It’s International Women’s Day, and there’s a raft of events going in the cycling community to get more women cycling this summer. Here’s the Bikeradar round-up of stories and announcements.
The UCI posted no less than four articles on women’s cycling. Our favourite began with a memorable quote from Pia Allerslev, cultural and recreational mayor of Copenhagen in Denmark who said: “In Copenhagen, you are not an environmental activist if you ride your bike to work – you are simply commuting.” Allerslev said more than half the population commuted by bike.
After London Mayor Boris Johnson announced yesterday how he was going to spend £913m improving cycling in the capital, we wonder what he’d give to be able to quote such figures at the end of his second term in charge.
In the UK, Lizzie Armitstead, Olympic road race silver medallist, and Jessica Varnish, Team Sprint World Champion were announced as Breeze ambassadors – British Cycling’s programme to remove barriers to get more women cycling just for fun. So far, the federation claims the programme, launched in 2011, has helped over 17,000 feel more confident about riding and has trained an army of 400 Breeze champions to deliver over 3,000 local bike rides across England. Good work.
In USA and globally, Rapha, Team Sky clothing supplier and general peddler of high cost retro gear has launched its international campaign to get ‘thousands of women’ cycling 100km come 7 July 2013. On the same date it will send 100 women to ride the l’Etape du Tour, a sportive run on the a same route as a stage of the Tour de France. The company will be recruiting participants through social media and via its website.