Way To Go, Girl! Custom Motorcycles and Cold Riding

Women riders doing amazing things

Get Involved With the Conga Ride

Tannis Fuhr setting out from Florida on the first Conga Ride in 2008.

This May, Tannis Fuhr is leading the way in a unique ride that picks up riders along the way that shes dubbed the Conga Ride. Tannis, or Flo as shes known to her friends, will start her ride in Tampa, Florida, heading all the way to Vancouver, Canada, to raise money for breast cancer research. Flo is teaming up with Donna Palladino of Ride Like A Pro as well as the Vancouver Island lady Riders, and dozens more with a goal of raising more than $10,000 for the Breast Cancer Foundation. Flo and the rest of the Conga team are selling T-shirts and pink helmets to raise the money, in addition to pins, bracelets, and Shays Helmet Hair goodies.

The Conga ride route goes from Hudson, Florida, to Campbell River, British Columbia.

Flo started this Conga ride in 2008 when she traveled to Florida to buy a motorcycle from Donna Palladino. Through her online blog and forums, she communicated that she was riding her new bike back to Canada and asked if anyone wanted to join her along the way. Lots of people turned out to ride alongside her as traveled the 5,000 miles back to Canada. Hence the Conga ride was born. This year, shes doing it again but this time raising money for charity. Check out her blog, or the ride planning forum to find out more about “Go with the Flo.” If you would like to donate to the Breast Cancer Foundation through the Women Who Ride Conga II Reunion, visit their First Giving page at FirstGiving.com/WWRConga.

An Incredible Arctic Motorcycle Journey

Doris and her traveling companion, Sjaak Lukassen, entering Alaska and getting excited for a snowy ride.

Congratulations to Doris Wiedemann who just accomplished a motorcycle trip we dont think any other woman has ever done. On March 2, she arrived in Deadhorse, Alaska, the northernmost point in the U.S. located at Prudhoe Bay on the coast of the Arctic Ocean in the middle of winter. This is as far north as one can travel in the North American continent. The Dalton Highway ends here.

Doris said she felt comfortable riding the F 800 GS despite it being weighted down with all this luggage.

In January, Doris with her riding companion, Sjaak Lukassen, started in Key West, Florida, the southernmost point in the U.S. with a goal of reaching Prudhoe Bay,the northernmost point. She rode her BMW F 800 GS. When they started out, her dashboard read a pleasant 82 degrees. In Fairbanks, she fought snow and frigid temperatures at around minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

In order to brave the cold and snow, Doris had to get creative. Here she is outfitting her F 800 GS with self-drilling tire studs to make it through the deep snow and slick ice. She and Sjaak both wore full winter clothing designed to protect them from the coldest of temperatures.

Check out their incredible journey at Doris Web site, DorisWiedemann.com.

Winning Trophies for her Custom Motorcycle
Way to go to Margaret Nicastri of C and C Cycle for winning this years Upgrade Class in the Metzeler Custom Bike Show at the 2008 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Margaret and her partner, Roy, customized a 2004 Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide Classic Electra Glide with a 103c.i. Screamin Eagle engine, Metzeler 200mm tires, and a Fat Bagger lower fender, not to mention a great paint job. Visit candccycle.com to check out this bike and other customs.

Margaret Nicastri accepting her trophy from Kelly Hudak of Metzeler.

Margaret and Roy have been in business for 25 years as a Big Dog Motorcycles service center, custom bike shop, and Harley-Davidson retailer. Margaret has been riding for more than 25 years. Her custom bike also took second place at the Rats Hole Custom Bike Show at Daytona Bike Week 2009.

She Won Her Dream Bike

Libby with the customized Cross Bones she won from Harley-Davidson.

Congratulations to Libby Hitchcock of Dallas who won the Harley-Davidson “Build It and Win It” contest. After building her dream bike online at Harley-Davidson.com/customizer, Libbys name was drawn to win the grand prize which is the actual motorcycle she designed for herself on Harley-Davidsons customizer Web site a 2009 Softail Cross Bones installed with more $4,500 of custom options including Harley-Davidson exclusive paint, and numerous decorative and functional accessories. The local dealer, Cartersville Harley-Davidson, provided the delivery and installation of the prized motorcycle on Saturday, January 31.

