Calling all women bikers

Throttle Riot is organising a group ride for International Women's Day.

PETALING JAYA: If you’re a biking woman and looking for a way to have fun with others of your ilk, you may want to contact Throttle Riot, which is organising a group ride to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Throttle Riot co-founders Raja Susrina and Hanis Hamdan told FMT that the event, called Moto & Gincu, would be held on March 4. It’s aim is to raise awareness of women’s achievements.

The ride will start at Triumph Malaysia (Fast Bikes) in Petaling Jaya at 4pm and end at the The Bee at Publika Solaris Dutamas.

Raja Susrina, who is famous on social media as a motorcycle enthusiast, said she believed the sight of women on motorcycles would contribute to the feminist cause.

“Moto & Gincu will be able to show the public that women can ride motorcycles too,” she said. “We’ll show people that we don’t need to depend on our men to help us with our motorcycles. We’re just fine on our own.”

Hanis agreed, saying she hoped the event would contribute to a change in society’s view of women. “The general perception is that women are more fragile and weaker than men, but we’re trying to show that this isn’t the case. Women are able to do anything men can do.”

International Women’s Day falls on March 8, but Throttle Riot has chosen to have the Moto & Gincu ride on the Saturday before.

“We want to do this on a weekend so that more women will be able to join,” Hanis said.

Raja Susrina said plenty of women had expressed interest in participating in the ride and this had caused worry over traffic congestion and other issues.

Hanis said this was the reason Throttle Riot had asked for police escorts. “We’re getting the proper authorities to help facilitate things because we don’t want problems on the road, especially since this is an all-women ride.”

One who has expressed interest through FMT is Shah Alam resident Raja Nurul Jannat. She said she had always wanted to join in motorcycle rides but felt intimidated because most rides were male-dominated.

“I don’t feel confident enough to join them because as a woman rider I am a minority. Also, most of the time these guys will camp out after a ride. Since I’m a Muslim woman, I can’t camp out with them.

“I would love to join because then I wouldn’t feel so alone.”

Raja Susrina and Hanis said Raja Nurul was more than welcome to join the Moto & Gincu ride. “If she doesn’t feel comfortable with guys,” said Raja Susrina, “tell her she doesn’t have to worry because she can come and join us. The more the merrier.”

“My advice to her is to just be herself and not to worry about what other people think,” said Hanis. “Also, if she joins us, she can mingle with other women who ride bikes.”

Throttle Riot is a motorcycle-event organising group. It used to be known as Geng Kak Long.

Women who are interested in joining Moto & Gincu can contact Throttle Riot via email at gkl.empire@yahoo.com.my. A RM50 fee must be paid. It will be used for food and beverages, a goodie bag and an entry for the event’s lucky draw contest.

Event updates will be announced on the event’s Facebook page. -FMT