Pioneering women motorcyclists Augusta and Adeline Van Buren rode coast to coast on Indian Power Plus motorcycles in 1916, becoming the first women to ride motorized vehicles to the summit of Pikes Peak along the way. Augusta was born March 26, 1884, and Adeline was born July 26, 1889. Descendents of former President Martin Van Buren, the sisters were slender “society girls” out to prove that women could ride motorcycles across the then-treacherous continent, even though they still did not have the right to vote. Augusta and Adeline felt that women could help [the WWI effort] in a direct manner by becoming dispatch riders, freeing up men to provide combat support. This would remove one of the primary arguments for denying women the right to vote – women were historically non-participants in war efforts. They would have to prove this point by showing, without a shadow of a doubt, that a woman could handle the difficulties of motorcycling over long distance and harsh conditions. Thus, before superhighways, and paved roads for the most part, their plan was conceived. Now those were some kick-ass ladies. :D

Pioneering women motorcyclists Augusta and Adeline Van Buren rode coast to coast on Indian Power Plus motorcycles in 1916, becoming the first women to ride motorized vehicles to the summit of Pikes Peak along the way.

Augusta was born March 26, 1884, and Adeline was born July 26, 1889. Descendents of former President Martin Van Buren, the sisters were slender “society girls” out to prove that women could ride motorcycles across the then-treacherous continent, even though they still did not have the right to vote.

Augusta and Adeline felt that women could help [the WWI effort] in a direct manner by becoming dispatch riders, freeing up men to provide combat support. This would remove one of the primary arguments for denying women the right to vote – women were historically non-participants in war efforts. They would have to prove this point by showing, without a shadow of a doubt, that a woman could handle the difficulties of motorcycling over long distance and harsh conditions. Thus, before superhighways, and paved roads for the most part, their plan was conceived.

Now those were some kick-ass ladies. :D

posted 2 years ago