Bike Expo New York Women’s Panel
Focuses on Attracting More Women to the Bike Lanes

Will Bike Share Help Close the Cycling Gender Gap?

New York, April 29 – Riding a bicycle in New York City is efficient, affordable, healthy and, above all, fun. Popularity of cycling for transportation and recreation is about to soar to new heights as the bike share system, due to launch in May, attracts more New Yorkers to this city’s growing network of bike lanes.

Still, women are under-represented among the ranks of New York City cyclists – men outnumber women 3 to 1 in commuter trips, according to the Alliance for Biking and Walking 2012 Benchmarking Report.

Overcoming the barriers and making cycling a part of everyday life in the city will be the focus of the panel, No Sweat!  A Girls’ Guide to Riding a Bicycle in NYC, presented by the city cycling blog velojoy.com and Bike New York at Bike Expo New York at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 4.

Moderator: 

Susi Wunsch, Founder of velojoy.com, a growing online source of news, information and inspiration for city cyclists and bike-curious New Yorkers.

Panelists:

• Julie Hirschfeld, Founder of Adeline Adeline bicycle shop

• Dani Simons, Director of Marketing for NYC Bike Share, the operators of the Citi Bikebike share system

• Caroline Samponaro, Senior Director of Campaigns & Organizing at Transportation Alternatives

• Diane Jones Randall, Director of Custom Publishing at NBC Universal’s iVillage, recently started cycling for recreation and fitness

• Stephanie Kaplan, a 2013 Women’s Cycling Ambassador for Specialized Bicycles, NYC bike commuter and racer

The one-hour presentation on the main stage, directly following the BE Chic, BE NY Fashion Show presented by Momentum Magazine, also will feature a prize drawing for a reflective tailored cycling rain cape by Cleverhood.

A women’s only mountain bike event in Lakewood, CO, one part bike race and one part social gathering.

Colorado’s first ever women’s only mountain bike race will happen for the 4th year!

Team Yeti Beti is encouraging all women that mountain bike to come out for the Beti Bike Bash. We know that there are more women out there who want to try a race. Grab your other dirt loving friends and come out to test your skills against other women, or just come out and experience a Colorado mountain bike race.

RACE does not have to be a four letter word. From the first timer to the seasoned professional, join us for a landmark event in the mountain bike community.

Learn more at BetiBikeBash.com

Little Bella Camp at Beti Bike Bash

Stop #2 on our National Tour is all girls camp in Colorado in conjunction with Beti Bike Bash, an all female race. It will be an adventure in mountain biking designed to get girls hooked on the sport. We will focus on improving skills and having fun. It is a great opportunity for girls looking to try out mountain biking as well as for those who are ready for the next level of challenge. The camp will incorporate full access to the pros that are racing the event. Each camp day will be unique, focusing on different skills and activities. Signing up for multiple days enhances learning (and fun!) with a multi-day skill progression. Camp will run on Saturday and on Sunday.

Learn more at LittleBellas.com

There are a lot of great road races happening in the Charlotte, NC area this weekend. The Dilworth Crit, the pro “big time” Presby Crit, and my favorite…. the NoDa Grand Prix.

Why is this Race so Awesome?

First, I’m biased as it is put on my team 36th Street Racing. Second, the community of NoDa comes out and supports this event. Third, there is ample amount of fun turns to cheer on, beer to drink and photos to take. Plus, the kids race is well worth the watching!

Details

The races start at 830am, running all day long.

The race course runs along N. Davidson, 34th, Yadkin, 32nd, Alexander and 36th. Course Map here

NoDa Grand Prix 2012 from La Storia on Vimeo.

A guest post from Laura Colbert of Loose Nuts Cycles in Atlanta, GA

Normally, I’ve just started making my weekend plans by this time in the week, but I’ve had this weekend planned for months…maybe longer.  This weekend I’ll be traveling to Louisville, KY for the UCI Cyclocross World Championships!  So stoked right now!

