Emma Keogh

I’m 39 and started cycling to work about 12 years ago when I moved to Melbourne, inspired by my female friends that were getting around town on bike. I was impressed with their chosen mode of transport. Initially I loaned a bike from a friend before I purchased my first city bike. This was soon after followed by an upgrade to an even better flat bar commuter bike, which I decked out with panniers. I was riding everyday to work and loving the freedom. I quickly found out that cycling was the quickest and most reliable way of getting around the city and the surrounding suburbs. So I have the women in my life to thank for inspiring me to get on a bike in the first place.

A few years ago I started working in a bike shop and was later presented with an opportunity to work on a European cycling tour as a crew person. And so my ever expanding bike collection grew to finally include a road bike. I’d always been reluctant to get a roadie as I’m not a fan of Lycra. I was more at home in a pair of jeans or shorts. I was so impressed with how light the road bike was and how it took me to new places. I love climbing and descending hills, and I’ve become ok with wearing Lycra kits mainly because there are so many good designs out there these days.

I ride for exercise, pleasure, convenience, adventures, thrills and many other reasons really. Because it’s good for the environment being another one. I love riding with friends and people new to riding.

The first 7 Peaks ride I did was Mt Buffalo with another female who hadn’t ridden any long hills yet. She found out that climbing hills was her strength! We had so much fun riding it and were encouraged by friends I’d met on the bike tour to come along for the ride.

I’ve also ridden up Mt Buller from Mansfield which I really loved, apart from it being magpie swooping season at the time! Once I started the real climb, the swooping was a distant memory and the peacefulness of climbing that mountain was beautiful. I also love the fast steep descents that follow a long climb, so it’s win win for me, love the up and the down.

I think there are many challenges (to being a woman and cycling) but also many ways of overcoming barriers. Our workplace BUG has a list of willing cyclists that will offer to ride to work with a new rider, to help them find the best route for them and to encourage more people to ride. It’s pretty easy these days in Melbourne to find women’s cycling groups, such as Melburn Dirt, Melbourne Hurt and Wheel Women, that are all great resources for women looking for support. Some bike shops and cycling groups/clubs offer free women’s skills sessions, be it in CX, track, road, fixed, recreational, the list goes on…

Our bike shop runs weekly road shop rides each Saturday, which are very inclusive and encouraging of women cyclists. We have a lot of women who participate in those rides and we’ve also hosted women’s cycling information nights and workshops to encourage more women to get involved and feel supported.