Women's Community
GET MORE WOMEN RIDING
Peaks Challenge 2024
There is a serious gender imbalance in bike riding in Australia, where only one in three riders are women. When it comes to Peaks Challenge, this drops to one in 10.
Bicycle Network’s Women’s Community program is committed to making bike riding an inclusive activity for all. With the launch of Peaks Challenge 2024 it has set the goal of doubling the female participation rate to 20% by Peaks 2025.
The first step towards this happens now.
Over 50% of tickets are sold for Peaks 2024, only 5% of these belong to women. To raise these numbers, Bicycle Network will hold 10% of Peaks 2024 tickets for female and gender diverse riders until Friday 8 December.
Bicycle Network will run Women’s Community training sessions and social nights to connect and empower female and gender diverse riders to be confident in making the commitment to take on Peaks 2024.
Bicycle Network is a not-for-profit organisation. Becoming a Member and entering Peaks Challenge supports our advocacy campaigns and behaviour change programs, including our Women’s Community.
Learn more![](https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/3.-Falls-Creek-2-1198x800.jpg)
Women's Community Hub
Are you ready to roll with an inclusive group?
Do you want to connect with like-minded women who will raise your confidence and support you on your bike riding journey?
It can be tricky to find a group to ride (and have coffee) with but we’ve done the hard work for you – check out the regular rides, events and workshops happening in your local community below.
These are not run by Bicycle Network but we can confirm, from experience, they are all great rides!
![](https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/iwd23-10_720.jpg)
Regular Rides | Melbourne
Start time
9:00am rollout (please arrive 10 minutes early for briefing)
Ride leader
Anne Cargill
Meet up spot
Brunswick Cycling Club, Brunswick East VIC 3057
Route
Approx 20-25 km loop from Brunswick to either The Boulevard, Docklands, or past Pentridge
Pace
No-drop social ride, pace of slowest rider on the day
We welcome riders of all skill levels and promise loads of fun and a compulsory coffee stop!
Bring a spare tube, any nutrition & hydration you need, a myki (or have a Plan B) and money for coffee!
Learn moreStart time
07:00am rollout (please arrive by 10mins early for the briefing)
Ride leader
Chez Viogt
Meet up spot
Total Rush, 345 Punt Rd, Richmond VIC 3121
Route
We head to Black Rock and back, finishing at Rush cafe for a coffee (aprox 40km)
Pace
Average speed will be around 20-25km/hr depending on the group.
Start time
9:30am rollout (please arrive 10 minutes early for briefing)
Ride leader
Jennie F (membership officer) – 0416 154 865
Meet up spot
Route
From Bayswater Park, ride to The Basin – up the 1:20 to Sassafras and return
Pace
Beginners, no drop
Ride as group to The Basin, ride at own pace up the 1:20 to the cafe at Sassafras for morning tea. Reassemble at The Basin after the descent at own pace and ride as a group back to start.
Ride has a leader and a whip.
Bring a spare tube, any nutrition & hydration you need, a myki (or have a Plan B) and money for coffee and morning tea.
Learn moreStart time
9:30am rollout (please arrive 10 minutes early for briefing)
Ride leader
Jennie F (membership officer) – 0416 154 865
Meet up spot
See Whitehorse Cyclists website
Route
Various, 40 – 60km
Pace
18 – 22km/hr
This ride will explore various routes – ride as a group to the morning tea stop and back to the start.
Ride has a leader and a whip.
Bring a spare tube, any nutrition & hydration you need, a myki (or have a Plan B) and money for coffee and morning tea.
Learn moreStart time
9:30am rollout (please arrive 10 minutes early for briefing)
Ride leader
Jennie F (membership officer) – 0416 154 865
Meet up spot
See Whitehorse Cyclists website
Route
Various, 30 – 45km
Pace
15 – 18km/hr
This ride will explore various routes – ride as a group to the morning tea stop and back to the start.
Ride has a leader and a whip.
Bring a spare tube, any nutrition & hydration you need, a myki (or have a Plan B) and money for coffee and morning tea.
