These Myrtle Beach area biker babes are intimidating, independent and ready to ride
For Veronica “Vee” Marcum, buying a motorcycle meant freedom.
Marcum, who owns Fishtails in Myrtle Beach, has spent her entire life riding motorcycles – but not operating them. She grew up riding on the back of her dad’s motorcycle before hopping on the back of boyfriends’ motorcycles as she grew older. But in the 2000s, along with many of her friends, Marcum got her own bike.
“Women didn’t want to wait for whenever a guy was ready to take her for a ride, so a lot of women started getting their license,” Marcum said.
For decades, the motorcycle community was almost entirely male, with women joining as passengers. However, that has changed.
Women’s attendance at the Myrtle Beach Spring Bike Rally, which started on May 9 and lasts until May 19, has grown in recent decades. In 2018, 19% of motorcyclists were women, which is double the riders compared to 9% in 2003, Biker Law reported.
During the rally, many of the bikers gather around Murrells Inlet and Socastee, spending time at bars like Suck Bang Blow, the Rat Hole and Spokes and Bones.
Paula “Momma Paula” Gephart has been bartending at the rally for around 15 years, working at various biker bars. She estimates there are 50% more women riding their own bikes now than when she started working the rallies. In her lifetime, she’s seen many women buy their own bikes and start driving.
“You didn’t see women on motorcycles by themselves back in the day. If you did, it was a rare, rare sighting,” Gephart said. “Now it’s very common.”
For women today, their gender doesn’t seem to stop them from buying a motorcycle.
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“I think women have just become stronger individuals than we were back in the day,” Gephart said.
Holding their own in a group of men
The motorcycle community is not known for being fluffy and feminine — and many women who join are not either.
“You really don’t have any restrictions. (Men) expect you to be a little brash,” Marcum said.
Women bikers hold their own among the men, often using humor or insults to stand up for themselves. Marcum said she had to get used to men’s reactions when working on motorcycles.
Over seven years ago, Marcum opened Fishtails, a motorcycle resale shop, where people can buy used and new motorcycle parts, apparel and trinkets. She used to shop at motorcycle resale shops in Cleveland, Ohio, where she lived before moving to the Grand Strand.
After Marcum got to Myrtle Beach, she noticed there weren’t any places to buy used gear, which is an affordable option for bikers on a budget. She decided to fill the hole and open her own place.
Despite running a motorcycle shop, men still doubt Marcum’s knowledge or feel uncomfortable letting a woman work on their bike. But that gives her the chance to prove them wrong.
“I’ll come out and I’ll show them how to put (a sissy bar) on their bike after they told me it doesn’t fit their bike,” Marcum said. “Everybody at the bar knows that I do this all the time, so they’ll applaud and, you know, hoot and holler.”
Aliyanna “Ali” Lovett has been trying to bring women together for rides since buying her motorcycle last year. Lovett and two other women in her riding group said they didn’t feel hesitant about purchasing motorcycles as women.
Lovett’s group said they love having women-only rides. Raven Bunton said when it is just women, there are no men flirting with her or acting in a sexual manner. She also doesn’t worry about how men will act.
“I feel safer with women, in general, just because we don’t act childish. We’re not trying to impress people in cars,” Bunton said.
Lovett said, “When I’m by myself, I get a lot of comments. If we’re in a group, (men) don’t approach us, we’re intimidating.”
Unfortunately, putting together a women-only ride can be difficult. Many of the women in the group have children, making it hard to coordinate a time that works for everyone.
Laurie Hickey, another member of Lovett’s group, said she’s excited but nervous about her first motorcycle rally. She’s heard mixed results about the treatment of women bikers.
“I’ve heard some women say people tell them they’re not real bikers and that they shouldn’t be riding, and I’ve heard some people just fully accept it and welcome you in with open arms,” Hickey said.
Gephart, who doesn’t ride motorcycles but has been in the community for many years, loves seeing women ride up on their bikes.
“It’s awesome to watch women rolling in. And they’re proud, just like men, but I think they’re even prouder of their bikes because they’re riding them by themselves,” Gephart said.
This story was originally published May 15, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
