When Kelly McCaughey was out on her motorcycle, she always wished she weren’t the only woman. Now she’s trying to make sure that others don’t feel so alone either.
McCaughey, the founder and producer of Over and Out, is committed to ensuring that more women like her have companions on the trails. For the third time, Over and Out is coming to the famous Reading Outdoors Trails for a weekend of riding, community, camping and relaxation.
Famous Reading Outdoors, which spans 20,000 acres of coal land in Counties Schuylkill and Northumberland, will host Over and Out for three days and two nights – September 17-19 – in Tamaqua for women 21 years and older with varying levels of experience on everything from drive Dirt bikes, enduros and dual sport motorcycles.
“The idea was pretty simple,” said McCaughey. “I wanted to create an event for women who ride or want to drive off-road motorcycles. It’s hard for women to start dirt biking because there aren’t many places to go. For our event we open up private land, camp, ride horses and get lessons. It is for all levels. “
At Famous Reading Outdoors, General Manager Brian Rich said that a portion of the park that is traditionally not in use will be reserved for the event. McCaughey said she expected more than 200 riders to attend, many from the east coast and the mid-Atlantic but some from Oregon and California and even Canada if COVID protocols allow.
“You do a great job with it,” said Rich. “It’s a nice event. It’s well organized and people come from all over the place. We had a rider here a few weeks ago who travels all over the country and she said this was her favorite place. ”
It is important to McCaughey that the event be accessible to riders of all skill levels, along with those events that are not directly related to trail riding.
There’s a welcome party, demos of new bikes and products, mechanical inspections, storytelling by the fireplace, and a mountain bike group tour. Prizes and raffles – the event website calls it an “epic raffle” – are also part of the weekend. Past events have included a skateboard ramp and even goat yoga.
There are guided trail rides and workouts for less experienced riders and newbies, while seasoned trail riders have the option to ride some top trails with features not often seen in other outdoor parks, McCaughey said.
McCaughey, who lives in Long Valley, New Jersey, said they were looking for a place where everyone can come, learn about the grounds, and see if this is right for them. For some people, this experience opens them up to more styles of riding. “
That is one of the goals of the event: to introduce as many women as possible to the sport and to give those who are already bursting with passion additional opportunities.
“It’s hard for many,” she says. “You need vehicles, a bike and a vehicle to get there. Then you have to look for a place. Where can i go Some of these places are pretty gnarled, so we have guides. “
McCaughey said the $ 130 women spend the weekend is worth every penny. By the end of last week, McCaughey said 220 women had registered for the event, which will be held from Tamaqua, Schuylkill County.
“Your reactions are priceless,” she said. “There is no comparable event, nothing on this scale. The energy is from the table; it’s a happy, positive environment. You dont need to be scared; just be who you are. Do it because you want to do it. “
Find out more about the event at https://www.overandoutmoto.com/over-and-out-2021.
If you have an idea for an outdoor story, email Bill Bowman at [email protected].
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