Hyderabad Bikernis in action

Ahead of the International Female Ride Day, we speak to ‘The Bikerni’ – a group that honours female bikers around the country. This year, the Hyderabad chapter of the group is organising the annual event with three rides across the city

Although the ‘rider’ stereotypically being a male has become a thing of the past, riding a bike for fun is still considered a widely male concept in our town.

It is this very idea that ‘The Bikerni’ group aims to change. In this regard, the group honours female bikers by organising rides around the country, which primarily area all about women riding bikes because they love to do so. And, let’s be real; why should boys have all the fun?

The annual International Female Ride Day (IFRD), which is on May 6, is a campaign for women motorcycle riders across all cultures of the sport, with the purpose of highlighting and profiling the number of woman riders enjoying the activity. It is an all brands, all forms, and all styles worldwide ride.

What began in 2011 by Urvashi Patole with the help of a few dedicated women is now a 3,000-membered strong foundation. The mission is to create an empowered platform for women motorcyclists.

The members of The Bikerni have a number of records to their name and are well-respected in the biking community as the front-runners of motorcycling movement.

Speaking to City Life, the chapter head of Hyderabad, Jai Bharathi shares, “When we started, all we wanted was to make motor biking a norm and not keep it a fashion statement.”

The Bikerni is the only group from India chosen to be a part of Nokia Mobile's worldwide ‘United For’ campaign, which was released in April this year.

“In 2015, members from all the city chapters rode to Daman to celebrate IFRD along with the international founder Vicki Gray, who flew from Canada seeing the increasing participation of women bikers from India,” shares Bharathi.

The Hyderabad Chapter began in 2013. “This year we invite women and men (yes!) bikers to celebrate May 6 with us. We are hosting a two-day event. There will be a special Midnight Ride near Charminar to showcase that the city is safe for women,” informs the rider.

Speaking about the daylong event she says, “The morning ride will begin at Qutubshahi Tombs and zoom towards Golconda Fort from 6.30am onwards. The ‘Evening with Bikers’ event will begin at Taramati Baradari at 5pm. We are also screening ‘Women Biking Documentaries’.”

“And, finally the main attraction is the Midnight Ride that will begin at People’s Plaza and head to Charminar in the Old City from 10.30pm,” she adds.

Interested riders can participate by registering on eventsnow.com.