First women's motorcycle club in Amapá turns riding into a symbol of independence

Shield of the Salto e Graxa group, the first women's motorcycle club in Amapá Maria Clara Prudêncio/g1 On Motorcyclist Day, celebrated this Monday (27), g1 tells the story of Salto e Graxa, the first women's motorcycle club in Amapá. Created in 2018, the group was founded to show that women also take to the roads, master riding techniques and find independence and freedom on motorcycles. The idea came about when Any Cambraia, aged 40, was part of a men's motorcycle club and accompanied her husband to activities. She decided to start riding and, at the time, she was the only woman in the group who rode her own motorcycle. ? "I was the only one who rode, the majority went to support their husbands and stayed on the back. So I thought that if I liked motorcycles, there must be other women like me. I just needed to find them." Any started looking for other motorcyclists, invited wives who also had motorbikes and gathered the first participants. When they reached around ten women, they decided to officially found the motorcycle club. READ ALSO: PHOTOS: meet the candidates for Mister Macapá Summer 2026 Mother of 1-month-old baby competes for title of Muse of Macapá Summer: 'inspiration for other women'

Before formalization, the members studied the motorcycle club culture and structured the group with statute, hierarchy, rules of coexistence and focus on travel. "Our name is quite literal. The heel represents our femininity. The grease reminds us that, if the motorcycle breaks down on the road, we get our hands dirty and fix it", explains Any. Commitment, values ??and discipline Entering Salto e Grexa requires more than a passion for motorcycles. The candidate must have a National Driving License (CNH), own motorcycle and go through an integration process that can last months. First, participate in tours and interviews. Then, it enters the phase called "aspiration", which lasts about two months. During this period, he learns piloting techniques, convoy formation and signaling. It then moves into the "prosperous" phase, when it takes on responsibilities and represents the group at events. The next stages are "half shield" and "shield", when the member receives the full vest and the motorcycle club symbol. For architect Dandara Pinheiro, 30, who occupies the position of half shield, the motorcycle club has transformed the way she rides. "I was very scared and was traveling at almost 20 kilometers per hour. Despite having a motorcycle, I only gained confidence when I joined the club. The training, riding in a group and having a support network made all the difference", he says. In addition to riding techniques, members receive training in braking, self-defense, first aid and preventing accidents with venomous animals. "They arrive like a rough diamond, our job is to polish it. They all learn the techniques so that the group travels with the same level of safety. We train because, if someone gets hurt, is in danger or the bike breaks down, no one will sit back and wait for a man or a miracle", says Any. Far beyond a hobby For club members, riding goes beyond leisure. Some define the bike as a way to relieve their routine. Others see in it a lifestyle based on friendship, support and trust. "I joined the motorcycle club as an escape valve. I needed to escape personal problems and I didn't find anything that helped me in the same way", says member Sangelys Pinheiro, 29 years old. According to Any, Salto e Grexa has remained active since 2018 because it found, on the roads, something bigger than a hobby. The bonds created between the members are the group’s main fuel. "Driving is feeling the wind on your face, clearing your head and experiencing the road. It's about freedom, but also about our pride in sharing the shield and our honor in driving together. Salto e Grexa has become a place of support, welcome and friendship", he explains. See photos See the latest news from g1 Amapá

Related stories