Celebrate the women cyclists around the world—and bring more women along for the ride!
Happy International Women’s Day! At inGamba, we’re taking today to celebrate not just the women who work here, but the women who join us on our trips. As I write this, I love reflecting on how the cycling world has changed so much since I started my career in cycling journalism back in the early 2000s.
At that point, there were only a few of us in the industry, women’s racing was considered more of a sideline than the main show, and frankly, whether you were on a race or a group ride, you were lucky if there was one other woman in attendance.
While we still have a long way to go, seeing things like the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift truly take off and usher in a new era of women’s pro cycling, the rise of bike companies and brands that are actively making sure that their bikes, components and kits are women-friendly, and seeing more women working in the industry and showing up on group rides gives me hope. And a big part of the goal I’ve always chased is not just getting more women in the industry, but getting more women on bikes. That includes bringing more women out on tours, getting the chance to explore the world by bike. And no one is doing bike tours better than inGamba.
If you’ve booked a trip with us, you may have connected with Katie Bolling, a passionate cyclist and our US inGamba sales manager. You can often spot her in inGamba kit riding the roads in Colorado, though she sneaks out to join inGamba on trips when she can. “Last year I set myself a goal to bring more women into the inGamba community. I think women sometimes struggle with allowing ourselves to pursue hobbies, fulfill passions and simply enjoy experiences,” she says. “We want to fulfill our important roles at home, with our families, at work and in our communities and sometimes this leaves little time for ourselves. But I’m happy to say that while 23% of our travelers were women in 2018, that number has grown every year.
My hope is that it will grow even more as more women become cyclists, more couples travel together, more solo female travelers raise their hands at doing trips and, most important, as more women choose to feel good about taking time for themselves to do something they love just for the pure enjoyment of it.”
“To the ladies I’ve met at inGamba: you’ve inspired me through your determination to climb the mountain, to raise kids, to be the CEO and to carve new opportunities for women around you,” Katie added. “In short, I think you’re amazing, I’m so glad you’re part of inGamba and I sincerely hope to see you on the road this year. Thanks for all the support and the motivation!”.
Don’t take our word for it. Our trips haven’t just been fun ways for longtime riders to experience new places on two wheels, we’ve helped inspire new riders.
“The whole group was just so welcoming,” Radell Rasmussen says—and she should know. She and her husband have been joining us on trips for years. “And I mean everyone. The group we were with, but especially the inGamba staff. They couldn’t do enough for us to make sure bikes were set up right, that I was feeling okay with the pace—and the end of the day massages didn’t hurt either!” In fact, she enjoyed the trip so much that when she came home, she started acquiring more bikes. “Cycling is definitely addictive,” she says.
While many women bring their partners along for the ride, we’re also celebrating our women who come on tours as solo travelers. Heidi Luquer joined us solo, and absolutely loved the experience. “I hadn’t biked in 20 years or so—a really long time,” she says. “So when I signed up for the trip, I was nervous that I’d hold the group back. The ability to use an e-bike instantly made me feel better about my ability to keep up—but even without it, the inGamba team was so unbelievable, I know they wouldn’t have let me feel like I was holding anyone back. They were so helpful, from actually getting me riding to cheering me on every day. They were so encouraging and heartfelt. They really go out of their way to make sure that everyone is getting what they want out of the trip, whether someone wants to rush to the top of a mountain, or someone wants to enjoy their ride.”
“The care that they take with every aspect of the trip is unbelievable,” she added. And the e-bike itself was a big help as well! Heidi fell in love with it on the first ride. “It was absolutely fabulous. Each day had a different challenge in terms of how high we were going or how far we were going to go. And each day, the bike was perfect.”
Still need convincing? “On these trips, you go to really beautiful places to ride with like-minded people,” Radell says. “The guides are just so personable, and they truly want to know that you’re enjoying yourself and will help in any way they can. You shouldn’t be afraid to go on these trips.”
