Bike Babes celebrates ten years

Karin Pontén founded the club in 2014 because she missed having other women to ride motorcycles with. Since then, the club has steadily grown and now boasts nearly seven thousand members nationwide. All women are welcome, regardless of motorcycle type or age, and various rides and meetups are organised through Facebook groups. As early as Thursday, motorcycles began arriving at Mora Parken, the site of the gathering. Around 350 women had signed up for the event.

“I absolutely love Bike Babes,” says Veronica Wallberg from Åkersberga in Stockholm, with a big smile. “It’s truly my family,” she says, tears welling up in her eyes. “The best thing about this club is all the new friends I’ve made – it’s such a sisterhood.”

Mora Parken offered various accommodation options, including hotels, cabins, and camping, so participants could choose how they wanted to stay. The weather in Dalarna was variable, with quite a bit of rain, which led most participants to opt for cabins or hotels.

On Friday, several activities were available, including rides on both gravel and asphalt. Many chose to go on their own tours around the region to discover Dalarna’s many gems. A week before midsummer, the villages are typically bustling with activity, and as many know, midsummer is celebrated for several weeks here.

Every summer, several Bike Babes members ride over to Gotland for an annual meetup. However, for the 10th anniversary, both Karin and other organisers wanted to ensure more members could attend. There had been discussions for years about arranging a larger gathering. A grand celebration had even been planned a few years ago, with a set date, but the pandemic put a stop to those plans.

“Bike Babes Sweden has grown steadily over ten years, but we’ve never had a large gathering. We planned a big gala dinner a few years ago, but then the pandemic hit. Now that we’re celebrating ten years, many felt it was finally time,” says the club’s founder, Karin Pontén.

On Saturday morning, a large group gathered at the site where the exhibition would be held. Everything from gleaming custom bikes to muddy off-roaders and loud sports bikes rolled in and were neatly lined up. A group ride was organised to film a segment for SVT. By 10:30, the exhibition area was bustling with Bike Babes and early-arriving exhibitors, who were busy selling their products.

Eva Persson from Täby was one of the women attending the event. “I think it’s been well-organised and just the right amount of structure. I would have liked to see a few more group rides to choose from, but since participants were the ones creating the rides, it’s really up to each person,” she said.

As the day progressed, more exhibitors arrived, showcasing everything from clothing and equipment to jewellery and accessories. Participants could test-ride demo bikes from BMW and even get tattoos on-site. The sun warmed the area nicely, and aside from a brief shower just as many headed out for a short motorcycle ride before the exhibition opened, the weather was lovely, making it a truly delightful summer day.

The exhibition ran from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and was open to everyone. This meant it wasn’t just women who had the opportunity to test-ride and shop; several men also found their way to Mora. The exhibition was a huge success, drawing many visitors. “Saturday’s motorcycle exhibition with 15 exhibitors was unexpectedly successful, which was especially fun since we had never done anything like this before,” says Karin Pontén.

When the exhibition closed, it was time for everyone to dress up for the grand communal dinner. In Mora Parken’s large restaurant and dance hall, gold balloons were set up, and all the tables were beautifully arranged. A delicious buffet was served, and while the idea of a randomised seating arrangement might not have initially appealed to everyone, it turned out to be a great way to meet new people and exchange experiences – a hallmark of the group’s strength.

From the stage, a few speeches were given, and an exciting surprise was the inclusion of Mora Linedancers, who taught a few dances. The bold Bike Babes who jumped at the challenge were impressively quick learners, and the dance floor moved in unison to several country songs.

The undersigned left the party early to continue working, but the atmosphere suggested the festivities likely lasted well into the night. “The gathering turned out just as fantastic as I had hoped. It’s hard not to be swept up by the energy of 350 happy women on two wheels! We had events from Thursday to Sunday, and everything ran smoothly. Many have reached out afterwards, ecstatic, which is a testament to how much people appreciated it,” says Karin Pontén.

Bike Babes’ 10th anniversary gathering was an incredibly successful event. On Sunday morning, participants woke up to the sound of motorcycles. After breakfast, most began their journeys home, already looking forward to next year and hoping for another large event.