CHINOOK OUTRIDERS CHAPTER

One of the privileges of hosting the 2018 Summer Internationals is that we get to host Nomad Bear and show her all the great sights that our visitors will see when they come to Calgary next year. Nomad has been busy touring in the foothills and mountains this fall, up to Kananaskis Country and Banff. She even made an appearance at the Magic of Christmas Toy Run! Safe riding, Nomad. Hang on tight to that bungee cord.

Our member Lois was the Grand Marshal of the Calgary Pride parade this year, and many of our members joined her to march in the parade. Even Nomad Bear came along for the ride! Here we are with the mayor of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi.

Lois and Nomad Bear, ready for the ride!

The ladies who attended the Canadian Summer National meeting in Nisku, Alberta were truly "Women in the Wind" for the weekend as prevailing Westerlies kept us leaning on our rides around the Edmonton area. Not many bug splats that day - the bugs couldn't fly straight either! Saturday night's activites had a Hillbilly theme with a great dinner and a live band. Good times!

Well ladies.....get ready for this.....3 chapters bid for 2018 and we got very positive feedback for our presentation. ... It's confirmed! We are hosting the 2018 WITW Rally! When certain scenes were shown you could hear and FEEL the intake of breath from everyone in the room. ~ Tina & Trish

Here's the video that was part of our bid for the Summer International Meeting.

After the snowstorm on May 24, we had to reschedule our ride for pizza in Bragg Creek. Twelve Women in the Wind were able to make it out on Wednesday May 31 and we enjoyed a much nicer evening practicing our group riding skills and meeting at Mountain Bistro in Bragg Creek (two groups: one from the south and the other from the north). The pizza was delicious, the camaraderie was great, and everyone in the parking lot was surprised to see so many gorgeous women riding together.

Chinook Outriders had a great turn-out for International Female Ride Day, with 19 members completing the ride from Calgary to Spruce View, Alberta, where we were able to meet up with some of our Edmonton and Leduc WITW sisters. Many of the group members continued onward to Linden for afternoon dessert treats. The weather and the bikes cooperated and everyone had a full riding day - what a great opportunity to join with other women who love to ride! Thank you to Troy and Ang from Ride Stop 'n' Go and Blue Circle Insurance for organizing and sponsoring this event.

Sponsored by: WITW Chinook Outriders

Saturday, May 7, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

108 Walden Drive SE, Calgary, AB

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We have 48 members plus our partners, with lots of stuff to sell for women and men riders!

Some items for sale are:

• about 50 helmets from one household, many only worn once or twice (very fussy male rider)

• jackets for men and women

• leather vests for men and women

• riding pants (fabric and leather)

• leather chaps

• gloves

• rain gear

• bags

Drop on by, take a look, bring your big net to strap your purchases onto your bike!

Today is March 15, 2017. Such a beautiful day in Southern Alberta! Those warm dry Chinook winds bringing our temperatures up from -22C to +13C in just a couple of days. I had to take advantage of the weather and took a drive out to Bragg Creek and Elbow Falls, about 80 kms west of Calgary. The scenery is spectacular! Right away you are driving into the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Spruce Meadows Equestrian Centre on your left, a ranch here and there, and you are nestled on the shoulders of the Rocky Mountains. Still snow capped, they glow white in the sunshine against a backdrop of bright blue sky. I did see 5 bikes out today, but the roads still have a fair bit of gravel on them from our wintery weather the last couple of weeks. I am so looking forward to the new riding season, when we can really enjoy the great roads in this area, amongst some absolutely spectacular scenery! ~Trish

WITW Chinook Outriders were featured at an open house presented by Torch Motor­cycles as part of their “Handbuilt Festival” which took place from Sept 15-25, 2016. The company’s target market is women who wish to build their own bikes, and make them suitable to their specific size and needs. • The Handbuilt Motorcycle Festival 2016, in its 3rd year, took place again at Torch HQ’s in Calgary’s historic Tigerstedt block,­ 914 Centre Street North. This year’s event fea­tured Calgary’s best summer builds, nightly street festivals, the Crash Helmet project — a collaboration between crash survivors and Calgary’s best tatooist, artists, pin­stripers -and the launch of the Torch Moto games, races, and film events. • This year’s builds included projects from Emily Aalbers, Pascale Lafebvre, Elle West, Natasha Ruben, Brock Downey, Jake Kessell, and Jon Paskett’s new 2016 Isle of Man TT Classic build! • Chinook Outriders Lee and Trish provided information regarding the Women in the Wind organization as well as our own Chap­ter. A round table discussion on Women in Motorcycling was emceed by Outrider Gail. We discussed issues we have encountered on our journey, why we joined a women’s club vs. a mixed club, safety issues, and new riders' expectations -­ from them and of them, among other pertinent topics. • Many thanks to Red Bull and Steam Whistle Brewing and our own Tina B for keeping us hydrated, and Torch for giving us the opportunity to showcase our wonderful organization! • Trish C