An adventurous head nurse is gearing up for a world record marathon motorbike ride to inspire women riders.
Llandudno's Anne Quinn Jones, 49, deputy manager of Pendine Park care organisation’s Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon, will be taking part in the Women Riders’ World Relay.
Riders will travel through 80 countries in just four weeks and they’re aiming to set the record for the largest recorded world-wide motorbike relay.
The mammoth ride begins in John O'Groats, Inverness, Scotland on February 27 and will finish in the United Arab Emirates in January.
Mrs Jones has signed up for leg eight of the relay between Rhosneigr on Anglesey and Buxton in the Peak District which starts on March 6 when will be riding her 800cc Triumph Tiger.
It was an easy decision for her wanting to take part in the Women Riders World Relay as soon as she heard about it.
She said: “It’s an amazing idea thought up by a friend, Hayley Bell of Congleton, Cheshire. The idea is to show the world we are a sisterhood of bikers and should be taken seriously, particularly by the motor industry.
“The event starts in Scotland before moving to Ireland then Wales. Women riders will carry the baton and pass it on. After my leg to Buxton the baton will carry on through England before going to France and will travel through 36 European countries.
“By June it will have reached Turkey before moving on into Iran, Pakistan and across Asia reaching Australia in August. It then goes over to New Zealand and then onto Canada.
“Leaving Canada it will travel down through the US into Mexico and then Latin America. It will then come back over to South Africa and travel up through the continent to the journey’s end in the UAE.”
She added: “It’s just a fantastic project to be involved with. We just want people to take female motorcyclists seriously.
“The industry tends to ignore women riders and it’s difficult to get the right protective clothing. And for some reason they think we only want things in pink.
“I’m also hoping it makes motorists more aware of motor cyclists. I get really frustrated at the conduct of some motorists to bikers."
Hayley Bell, the UK founder, Women Riders World Relay, said: “I wanted to ignite a global sisterhood of inspirational women to promote courage, adventure, unity and passion for biking from all corners of the world and do something that’s never been done before to this scale.
"My aim is to wow the industry into realizing the global market for women in Motorsports and to inspire women worldwide."
Mrs Jones said she had always wanted a motorcycle but hadn't got around to it busy raising a family.
But as soon she was able she brought her first bike - a Cagiva 125cc. She has had a number more since then and has even got her husband into motorcycling - making trips together to Romania, Italy and ridden the St Bernard Pass.
They even went around Italy on their bikes as part of their honeymoon.
For more information about the Women Riders’ World Relay and to track the progress of the baton visit www.womensridersworldrelay.com.
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