Imagine the thrill of a motorcycle ride through the open desert. Creosote bushes, barrel cactuses, and sand dunes blur in the periphery en route to the Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort in Borrego Springs, where a weekend of camaraderie awaits.
That’s the experience of the hundreds of women who gather each year for Babes Ride Out — a weekendlong gathering of female motorcycle enthusiasts in Borrego Springs. This year’s event features top industry vendors, helmet painting, gear fittings, a neon-themed homecoming dance, and buzzing tattoo machines ready to ink visitors. “It’s not something you can describe,” co-founder Ashmore Ellis says. “You feel and understand when you get there.”
Babes Ride Out began in Borrego Springs in 2013, when Ellis and Anya Violet, along with 75 strangers they invited, gathered for a night of camping and riding. “There is something so comforting in that oasis of a town,” Ellis says. “It makes you feel safe and free from worry.”
Now with offshoots on the East Coast, in South Dakota, and in the United Kingdom, Babes Ride Out has become an international sensation, attracting women riders from around the globe. “The connection and growth within the community [is my favorite part],” Ellis says. “Our foundation is built on bringing new riders into the mix, celebrating them, and encouraging each person to find their freedom on two wheels.”
