Karen Gee’s Post

Some important messages here - if you couldn't make the webinar there is a good summary article attached.

This is Jess Golding. Yesterday afternoon she crossed the Arctic Circle wearing KOSTÜME kit, as one of our supported riders on the North Cape 4000. What an image and story to wake to this morning! As a long distance rider and racer, Jess had really struggled to find cycling shorts that worked for her, so I sent a pair of ours to try, and here she is completing a 4,000km epic in our full #EDIT001 kit! Satisfying doesn't begin to sum it up. Before I launched the brand I was advised again and again not to put effort into women's kit. It won't sell. You'll lose money. It's not worth it. So, of course, I prioritised it. I found Demi Bowater to help with technical design, and we developed features like a clipless/zipless toilet break and gripper-free legs for the bib shorts, a ponytail hole for the cap, nailed the cut and sizing, and made sure our women's kit was front and centre when it came to launch reviews, marketing etc. I knew that what those experienced heads were saying was rooted in some truth (although our preorder model de-risks the 'lose money' part significantly) but I also know that it is essential to support female cyclists with the same quality, innovation and sophistication - or indeed even more so - than the male-equivalent products. I don't want to be part of a world (or certainly not run a business) where these are not the absolute basic values. So yes, our sales are massively male dominated. But it's very early days, and better, more sustainably-made, fully-featured and affordable products will absolutely help to grow cycling for everyone. And in the meantime, stories like Jess' make it all the more tangible and worthwhile. #BeMoreJess #Kostüme #cyclingapparel #womeninsport #cycling #roadcycling #womenscycling #equality #inclusivity #longdistancecycling #ultracycling #northcape4000

Did you know that for every two men riding a bike there is only one woman? For women the top barrier to getting on a bike is lack of safe infrastructure. I love this article which shows the way to getting more women cycling. It also highlights the personal benefits of cycling. For those in the transport infrastructure sector it emphasises the value of co-design. Women must be engaged in the planning process. #womenininfrastructure #transportplanning #activetransport #womenempoweringwomen

I've been reflecting this International Women's Day about how unusual Cycle Sprog is in the cycling industry. Our core team is myself, Saskia Heijltjes Mildred Locke and Emily Wormald. However, we are NOT a female cycling brand. Our audience is parents and grandparents who want to pass on the joy of cycling to the next generation. We also have a male co-founder and a number of amazing men contributing to our business. But what does having powerful female voices at the heart of our business mean? Well, Google tells us that our audience in 2023 was 54% male and 46% female. This is is a stat I'm very proud of as parenting websites in general tend to be female focused, and cycling websites and magazines usually reach a predominantly male audience. I strongly believe that Cycle Sprog has managed to hit that sweet spot by having a diverse range of voices sharing their experiences and knowledge. We use imagery and wording that makes women feel that family cycling is something they can do, and that kids bikes, cargo bikes and family cycling equipment is something they can understand and care about. I've heard people in the cycling industry saying they only get suitably qualified men applying for roles they advertise, so if you're keen to improve diversity in your workforce I really recommend using the Bicycle Association's Guide to Inclusive Recruitment when you write your next job advertisement. Perhaps it may just help reach new customer groups - something the cycling industry desperately needs at the moment. https://lnkd.in/e5art_HS #cycling #iwd2024 #femalefounders #parenting #internationalwomensday

Have you noticed that there is a staggering gender gap in urban cycling? 👀 And why should that be? There are many, many reasons - including natural barriers. In our new study, Richard Bean, Jonathan Corcoran, and I find that bad weather, hilliness, and darkness impact female users of bikesharing systems more than male users. We analyse more than 200 million bikesharing trips taken over the course of 14 years in 10 cities worldwide. 🚲For details, read the article we just published in the Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research (Editor: Eva Heinen). It's open access! https://lnkd.in/dQ4Sifsv

Paper Highlight: Planning for Diverse Cycling Practices 🚴♀️ In light of accelerating climate change, global interest in cycling as a sustainable transport option is rising. This study, conducted in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Ireland, developed a unique typology of cycle parking preferences based on shopping, commuting, and accessing public transport. This typology/classification can help inform local and national cycle parking policies to promote cycling, particularly for groups with high cycling ambitions and underrepresented demographics. 👉 Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/eVifnwME #Cycling #SustainableTransport #UrbanPlanning #ClimateChange #CycleParking #Research

At Sea Otter Classic, America’s biggest bicycle trade show, pedal power wasn’t just about bike racing and the latest gadgets. Amidst the sea of booths, a powerhouse of women in the industry gathered for a live Uplift panel, dishing out insights and advice for their industry peers. Recent studies hit hard, revealing the cycling world still leans heavily towards white, straight men, with many women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals facing harassment or worse. In fact, 71% of the women say that they were considering leaving the cycling industry. In response, a group of industry veterans are hitting the alarm bells, rallying for change through dialogue and mentorship. Attracting over 160 attendees, the panel featured off-road racing legend Rebecca Rusch, Zwift’s Kate Veronneau, DEI specialist Lisa Bourne, MBA Bourne, and yours truly. We shared advice on breaking barriers, making an impact, and forging connections in a male-dominated arena while fielding the crowd’s questions and concerns. Moderated by Uplift’s founder Rachael Burnside and hosted by Kathryn Taylor of Feisty Media, the event was a first step in opening up the dialogue and making connections.  A video of the event will be made available soon via these channels, and while you wait, dive into our series exploring the challenges and triumphs of women in the bike industry today: "You don’t have to be a straight white man to work in the bicycle industry, but it helps" - uncovering the industry's diversity report. https://lnkd.in/gYEh3SYt "71% of cycling industry women are considering leaving" - hear from trailblazers on why and what’s being done to turn the tide. https://lnkd.in/gDpkz2QE "After 10 years in cycling, here’s why I am leaving the bike industry" - a personal account shedding light on the realities within. https://lnkd.in/gAzr6mYv

