A biker has described how she receives weekly marriage proposals, sexual comments and sexism on social media and while riding her Harley Davidson.
Insurance worker Michelle Chamberlain, aged 31, from Swansea, is an experienced biker with a decade of riding, and insists “it doesn’t take a penis to ride a bike” yet she still faces misogyny from bikers and non-bikers. This is despite her starting motorbiking as a tribute to her biker father’s memory.
She said: “I understand I am a bit of a unicorn in the biking community, it is rare to see a tiny blonde on a Harley Davidson. I get a lot of comments like ‘do you actually ride that? or ‘is that your boyfriend's bike? It surprises a lot of people that I ride a bike more than twice my body weight.
“I have had weird messages from men on social media offering to be my sugar daddy and a few marriage proposals, all of which were declined swiftly. I have gotten the occasional unwarranted intimate photo of men exposing themselves - but unfortunately it's part and parcel of social media.
“More than anything, the fact that some people are surprised that I was a woman, who can ride a motorcycle is insulting, I always reply jokingly, 'it doesn’t take a penis to ride a bike'." You can get more Swansea news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Michelle’s step-father was a biker and took her out riding for the first time when she was fifteen years old, she loved it, and he promised one day he’d buy her a Harley Davidson. Sadly he was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and before he passed away in 2012, she promised him she would get her bike licence, buy a Harley Davidson and ride Route 66 in his name.
She applied for her motorcycle test right away and passed in early 2013, Michelle spent the inheritance from her father on her own dream bike - a Harley Davidson Sportster. You can read more stories about Swansea here.
“When I started biking I did not have anyone to turn to ask about the queries I had,” she said. “The biker community both online and in-person have been invaluable to me. When I first passed my test I started going on group rides to get to know the other local bikers. The biking community is predominately male and I do still get the occasional sexist comment, but overall I have met some amazing people in the community."
Michelle revealed how she had once even had to come to the rescue of a stranded male biker.
“A few days ago, I was on a ride when I came across this other biker pulled over in an unusual location. I stopped by to see if he was alright and it turned out his bike had broken down and he didn’t have any breakdown cover, so I lent him my bike, so he could pick up his van to recover the stranded motorbike.
“I let him ride my pride and joy, and in exchange, he spent hours the next day fixing up my exhaust just as a thank you.”
Michelle is on her bike every chance she gets, spending many hours a week riding it.
“I am fortunate I work from home and have a pretty flexible schedule. I am on my bike year-round, for me, it's not a seasonal thing, my bike does not rot in the garage. I am on it nearly every day and spend hours exploring the amazing roads Wales/UK has to offer
“Next year, my bike will be ten years old and I intend to buy another to give it a companion. I always say ‘I’m not going to have children, I’m going to collect motorbikes… it’ll work out cheaper in the long run!'."
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