Learn moreStart time
6.00am roll out
Ride leader
St Kilda Cycling Club
Meet up spot
Just down from the corner of Walmer St and Kew Boulevard by the 50k/hr speed sign
Route
2 laps of the Kew Boulie (approx 26km)
Pace
We ride 2 laps of the Boulevard, regrouping at each end and ensuring no one is dropped, but can also offer plenty of options for stronger riders.
This ride is open to all women (18+; riding a drop bar road bike; clip pedals not a prerequisite).
There is no cost to join our rides, however you do need to register via Team App (click the link below to learn more).
AusCycling offers a free 1 month trial for new members which will ensure you have appropriate insurance cover for your trial, after which you will need to obtain an AusCycling membership. Members of any clubs are welcome.
Bring a spare tube, any nutrition & hydration you need, a myki (or have a Plan B) and money for coffee!
Learn MoreStart time
7.00am rollout (06:50am bag drop)
Ride leader
Tara Neyland
Meet up spot
Maap Lab, 33, Wellington St, Melbourne
Route
30km (approx) – download the strava route.
Pace
No drop, social ride
Our WOMXNS Wednesday ride. We will roll at 07:00 with a 06:50 bag drop for the 28km Eaglemont loop. A social, no-drop ride for women and non-binary people to ride together and have some fun.
We will head back to the LaB for coffee.
Please ensure you download the route for this ride and let the ride leaders know if it’s your first time joining us so they can be sure to give you a warm welcome.
Bring a spare tube, any nutrition & hydration you need, a myki (or have a Plan B) and money for coffee!
Learn MoreStart time
Coffee at 06.30am, ride at 06:45am sharp
Ride leader
Sarah and Carley
Meet up spot
Curve HQ. 36 Bond St, Abbortsford
Route
14km (approx) – download the route.
Pace
No drop, social ride
The route will be mixed terrain, taking in single track, trails, some roads, bike paths and gravel along Kew Boulevard. This is perfect for any beginner looking to explore dirt more, and learn a few skills.
The route will stay mostly the same each week and may vary with the weather, or we will add optional sections for those wanting to try more technical trails. A gravel bike is best for this ride.
You are welcome to leave bags at Curve when riding. Please have good lights in the Winter months.
In the event of poor/wet weather/other, we will make a decision by 5:45 am the morning of the ride if it is cancelled. This cancellation notice will be posted on Curve’s social pages.
This ride is for all women/trans/non-gender-conforming riders.
Learn MoreStart time
6.15am rollout (please arrive by 6:10am for briefing)
Ride leader
Marie-Louise Fitzgerald and friends
Meet up spot
Kade : Japanese Cafe, 325 Johnston St, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Route
Various, 30 – 45km
Pace
Aprox 22-23km/hr
Ride through the undulating hills of Ivanhoe followed by caffeinated beverages.
Bring a spare tube, any nutrition & hydration you need, a myki (or have a Plan B) and money for coffee.
Learn MoreStart time
07:30am rollout (please arrive by 10mins early for the briefing)
Ride leader
Giant Hampton
Meet up spot
Giant Hampton, 475 Hampton St, Hampton VIC 3188
Route
30km roll to Mordialloc and back to Hampton for coffee at Townhouse
Pace
PARTY PACE!
This is a no drop ride, so come along and we’ll roll together.We generally average somewhere between 22-27kph. If you want to go faster, this may not be the ride for you, but we’d still love to see you at the cafe after if you’re in the area.
Parking:
If you want to drive here, there’s free parking nearby on side streets. Remember to always read the signs.
Wear whatever you feel comfortable in and suits the weather.
Please be aware of other riders and traffic.
Whilst we always aim to stay in a group, this is a ride on open roads with a bunch of mates, so please ensure you bring your spares and feel comfortable finding your way back to the starting point.
Your Community Rides & Events - What's On?
Do you host a weekly women’s ride open to everyone? Or do you have an upcoming one off ride, event or workshop?
We would love to promote your rides and events to our community to help get more women to connect and support each other on their bike riding journey.
Submit your listings below.
Ride Ambassadors - Call out!
Are you someone that wants to encourage, empower, and inspire fellow riders on the road? If so, we want to hear from you!
We’re looking for Rider Ambassadors from across Victoria and beyond to empower our Women’s Community on our various Bicycle Network events in 2023.
