Women on Wheels

When cycling, women seem to judge risk quite differently to men. It should not be surprising that women actively seek out the BikeNZ Intro to Road & Everyday cycling programmes to help build their knowledge and skills, and as a result of this they increase their confidence and enthusiasm for cycling.

The BikeNZ Intro to Road and Everyday Cycling programme, specifically for adults, has been running in Hawkes Bay for eight months, and 110 adults (the majority of which were women) have already completed the programme.

Back in August 2013, the first group of women completed the BikeNZ programme, and on finishing found they didn’t want to stop meeting. Subsequently, a small group has grown, developing into a club to meet these women’s needs.  This is the ‘BMShe Club’, a women’s chapter of the local Bennelong Mountain Bike Club. From BikeNZ programmes, these participants have naturally been drawn into the pathway of joining a recreational club, to continue their cycling evolution.  This club caters to its specific female clientele and is flourishing.

The BMShe Club aims to provide an environment where women can learn, socialise, share, contribute, grow and get fit while having fun on bikes with other likeminded women – much like sister club Revolve Cycling. The aim is to provide low cost/free support to help women of any ability gain confidence, fitness, skills and knowledge to safely cycle both on road or off. Members consist of mothers, daughters and grandmothers. They range from those who are keen to train for events to those who just want to go riding with others on pathways. They have created a culture of ‘how can we help’ rather than ‘what’s in it for me’. This fosters a pay it forward ethos.

Events make great goals to train towards and regular club rides provide training for these. Many of the women are now training for Iron Maori, Tour of the Bay and the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge. The first event the club undertook to support and train towards was the worldwide Rapha Women’s 100 on July 20th 2014.

The Rapha Women’s 100 was a ride, with friends, aiming to complete the challenge of cycling 100km. This concept of just going for a ride and not a race with friends was refreshingly different.  Rapha, a global cycle clothing company with headquarters in London is the brainchild behind the concept. They are passionate about cycling and set the date for the ride to coincide with the height of summer in the northern hemisphere.


Photo © Stephen Sheard

With little ole New Zealand being in the southern hemisphere, we’re one of the first countries to see the sun, and therefore one of the first to complete the challenge. Open to anyone, New Zealand rides took place in Waikato, Hawkes Bay and Canterbury with part of the challenge training and riding in the depths of winter. As it’s only a ride, an unmarshalled / unsupported ride - when the tough happened only the tough got on with it. Riders had to be prepared with food, water, toolkits, spare tubes and pumps and of course the correct riding gear. Many riders also took up the challenge and logged the rides using Strava technology on their cell phones.

Waikato had a fine but chilly ride, led by Emma Bryant. Hawkes Bay had a southerly wind, temperatures hovering around the 8 degrees and driving rain for all 100km - the saving grace was the tail wind in the last 30km. Christchurch was led by Megan Ward, and took out the prize for the coldest ride and the only puncture.

Having trained towards the challenge since March 2014, BMShe club members were well organised for the Hawkes Bay event. Many registered to complete the challenge via the Facebook event page, but only the truly hardy (some say crazy) riders took the challenge in the conditions that arrived on the day. Of those not all managed to complete the entire 100km. Cold temperatures, southerly rain and winter ills on a wintery July Sunday morning meant for many staying in bed was a better option than heading out from East Pier.

For those who completed the ride, all expressed thoroughly enjoying the sense of accomplishment in completing the goal – the winter weather making it all the more sweet. For those who had never ridden that far before, it was a rewarding and proud achievement, with the support from fellow riders. A late night text from one of the riders summed up her accomplishment   “Thanks Vicki, you did an awesome job motivating and encouraging us all! I was proud of myself and all the great gals who braved the conditions today! And I haven’t stopped smiling since.”

Around the world more than 7500 women took up the challenge in 2014. It was impressive and certainly amazing motivation to be part of a global woman’s cycling event.  It’s not every Sunday you kit up and go for a ride with so many kindred souls, cycling 100km in the beautiful countryside and celebrating the achievement – just in lots of different places and time zones worldwide. Bravo Rapha!

No doubt the BMShe club will continue to flourish and I look forward to helping train with them for their next challenge – at which time the weather is sure to be kinder to cyclists nationwide. These dedicated women will continue to train together, building fitness and strength while developing riding skills, growing awareness and knowledge. The bonus is learning about great coffee stops around the Bay. For more information check out: www.sportsground.co.nz/bmshe/


Originally published in NZ Bike Issue 78, December 2014