Shredding the stereotypes

By Xavier Cordier

Courtesy of its adrenaline-inducing nature, the perception of masculinity has been commonly attached to extreme sports such as mountain biking.

It’s a discipline that has been traditionally dominated by male participation but overwhelmingly under-represented by women, particularly at the grassroots level.

However, the ongoing pandemic has seen cycling clubs all over Australia embracing the opportunity to welcome a wide variety of new riders into their communities.

Clubs like the Lysty Chicks and the Shredding Betties are leading the way forward for women who want to take their first pedal upon their iron horses in an organised fashion.

And in the process, they are helping to give those male-dominated stereotypes the boot.

Sandy Parkinson and her self-confessed rag-tag group of volunteers lead the Lysty Chicks division of the Lysterfield District Trail Riders (LDTR) – A club located in the leafy outer east of Melbourne.

Establishing a new group can be a daunting task but the goal for Sandy and her team at LDTR from the very beginning was always a simple one.

To see more women on bikes.

“We started a while ago when the club recognised that they wanted to promote women within the sport,” said club president Sandy when questioned about the origins of the Lysty Chicks.

“It's about promoting that confidence within women, opportunities to meet other riders and to network.”

The LDTR team recognised that even before lockdowns had hit Victoria, cycling participation levels had been steadily gaining momentum.

This has seen communities such as the members only Lysty Chicks group on Facebook quickly grow to over 360 women who all throw their unconditional support behind each other.

“It’s a common feeling amongst women that they aren't confident enough to post in a public forum,” said Ms Hellier.

“We created an environment on Facebook for them to go - ‘Hey, I'm going for a ride today. I'm trying to order a helmet, what are people using?’”

While the Lysty Chicks are primarily based around a once-per-month social ride, some of their stronger riders have even gone on to compete in events around Victoria thanks to a club structure that accommodates riders of all abilities.

It’s clear that the women involved in this community have formed undeniable bonds with each other that are centered around a sport that doesn’t care for who you are, what you do or even something as trivial as your skill level.

Ultimately, Sandy and her team at the LDTR achieved their goal by creating an incredible environment for women to thrive in.

Across the pond in Tasmania, the Shredding Betties have also been shredding stereotypes with core values that are very much akin to their Victorian counterparts.

By connecting, inspiring and encouraging.

“What we ended up feeling is that the grassroots of our club is really at that beginner and intermediate stage of riding,” said Cathy Edwards, co-president of the Shredding Betties.

“The Shredding Betties is about being active in the connecting space so we can facilitate for other people.”

This once-casual group of friends has quickly grown to over 900 riders since officially identifying as a club in early 2019.

Their club values are, perhaps, epitomized by the club rep who was breastfeeding her baby in between stages of the recent Tas Gravity Enduro Series.

Whether your goal is to race along at breakneck speeds while simultaneously catering to the needs of your child or if your goal is to just find your feet for the first time on a bike, the Shredding Betties are there to encourage all women to get involved.

The club has become easily identifiable while pedalling around the trail networks of Tasmania, but some riders have even begun to develop a level of notoriety off the trails, too.

“I even notice in the streets when talking to women in the community, they say ‘Oh you’re with Shredding Betties, I really need to get along for a ride one day,’” said Nadine Rowell of her newfound fame.

“People are really starting to talk about it, share it and encourage each other. I’ve found that it’s become quite a comfortable space for people to want to be a part of.”

The Shredding Betties have developed such a strong presence in the Tasmanian community that even the male-dominated clubs around the state are beginning to reach out for advice.

“In more recent times, we’re getting approached by other clubs because they can see that we’re connecting directly into the market that they’re targeting,” said co-president Julia Jago.

“We’re in that middle space, [where we are able] to facilitate that connection.”

By continuing to open the doors that were once closed, these cycling clubs are all combating the stigmas that have existed around the traditionally male-dominated sport.

“It’s become a pretty inviting riding community because we’re just trying to work together,” said Shredding Betties secretary Robyn Hawkins.

“There is no competition with us. We’re about participation and just connecting people.”

With such incredible platforms that actively encourage women to be comfortable and confident on their riding journeys, both the Lysty Chicks and the Shredding Betties are inspiring others all around Australia.

And when asked of what other cycling communities could do to get involved, Sandy Parkinson of the Lysty Chicks thinks it’s simple.

“Just create events and people will come.”

It appears that when there is demand, which there clearly is, there is almost certainly opportunity, too.

The Lysty Chicks are planning on holding many more of their social rides later this year subject to COVID restrictions being eased. Further information can be found on the LDTR Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Lysterfieldmtb/

Similarly, the Shredding Betties are set to host some “Come & Try” days. Further information can be found on the Shredding Betties Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/shreddingbetties/