Get Women Cycling is a fantastic local group that provides women with all kinds of cycling know-how, networking, and community. Angela Azzonlino, GWC’s Executive Director, told BUST:
“Get Women Cycling (GWC) was created and designed to help develop and sustain an all-inclusive bicycle infrastructure, encourage continued growth in services and offerings for women, advocate for healthy living, provide accessibility, and create a robust supportive network at the commercial, individual, and community level, so that women cyclists have a living, vibrant, and safe pool of businesses and individuals to access when needed.”
GWC is seeking to even out the gender gap in the cycling community, which, according to Azzonlino, is about 70% male and 30% female. As a cyclist myself, though not as avid as some, I am personally familiar with the discomfort when I take my bike in for repairs. It’s rather similar to many women’s experiences in auto shops. I was once told in a Jiffy Lube that I was “too dumb” (not hyperbole) to understand when I ask the mechanic to repeat himself.
Nothing short of being an expert – and often not even that – is enough to make some male cyclists and shops take women seriously. GWC is offering women a safe space to talk, work out repairs, learn, network, and generally fully partake in the hobby or lifestyle, without concerns about cyclist mansplaining.
Get Women Cycling is currently meeting in Brooklyn at Industry City Happy Hours on Thursdays through mid-October and they’re growing! Here are some of their upcoming events:
October 8: Flat-fix – tips and tricks workshop. $10 Raffle, win a category prize. Categories include service, seasonal, safety, or surprise.
October 15: Cold weather riding workshop, on site bicycle registration with NYPD. $10 Raffle, win a category prize. Categories include service, seasonal, safety, or surprise.
October 14: Ladies Fix & Flight Night Series: Prepping for cold weather riding.
These ladies are rad, go check them out!
Images via Get Women Cycling Facebook
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