Karen Gee’s Post

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

What an incredible "Lunchtime with Cycle Sprog" session yesterday, sharing some real successes getting women and kids on bikes, along with the real challenges this poses. My key takeaways were: 1) It takes time. Funders need to be aware of this and not expect instant results. 2) Many groups not usually reached by the cycling industry need to see themselves represented in the initiatives 3) It can take a lot of advance work to get people confident enough to give cycling a go 4) A decent bike makes all the difference between loving and hating cycling 5) Infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure 6) BUT...... infrastructure itself isn't enough - you still need behavioural programmes, especially to groups not usually welcomed into the world of cycling. 7) Recent research is showing mothers who cycle with their kids say it's more convenient than driving - in certain circumstances. 8) Women only sessions are really important, and can drive huge numbers to participate when organised with, and advertised to, the correct demographics / communities. Huge thanks to Katherine Cory Dawn Rahman and Becky Cox for sharing their extensive knowledge and experiences and to Emily Wormald for making it all happen. And to everyone who turned up to learn and share their experiences and challenges. Look out for our next Lunchtime with Cycle Sprog session in the New Year when we'll be discussing campaigning. #ActiveTravel #Cycling #WomenOnBikes #FamilyCycling

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

Our vision is and has always been to look for the next generation by starting at the bottom and not grow the sport from the top down. That’s never going to be sustainable. This is a vision statement and that sounds boring but we are talking about cycling and that all starts with fun. Never lose that fun that got you on the bike in the first place. The rest comes from that motivation. It’s not all fun and games of course because we need results too. It’s top sports after all. We do believe they come naturally when you provide the right environment and select the right people. Our past seasons showed succes, coming from talent but also from team and personal values like: • Professional, well-trained but emphatic staff: a family away from home • A safe working environment for all, both men and women • Attention for women’s specific problems like pelvic floor injuries and menstrual cycle • Performance-driven but not results-driven • Never lose sight of the athlete off the bike • Focus on education and careers post-cycling • Inspiring each other • Respecting the team, the environment and the public. Riders inspire each other, inspire staff and in the end inspire sports fans, the fans that are consumers. CAN WE HAVE AN AUTOGRAPH? Cycling is one of the most accessible professional sports out there. Riders can be easily approached at start or finish locations, or at company events. The road is our arena. No entry tickets, no gates. Top sports on the go for everyone to see, enjoy and cheer on. We feel our athletes race to inspire, not only in cycling kit but as people in jeans or an evening dress. We feel inspired by their talent, personality and grit. Young girls wanting an autograph makes our heart sing. Do you feel inspired too? #NXTGRacing #unlockyourpotential #developmentfirst #werisebyliftingothers

Working and writing about women and cycling is both a passion and a responsibility. Cycling has long been a male-dominated sport, but women have always been a vital part of its history. Today, more than ever, women cyclists are breaking barriers, pushing limits, and creating space for others to join. As a writer, capturing these stories feels like a way to give voice to a community that is often underrepresented, whether it’s highlighting professional athletes, advocating for safer urban cycling spaces, or celebrating women who cycle for fun or fitness. The world of women’s cycling is incredibly diverse—riders come from all walks of life and ride for different reasons, yet they face common challenges like inequity in sponsorships, media coverage, and race opportunities. Writing about these issues isn’t just about chronicling the sport; it's about pushing for change, ensuring that more women feel encouraged to get on bikes and see themselves reflected in the cycling community. Through stories of triumph, struggle, and advocacy, we can inspire the next generation of female cyclists and help build a future where women are equally represented on and off the bike. 🚴 #tourism #journalism #cycling #cycletourism