“Ever since the Cross Bones came out, I have lusted after it,” Libby said. On choosing the Chisel Custom Grind Collection paint set and other black accessories she said, “The bike looked old school and was crying-out for that black matte finish.” She plans to put on as many miles as soon as possible, especially since riding has been a life-long passion of hers. She grew up riding with her grandfather and father who both worked at Harley-Davidson dealerships in Georgia. But after taking her Rider’s Edge course she got her own official license in November of 2007.

17 thoughts on Way To Go, Girl! Custom Motorcycles and Cold Riding

  1. Conga III is now nearly completed. The ladies met in the middle in Cheyenne, Wyoming. There was a huge fundraiser in Shell, Wyoming. Hats (doo-rags) off to all he ladies and gentlemen who participated. It was bigger and better than ever, Lots of pink was worn. Conga IV is already being planned.

  2. Wow, what a great way to show support for breast cancer and I could never imagine such a ride. Guess I need to figure out if I could ride my 1200C Sportster that far. Thanks for the inspiration!

  3. Don't know how these gals do such long riding. All I can say is they sure are something special.

  4. I am happy to be joining the Conga this year. It is a great cause supported by a great group of women, those riding and following through our blogs. Can't wait to meet the line!

  5. This is such a great thing. Great cause. I can't wait to ride with Flo and the rest of the ladies. Kudos to all who are riding the Conga II and kudos to all of the people who donated for the breast cancer cause. I can't wait to Conga!

  6. What a great article about the Conga II. I'm one of the lucky ones to get to ride part way with Flo. She will be coming through Pensacola picking up some girls and we'll continue north to Murphy, NC. This ride is for a great cause (breast cancer) and it's wonderful to see people from all over the country take time out of their busy lives to take part of this great adventure. Thanks to everyone for their donations and time. And a big thanks to Women Riders Now for putting the word out.

  7. Thank you for the great article on the Conga II Ride! I am a new rider and thanks to the encouragement of Flo and other women on the ride, I will be joining the Conga on days 3, 4 and 5 as it leaves the Florida panhandle. As both a rider and a woman very familiar with this insidious disease, this ride touches my heart as it does many other woman who will be joining us on the road and in spirit.Every dollar counts as we all join together in this battles against this horrific diagnosis.

  8. I am so proud of Flo! She is an inspiration to all women riders. The group is also riding for a wonderful cause. I'll be riding with the group through Kentucky. Go Conga go!

  9. Great articles on fabulous women! Love lil' Donna Palladino. Hoping to be able to ride with her and “Go Flo” out of Florida.

  10. I am so proud of Flo. Conga I was a great journey, Conga II will be even more memorable and the money raised will go to a great cause. I hope everyone reading this article can donate a couple of dollars – it all adds up!

  11. I am totally impressed with Flo's Conga Ride! I am proud to be one of her spirit riders down here in Texas. I bought my T-shirt and I just wish I could ride with Flo on this wonderful journey. You go Flo!

  12. I am so excited to be a part of the Conga again this year. Thank you so much for posting this article. Hopefully, we can raise awareness and reach our goal to aid in breast cancer research.

  13. I had the pleasure of riding with Flo last May 2008. I love knowing that I was there in the beginning with the Conga I. I'm looking forward to the Conga II Reunion. Let's get some pink on and fight breast cancer.

  14. I'm really looking forward to riding the Conga with Flo and so many other wonderful riders. Thanks to all for your contributions to our cause, Breast Cancer. We still have a ways to go to reach our goal, but I know that the Women Who Ride will come through for the cause!

  15. Thanks so much about posting this article for the Conga II in your article. We hope to be passing through your area also. Hopefully with all your readers it may help us reach our goal!

  16. Modern Technology is a great thing. There was a time when events like this went unnoticed.

    Flo and her incredible entourage (riders and spirit riders) are embarking on a memorable journey. The two sides to this coin is the journey itself and the re-aquainting with old friends and making new ones. The other side is the fundraiser element. This is an affliction which is not gender specific and has touched us all in some way.

    I wish Flo and everyone connected to the organization and the delivery of Conga II nothing but bouquets. To everyone who has stepped up to the plate and given this air time, magazine coverage, and word of mouth, thanks!

    Thank you Genevieve for this article as it empowers your readers with the information necessary to hop on board this journey and if the spirit moves them to contribute to a very important cause.

  17. From the crew of Two Wheel Travels and their production partner Digital Rain, llc, we wish Flo and her riders a safe journey, and can't wait to meet up, ride, and videotape your adventure through the Hoosier State.

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