Women Riders Now (WRN) is the leading resource, online or in print, for
motorcycling
news and
reviews from a female point of view. WRN is an online magazine, free to anyone to read who visits this site, that is now entering its eighth year on the Web. The content is updated almost daily with stories and information all riders, women and men, interested in motorcycling from a lifestyle point of view can appreciate. WRN also has the most comprehensive
Beginner's Guide for anyone interested in becoming a motorcycle rider. To keep up to date with the new stories we post,
sign up for the biweekly WRN Newsletter.
WRN exists because one of the biggest shifts taking place in the motorcycling industry is the growth and impact of the female riding population. Here are the lastest statistics, current as of 2009, regarding women motorcycle riders according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.
• Nearly 25 percent of all motorcyclists are female—that's one out of every four riders.
• In 2009, approximately 27 million people in the U.S. operated a motorcycle. Of that number,
approximately, 7.2 million were women.
• From 2003 to 2009, the estimated number of female motorcycle operators increased 67 percent.
• From 2003 to 2009, the estimated number of motorcycles owned by females increased 37 percent.
• Forty percent of women motorcycle owners ride a cruiser style motorcycle.
A quarter of all motorcyclists are female, the growth attributed to what we at WRN call the copycat effect. When a woman sees another woman riding her own motorcycle, she says, "If she can do it, so can I."WRN is the definitive resource for all things related to women and motorcycling. In addition to motorcycle and product reviews by leading female motorcycle journalists, you'll also find the
WRN Forum, where visitors can connect with other riders; the
WRN Classifieds, the only place on the Web with a women-specific motorcycle category listing; and the most comprehensive
Beginner's Guide on the Web for women looking to get into motorcycling.
Women—whether they're new or experienced riders, passengers, or curious non-riders thinking about taking the driver's seat—are not targeted by any
large-scale national media outlet.
Surveys show that readers of motorcycle magazines are 97 percent
male. Thus, editors cater specifically to a male audience. Women must
thumb through pages of stories written from a male point of view, test
rides written for the male rider, and products aimed at men. Women are
hard-pressed to find information on female-specific motorcycling gear, motorcycle reviews written from a female perspective, and tech stories that
speak to a woman's experience.
WRN is an online magazine that fills that void. The site officially launched on February
1, 2006, and is packed with information for women at any stage of
motorcycling. We post new stories each week and send out a free e-newsletter every two weeks. In addition to our newsletter, we offer a variety of ways for our readers to stay in the loop and be the first to know about the latest in women-specific motorcycling news, reviews and events.
Our Founder and Editor
Genevieve Schmitt is the founder and editor of Women Riders Now, which operates under the ownership of her company, Solitude Ranch Communications, LLC. Genevieve is a leader in the motorcycling industry and a 2001 inductee to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame. She's been covering the women and motorcycling "beat" full-time since 1999. Genevieve is regularly called upon by motorcycle dealerships, and motorcycle rally and industry event organizers to give
speeches and presentations to women riders and industry leaders around the country. She's been quoted in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles on the subject of women and motorcycling. To read more about Genevieve, visit the
Our Founder page.
Our Mission
The mission of Women Riders Now is to provide the most up-to-date and comprehensive motorcycling news and reviews that appeal to the female riding population. By doing so, our goal is to educate and inform the motorcycle industry and general public on the growth and impact of the female riding population.
The Standards We Adhere To
WRN is an online magazine that adheres to the highest standards in journalism. Like most print magazines, we are supported through advertising. We do not favor any one brand. We promote responsible riding and the wearing of proper riding gear. When we have control over the content of photo shoots, our riders wear proper gear. Occasionally, we get photos from contributors who are not wearing proper gear. We post those photos at our editorial discretion.
Women Riders Now is packed with information for all levels and types of motorcyclists, from beginning cruisers to experienced sportbike riders.Though the percentage of women riders continues to increase,
motorcycling is still a male-dominated activity. The majority of media
and information out there for motorcyclists features predominantly men and speaks to a
male mind. There is clearly a need for an outlet serving the specific
needs of the powerful and growing population of women riders.
It's no secret that women like to connect with other women. Women like to share stories, photos and information on products, places, people—anything they love and that works for them. For women riders, this includes all things having to do with motorcycling. A woman's experience with motorcycling is typically different than a man's. The mental process by which she comes to the sport is different, her learning experience is different, and she requires different sizes and fits when it comes to riding gear. Moreover, women network with one another differently than men do. Because of all these differences, women seek out information that speaks to their specific riding needs and experiences.
WRN is the most popular place on the Web for women riders to share stories, photos and information about their experiences on the open roadFinally, women are the fastest growing segment of new riders. New riders (and anyone seeking information about the sport) require basic information rarely found in mainstream motorcycle magazines or on Web sites. There is a need to serve this market of seekers and beginners in a targeted way. With its extensive
Beginner's Guide, designed specifically for women riders but pertinent to all new riders, WRN fills that need.
Our Photo Library
WRN owns the most extensive photo library featuring photos of women riding motorcycles. Media professionals and other interested parties can access this library at a set price per photo.
Please
email us to learn how you can access those images.