Our Rider Ambassadors are fundamental in supporting our Women’s Community on event and play an important role in people’s bike riding journeys, no matter if you’re new to riding or advanced.
The Rider Ambassador role would require but is not limited to:
- Riding experience with adequate fitness levels to complete and actively support riders on route.
- A natural desire to support, lead and encourage others in their riding journeys.
- A love for bike riding in an inclusive environment!
If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you or share with someone you know! Click below to submit your expression of interest.
Our ambassador roles are open to all genders.
Submit Interest![](https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WC-Ambassadors-1.png)
With the e-bike experts – Cargocycles
E-bike webinar for women
The popularity of e-bikes has boomed in recent years and like many women, you may be considering one for your next bike option. During this webinar, we discuss the advantage of e-bikes and cargo bikes with experts in the field – Cargocycles.
The session includes a Q&A which may answer your questions about the e-bike revolution and provide some tips about what to look for. If you still have any questions the Cargocycles team are happy to help.
The webinar features representatives from Cargocycles along with Bicycle Network team members (and e-bike enthusiasts) General Manager of Behaviour Change, Leyla Asadi, and Public Affairs Manager Tasmania, Alison Hetherington.
Women getting active – Overcoming the barriers
Webinar
As we continue to navigate these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever to look after our health and wellbeing. When it comes to getting our daily dose of exercise, women can face many barriers to making it a priority.
Watch our webinar hosted by award-winning Sports Journalist, Presenter, Author and women’s advocate, Sam Squiers. Her discussion includes a panel of key women within the sport and recreation industry, all sharing their key insights on how to overcome the road blocks that women face.
Meet the panelists
Sam Squiers is an award-winning Sports Journalist, Presenter, Author and the founder of Sportette. Sam has worked with Australia’s leading media and sports organisations including Channel 9, NRL, Surfing Australia, Channel 7, Sky News and Southern Cross Austereo.
Over the course of Sam’s career she’s become a strong advocate for women in sport. In 2014, Sam founded Sportette to provide an avenue to tell the incredible stories of our female athletes and it grew to be a leading think tank on Women’s Sports.
Recently Sam debuted a children’s novel “Princesses WearSneakers. A heartwarming tale of a princess’s passionate pursuit of her sporting dreams, PWS sends a powerful message to girls about sport from a key early age.
She is also the host of “On Her Game” podcast which tells the stories of our elite sportswomen.
While juggling her media commitments and keynote speaking engagements, Sam is also an Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) Board Director and a mum to her own two little girls, Imogen and Elle.
- This Girl Can – Victoria Ambassador
- Jean Hailes for Women’s Health Ambassador
- Specialized Ambassador
- Cycling Luminaries Leadership Award
- Cycling Victoria Iris Dixon Award for Commitment to Women’s Cycling
- VicSport Award for Best Outdoor Active Recreation Program
Seeing more women on bikes is Tina’s passion! In a teary beachside epiphany while riding a bike, Tina suddenly realised she had spent too many years sitting on her butt in her design career, was eating for comfort and had inadvertently placed herself into the high risk category for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. She’d become unfit, obese and was a ticking time bomb for chronic illness. With gestational diabetes during pregnancy and the loss of her father through heart disease, the reality of chronic illness was looming ever closer. Tina knew she had to lose weight and exercise to decrease the odds of diabetes and heart disease – it was insurance for a longer life! So, out came the bike after years of hiding in the shed and all those feelings of childhood freedom returned, the ‘inner kid’ re-appeared along with the bike.
Through her journey on the bicycle Tina realised other women could benefit from the skills and knowledge she had gathered to keep herself riding with confidence and without fear – so the design career was ditched and Wheel Women was born! With a focus on providing skills and regular rides to help women build their confidence to ride, Wheel Women provides a safe and supportive environment for women to start cycling, or return to riding. But it is so much more than just a cycling group!
Emma’s passion for active recreation and sport has stretched many years. When reflecting on her work, the many highlights are closely connected to the amazing people that she has been honoured to collaborate with. Currently, Emma leads the active recreation team at Sport and Recreation Victoria and only last week the team celebrated launching a brand new initiative, Get Active Victoria.
