Women's Motorcycle News & Events
FEATURED ARTICLE
Racy Lady on Display at Cycle World:
An Interview with Jessica Besseling
Los Angeles-based Racy Lady displayed their unique brand of riding apparel designed for the female motorcycle market at Cycle World International’s Motorcycle Show at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, which was held December 5-7, 2008. The company showcased jackets, pants and gloves as well as their one-of-a-kind 3-piece suit.
Here is an interview with Racy Lady Founder and CEO Jessica Besseling.
Q: Why did you start Racy Lady?
A: When I began riding a few years back, my options for motorcycle gear were quite limited. Sure, there were leathers designed for females, but I had a tough time finding clothes that were both safe AND sexy. It was pretty obvious to me that our market wasn’t being properly addressed, so my partner, Joseph Higgins, and I started Racy Lady in December 2007.
Q: Tell me about your unique 3-piece suit.
A: Shortly after I bought my first bike in 2006, I began making fashion notes that would become the genesis of the company. The initial designs yielded our 3-piece suit. The suit contains a jacket and pants like other multi-piece suits on the market today. However, with a cropped jacket, a visible corset comprises the ensemble and is complete with laces in back.
Q: Is there a real market for female motorcycle gear?
A: Absolutely! There’s no question more and more women are riding bikes today than just a few years ago. In the past 5 years alone, the increase is in the neighborhood of 30%. I began this with the desire of making it easier for women to find leathers that when they are on a motorcycle, there’s no guesswork whether a guy or girl is under that helmet. I think it’s definitely time that a viable company steps up to serve the female riding community.
Q: What have you been working on recently with Racy Lady?
A: We spent most of 2008 working on designs, which were displayed and sold at the Long Beach show.
Q: Where can female motorcycle enthusiasts purchase this gear?
A: Initially, we plan to sell the apparel direct from our website, www.RacyLady.com, which also acts as a complete news and information resource for the female riding community.
Q: What are your future plans for Racy Lady?
A: I envision Racy Lady being the Victoria’s Secret of the female motorcycle market, and I mean that in the most sincerest sense. There are a lot of companies out there making underwear for both sexes. However, when it comes to women only, the name Victoria’s Secret has to be at or near the top of most lists. It is the same thing with motorcycle apparel. There are a lot of companies out there making gear for both markets. I’d like to have Racy Lady be top of mind when people think of female motorcycle apparel.
Women on Wheels Motorcycle Organization
http://www.womenonwheels.org/htmlitems/events.html#ridein
AMA Int'l Women & Motorcycling Conference
www.womenandmotorcycling.com/womenc
Women's Motorcycle Expo
www.annualmotorcycleexpo.com
Skert's Pink Ribbon Rides
www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html#video
Femmoto—A three-day women's motorcycle track day demo event.
www.femmoto.com
Women in the Wind Winter Nationals
http://spacecoastriders-witw.org/cgi-bin/p/awtp-home.cgi?d=women-in-the-wind
Hosted by Space Coast Riders Chapter
February 29 - March 2, 2008
Cocoa Beach, FL
International Female Ride Day
www.motoress.com
May 2, 2008
All over the world!
Women Ride IV
www.h-dsales.com/custompage.asp?pg=rideschedule
May 2 - 4, 2008
Napoleon, OH
Lilly's and Liger's Ladies Only Ride
www.freewebs.com/whitetigerrun
May 17, 2008
Marinette, WI
Women's Rider Expo
www.laharley-davidson.com
May 25, 2008
South Gate, CA
Sisters in Spirit Spirit Ride National Rally Spirit Ride National Rally
www.sistersinspiritmotorcycleassociationforwomen.com
June 13 - 14, 2008
Van Buren, AR
Motor Maids Field Day/Over the Top Poker Run Hosted by The Wyoming/Montana District
June 20 - 21, 2008
www.motormaids.home.bresnan.net/html/hOverTheTop.html
Riverside, WY
Women in the Wind Summer Nationals
www.womeninthewind.org/AboutUs/Events/SummerNationals.html
Hosted by the Edmonton Chapter
June 20 - 22, 2008
Edmonton, AB, Canada
Chicks' Run
www.chicksrun.com
June 20 - 22, 2008
Casper, WY
Women on Wheels 23rd Annual International Ride-In
http://www.womenonwheels.org/htmlitems/ridein.html
July 7- 9, 2009
Kerrville, TX
Motor Maids 68th Annual National Convention
motormaids.org/Distpage3.html
July 8 - 10, 2008
Columbus, IN
22nd annual North Dakota Ladies Motorcycle Run
http://www.ndladiesrun.org/
July 17 - 19, 2009
Lemmon, SD
Annual WITW Alberta Rally
www.witwnorthwindriders.com/rally08.htm
Hosted by North Wind Riders Chapter
August 15 - 17, 2008
Grande Prairie, AB, Canada
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