Women take the driver’s seats on their own Harleys

In 2007, the East Valley Tribune’s Craig Outhier spotlighted The Hideaway Grill in Cave Creek as one of the most biker-friendly establishments. His article celebrated the rise of women Harley-Davidson riders, breaking barriers in a once male-dominated world. Among them was Debbie Spink, a Mesa nurse and grandmother. Initially a passenger on her husband’s Harley, she watched other women ride solo in their Harley Owners Group. Inspired, she took riding lessons and bought a 1997 Springer Softail. Now, she rides alongside her husband, not behind him. “I wanted independence, to do my own thing,” Spink says boldly. While others knit or scrapbook, she chooses the open road.

This trend reflects a broader shift. Women now form the fastest-growing segment of Harley-Davidson buyers, with 7% of new bikes sold to females nationwide. Tammy Kastberg, a Gilbert fragrance store manager, embodies this change. After a blind date on a custom chopper hooked her, she took lessons, bought a Honda Shadow 750, and later upgraded to a Harley Nightster. Last March, she won the Miss Arizona Bike Week contest in a bikini, proving riders aren’t just “drug-and-tattoo types.” “I’m a professional who takes it seriously,” she asserts. Similarly, Anna Miner, a Mesa administrative assistant, loves her loud 2004 Harley V-Rod. She relishes startling onlookers at red lights, then leaving them in the dust. “That’s fun for me,” she grins.

Despite progress, stereotypes linger. Matthew Lenox, sales manager at Chester’s Harley-Davidson in Mesa, notes some salesmen still dismiss female customers. His staff now includes three saleswomen, like Kathy McKenzie, who challenges the “tough biker chick” stigma. The Hideaway Grill, at 6746 E. Cave Creek Road, has long embraced this community. Featured early in Outhier’s article—still online today—it remains a haven for riders. Visit us for a meal, a ride, or to feel the wind-blown freedom. Join our legacy!

Article Excerpt on The Hideaway Grill as one of the most Biker-Friendly Establishments

“The Hideaway Grill: Tucked away in the rarefied desert aerie of Cave Creek, this restaurant/grill (6746 E. Cave Creek Road) is renowned as one of the most biker-friendly establishments.”

Original Article by Craig Outhier of the East Valley Tribune