Reclaiming space & breaking barriers at the first in-person WMNBikePGH Summit since 2019

Thank you to all who attended and presented at this year’s Summit! We had an incredible day at East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM) as well as at partner locations The Wheel Mill and Free Ride PGH for an afternoon of energizing, educational, hands-on workshops. Check out the event recap below!

WMNBikePGH empowers trans and cis women, intersex people, non-binary, genderqueer, agender and gender variant folks, as well as those whose gender identity falls outside of the dominant conceptions of gender with free educational workshops, group rides, and social events in a safe and supportive environment.

GOOD MORNING YOGA WITH OPEN UP PGH

Annie Lapidus (she/her) of Open Up Pittsburgh hosted an invigorating morning yoga wake-up session in the EECM Courtyard.
As an advocate for inclusion and accessibility, Annie’s approach works to systemically break down barriers to access. Annie earned RYT200 Yoga Teacher Certification through Open Up Pittsburgh and is certified in Accessible Yoga. These programs of adaptive and accommodating yoga practice are in alignment with her belief that meeting people where they are and using open communication are the best methods for allowing people to feel welcomed, wanted, and included.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER MARLEY BLONSKY

We were honored to have the incredible Marley Blonsky fly in to join us (all the way from Arkansas!) as the day’s keynote speaker. Marley Blonsky is an unapologetic fat adventure cyclist, influencer, speaker, and the Co-Founder of All Bodies on Bikes. Marley lived car-free in Seattle for nearly 10 years, where she used all sorts of modes of active transportation, eventually falling in love with the bicycle. Participants heard from Marley about how she works to build an inclusive and accessible cycling community. Marley’s participation at the Summit was made possible by our friends at Cannondale – thanks for making this possible!

Taking Up Space with Critical Mass PGH

Community Gear Swap with Special Guest Tamar Tipton

The community gear swap broke even more barriers to access. Participants were encouraged to bring their unwanted gear and clothes to exchange with others! Thank you to special guest Tamar, whose pageant platform centers on inclusion and accessibility, focusing on getting more marginalized youth involved in cycling and other outdoor activities. At the Summit Tamar spoke with another guest speaker, Laura, and they are hoping to collaborate on the cycling program currently offered at Environmental Charter School.

During gear swap, a bountiful lunch from Salem’s was served. Afterwards, some participants headed out to the parking lot for a Confident City Cycling Class, meanwhile another group headed on a ride to The Wheel Mill for workshops, and a third group continued further to Know Your Bike class at Free Ride.

Intro to Bike Infrastructure

Participants learned the basics of bike infrastructure and how to use it in an engaging presentation from from BikePGH’s 2021 Educator of the year Laura Brienza. This workshop provided a space for participants to learn about the different types of infrastructure we have in Pittsburgh and how to use it – allowing new and veteran cyclists alike to fine safer routes when riding through town.

Confident City Cycling Class

Participants learned bike handling skills and proper cycling etiquette in this small group workshop. Carrie Tippen & BikePGH’s own Christine Yockel hosted a Confident City Cycling class during which riders could focus more on making sure they are aware of and comfortable with the rules and regulations of the road as a cyclist in a group setting.

Carrie Tippen (she/they): Confident City Cycling
An assistant professor of English at Chatham University, Carrie has been a bike commuter since moving to Pittsburgh. You may have met Carrie at a BikePGH Confident City Cycling class or riding sweep for the WMNBikePGH group rides. As an amateur DIY mechanic, Carrie repairs and restores vintage bikes for fun.

Christine Yockel (she/her): Confident City Cycling
Christine is the Business Relationship Manager at BikePGH. She is a league certified LCI and a mom of 2. Her bike is a matte teal Specialized Sirrus that she got on deep discount and whose name is Esmerelda.

Know Your Bike @ Free Ride PGH

This workshop was on site at Free Ride and allowed the participants to learn all the different parts of their bikes and how to change a flat tire.

De-Mystifying Mountain Biking @ The Wheel Mill

Karen Brooks (she/her) was the instructor for this class and, as always, did an awesome job showing participants how to perform new skills on their bikes. Karen is doing her best to check off every square on the “Bike-Related Job” bingo card — shop rat, wordsmith, advocating, consulting, you name it — but by far the most rewarding part of her varied career is teaching. She is certified through BICP and PMBIA to teach mountain bike skills, and through the League of American Bicyclists to teach safe riding on the street. Karen helped to develop Bike PGH’s City Cycling curriculum.

Prepare to Catch Air @ The Wheel Mill

Intro to Gravel Riding

This workshop discussed a different type of riding. Many folks are already commuters/road riders. This provided an inside peek at what it’s like and equipment used to ride on a different type of terrain.
Laura owns and manages SweetWater Bikes, PA’s largest gravel/adventure bike shop. After a long career in IT, Laura and her husband purchased Ambridge Bike Shop in 2016, transforming the shop into a source for all things gravel. Laura is also the race director for the Whiskey Rebellion Gravel 200K, Western PA’s biggest and baddest gravel race. She loves to help women get into the sport of gravel riding.

GROUP RIDE TO COVEN BREWING

Finally, the forum wrapped up with a refreshing group ride in beautiful autumn weather (made possible in part by the generosity of POGOH, who provided free bicycles for guests if they needed one).

VISIT BIKEPGH.ORG/WMNBIKEPGH FOR MORE STUFF IN 2023

Let’s keep this energy going next year! Together, we can learn from and uplift each other to build a more connected and inclusive cycling community.

🚲TAKE UP THE SPACE you deserve
🚲 EMPOWER each other & yourself
🚲WE are ALL the engine that prioritizes INCLUSIVITY, REPRESENTATION, and RESPECT.