Riding motorbikes has traditionally been a male pursuit. So why is it that many more women are opting for the thrill of two-wheeled transport? JENNY SCOTT investigates. . .

IT'S usually a man you see, forging a path through the traffic -- leather-clad and often oblivious to the speed limit. But while motorbiking has always been viewed as a predominantly male pastime, it appears increasing numbers of women are joining the trend.

For the popularity of motorbikes among females is revving up.

With women making up 10 per cent of motorcycle licence holders in the UK, the myth that motorbikes are just for men is set to shatter.

So just when did biking become so chic for the biker chicks?

For Elaine Atkinson, 32, from Darwen, her conversion from back seat rider to lady biker happened just last year.

"I've always really liked bikes since I was a teenager," she said.

"But I've always been a passenger on the back of my boyfriends' bikes.

"I've never had the confidence to go and ride one myself. Then, just last year, I thought -- that's it!

"I had some lessons and went out and bought myself a bike."

Elaine is now the proud owner of a 125cc Aprilia Sport, as well as a leather jacket, biker boots, gloves and helmet. But just what is the appeal of biking?

"I think it's the freedom," explained Elaine. "You can go wherever you want -- disappear off down country roads.

"It's just a really good feeling." The social side of biking also appealed to Elaine.

"There's a great camaraderie between bikers," she said.

So what are the chief differences between male and female bikers?

Elaine thinks it's mainly a question of speed.

"I stick to the speed limits -- I like to be pretty careful and I don't think men always do.

"Because I'm a mother of two children I'm more wary about overdoing it and acting silly.

So will the trend for lady bikers continue to flourish?

"People do find it unusual to see a woman on a bike," said Elaine. "They have to look twice to see the ponytail hanging down my back!

"I'd certainly like to see more women on motorbikes and I keep trying to get my friends into biking."

Likewise Helen Hill, a science teacher at Rhyddings High School, in Oswaldtwistle, who bought her Kawasaki 1,000cc in November last year.

Helen was attracted by the social side of biking and actually ended up meeting her husband Darren, a police officer, through a shared love of motorbikes.

"I thought it might be a good way to meet men," laughed Helen. "My sister's a biker and she has a fantastic social life.

"I met Darren because we were both having lessons from the same instructor."

Helen still sees women bikers as a fairly uncommon breed.

"I think biking's a fairly macho thing for a lot of men," she said. "It's egotistical -- what bike you ride says something about who you are.

"It's still seen as a man's world -- when you watch biking programmes on the TV, they talk about men all the time."

So would Helen encourage more women to hop off the back seat and go out riding themselves?

"Definitely," she said. "I don't like going pillion. I like to be in control."