Sometimes it feels like cycling is almost an “all-boys club,” so it’s important for us girls to compete on our own. In the past few years, a growing number of events showcasing the skills and speed of women on fixed gear bikes have happened in places like Chicago, Philly, Portland, Florida, San Francisco, New York and other cities around the country.

The “bro-man-dude” culture that often works its way into cycling (even coming from good people with good intentions) feels unwelcoming to a lot of girls. When a girl goes for a trick but doesn’t get it right away at a trick competition with a bunch of guys watching, you might hear “nice... now don’t suck next time,” whereas, in a similar situation at an all-girls event, the women watching the action might have commentary more along these lines: “damn, girl, you almost got it!” This is a much more encouraging environment to be in, and to learn and grow as a rider. As bad-ass and inspiring as so many dudes are on their bikes, sometimes we just need a break from the testosterone, a place to be ourselves in a world that too often tells us we can’t do as much as men.

Ladies’ events always have a smaller turn-out than other events, but the sense of community that a more intimate group provides can be just what many of us need in order to progress and have fun... and isn’t that what we should be in this for in the first place?