What's wrong with cycling? And how can it learn from triathlon? I was going to write about something else entirely, but I've been bombarded with headlines about prize parity at the Tour de France. Or rather, the lack of it. This year, Tadej Pogacar earned over €500k for his TdF win. Kasia Niewiadoma? A tenth of that. Sure, the Femmes rode 8 stages to the men's 21. But even then, Kasia should realistically get €192k for her efforts. Is it because of viewership? Possibly—the men's viewership for 2024 is estimated at 150 mln, while the ladies only gathered around 23.2 mln. But if this is the only factor we take into account, we're in a vicious circle. Fewer viewers mean shorter races, less money, and less coverage. Remember last year, when the Women's Gravel World Championship wasn't broadcast at all? Can you imagine a similar situation with a men's race? No. What we have here is a clusterf...mess. Women's cycling is super exciting. Anyone who watches a race knows it's worth it. Yet, riders earn less, prize money is lower, and there's not enough coverage. What can we do? Reintroducing the Grand Tours was a great step. Making them longer is another way to boost visibility. But maybe there's another way? Have you heard of the Professional Triathletes Organisation? It was set up by pro triathletes to better represent their rights in interactions with race organizers and governing bodies. What does the PTO do for female triathletes? 🚲 Equal prize money: the PTO advocates for gender equality, offering the same prizes for men and women at all events. 🚲Own events: PTO organizes multiple large events that promote men and women equally, giving female athletes a great platform to attract sponsors. 🚲Increased media coverage: PTO actively promotes its events on social media, ensuring women get the same attention as men. 🚲Support for PRO athletes: PTO is athlete-owned and offers financial support, including bonuses and stipends based on rankings. 🚲Maternity cover: Female triathletes receive financial support during pregnancy and postpartum. Their rankings are protected, and they’re encouraged to return to sport after giving birth. Maybe it’s time cycling introduced a similar organization? Yes, there are rider associations, but they don’t seem to have the same influence as the PTO. They’re also not athlete-owned, don’t organize events, and don’t offer financial or maternity support. ❓What do you think? Does cycling need its own PTO?❓ 🚲Endurance Translations – multilingual translation agency for cycling, triathlon, running, and swimming. By athletes. For athletes.🚲 #cycling #equalpay #tourdefrancefemmes #gendergap

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

"To boost women’s cycling we must ALL become safe infrastructure advocates" Mark Sutton #cycling #cyclingcommunity #activetravel #transport #futuremobility #newmobility #transportinfrastructure #remodeling #builtenvironment #inclusion #accessibility #societalimpact #economicimpact #environmentalimpact #futurecities #PolicyShapesSociety #government #policymakers #leadership #advocacy #lobbying #infrastructureinvestment #behaviourchange #mindsetshift

This #InternationalWomensDay we caught up with Gail, who works at Warmley Wheelers, our community project that helps people with health conditions and supported needs to experience the joy of cycling. As well as her role at Warmley Wheelers, where she initially got involved as a volunteer, she works for British Cycling providing a range of support to their elite cyclists. She's also an accomplished distance cyclist herself. Last year Gail completed the incredible #TourDivide race, which stretches an astounding 2,745 miles between Alberta, Canada and the US/Mexico border. Gail is a passionate advocate for women taking up cycling. She says: "Young women tend to be protected more - they're not encouraged to go out on their own and do things that have some risk. Maybe we don't spend enough time as young women messing around and working out that it doesn't matter if you fail. That has a knock-on effect with cycling, where someone might not try it because they think they won't be good at it. But cycling has huge benefits for both physical and mental health." Whilst Gail enjoys pushing herself on endurance rides, something she loves about Warmley Wheelers is that it's open to all abilities. She says: "It’s not about going fast or being first. It’s more about the experience and the enjoyment of seeing what’s around you". Her message to women who might benefit from a session at Warmley Wheelers? "Even if you’re not sure if you want to ride, just come along and see what we’re about. It’s such a welcoming and approachable place. Why not try one of the bikes and find out if it's for you?" #IWD2024 #InternationalWomensDay2024 #TeamMilestones #InspiringInclusion

Exclusion and inequity can often go unnoticed, even in areas like sports. Currently, I am training for the Olympic distance triathlon, just for fun, to regain my fitness, but also to reconnect with nature and sporty friends. Last week, I had my first bikefit experience, a crucial step for new road bikers to prevent injuries and ensure comfort during long distance rides. It's essential to customize your bike to your body measurements and riding goals, as standard bikes are often designed for male bodies (even the so-called “female bikes”). During the bikefit session, the owner stated that, as of today, most professional female athletes are still using bikes not suited to their bodies. This oversight reflects a broader issue of products being designed based on male standards, affecting women's comfort and performance in sports like race biking. It's inspiring to see initiatives like the "affinity project" at Gregario Bike Services in Amsterdam, prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility over profits. Through this project, I had the chance to undergo a Bikefit at a reduced cost. And here I am, advocating (based on free will of course) Gregories’ initiative that promotes equity and inclusivity in sports. I believe this is crucial for creating a more welcoming, safe and equitable environment for all athletes. A win-win-win-win for all! Do you know of more initiatives like this? Perhaps in a different area where equity and inclusion is at stake? Inspire us/me and do share it in the comments. Sidenote: a bikefit is never “cheap” as it’s 100% manual work. I bought a Marktplaats second hand (oldtimer Concorde) gravelbike that makes it more affordable. #inclusivity #equity #olympics #triathlon #wellbeing #beyondfeminism #equatablesports #humancenteredleadership #host