CONTENT WRITER & EDITOR
CYCLING ISN'T A BOYS' CLUB
...and why you should get involved.
A Wiggly Route In.
My two brothers, sister and I would spend school holidays creating stunt courses in the garden. Cobbling together cones, bricks and planks of wood, we would clatter around the grass.
As I got older, my dad would encourage me out on the odd ride, but the childhood charm had gone. I would moodily clunk behind with my head down, glaring at the handlebars.
Instead, I loved the simplicity of running; slipping on my trainers and getting a bit of head space. No bulky helmets, no busy roads.
But Dad’s passion for cycling was infectious. A few years had passed and my hormones had mercifully (for everyone's sake) settled. Could it really be that bad? I tentatively headed into the garage and dusted off the bike.
I managed a couple of 18-milers and then Dad persuaded me to join a Saturday morning ride with his cycling group. 5 terrifyingly fit men, and me. Their chiselled calves were pumping like pistons as I clamped my teeth together and desperately tried to keep up. When I finally reached home and staggered off the bike, I was shell-shocked and a little teary.
But, as my body slowly un-molded from the saddle and I regained feeling in my fingers, the trusty endorphins kicked in; I had managed it. I didn’t care (much…) that I’d been at the back, I had cycled further than I ever had before. I was used to the isolation of exercise; plugging in and battling along the roads by myself. Cycling was different. We were all in it together, slicing through the same head winds and tackling the same hills.
And so.
Cycle by cycle, winding through the country lanes and gulping great lung fulls of fresh air, I was hooked.
As the country started to lockdown in March, I was lucky enough to be based in Dorset. Cycling became a family affair as my dad, brother, boyfriend and I racked up the miles. Feeling slightly outnumbered drove me to go further and graft harder. I felt proud to be representing the women. Castelli-clad men would swish past, but then I’d spot a female cyclist and give her a big grin - you and me, we’re in this together.
And we're growing.
Velovixen, a leading retailer of women’s cycling kit, created a female-only Facebook group, a community that aims to unite women through their love for the sport. Velovixen said they, ‘want the group to be constructive and instructive, with…a prevailing spirit of fairness and kindness. We want members to be unafraid to ask questions, however 'silly' or technical they might be’. This sense of inclusivity and empowerment is clear. On a daily basis, women proudly post their ‘sweaty selfies’, praise each other for their rides and ask and answer questions. There are now over 9,500 members and the numbers continue to swell. A testament to this: I asked the group if they would share what cycling means to them. Within an hour I had over 100 responses. From paramedics to teachers and business women, there was a common thread - the sense of freedom:
The Highs...
The Highs & Lows
...& The Lows
For others, cycling provided a pivotal road to recovery. Several women movingly shared their stories:
'I got into cycling when trying to escape an abusive relationship. It gave me the freedom and empowerment to get away. I’ve never looked back!'
‘My mental health deteriorated to the point that I didn’t know who I was. My recovery began when I started cycling. It’s my release and space away from my job.’
Harri
Emma, 31, police officer
‘It’s no exaggeration when I say cycling saved my life. I was unfit, overweight and in the deepest depression of my life. But then I started pedalling, and never looked back. My cycling club gave me purpose, and my bike gave me freedom.’
‘I’ve cycled all my life. However, it wasn't until my partner tragically passed away that it really came into it's own. My grief was unbearable, but cycling allowed me space with my own thoughts.’
Jaymi, 33, logistics administration
Chan Na
‘I have always enjoyed social cycling but after IVF failures I decided to make the most of the ‘me time’. I haven’t looked back since!’
‘Never have I needed cycling so much, especially after the last 8 months. Cycling truly is my ‘therapy’, where I can escape for an hour or two.’
Louisa
Trudi, A&E nurse
But most of all, no matter whether in their 20s or their 70s, hundreds of women shared the pure joy it gives them:
Tempted yet?
Ok yes, it won’t always be a smooth journey. There will be highs and lows, ups and downs and a hateful number of potholes. But, then you'll hit your mile target, you'll tackle that hill rather than simply survive it. It doesn't matter how fast you pedal or how far you go, the sense of achievement will be unbeatable. So, go dust off that old frame, hop on a boris bike, get on two wheels - any two wheels - and you'll be flying.
A survey by Cycling UK showed that 75% of women who take up cycling do so thanks to encouragement from a family member, friend or colleague.
So, let’s spread the word!
Inspired By...
Dame Sarah Storey
With 14 gold medals, Dame Sarah Storey is the most successful female British Paralympian of all time. After giving birth to her second child in 2017, she returned just a year later to win two golds in the 2018 Paracycling Road World Championships. She's currently training for the rescheduled 2021 Tokyo Paralympics.
Marianne Vos
World and Olympic champion across a variety of cycling disciplines, Dutch rider Marianne Vos is widely regarded as one of the greatest cyclists of her generation. They call her 'The Cannibal' for a reason...
Beryl Burton OBE
During her 20 year career, Beryl Burton OBE, won over 90 domestic championships and 7 world titles. In 1967 she broke both the women's and the men's 12-hour time trial. She cycled 277.25 miles, surpassing the men's record by 0.73 miles!