Organised group bike rides have been scheduled by Australian organisation She Rides to take place at multiple locations across the Central Coast including Kariong, Gosford, West Gosford and Kincumber from October.
The She Rides program’s Spring/Summer ride program takes place across 30 locations nationally and provides almost 400 women with the opportunity to get fit through free and social riding. Cycling Australia undertook a research study last year into women and cycling. They discovered fitness and health, together with the fun social aspect, were the top reasons women chose to ride. It also highlighted that more women would ride, or ride more regularly, if they felt safer, had access to other women who ride at the same level or access to organised group rides. This research study became the foundation for a new vision, to create a national community of women who ride. She Rides is an introductory program, delivered by Cycling Australia accredited coaches, focused on skills development, building fitness, and creating a social community that will get and keep women on their bikes. She Rides member Alexandra Bright said bike riding was great for developing fitness, improving health, a fabulous mode of active travel, and great for the environment. “Above all, riding a bike is fun! “It also reconnects us with a sense of freedom and independence that, for many women, has been lost since childhood. “The She Rides Program is important because it provides a supportive, encouraging, fun and motivating environment for women to develop their skills and confidence to ride in both traffic situations and off-road environments,” she said. Each She Ride program is designed to run across eight to 10 weeks, with one session each week, ensuring riding becomes part of everyday life, as well as providing the time to build fitness, confidence, skills and make friends.
Media release, 4 Sep 2014
Erica Galea, She Rides