The boys club of cycling is becoming a thing of the past, and one reason is because groups like
She Rides Her Own Way (SRHOW) are taking the handlebars to help steer dialogue on a host of topics via the many networking events they host in our community.
SRHOW, which provides year-round riding opportunities aimed at women, have hosted group rides meant to connect and raise the visibility of women as cyclists.
Returning for the second year in a row is SRHOW’s Ride Like a Girl - a Women & Bike speaker series.
“Our speaker series event was originally inspired to develop a conversation about women who love to bike, their personal journey, and why they are committed to being outdoors,” says SRHOW founder Johanna Jelks. “West Michigan has many opportunities to increase diversity through outdoor participation. She Rides Her Own Way seeks to lead a new conversation...[about] what women would like to see in the future."
In their first year, Ride Like a Girl asked their attendees to consider how women have found a way to make an impact on their community locally while training for major goals.
This year's panelists are made of women who not only enjoy biking but have a stake in the outdoor industry through their leadership in our region via the organizations they serve locally.
Panelist this year include: Kate Meyer, Executive Director of
Kent County Parks Foundation, Jill Martindale of
Grand Rapids Bicycle Co., Tracy Flower, Executive Director of
Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, and Susannah Griffin from
Alger Bikes.
“In many ways each of these women represent a greater conversation about increasing capacity and awareness in the outdoor industry. Biking is now one of the fastest growing outdoor industries for women, but frequently we are not represented in marketing or advertising,” says Jelks.
And while it may look like a long road in front of us, these types of expansive conversations, when tied to action steps like pedaling for visibility, as SRHOW promotes, make it easy to imagine even more women entering leadership roles (and out in front of the pack in our near future on the road and in the boardroom.)
SRHOW’s event is a happy hour think tank session for women, and men supporting women, looking for greater connection to the cycling culture of West Michigan and how to get involved with those organizations and businesses of West Michigan who support and promote women cyclists.
Admission: $5 donation at the door