Following the success of the first programs launched in 2014, She Rides returns for another year with even more locations on offer. The program was first set up to help women regain riding skills, improve their fitness and create a social network of friends.
With 95% of graduates leaving the program feeling more confident on a bike, thousands of women either new to cycling or returning will be hitting the pedals this autumn. 60 new programs will kick off in communities across the country.
Registration for the autumn program opened on January 18 with most sessions kicking off from Saturday 12 March.
The program is offered in two formats. A road/traffic program and a mountain bike program were created after findings from a Female Stakeholder Consultation by Cycling Australia identified that most women would ride more if they felt safer, more confident in their abilities and had an organised group to join.
Program leader, Jenny Triggs said she was excited to lead another program and was looking forward to watching new participants’ skills improve every week.
“I am so passionate about riding and the positive impact it has had on my life so I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help more women in my community start their journey with ‘She Rides’,” said Triggs.
The ‘She Rides’ program has already made a huge impact on hundreds of women, with 90% of previous entrants surveyed saying they are highly likely to ride on a shared pathway, in a bike lane or in low traffic following participation in the program.
Key to the success of the program is low instructor to participant ratios (She Rides) Source: She Rides
Angela Wallace, 40, took part in one of the previous programs. The mother of three, who hadn’t ridden since childhood, was delighted that cycling has given her ‘me time’.
Her husband bought her a bike for Mother’s Day as he wanted them to start riding together. The She Rides program has built her confidence to do so with several others as well. “I want to be cycling in my 60’s and 70’s like a lot of the incredible women I ride with,” she said.
Sick of her daily routine, which included regular couch-time, Tina Behn, 52, saw an advertisement for She Rides and thought, “Why not?” She now cycles four to five times a week, has learned about bike maintenance and even bought a new bike.
She now her sights set on the 146km 3 Dams Challenge in Western Australia. She said the most surprising parts of the program have been the feeling of wellbeing and social aspect.
The autumn She Rides program hopes to improve the lives of more Australian women through improved fitness in a fun and social environment with most of the programs having no more than nine participants and one leader.
The She Rides concept offers three tiers of programs: ‘She Rides Basics’ for those who are starting their riding journey from scratch, ‘She Rides Confidence’ for women who have riding skills but are looking to participate for fitness and community based reasons and ‘She Rides Together’ which is a group riding program to improve fitness, advance riding skills and enjoy riding with others.
