Harley-Davidsons on display at a motorcycle show.

I've hosted the occasional garage party in my time. The kind where there are a couple of Coca-Colas in the ice box, some Munchie Mix in aluminum trays, and a few guys standing around kicking the tires of my various motorcycle projects.

But when Harley-Davidson says they're holding a garage party, they mean they're hosting a (trademarked) Garage Party.

And according to Diane Wild, general manager of Calgary Harley-Davidson, the whole idea behind the Garage Party is to introduce women to the machines.

"The Garage Party is meant to familiarize women with the sport of motorcycle riding," Wild says. "We explain how to get a licence, and many other aspects of the sport."

During the month of March Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada is promoting a series of Garage Party events across Canada ( www.garageparty.ca).

Calgary Harley-Davidson held one last Sunday, and Kane's Harley-Davidson hosted one on Wednesday night.

Wild says they presented three information stations. There was one on motor clothes, where the fit and function of protective gear was discussed. Another focused on the various "families" of Harley-Davidson motorcycle products, and how a model equipped with forward controls differed from one with mid controls, for example. The last station demonstrated how to safely lift or pick up a motorcycle if it has fallen on its side.

"We want to show that it's not difficult to lift up a bike," Wild says.

For decades, women have chosen to ride motorcycles -- in 1916 sisters Augusta and Adeline Van Buren rode 1,000cc Indian Power Plus machines from New York to Los Angeles, and were the first women motorcyclists to cross the U.S. Countless others have swung their leg over the saddle of a motorcycle. But it's really only been in the past few years that manufacturers have taken notice of an untapped market, and some makers are designing machines that are more comfortable for the female rider.

"There are a lot of women who've been passengers and it seems they're deciding it's time for them to get their own bikes," says Jo-Anne Farquhar, manager of communications for the Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council of Canada. "They've decided it's time for them to control the ride."

Nancy Klensch is just such a woman. The 38-year old Calgarian owns and operates Summit Kids, a new out-of-school care program with a facility near the University of Calgary. She attended the Garage Party at Calgary Harley-Davidson.