Members of the Brave New Babes out on an all ladies mountain bike ride.
Photo: Betsy Farris
Fort Collins is a platinum bicycle friendly city, which means that we have a robust bike culture, miles of bike-friendly infrastructure, bike paths, and are committed to continue improving access to biking. Despite this designation and the pointed attention to improving the ease and accessibility to biking in the past 5 years, women make up just 34% of all cyclists, according to counts by FC Bikes and the Bicycle Ambassador Program, a statistic that has seen little change since in recent years
May is Women’s month and National Bike Month: the perfect time to to start an effort to make real change in this long stagnant statistic.
As a female bicyclist, I empathize with the women out there who are hesitant to make a habit of commuting on their bikes or start riding recreationally – because I’ve been there. In a world where men typically stand out as the spokespeople, the ones you see in bike shops and are your bike mechanics, it’s tough to find the right answers and resources-or even to begin to know what to ask! Even if you feel like you have the knowledge and the right equipment, finding a group to ride with that isn’t full of macho men who will certainly drop you is a daunting task. Have no fear, ladies of Fort Collins! I’m here to help you find your way!
The City offers Learn to Ride Classes for Women, for FREE! Never been on a bike before, or want to brush up on your skills and learn how to better maneuver through traffic? Check out this awesome class just for women.
Women’s & LGTBQ Wrenching Nights at the Fort Collins Bike Co-Op. Check out Dondi Barrowclough’s blog from May 4th for more information.
Lee’s Cyclery hosts beginner community road rides on Monday evenings. They typically depart from the Laurel St. shop at 5:30pm. Lee’s also hosts women’s nights with advice on gear, bike fit, nutrition, and riding from fellow ladies. Check their Facebook page for more information.
Fort Follies Group Rides: The Follies are an all women’s road biking team that host beginner and more advanced women’s rides primarily on the weekends, all year long! The beginner rides are “no drop rides” and are usually to a fun destination like High Hopes Brewery or Me Oh My Pie. Follow them on Facebook or contact them for more information on upcoming rides.
Brave New Babes, a beginner mountain biking group for women, by women: once a week, these ladies host a beginner, no drop mountain biking ride and go over necessities for riding the trails and general mountain biking tips and skills.