Emma Jackson has been at Sport and Recreation Victoria for over 20 years in the capacity of the following roles:
Shel is a keen amateur cyclist who grew up in Tassie and now lives in Melbourne. She took up cycling a little later in life – she got her first road bike in 2012 and fell in love with bikes and the cycling community instantly. She has raced crits and road races at club and VRS level in the past, but these days she’s more likely to be found out in the bush on her gravel bike or in the hills on her roadie. She is passionate about getting women onto bikes and encouraging women to set BIG goals – like entering and finishing Peaks Challenge! She’s an Assistant Principal in a school in inner north-west Melbourne. She organises the Ride2School Day at her school each year, and every year it’s a little bigger, crazier and better than the last. She is passionate about encouraging kids to travel to school actively.
Leyla Asadi is General Manager of the Behaviour Change department at Bicycle Network and has spent the past six years working in the world of bike riding with the intent of finding ways to break down barriers that prevent people from staying active on their day to day journeys. Leyla is passionate about advocating to get more people riding and is always eager to listen to other people’s experiences in order to understand the hurdles they may face. While policy changes can drive the supply, Leyla’s focus is on changing attitudes and behaviours to drive the demand through
I got into cycling just over 10 years ago after my mum passed away. A friend reached out to get me onto the bike – it was an introduction into an awesome community and helped me through a very difficult time in my life. Many years prior I had actually completed one of the first ATB events – after that, I moved overseas and didn’t ride. I had always wanted to get back into riding. I met my partner on the bike – and we are involved with bicycle network and riding is a big part of our lives.
I am a Liv ambassador and team captain for Team Bicycle Network. 2021 Peaks Challenge will be my 10th in a row – I love volunteering, taking training rides and helping people achieve their goals. Everyone has a reason for entering a ride like peaks or setting a challenge goal and to help them get there – even in a small way or to hear their stories is such a great reward. I am passionate about women cycling and getting more women (and people) on the bike.
Anyone who knows me, knows how passionate I am about cycling. Cycling is a positive and pivotal part of my life and it has given me a great deal both on and off the bike. I met my partner Lee on a bike ride, cycling keeps me active and fit and commuting provides a great start and end to my working day. Other positive experiences have been volunteering and helping people achieve their goals on the bike, memorable travel opportunities both regionally and overseas and meeting lifelong friends from all walks of life. Cycling has also offered me, and others in my circle, mental health benefits, help to overcome life’s challenges – and the list goes on.
I have been a volunteer with Bicycle Network for 10 years and became captain for Team Bicycle Network in 2017. We are a group of volunteers dedicated to helping riders achieve their ride goals and who are actively involved in Ride to Work Day, Women’s community, Around The Bay, and as pacers for the infamous Bicycle Network event Peaks Challenge. Peaks Challenge 2021 will be my 10th Falls Creek Peaks Challenge in a row.
I have held other volunteer roles including treasurer for the St Kilda Cycling Club (SKCC) from 2014-2015 and I am proud to be an ambassador for Bicycling Australia Events and Liv Cycling. I was awarded the 2018 Women in Sport Award for contributions to Women’s cycling and in 2019 my name was listed on the Bicycle Network honour board for my volunteer contributions.
Related news
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Why I will never wear lycra while riding
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![](https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/susan-peaks-feature-2.png)
No peak too high for Susan
In celebration of Women's Health Week, here's a short story from Susan about her experiencing tackling the enormous challenge that is Peaks Challenge Falls Creek.
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Our women’s jersey journey
Read all about our recent journey to create a suitable cycling jersey for women, by women.
Our events
Peaks Challenge
Team Bicycle Network have dedicated training sessions and info nights to support any women who’re looking to tackle Peaks Challenge.
LEARN MOREGreat Vic Bike Ride
Join our Women’s Community ride ambassadors for this multi-day bike riding adventure through Gippsland.
LEARN MOREUnited Energy Around the Bay
With a large range of ride options, there’s a ride for everyone at United Energy Around the Bay, plus we have a full suite of pre and on-event support.
LEARN MORESocial rides
Hosted by experienced volunteer riders, Bicycle Network Tasmania runs regular group social rides across Tassie. All rides are free to join.
Learn moreCheck out our full list of bike riding events, social rides and behaviour change programs.
Join our inclusive Women's Community Facebook group!
Join now