Riding on a motorcycle offers views that are impossible to capture when you are inside an enclosed vehicle. There’s something about there not being a thin glass window between you and the road that changes the way you see the world.
Llano County offers some of the most beautiful views in the Texas Hill Country and on the weekend of September 14, those views were shared with the Ladies in Leather all-female motorcycle group. It is not uncommon for a biker group to feel close-knit, but what was unique about this “family”, was that many of these ladies had never even met before, yet treated each other as if they had known one another for years. A strong tie bonded these ladies together through something they all shared—the desire for female empowerment. Women from different backgrounds, with different careers and homelives were able to hang their responsibilities at the door of the JLK Event Center and Arena and take a break from the stresses of life. “I would suggest to any woman to save all of their bubble bath, and nail and hair salon moments and come out to Llano to experience the female empowerment of the Ladies in Leather rally,” said Tina Lightfoot, know to the group as “Grasshopper”. “Even if you don’t have a motorcycle, come in your car and experience it!”
Grasshopper is a fully disabled veteran who suffers from PTSD. Because of her past trauma in Operation Desert Shield, she had not left her home in over five years or ridden a motorcycle on her own in seven. Her time in the military was scarring and she did not feel comfortable riding alone to the rally. She had made a Facebook post, asking if anyone would accompany her on the ride. Two ladies in leather, whom she had never met before, reached out to her and met her in Katy, Texas, where they escorted her on their motorcycles and rode the rest of the way together. “They took care of me and encouraged me,” beamed Grasshopper.
“When I came out of the military, I was not the same person I was when I went in,” she said. “The Ladies in Leather rally was one of the most eye-opening events for me. It opened all new avenues. I feel so much better about myself. I can accomplish anything with the help of my sisters. It taught me that I can trust people to take care of me again. It’s an even stronger comradery than a military comradery.”
The ladies showed nothing but positivity, excitement, inclusion and love throughout the weekend. There was no drama, fighting, or negativity—only support. The women came together to lift each other up, healing past scars through comfort, encouragement and love. “A lot of women who showed up showed up as women, but a lot of women who left, left healed,” said Grasshopper.
She enjoyed riding in Llano because it was quiet and helped her PTSD. “When I came home from the rally, I had a better understanding of what my fears were,” said Grasshopper. “Now I can’t wait to get on my bike and go riding.” She has many invitations to go out riding and people have even offered to open their doors for her when she wants to travel out of town. “I am overwhelmed with the love that the Ladies in Leather have showed me,” she added.
On Saturday, September 14, the Ladies in Leather Parade through the courthouse square went off without a hitch. “I was amazed by how responsible they were,” said Llano Mayor Gail Lang. “Safety was their main concern.” Approximately 400 women rode in the parade and about 500-600 were in attendance of the event. “We count for the ladies,” said Amber “Mama” Waybright. “We’re not chasing the record. It’s about the experience—making new friends, reuniting with old friends and planning for next year.”
For some of the ladies, riding in the parade with 400 female bikers was their first group ride. “There’s not a lot of times that women get noticed for anything, and to have a parade that just honors women in general was the highlight,” said Grasshopper. “We need that encouragement. We need to know that we are loved and cared for and important. The parade was like a birthday celebration for womanhood!”
“The rally was a success,” said Mama. “There was a lot of educational presentations, including roadside assistance, CPR and first aid classes.” Approximately half of the ladies who attended were returning from last year. Meet and Greets are scheduled across the state from now until next year’s event in September. No announcements have been made regarding next year’s Ladies in Leather weekend, but the women had nothing but wonderful things to say about the hospitality in Llano. “The ladies were very gracious. The city of Llano welcomes them back anytime,” said Mayor Lang.
The Ladies in Leather will be making donations to Llano Animal Rescue, Friends of Redtop Jail, Christian Motorcycle Association, and M2 (ministry that supports mothers). “We wanted to benefit not only the motorcycle community, but also the Llano community,” said Mama.
The Ladies in Leather is not just an all-female motorcycle group; they are a sisterhood that makes a difference through the shared passion of motorcycling. Riding with the ladies brings a sense of unity and empowerment that has the potential to change a person’s life, opening doors to a newfound sense of self-understanding and appreciation. The Llano News thanks the Ladies in Leather for allowing us to join in the excitement. We hope to see you next year!
