Girls with Gears was organized in 2005 so women of any age, physical ability,
size, or skill level could come together for a fun day of cycling. It was decided by our committee
of women that we would develop a ride that was achievable for anyone, without a large
monetary commitment like some other fundraising rides require.
If a woman had never been on a group ride, we hoped this would be her first. To make the
task seem easier, we promised every woman they would not ride alone. To do this, we
designed short, medium and longer length rides that had ride leaders who would be there
to help. We provided roving vehicles with skilled cycling technicians who could fix any
problem you might have with your bike. The vehicles were equipped with bike racks and
extra seats to give a ride back to the start for anyone who needed it. The ride leaders carried
cell phones to call for a roving vehicle to get there quicker. Anyone who didn't have a bike could
arrange a bike rental from our shop. They could pick it up a day ahead of the ride (to get acclimated) and
leave it with us to return for them after the event.
We even provided training rides in the weeks before the event to give women a sense of what
they might expect from the roads in this area. Our first year, we had over 250 riders, in year two we
almost doubled that. By year 4, we registered 1000 cyclists, both women and the men who care about them.
After the ride, we invite you to enjoy the lunch provided by Outback Steakhouse (included in your registration fee) and visit with event sponsors who are there to
give advice and to help promote healthy living. Friends are made and tears are shed ---
for the accomplishment of goals and, for some, a brand new achievement!
We are proud to have helped get lots of women into the sport of cycling who might never have tried it and we're also glad to have helped them on their way to a healthier lifestyle (our most important goal).
What a pleasure it is for us to be a part of this awesome event each year.
We sure hope to see you at the next Girls with Gears cycling event on April 17, 2011!