Women Riders World Relay to roll through Kamloops

From left, Shannon Ainslie, Pup Johnson and Sara Pedersen, outside the Blue Grotto. (via Contributed)

Around 70 female bikers will be stopping in Kamloops tomorrow (Sept. 14) as part of the Women Riders World Relay (WRWR). 

The relay began in Scotland in February; the itinerary took the bikers to many European countries, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Southeast Asia, Australia, and now Canada (B.C. is the first Canadian province along the route).

The event involves women passing a baton via "legs" of countries (for example, from Manchester to London, London to Paris, and Paris to Pamplona). 

David Johnston, owner of the Blue Grotto, and Sara Pedersen. (via Contributed/Shannon Ainslie)

Sara Pedersen, the organizer of the Kamloops leg, says the goal of the relay is to show the industry the force behind women in motorsports.

"Women are the fastest-growing market and the industry really doesn't show us that consideration," she tells KamloopsMatters, adding it's still a male-dominated market.

Pedersen notes she and her husband went on a worldwide bike tour in 2012, and it was hard for her to find gear.

"When you go for gear, the lady’s gear is fashion-oriented, not function-oriented," she says. "I wanted excellent protection. In order to obtain that, I had to wear a man’s suit in a small, which doesn’t fit me. I couldn’t get a women’s suit with the same level of protection as my husband’s suit unless I wore a man’s suit."

The WRWR squad start their Canadian leg in Vancouver tomorrow; they'll ride to Kamloops and stop at the Blue Grotto for lunch, around 2 p.m. They'll then depart around 3:30 p.m. for Revelstoke.

(Around 300 riders will help move the baton across Canada.)

Pedersen notes the group will be escorted by local RCMP in and out of the Tournament Capital.

She encourages everyone to bring signs and cheer them on as they roll into town. 

The WRWR tour wraps up in the United Arab Emirates next January.