By Amy Juodawlkis

CRW's Women's/Nonbinary Rides Program is getting ready to roll into another great season of fostering community and creating an inclusive space for women, nonbinary, and female-identifying cyclists. The program's mission is to invite more riders from these groups onto the road, help them connect with other riders, and serve as an entry point to the co-ed areas of the club. 

Our program's 2024 offerings are detailed below. Interested riders should determine which rides are a good fit for them. For safety, all riders are expected to have a reliable navigation app or device with the route loaded.

• Praline Croissant Social Ride (Friday mornings): This 20-mile led ride goes out year-round, weather permitting, from the Minuteman Bike Terminus in Cambridge (Alewife). The pace is a social 13-16 mph, and many riders stop for coffee afterwards. We regroup occasionally so that riders who maintain a 13 mph average speed will stay connected. Riders at slower speeds are welcome to come try out the ride, with the understanding that they may finish on their own.

• Speedy Croissant Developmental Ride (Tuesday mornings): Also leaving from Alewife, we ride 20-25 miles, early Spring through late Fall, working on paceline and other cycling skills. This is a “drop” ride, meaning we do not wait for riders who become disconnected from the group (sometimes more than one group forms). Pace is 16-18+ mph and requires intermediate group riding experience and fitness.
  

• Themed Rides (weekends, once per month): From May through October, our themed rides blend cycling adventures with fun social events. We vary start ride locations and try to offer a range of “no-drop” pace groups from 10-12 mph through 16+ mph. Highlights include a Season Kick-off ride on May 11, Kimball Farm Ice Cream ride on August 25, Apple Ride on September 21, and the Halloween Spooktacular on October 27 (costumes welcome!). 

The Women's/Nonbinary Program is always seeking more volunteers to assist in coordinating and leading rides. "We welcome and need ride leaders at all speeds. This year we especially would like to identify even more ride leaders who lead at a 10-12 mph pace," said program co-lead Robyn Betts. "Having more leaders at this level will allow us to welcome more riders and ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience. Ride leadership is a great way to build skills, give back to the club, and plays an important role in making the sport more inclusive and welcoming." 

The Women’s/Nonbinary Program is an active, dynamic community geared up for another fantastic season of adventures on two wheels. Watch the club events calendar to register for rides, and contact program co-lead Amy Juodawlkis at AJ@crw.org to get involved as a ride leader/coordinator, or with any questions.