Denver She Devils is the first all-women urban bicycle group in Denver open to cyclists of all skill levels and bicycle types. Whether a woman wants to build her confidence riding in an urban environment, go on a sisterly group ride, or race bikes, all are welcome. Though Denver She Devils work with sponsors to cover travel expenses and entry fees when they travel out of Denver to race, they are not partnered with a business, unlike the Bicycle Village Women’s Group Ride, which specifically caters to intermediate riders and is not specifically urban. They are affiliated with Denver Chain Chase, a monthly race, and The Street Kings Bicycle Congregation (SKBC), a larger bicycle group. Denver She Devils occasionally volunteer as bike valets at events.
Denver She Devils was started by several fun, hilarious women from the racing community who wanted to invite other women along for rides and to share information and resources- rather than simply an organization that organizes group rides, it is more like a community. Arising from SKBC, the group was started when Mia had just gone through a breakup and needed time away from the fellas. Fellow founding members Ashley and Dani had wanted to start an actual club for women.
Their rides quickly became frequent occurrences and, along with other events they put on, function as a supportive environment for women of all skill levels who may be intimidated by sharing the road with cars, the male-dominated world of racing, or anything in between. As Mia puts it, “We just want to let girls know that they can ride, and they can ride hard no matter what kind of bike they have!” Women can do so much more than cheer their racer boyfriends on but many seem convinced that they cannot race. Some of the Denver She Devils are proving how inaccurate that is. Annelise is another member of the core group and is rarely not on wheels. Ashley, who holds a degree in graphic design, maintains the website and designed the snappy logo for the Denver She Devils. Kirsten, who previously functioned more primarily as moral support for the group, recently started racing.
Denver She Devils organize group rides several times a month. Particularly notable is their monthly ride, “The Menstrual Cycle,” which covers 20-40 miles. The first Menstrual Cycle was in May of 2013. Their Sunday rides are shorter, 10-15 miles. In addition, they host Tuesday skill shares at Cheesman Park. Some of them also participate in bike polo. Their upcoming participation in the “Bakes in Bikeland” race in Minneapolis, the largest female and transgender alley cat race in the United States, is a source of excitement, and they would like for this national race to take place in Denver in the future. Alley cat races are urban by definition and originated in the bike messenger community. You can learn more about these cool women on their website, when they ride, and donate to help them cover travel costs here:
http://denvershedevils.weebly.com/team.html
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