Celebrating Women’s History Month, Pt. 1: Local Cycling Leaders

In honor of Women’s History Month* we want to take some time to celebrate some women in Pittsburgh who have made an impact on our vibrant cycling culture and community. We are kicking off this four-part series with leaders in local cycling organizations who have moved the needle forward for women who bike in Pittsburgh.

*BikePGH recognizes all feminine identifying people as women, and acknowledges that gender is not a binary. For more information on gender identity please take a look at our Gender Matters guide.

Anna-Lena Kempen


(she/her)
Director of Pittsburgh Babes on Bikes
Creator of Frigid Bitch Alleycat Race

  1. What inspired you to get involved with cycling?
    I started riding bikes when I lived in Germany as a kid; my mom got me a road bike so I could commute to school and roll around with my friends. In Pittsburgh, I would ride instead of relying on the busses, which often didn’t run out my way late at night. Then in college I started racing alleycats, and a friend of mine got me into road racing. 

  2. How long have you been cycling?
    My whole life! I learned to ride when I was little and have been riding for fun and to commute since I was in grade school. 
  1. Where is your favorite place to ride in Pittsburgh?
    There are some stretches that I really love – the windy downhill around Schenley park on Circuit drive, coming down to the North Side on Perrysville from Riverview Park, and my favorite: the stretch of Fifth Avenue between Craig St and the Birmingham Bridge where there’s 4 lanes of traffic to zip through and if you time it right and can hold 25mph, you can hit all the green lights.
  1. What advice would you give to new riders or someone interested in getting involved with cycling in Pittsburgh?
    Just find riding buddies. There are so many people who are into cycling in Pittsburgh, and we’re all so aware of each other, that if you can grab a couple people to ride with, you’ll start meeting everyone. Show up at some group rides and see who you gel with. 

Athena Czerwinski


(they/them)
President & Mechanic at Free Ride Bicycle Collective

  1. What inspired you to get involved with cycling?
    The thing that made me dive into cycling and bike mechanics in the past couple of years was overhauling a vintage Fuji road bike. Building and riding bikes has been an empowering experience and has helped me build trust in myself and my abilities as both a cyclist and a mechanic. 

  2. How long have you been cycling?
    I started mountain biking when I was around 6, and have been biking on and off since then. I got back into it when I moved to Pittsburgh, largely due to the great access to a variety of MTB trails in the area.
  1. Where is your favorite place to ride in Pittsburgh?
    My favorite place to mountain bike is North Park. One of my favorite rides in the city is from South Side to the Strip District. 
  1. What advice would you give to new riders or someone interested in getting involved with cycling in Pittsburgh?
    Sign up for an intro mechanics course or an intro cycling/MTB course! There are lots of free options through Free Ride, BikePGH, and more. For women, trans, and nonbinary people: come hang out at Free Ride’s Gender Equality Mechanics night! It’s a good place to learn about the mechanics of bikes and meet other people who are involved in cycling groups you might want to check out. 

Kelsey Ripper


(she/her)
Executive Director at Friends of the Riverfront
Board Member of the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy
Volunteer with Better Streets Lawrenceville
BikePGH Member

  1. What inspired you to get involved with cycling?
    I’ve enjoyed cycling since I was young, but what got me to devote my volunteer time and then eventually my career to it, was the need for more and safer places to ride. By making cycling easier and safer, I want people (including me) to feel comfortable driving less and biking and walking more. Making that choice to not drive even a couple of times a week, can have a big impact on our carbon footprint.  I also appreciate how trails can be a lifeline to a struggling community and I want to bring that opportunity to more places.

  2. How long have you been cycling?
    I started cycling before I can even remember.  My parents like to tell a story about how when I was five years old, I wanted to take my training wheels off, but I had to wait for my dad to get home from work. I wasn’t having that, so I went to the work bench, got the tools I needed, and did it myself. I didn’t want anything holding me back! In my teen years I explored lots of trails in Western PA and then in my 20’s got over my fear of road cycling while living and bike commuting in New York City.

  3. Where is your favorite place to ride in Pittsburgh?
    The Three Rivers Heritage Trail, of course! I bike a lot for transportation so I’m often biking on all types of roads, but when I get on the Trail, I know I can relax and appreciate what’s around me. I don’t need to worry as much about traffic and having to anticipate what everyone around me is going to do.  When I get on the Trail, I get to enjoy nature and the rivers, and see people enjoying themselves which also puts me in a good mood. Since our trails go so many places and are critical to our bike network it means I get to be on them a lot.

  4. What advice would you give to new riders or someone interested in getting involved with cycling in Pittsburgh?
     If you aren’t feeling comfortable cycling on the road, start out on the trails. Then explore a little further off the trail – we have a lot of great local businesses only a few blocks away.  The more you ride, the more comfortable you’ll get on different types of bike infrastructure.  When I first moved back to Pittsburgh I got involved with my local bike and pedestrian advocacy group, Better Streets Lawrenceville.  It was a great introduction to the bike community and very welcoming. 

Monica Garrison


(she/her)
Founder & Executive Director of Black Girls Do Bike
BikePGH Board Member

  1. What inspired you to get involved with cycling?
    Cycling has always been a transformative experience for me, offering freedom, empowerment, and a sense of belonging. My inspiration to get involved with cycling stemmed from a desire to create a supportive community where women of color could enjoy and thrive in the sport.

  2. What inspired you to get involved with cycling?
    My journey with cycling began long before the inception of BGDB. Much of my childhood during summer breaks was spent riding a bike. Since then, I’ve cycled on and off for many years for pleasure and as a commuter. In 2013, cycling came back into my life as a therapeutic solution [for mental and physical wellness.] 

  3. Where is your favorite place to ride in Pittsburgh?
    My favorite place to ride is the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. It’s a scenic pathway that winds along the banks of Pittsburgh’s rivers, with views of the city skyline and serene nature.

  4. What advice would you give to new riders or someone interested in getting involved with cycling in Pittsburgh?
    I would advise them to prioritize safety and explore the city’s diverse bike paths and trails. I’d encourage them to find ways to connect with our many local cycling groups and consider volunteering for Bike PGH events. Most importantly, have fun.

Shequaya “Bailey” Bailey


(she/her)
President of Pittsburgh Major Taylor Cycle Club
Member of The Black Foxes
Member of Pittsburgh Babes on Bikes Cycling Team
BikePGH Board Member

  1. What inspired you to get involved with cycling?
    I started out as a commuter. I met more people and different communities that broadened my horizon.

  2. How long have you been cycling?
    Consistently since 2011 or 2012. Racing since 2014.

  3. Where is your favorite place to ride in Pittsburgh?
    For road cycling, Highland Park, Schenley Park and Riverview Park.

  4. What advice would you give to new riders or someone interested in getting involved with cycling in Pittsburgh?
    Have fun! Use the equipment you have… Learn it well before expensive upgrades.

Meet a few more amazing organization leaders from previous BikePGH spotlights:


Get Involved!

If you are a woman who is curious about getting involved with cycling in Pittsburgh, join us our WMNBikePGH Program events! We have monthly group rides (first of the season is March 10th!), a camping trip, and annual an Summit!

BikePGH’s Women & Non-Binary program was created to break down barriers to bicycling and increase the representation of people who have historically marginalized gender identities. The program is inclusive of 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.

WMNBikePGH aims to connect and empower those who might feel excluded from the male dominant cycling culture with free educational workshops, group rides, and social events in a safe and supportive environment. Together, we can build a more inclusive and equitable community for people who want to ride bikes.

Be sure to check out the next three parts of the series throughout the month of March to meet even more incredible and influential women! 

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