Read a selection of articles from our April 2022 journal below, or download the whole newsletter.
The Enfamous Reflection Letter; How We Started.
It all started with the realization there were other women like myself that had a beginning. They rode harder and faster than my comfort zone, and as a beginner, I became intimidated with riding. With the combination of limited experience and owning a bike not suited for the type of riding I wanted to endure, I nearly threw in the towel and thought I would never be strong enough to ride. After two riding seasons, only totaling 800 miles, I sold my bike and decided to be a passenger. The following summer, I decided riding two-up was no longer an option for me, and I wanted to ride on my own once again. I ordered my second bike, 2012 Harley Dyna Switchback.
I watched my bike come off the delivery truck and jumped on it the second it hit the pavement. I instantly fell in LOVE with my new bike! After installing some modifications to my bike, I took off for my first weekend and rode 1,000 miles. Three things I learned after riding my new bike: 1) women ride differently than men. Men have upper body strength and for women, ours is in our legs. 2) your bike needs to fit you and be the right bike for your type of riding. 3) I can out ride most men and now I do it all the time, so can you! I later then approached my friend, Colette Haun, and discussed the need for women to find each other and ride. Due to the lack of women clubs in Montana, I asked Colette about starting a women’s club. In April of 2013, we put our plan to action and the Tenacious Dames were born. Tenacious stands for stubborn, strong, persistent, etc… Our patch symbolizes all of us riders, the strength as women. By the start of 2015, we had 50 members. By the end, we grew to 110 members and could be found in seven cities across Montana. My dream for women to find each other, friendships, strengths, and empowerment had been reached. What happened, was and is, more than that; it’s way more. I have found a place for women to heal old wounds, to trust again, build friendships, believe in themselves once more, and to ultimately become stronger. We are all here for our own reasons and the common interest that brings us together is the riding.
Winter Get-Away 2022
Each year the Tenacious Dames RC puts on a Winter Get-Away for its members and supporters.
This year’s event was hosted by the Vice Presidents from each chapter with a successful theme of “Channel the Flannel”. Over 90 Dames and supporters attended this year’s event which turned out to be one of our most successful. Hot Springs met its match when the Dames rolled into town. Symes Hotel and Grill was the base for the gathering. The goal of this year’s event was to spend time reconnecting with members and getting to know new members as well. Not to forget about our supporters, this allowed them to also reconnect.
Previous years the WG has scheduled activities, however this year the VP’s wanted to leave time open for Sisterhood. The only activity planned was dinner on Saturday night leaving the weekend open to enjoy each other’s company.
At Saturday’s main event presentation of Annual Mileage Contest Winner went to the Billings Chapter with over 30,000 miles road as a chapter and Miles City coming in second with just about 20,000. Dames Retirement was present to Linda Backen of Havre and Laurie Shafer of Billings with each of these ladies having 7 years of continued membership as a Tenacious Dame.
A moment of silence for the Dames we’ve lost over the last year and a celebration of the announcement of a new chapter in Sidney rounded out the announcements.
Dinner and dancing took place along with games, raffle basket and DIXXON gift cards drawings. All and all this was a fabulous event to kick-off the 2022 riding season.
