For many years now, Indian Motorcycle has actively supported International Female Ride Day (IFRD), celebrated worldwide on the first Saturday in May.
This year, Indian Motorcycle chose the south of France to organise a four-day ride setting off from Toulouse and ending in Nice on the French Riviera on the day itself, May 6.
Jess, Caroline, Jasmine, Courtney, Deimante, Sophie and Mallory came from the US, the UK, the Netherlands and elsewhere to meet up on a spring morning in front of the Indian Motorcycle dealership in Toulouse, where Chief, FTR and Scout bikes were waiting to take them on a four-day trip through the beautiful countryside of southern France. It was also an opportunity to soak up the wealth of culture in these regions – and enjoy some good food in select eating-places that trip organiser Sean had sought out beforehand.
All the participants were accomplished riders and all of them are highly active on social media. None of them knew each other previously, but they quickly hit it off together; the girls lost no time in getting to know each other as they checked out the dealership’s clothing store! The weather promised to be ideal for a wonderful road trip.
Everyone (apart from Sophie, who lives in France) had to quickly come to grips with French driving habits, especially some drivers’ rather relaxed interpretation of the Highway Code. The first stage saw the happy band ride towards the roads winding through the Montagne Noire range. The Chiefs, FTRs and Scouts changed hands several times as the miles (and photo-ops) clocked up. Gradually, the terrain levelled out, giving way to gentler roads with broad curves down into the city of Montpellier and the first stopover.
The next day saw a dramatic change in the landscape as they rode through the Camargue, a vast unspoilt region of the Rhone delta complete with salt marshes and wild horses. Then it was time to set course for Marseille, where the team stopped off at the historic port.
Days 3 and 4 offered yet another change of scenery, with the route following the coast of the brilliant blue Mediterranean Sea along superb roads passing through innumerable villages along the coast – not least Saint Tropez, dear to Brigitte Bardot.
Our riders even pushed on as far as the Principality of Monaco, with the coast road offering spectacular views. It was here that the stunning Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier and made her home.
150 other female bikers joined us for the last evening heralding the end of the road trip at the Indian Motorcycle dealership in Nice. The atmosphere was electric amid the sounds of DJ Grace’s turntables as the partygoers celebrated International Female Ride Day, glass in hand.
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