Page 13 - Lady Rider June.cdr

We're a support system. One of our members has a sister going
through cancer treatment right now.
10% a decade prior.
"Even in the 1930s, there were
women's clubs riding through
Motorcycle Week," Anderson says.
"They've always been here—it's just
that now we're seeing them in bigger
numbers."
Egalka looks up to one such early
pioneer: Gloria Struck, who joined the
Motor Maids in 1946 and still rides
today, well into her 90s. Struck is now
enshrined in both the American
Motorcycle Association and Sturgis
halls of fame.
Sisterhood on the Open Road
Support, camaraderie, and shared
purpose are part of what draws women
to all-female riding groups. The
Chrome Angelz, for instance, has over
200 chapters across the U.S. and
internationally—from Norway to
India.
Mahoney and McMahon are proud
members of the New Hampshire
chapter, which McMahon founded.
Within just two years, the group has
expanded to nine riders and continues
to grow.
"We're more than just a riding club,"
McMahon says. "We're a support
system. One of our members has a
sister going through cancer treatment
right now. She knows if she needs us,
we're there."
Still, McMahon emphasizes balance. "I
tell the girls, never put the club ahead of
your family or your job. If we're doing a
ride and I find out you missed your kid's
event to be there—I'm not okay with
that."
A Nationwide Network of
Women Riders
Across the country, all-women clubs
like the Iron Lilies are empowering
riders in new ways. Tiffany Chonko,
38, is the Florida chapter's leader and a
certified riding coach at Orlando
Harley-Davidson.
At this year's Laconia Motorcycle
Week, she stood proudly beside her
custom purple motorcycle, her
matching hair glinting in the sun.
"Growing up, you just didn't see
Lady Rider Magazine
women riding big bikes or traveling
solo," she said. "Now, it's celebrated."
Chonko's summer plans include a solo
journey from Key West to Alaska and
back—a bold expedition that would
have raised eyebrows just a generation
ago.
The Iron Lilies now boast between
4,000 and 5,000 members across the
United States. In the nine years since
the group's founding, Chonko has
witnessed an evolution in acceptance.
"Sometimes you still hear that outdated
'women belong on the back' nonsense,"
she said. "But that's rare now. In fact,
most of the time, men are cheering us
on."
A L e g a c y R e i n v e n t e d :
Daughters of the Revolution
As women's presence on the road
becomes more normalized, they're also
inspiring the next generation.
M c M a h o n ' s e i g h t - y e a r - o l d
granddaughter already has a dirt bike
waiting in the garage. "She's dying to
ride," McMahon laughs.
Anderson, who learned to ride as an
adult, sees a cultural turning point. "For
so many of us, our dads introduced us
to motorcycles. But now? You're going
to start hearing daughters say, 'I got into
biking because my mom rode.'"
That legacy, born of resilience and
rebellion, continues to thrive.
Laconia's roaring engines echo the
voices of thousands of women who
refused to wait for permission—and
instead took the handlebars for
themselves.
Looking Ahead
Events like Laconia Motorcycle Week
serve as more than just a gathering.
They are proving grounds, celebrations
of identity, and acts of visibility. For
women who ride, these spaces affirm
not only their passion but their rightful
place in motorcycle culture.
With the rise of all-women clubs,
increased mentorship opportunities,
and broader social support, the road
ahead is wide open. And women are no
longer just riding alongside—they're
leading the pack. BR
12 June 2025