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BIKERS WITH BUS PASSES ON THE INCREASE
Romford, 26 September 2005 – “Sweet
old ladies in wrinkly stockings? I don’t think so.”
Those are the words of Devitt’s Divas – the growing
number of female riders with bus passes who believe that biking
holds the years at bay – and Devitt is launching a search
for the oldest one of them all.
Age Concern Week, in the last week of September, focuses attention
on issues faced by people over 60. To coincide, specialist motorcycle
insurance brokers, Devitt, polled its more senior female riders
to learn what it means to be a two-wheeled silver rider. The most
commonly held view among older ladies on motorcycles is that biking
keeps them both looking and feeling younger. Of the 50 ladies surveyed,
over two thirds (36) felt that riding a motorcycle kept them youthful.
To tie in with Age Concern Week, Devitt is launching a search for
the UK’s oldest lady over the age of 60 still riding a motorcycle.
The winner of the award will win a year’s free motorcycle
insurance, a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of Champagne from Devitt.
Some tips given by the ladies known as ‘Devitt’s Divas’
include:
- If mobility isn’t great, then get a side car
- A long road trip will get the adrenalin pumping
- Biking makes you look 30 years younger
- Fireblades and Harley’s are better than the bus pass.
Mrs Ryan learned to ride whilst at university. Nearly 50 years
on, she owns a Yamaha XJ600 Diversion. She says that failing physical
health should be no barrier to biking:
“I have had two hip replacements,” says the 67-year
old biker from Worcester, “but that was never going to stop
me.”
“I looked for a motorcycle with a sidecar and bought a Jara 350
Combination, before upgrading to my current motorcycle. I am also very
active helping rescue Greyhounds and Lurchers, so these often go
in the sidecar too!”
Mrs Edwards, 62, from Shrewsbury has been biking for 45 years.
She says that she still gets excited when she and her husband just
pack the bags and head off into the distance.”
“I used to ride my Suzuki SV 650 locally,” she says.
“Then a few years ago my husband suggested that we take a
long road trip. We did very little research and headed down through
France and went to Portugal. It was a wonderful experience and there
is nothing like two wheels for a feeling of complete freedom.”
Mrs Haynes, 65 from Ayr agrees that there is nothing better than
seeing Europe on her Kawasaki GPZ 500.
“I have been biking for 12 years and have some really special
memories of being up high in the Austrian mountains and the mountain
road from Andorra to France.”
Devitt’s Divas also say that biking makes you look, not merely
feel, younger.
“When I have my helmet on, people are forever mistaking me
for a much younger woman,” says Mrs Manister, a 64 year old
Suzuki AN400 owner from Ipswich. “I have been pulled over
by police before now and you can tell the look of shock and bemusement
on their face.”
At 81, Mrs Britton from Kingsbridge, Devon is the oldest biker
polled. A 40-year veteran of two wheels, she says that her Honda
125 ANF Innova helps her get around her very busy holiday town.
“I only ride seven or eight miles a day, but it is by far
the easiest way to get around. The only problems I really encounter
are manhole covers in the rain!”
Mrs Burley from Grimsby prefers the more powerful motorcycle and says
that, like her, bikers should start small and move up.
“My first motorcycle was a Kawasaki AR 125, but I now have a CBR
900 Fireblade and a Harley Davidson”.
“Whatever age you start biking, you must learn quickly and
be very aware of other traffic. You cannot do this if you are also
fighting a great big machine.”
Martin Pretlove, Managing Director (at the time) of Devitt, agrees that that
life is for living.
"Our research into Devitt’s Divas shows that there is
still plenty of enthusiasm for biking among the over 60’s
and it seems to be on the increase. They certainly have plenty of
lessons they can teach younger bikers," he said.
Anyone wishing to nominate a lady biker or themselves for the title
of the UK’s oldest female biker should write to: UK’s
oldest female biker, Devitt Insurance Services Limited, North House,
St Edwards Way, Romford, Essex, RM1 3PP or email marketing@devittinsurance.com
by 31 October 2005.
- ENDS -
For further information, please contact:
Linda Lo Castro
Marketing Manager
Devitt Insurance Services Limited
Tel: 0207 656 6830
Email: linda.locastro@rbsfinsure.co.uk
Web: www.devittinsurance.com
Notes to editors:
Devitt Insurance Services Limited is a specialist motorcycle insurance
broker, and is part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Authorised
and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the business
grew from the success of Devitt DA, established in 1936, which revolutionised
the motorcycle insurance industry with the innovative idea of offering
customers instant insurance cover through the motorcycle dealer.
Devitt’s success has allowed it to expand into other areas
of Personal Lines insurance, including car and home insurance. Devitt
is also recognised for arranging insurance schemes for employee
groups, clubs, associations and other affinity groups.
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