Pittsburgh Babes on Bikes: –Celebrating the Strong Cycling Women of Pittsburgh!

From the Babes on Bikes:

As cycling as a mainstream form of transportation gains more momentum, 16 Pittsburgh women have united in celebration of females on bicycles to create the 2011 Pittsburgh Babes on Bikes Calendar.  Far from your traditional pin-up calendar of individuals, the images in Pittsburgh Babes on Bikes are each personal and tell a story about the women featured each month —highlighting the diverse female presence in Pittsburgh’s cycling community.  This is the first Pittsburgh Babes on Bikes Calendar, and the sale of every calendar benefits the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.

The calendar was first proposed by Jessie Buckner as an art project to unite her own cycling friends and to celebrate a cycling community that included many strong women.   “I sent out the word and got a pretty overwhelming response,” says Buckner, featured in the calendar as “Miss July”. “When I realized how big the project could be, I decided it should benefit the community in some way…the empowerment of having a calendar full of strong, creative, individualized portraits of women could inspire others.”  One of the calendar girls suggested that proceeds go to the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, where she is involved, and the rest of the calendar babes agreed that working with an agency that supports and empowers local women was important to the group.

Each woman chose her own photographer, style and location for the photo shoots.  The resulting images allow the personalities of each calendar babe to shine.   “I wanted women to demonstrate themselves as strong individuals, that they cycle for fun and for themselves,” says Jessie.  “ I wanted portraits showing individual style and relationship to the bike.”

100% of the cost to print the calendar was raised through bike races, dance parties, raffles, sponsorships, and donations, so that every dollar made from each calendar sold will directly benefit the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.

Look for the Pittsburgh Babes on Bikes 2011 Calendar at the following in-person locations around Pittsburgh: Phantom of the Attic, Thick Bikes, Mail Smart,  Caliban Book Shop,  Dreaming Ant DVDs,  Iron City Bikes, The Copacetic Comics Company, Mind Cure Records, Pageboy Salon & Boutique, Espresso a Mano, Perk Me Up, Wild Card, Body Shop Tattoo and Apparel, at I MADE IT! for the Holidays, and online at www.pghbabesonbikes.com.

Not a member of BikePGH? Join today! We need you to add your voice! Bike Pittsburgh works to protect cyclist’s rights and promote the vision of making Pittsburgh a safer and more enjoyable place to live and to ride. For more info, check out: www.bike-pgh.org/membership