From every day confidence boosters to podcasts worth getting on your radar, here's everything our team and Collective swears by.
Find Your People - Join That Group Ride!
Joining a local women’s cycling group is one of the easiest ways to build confidence and find your community. “No-drop” rides (where no one gets left behind) are brilliant for building skills without the pressure of keeping up.
If you’re looking for inspiration, motivation, or just pure good vibes, check out these brilliant communities, cycling groups and clubs:
- Breeze (Let’s Ride) - fun, free, inclusive led bike rides for women of all abilities across the UK.
- JoyRiders –perfect if you’re new to or returning to cycling.
- Bikeability – helping people of all ages build confidence on two wheels.
- Cycle Sisters UK - Inspiring & enabling Muslim women to cycle through a network of dedicated cycle groups across London
- She Rides Collective - A female mountain biking community encouraging women of all levels to hit the trails.
- Velociposse - A cycling club for all women, all trans people, and all non-binary people in London.
- Black Women On Wheels CIC - lifestyle cycling club for Black womxn and girls.
- All Terre Adventures- A gravel and mountain biking adventure community led by Claire Sharpe.
- Roll Models - Empowering women + marginalised genders to ride adventurously, independently, on their own terms.
- Herne Hill Velodrome Women - Cycling for all women and non-binary people - track, road, MTB, gravel and cyclocross
- Girls That Ride Bikes - Sharing the love of wheels and wild places!
Queue These Up - Podcasts Worth Plugging Into
Podcasts are a great way to stay inspired, learn new tips, and hear the stories of women shaping cycling today. There’s something for every kind of ride, whether you’re commuting, training, or adventuring.
Our Collective recommends:
- All Bodies on Bikes - A movement to create and foster a size inclusive bike community to show that everyone who wants to ride a bike should be able to, regardless of their size or weight.
- Fever Talk - Maghalie Rochette breaks down the science of menstrual health for cyclists.
- Detours: Bikepacking, Ultra-Cycling and Adventures by Bike - A podcast about bikepacking, ultra-endurance, and the many different ways people find freedom on two wheels.
- Seek Travel Ride - Want more adventure in your life? Hear real adventure travel stories and practical insights from people who explore the world in bold and meaningful ways by bike, on foot, and close to home.
- Femme Cyclist Podcast with Kirsten Bonkoski - Great if you want a supportive vibe plus practical riding tips.
- The WMN Podcast - Hosted by ex-pro rider Georgie Howe and Sheridan Braatvedt. Covers women’s cycling culture, pro riders, inclusivity, and industry issues.
- QueenStage Women's Cycling Podcast - Focuses on women’s pro road racing,race analysis and coverage of events like the Tour de France Femmes.
- She’s a Cyclist Podcast - features stories of creative and adventurous female cyclists.
- Girls Gone Gravel Podcast - Conversations with women making waves in gravel racing. Perfect if you like gravel, bikepacking, or adventure rides.
Listening to these voices can spark new ideas, motivation, and a sense of connection with the wider cycling community.
Good Reads
Top picks from our community of cyclists:
- Back in the Frame: Cycling, Belonging and Finding Joy on a Bike by Jools Walker: A memoir from UK cycling writer Jools Walker (Lady Vélo) about rediscovering cycling later in life, overcoming health challenges, and carving space for herself as a Black woman in a sport that hasn’t always been welcoming. It’s part personal journey, part community portrait and speaks to inclusion in cycling culture.
- Revolutions: How Women Changed the World on Two Wheels by Hannah Ross: A history that traces how women’s cycling challenged societal norms around the world, from early pioneers to modern advocates for change
- Ride the Revolution: The Inside Stories from Women in Cycling, edited by Suze Clemitson: An anthology of essays and personal narratives from women across cycling ( riders, mechanics, journalists) offering diverse perspectives on the sport’s community and history
Everyday Confidence Builders
Confidence isn’t just about watts or KOMs – it’s built in tiny, everyday moments.
- Remember, fun comes first: You don’t need to be the fastest rider. Enjoy the journey and embrace the small victories.
- Learn the basics: Joining a local maintenance workshop like LUCA’s Women’s Bike Mechanic Workshops can be a great way to build up on that knowledge. Knowing how to fix a puncture mid-ride can be a total game-changer.
- Pay it forward: See someone with a mechanical problem? Stop and check in. Small acts of support keep the cycling community strong and welcoming.
Worth a Watch
Representation in cycling media helps women see themselves on the bike. These films and shorts showcase the journeys, achievements, and challenges of women cyclists:
- Cycling media plays a big role in shaping who sees themselves represented in the sport. This short film, Project FIAS , dives into how visibility and storytelling can make mountain biking more inclusive for women.
- Three Ordinary Women, One Unforgettable Race - Who signs up for an eight-day mountain bike race across the brutal terrain of South Africa’s Western Cape? Three ordinary women. One extraordinary test of endurance.
- BONNIE: A documentary about Bonnie Tu, the "godmother of female cycling" who started at 57 and became a leader in the bike industry.
- Women Don't Cycle: A documentary by Manon Brulard about her 13,500 km cycle from Brussels to Tokyo, featuring interviews with women cyclists worldwide to explore the specific barriers women face in cycling.
- Breakaway Femmes: Documents the forgotten history of the women's Tour de France in the 1980s, highlighting the pioneers who raced the same mountains as the men while battling discrimination and hardship.
Feeling inspired?
We know there's plenty more wisdom out there. Got a group, podcast, ride, or book that inspires and empowers you to ride? Tag us on insta @lakahq
