In Biker Chicz of North America, Edward Winterhalder and Wil De Clercq have compiled in-depth profiles of twenty-two fascinating women who ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Each chapter features an individual whose life story is compelling, intriguing, fascinating, and inspirational.
Global studies indicate that 12 to 18 percent of motorcycling enthusiasts are women. The number of women motorcycle riders in North America has increased exponentially since the early 1990s, and that exciting trend continues. American Motorcycle Industry Council statistics indicate that over one million new motorcycles were sold in the United States in 2008. Of that impressive number more than 100,000 were sold to women.
While each woman featured in this book is unique and extraordinary in her own right, there are, not surprisingly, certain attributes they all have in common. In addition to being avowed motorcycle riders-they live to ride and ride to live-they are successful, intelligent, freethinking, adventurous, creative, inspiring, and tenacious. They are women who have followed their dreams and dared to live life on their own terms. All are survivors who boldly took on challenges that many of us-men or women-would find daunting. Some of them came by their success easily, others by triumphing over adversity.
Despite their common traits, most are as different as night and day. Some are introverted, others extroverted; some are family oriented, others are loners. They'll be the first to admit, however, that without their Harleys, they would not be who they are today. Their beloved motorcycles are what defines them and what sets them apart from their nonriding sisters.
Author Biography:
Edward Winterhalder is an American author who has written more than forty books about motorcycle clubs and outlaw biker culture published in the English, French, German and Spanish languages; a television producer who has created programs about motorcycle clubs and the outlaw biker lifestyle for networks and broadcasters worldwide; a singer, songwriter, musician and record producer; and screenwriter.Winterhalder has produced segments, episodes and documentaries for television such as Gangland, Outlaw Bikers, Gang World, Iron Horses, Marked, Biker Chicz, One Percenters, Recon Commando: Vietnam and Living On The Edge; and is the creator and executive producer of Steel Horse Cowboys, Real American Bikers and Biker Chicz. A prominent member of the Bandidos motorcycle club from 1997 to 2003 and associate from 1979 to 1996, he was instrumental is expanding the organization worldwide and assigned to coordinate the assimilation of the Rock Machine into the Bandidos during the Quebec Biker War-a conflict that cost more than one-hundred sixty people their lives.Associated with motorcycle clubs and outlaw bikers for almost thirty years, Winterhalder has been seen on Fox News (O'Reilly Factor with Bill O'Reilly & America's Newsroom), CNN, Bravo, Al Jazeera, BBC, ABC Nightline, MSNBC News Nation, Good Morning America, History Channel, Global, National Geographic, History Television, AB Groupe, and CBC. Wil De Clercq lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, and has worked as a freelance writer and editor, a visual artist, and in such diverse fields as demolition, the merchant marines, faux finish painting, advertising copywriting, and film and television production. He has been a dynamic force in the world of motorcycle journalism for more than thirty-five years.
