Women bikers set for charity ride

Ed Crummy will take part in the ride with other women

Female bikers are to take part in a sponsored motorcycle ride to raise money for the Breast Cancer Campaign.

More than 30 women have already registered for the Birds on Bikes tour from Edinburgh to Cardiff, which will run over three days from 8 September.

The women also hope to challenge the stereotypical image of "bikini-clad ladies draped over bikes".

Ed Crummy, who is helping to organise the event, said it was a way of raising the profile of lady bikers in the UK.

The 30-year-old, from Cupar in Fife, will be riding her 1000cc Yamaha R1 during the event.

"It's a sports bike which many people find amusing because I'm 5ft 3in and I weigh six-and-a-half stone," she said.

"When people see me on such a huge bike like that they usually clap."

We have a whole range of women taking part from the older to those who have just passed their test and in their early 20s Ed Crummy

The 2006 ride will start in Edinburgh and travel down the east coast, with an overnight stop around York.

On Saturday the ride will continue down the A1 to Birmingham.

The following day the bikers will continue via a popular bikers' spot in Stratford Upon Avon and onward to Cardiff where the ride will finish.

Birds on Bikes are encouraging women bikers throughout the UK to sign up for part or all of the event and insist the pace will be relaxed, motorway free and well marshalled.

Ed Crummy added: "We have a whole range of women taking part from the older to those who have just passed their test and in their early 20s.

"We've actually got a couple of brave boys taking part as well, which we're delighted with because we're keen to raise awareness that breast cancer also affects males."