Women
saddling up in
confidence
Clubs offer gender-aware approaches to cycling, with focus on camaraderie
BY SHEILA ASCROFT
Riding a bike is as easy as, well, riding a bike, but some women would like more than just wheels and an open road. They welcome skills instruction a confidence-building atmosphere and companions who don’t intimidate them. In the National Capital Region, three groups are dedicated
to women’s cycling: CycleFit Chicks Club, Women on Wheels and Larocca XC Mountain Bike School.
Cyclefit Chicks Cycling Club
This three-year-old, women-only
club offers a support system for any level of road rider. “We want people to not feel intimidated about joining the club,” says Sylvie D’Aoust, its creator. “This
is a place for women of any age to improve and get in shape, have fun and become better cyclists.” In 2009, there were 50 members,
from their mid-20s to mid-60s in this Ottawa-Gatineau-club, which is affili- ated with the Euro-Sports bike shop.
The Chicks club starts riding
in early May. Monday nights are dedicated to technical rides where cyclists can learn about riding in a group, handling hills, cornering, balance, and even unclipping from a pedal without falling over. On Wednesdays, members are encouraged to join the Women on Wheels group (see below) for a loop in the Gatineau Park and on Sundays, the Chicks club has its own group ride.
Membership costs $100 (returning members get 10 per cent off) and includes a free but mandatory basic bike skills course on Sundays, May 2, 9 and 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Membership also gets you two, two- hour bike maintenance workshops (May 7 and 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.). D’Aoust says a vital part of the
club is being actively involved with the community. “Each member is asked volunteer some time during the season,” either with Chicks or Somersault Promotions, which conducts local triathlon, duathlon and Kids of Steel races. In turn, members get a $30 discount towards the next year’s membership fee.
Women on Wheels
Beth Mansfield, a sport nutrition-
ist and exercise physiologist with Peak Performance (
www.peakperfor-
mance.ca), started Women on Wheels (WOW) with a few friends who loved
34 ottawaoutdoors
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
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