This weekend in Louisville is sure to be amazing for several reasons:

1. It’s the first time that the CX World Championships has been held outside of Europe.  Last year, UCI gave Louisville a practice run with the Master’s World Championships.  The masters returned to Louisville again this year and brought the rest of the World Championship events with them.  The first time for anything is fun and challenging and special.  This weekend will set the bar for US-hosted world CX events.  If it goes well, maybe the World Championships will come back to the US.  If it doesn’t, you can bet that Europe will be hosting all the major CX races for years to come.

2.  It’s taking place in Louisville’s Eva Bandman Park.  Bandman Park is the only park in the U.S. that is specifically dedicated to the sport of cyclocross, which means that the course should be great.  If you want to preview the course, check out this guy’s blog.  If you want to know what cyclists and officials think about the course, Velo News has a great article with thoughts from a lot of the top cyclists that have ridden it.  If this weekend goes well, maybe other cities will consider building their own cyclocross specific venues.

3.  European-style excitement about cyclocross!  The event organizers say that they’re expecting 5000-6000 people to attend each day of the event.  In addition to massive crowds, I fully expect that we’ll see some amazingly ridiculous cheering and fanaticism.  Cyclocross is not exactly America’s national pass time, so American cyclocross events don’t often elicit the same enthusiasm that they do in Europe.  That will not be case this weekend.  The U.S.’s biggest cyclocross fans will be out in full force, with some back up from European visitors and guests from around the world.  Expect awesome crowds, creative fans (I bet we’ll see some face/body paint despite the cold temperatures), and lots of noise.

4.  The possibility of home court victories for the American cyclists!  If you’re not familiar with the US’s world champion roster, check out USA Cycling’s report and 22-person roster here.  I do not usually shine with national pride, but I inexplicably swell with patriotism during sporting events.  I can’t help it.  The world championships are here, at home, and may never return to US soil.  Our American cyclists have to make the most of this moment and capture some podium spots.  Win on their home court.  Prove to the Europeans that America can produce cyclocross champions.  Velo News has a good analysis the American chances of winning this weekend.

If you have a weekend with few plans and live in any state that borders Kentucky (or are otherwise reasonably close), you should cancel your plans and make your way to Louisville.  If you aren’t able to make it this weekend, no worries.  CX Magazine is live streaming the event right here.  Also, check the Louisville 2013 Facebook page for updates.

I’m going to be taking lots of pictures, checking out the course, pits, and venue, and talking to as many cyclists and spectators as I can.  Next week, I’ll be reporting back about the weekend and the races.  Leave a comment if you want me to try to chat with a specific cyclist, or get a picture of a particular part of the course, or whatever.  I’ll do my best.

Photo credit to Nathan Bolster of Bolster Photography.

Workout that new Turkey Muscle

WHEN?  Friday, November 23^rd. 1:00pm

WHAT? Get out of the house and enjoy some cyclocross “riding” with friends

WHY? Grab your kids and get your butt out of the house, away from the in laws and left over Turkey!

COST? FREE suckers

WHERE? Softball field parking lot at Renniassance
1200 West Tyvola Road

View Larger Map

Keep up to date with the Bike Shop Girl coverage of the 2012 Interbike Trade Show with coverage, previews, exclusives and interviews

Fashion, meets fashion, that you would go to a mall and wear. Oh wait, it has cycling function? Sign me up now.

Meet Gravity Check Cycling Clothing. gravity-check.com

2012 Interbike as seen from my iPhone 4S. Image heavy, be patient.

Keep up to date with the Bike Shop Girl coverage of the 2012 Interbike Trade Show with coverage, previews, exclusives and interviews

Part I of II from photo dump of Interbike Day 3 – first day inside. More to come…

Keep up to date with the Bike Shop Girl coverage of the 2012 Interbike Trade Show with coverage, previews, exclusives and interviews.

My buddy, Charles of ARTCRANK, is at Interbike showing and selling posters. If you are at the show make sure you pick up one (or two)!

Keep up to date with the Bike Shop Girl coverage of the 2012 Interbike Trade Show with coverage, previews, exclusives and interviews

A photo dump of random photos from the night of the 2012 Cross Vegas race during Interbike. Includes a trip on the Yakima party bus, tequila shots, bike races and awesome people in the industry!