Ride and Wrench Like a Girl: Reflections of Being a Woman in the Industry

Being a mechanic feels like the most natural thing for me. Not only do I get to be surrounded by bikes all day, but I am able to tackle projects and problem solve while constantly learning. I am also acutely aware that I am almost always the only woman in this space. While everyone I have ever worked with or for has been extremely welcoming and inclusive to all, there is often an unintentional divide. As a woman, you feel like this in so many spaces and the cycling world is not an exception.

Walking into a shop full of men as a woman can be an intimidating experience. The imposter syndrome kicks in and you feel like you have to prove your knowledge and legitimacy for being there. As a woman currently in the industry I have felt this, so I can only imagine what it’s like for a woman new to cycling. Which is why I will never forget all the times, at all the shops I have worked at, women have looked at me and commented how they never interacted with a woman mechanic and how happy they are to see me when walking into a shop. These comments always make me feel so proud that I can have that impact on another woman but also thinking how do we get more women mechanics so this isn’t such a rare experience.

I also reflect about how I have never met another female mechanic in person. I know there are other women out there but not interacting with any regularly can be isolating. Without seeing other people like yourself regularly presented in the same role it leads to the questions about belonging in that space. That does not mean I don’t love what I do and appreciate all those I am surrounded with. There are still consistent thoughts about what it would be like to bounce ideas and methods off a fellow woman and not feel like I have to feel this unspoken need to prove my abilities.

This summer I was privileged to lead some women’s mechanic classes at my current shop in Carbondale, CO. This had been an ongoing series but had usually been taught by a male mechanic. It was already a welcoming space but it is a difference having a woman teach a class specifically for women. While I was so excited to lead these I also felt that imposter syndrome kicked in immediately. Thinking about how I may not know as much as the male counterparts I’ve worked with over the years and that I am still a student in my career. This is fueled by the constant ingrained doubt I subtly get from male customers. I can sense there is often total confidence in my male coworker and when it comes to me I have to prove that I can do the same repair at the same level.

I am of the strong belief that if women can become confident about bikes and feel like they belong in that space then that confidence can translate to the rest of their life and they can feel empowered in other pursuits. I know that my abilities as a mechanic to understand how to fix problems and technical jargon allows me to tackle other problems that may come my way in and out of the bike industry. That confidence I can get from knowing my craft is one of the things that motivates me to share with other women. Because I know that having a love for bikes combined with feeling capable when you are out on a ride helps build women up in the sport.

My aim of teaching a mechanic class for women is to cultivate confidence and practical knowledge. The world of bikes is very complicated and just because you ride bikes doesn’t mean you need to know every and all parts of repair. I believe that a basic understanding of the parts and small repairs allows you to feel more connected with your bike and like you can walk into any shop and be ready to talk about what you need. It is not that there is a desire to make women feel intimidated but the nature of it being a male dominated world. I know teaching women about their bikes is multi-faceted. It cultivates community along, letting women connect with each other along with practical knowledge that can create lasting confidence.

Along with the mechanic classes this summer I was also able to be part of the Girls on Bikes series through the local cycling club. This program was created by a local high school rider for a senior project that created a free space for girls to come together and either expand skills or get on a mountain bike for the first time. This was my first coaching experience and I was so grateful to work with some very experienced women. Showing the girls how bikes and socializing was a great joy. I saw how it was an opportunity to cultivate that community aspect of cycling.

Being guided by women as a girl is also such an important experience because you can truly feel at ease. Growing up I wish I was able to participate in something like this because I know it would have been so impactful. My introduction to cycling was going out on a group ride at my local shop when I was 14 and realizing it was mostly all men. It was intimidating at that age and I had no idea what I was doing. I do remember one of the ladies there coming over to guide me and that was huge. I feel that supporting organizations that prioritize events that focus on women and girls is so important and an integral part of creating a welcoming space in the bike world.

I have gone down the path of gravel cycling/racing and absolutely love the adventure and freedom that comes with it. It makes me feel so connected to my body and my bike. I am always excited to get out to races big and small and see the challenges each course will provide. However, lining up on the start line it is usually a sea of men. With all the preparation and training I do there is always a moment seeing so many guys on a starting line that I question if I belong. When I start riding and end up sharing miles with other women it creates such a powerful camaraderie. Those shared miles with women feel extra special because I know she knows how much work it takes to be there. The self-doubt I might feel as a woman athlete fades when I am able to see other women competing as well.

I am also able to clearly see that there is great progress in creating space for women in the cycling world. There are so many events and organizations that make an effort to highlight women from amateur to pro. It is so important to acknowledge the steps that are being taken to promote women in the cycling world while also continuing to push for the change you want to see. Having races and companies normalize the success of women helps make us all feel that sense of belonging. I want more women to feel comfortable signing up for an event and they do not have to be some high level athlete to belong there. Any goal on the bike is worth celebrating and women deserve to love being on a bike and feel a sense of belonging. I strongly feel that when women aren’t fully included in the community of cycling then it loses its meaning of being a community. I cherish the people you meet through cycling and all the miles on a bike. I am grateful for my work with bikes. As a woman in the industry I want to use my role as a way to encourage other women and continually push for that inclusiveness.