I've seen S04E137:39 am 09 Aug 08

As opposed to the Swarm http://www.theswarm.com.au/#

Aww that’s a shame!

No it is not the same Tess Ryan. 😛

Is this the same Tess Ryan who can be found at http://www.tessryan.com ??

Is this an alternative to dykes on bikes?

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