There’s a moment most women riders remember. It’s not about nailing the fastest corner either or hearing the roar of the engine’s sweet spot. It’s the first time you realise you actually belong on that bike.
For Gillian Riddell, that moment wasn’t dramatic. It came from turning up again and again. Riding. Learning. Getting more comfortable each time.
She didn’t assume motorcycling would automatically welcome her. Like a lot of women, she stepped into a space that already had its own expectations; most of them not being written with her in mind. But she stayed. She learned the feel of the bike, the weight of the gear, the quiet codes of a world that still sometimes treats women as the exception instead of just another rider.
There’s nothing flashy about her story, and that’s exactly why it’s so important to hear. She didn’t set out to prove anyone wrong. She simply wanted to ride. Confidence came the same way it does for most of us – by doing the thing often enough that it stops feeling like a big deal.
For women, riding can come with extra baggage because you’re not just riding, you’re also being seen. Often questioned and sometimes underestimated. Gillian’s journey reflects that reality, but it doesn’t revolve around it as she’s not there to prove a point. She’s riding because it feels right to her, that’s it.
This kind of steady presence matters more than people realise. Representation doesn’t always show up with a big fanfare announcement. All it takes is another woman spotting someone like Gillian and thinking, I could do that too. And that’s how things shift, little by little.
By showing up as herself, Gillian’s place in motorcycling is crucial. It’s important because she’s real, reminding us that there isn’t one ‘right’ reason for women to ride. Some do it for speed and some for headspace, some for the camaraderie and some for the incomparable feel of moving through the world on two wheels. Whatever the reason, it counts.
For those women, Gillian created the Ducati Dragons motorcycling club in 2021:
“I set the Ducati Dragons up in 2021 because I felt there was a need to have a safe space for ladies to come together to enjoy the passion and the love of Ducatis. Since setting the group up in 2021 it's grown to over 400 members...”.
From ride outs and meets, to charity runs and helping motorcyclists get more comfortable on their bikes, the Ducati Dragons has been a roaring success.
In a world that’s still figuring out how to make room, Gillian doesn’t wait for permission; she simply rides. And somehow, that makes the road feel a little wider for the rest of us.
- Motorcycles
- Ducati Motorcycles