Of all the pitch decks I've built, this one is closest to my ❤️ 🏁 At the start of 2024, I joined my local team, Super Sprinkles, to give bike racing a shot. I told myself I had to try every discipline. I competed in 12 races across road, crit, gravel & cyclocross— the longest being the Truckee Gravel 100 mi. 🏆 I won 3 races and podiumed 4, building fitness and skills along the way! The more I rode ➔ the more I raced ➔ the more obsessed I became ➔ the more I wanted to build community & promote women in cycling. Women are usually <20% of the total field at any given race 😳. 🔥 It became my mission to GET MORE WOMEN RACING! So I joined the Super Sprinkles staff and took ownership of partnerships. I interviewed industry veterans about best practices (hot tip: all the sponsorship $$ is allocated in Sept & Oct). I built this deck and created an outreach packet to empower my teammates to help and multiply our reach. The deck follows the same storytelling principles of a fundraising pitch: ➔ Who are we? A women-focused, SF-based bike racing team ➔ What problem are we solving? Systemic inequality in competitive cycling ➔ How are we uniquely positioned to address this problem? We podium at all the local races and we have deep ties to the largest cycling club in the Bay (Fat Cake) ➔ How will funding help us? We can send Sprinkles to national level races to increase their skills and visibility! After 3 months of hustling, we contacted almost 100 potential sponsors and landed 17 awesome partners who are supporting us with cash, gear, bike-related services & liquid fuel (beer and coffee). I'm so proud of this effort and stoked for our 2025 racing season! 💌 Please reach out if you want to support women's cycling, we are always looking for more partners. Or if you want to race with us! Ps. Look out for photos of the new kit I designed with their logos in the new year! 🤘🏼✨ #pitchdeck #fundraising #cycling #womenscycling #deckdesign #bikeracingteam #graphicdesign

How would President Biden answer the 50+ Cycling Survey? I smiled when I saw a recent news report that President Biden cycled in Lewes, DE. He seems to enjoy cycling, so I thought it would be great if he would complete the 50+ Cycling Survey, Year 5. I think I’ll ask him. In the meantime and thinking about how he might have responded to the Year 4 survey, I answered some of the questions for him to see how he compares with others generally and men of his age group.  A summary is below, with all Qs and As with relevant charts available at https://lnkd.in/ezAGPWs6 *See the full Year 4 Report at this link: https://lnkd.in/eDB7nfmX *Take the 50+ Cycling Survey, Year 5 at this link: https://lnkd.in/eWaQYmDv ------------------------------ *What is your age? President Biden is one of 385 men aged 76 and older. (page 8 in the Year 4 report) *When did you learn to cycle? (page 82 in the Year 4 report) President Biden most likely learned as a child, but 12% of those responding learned after the age of 20; 4% of these learned after the age of 50. *Are you a Regular or Non-regular cyclist? (page 13 in the Year 4 report) President Biden is probably non-regular, given his current job. He would be one of 309 of men aged 76 and older. *As a Non-Regular cyclists, what factors affect when and where you ride? (page 16 in the Year 4 report) -Personal-Lifestyle factor of While on vacation -Social Relations factor of When there is someone to ride with -Health & Safety factor of To be physically active *Based on the four types of cyclists shows below, which are you? (page 17 in the Year 4 report) President Biden is most likely a Varies by Situation or a Casual and Somewhat Confident cyclist, similar to about 12% of men aged 76 and older. *What affects where you cycle? (page 48 in the Year 4 report) I’m just guessing, but his Secret Service detail is probably the other cyclists who are present, and they are focused on overall safety for the Present. *Do you feel comfortable cycling alone? (pages 54-55 in the Year 4 report) President Biden may, but his secret service detail says he cannot cycle alone. *Has the amount the you cycle changed in the past year? (pages 88-89 in the Year 4 report) President Biden is most likely cycling less often and shorter distances, given his job. *Can you imagine a time when you wouldn’t cycle? (page 96 in the Year 4 report) Since he has continued to cycle when he can, President Biden would probably be part of the 24.2% of those aged 80 and older who expect to continue cycling. 

As part of our 5-year strategy, Objective three is all about making cycling an even more positive experience for everyone. Our goal? To ensure cycling is safe, convenient, and fun for all. Whether you’re a parent on the school run, a road warrior enjoying rides with friends or cycling clubs, or an adventurer seeking off-road thrills, some of our major projects in this area include: 🚲 Building on our ground-breaking Big Bike Revival programme, which has achieved 50% participation rates from tens of thousands of women. ♿ Supporting thousands of disabled people to access cycling through the Inclusive Cycling Experience. 🏘️ Researching more deprived communities through grant distribution and delivery of activities in projects such as Community Cycle Clubs and the Cycle Access Fund. 🚴♀️ Building on campaigns that showcase and encourage diversity in cycling, like 100 Women in Cycling. 🏛️ Influencing national policies to make cycling more appealing and safer for a wider range of people. Let’s ride towards happier, healthier and greener lives through cycling. Read our full 2024-29 strategy in English and Welsh here: cyclinguk.org/strategy