Cycling UK: 100 Women in Cycling

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes and 45 seconds

Cycling UK has unveiled its 2024 "100 Women in Cycling" list, an initiative launched in 2017 to increase the visibility of women cyclists and address the gender imbalance in cycling. The annual list celebrates women across four categories: community champion, sporting hero, cycle influencer, and industry mogul.

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This year's honorees include a diverse range of trailblazers, from Alice Kivuva, founder of Africa's first woman-owned cycling apparel brand, to Chella Quint OBE, an award-winning author and founder of the Period Positive movement. The list also features inspiring individuals like 18-year-old CeCe Balfour, a ride leader with learning disabilities and ASD, Ayomide Oluyemi, an advocate for inclusive cycling communities, and Heather Lambert, a founding member of Ride For Their Lives, campaigning on climate crisis and air pollution.

MTB is represented through some inspiring women. Read below (not an exhaustive list):

Katherine Goodey - Community Champion

Inspiring women to conquer Welsh trails

Katherine Goodey has been riding bikes since the late 90s, with a passion for big mountain days. Since 2010, cycling has been at the heart of her life. A fully qualified mountain bike guide and coach, Katherine runs her own MTB business, RideHigh MTB, specialising in coaching women and leading women-specific weekends on the natural trails of North Wales. As a passionate advocate for trail access, she has contributed significantly through TCNW, working to improve opportunities for riders. Katherine’s dedication and enthusiasm inspire others to build confidence and explore the stunning landscapes on two wheels.

Emily Greaves - Community Champion

Trail therapy practitioner, coach and MTB tutor at Comrie Croft Bikes

One of Emily’s proudest moments was becoming the first ever person to qualify as a mountain bike trail therapy practitioner, speaking openly about mental health, and creating positives spaces for people to learn new skills and become confident on bikes. She introduces people to bikepacking, and runs weekly Rise and Grind sunrise ride and coffee meet-ups. She is also an invaluable member of Dirt Divas, working with other coaches across Scotland to make off-road cycling more accessible to women.

“The benefits of riding a bike go beyond the sum of its parts, its power is something very special. I love sharing this power with others.”

Georgia Leslie

MTB category lead at Specialized

Growing up in a cycling family and getting her first job in a cycling shop at 14 years old, Georgia was destined to work with bikes. As mountain bike PR specialist for Specialized, she works in an almost exclusively male mountain biking community, influencing the biggest brand in the world on design and products. She creates industry-leading events, press camps and marketing campaigns. She has also worked with organisations like the National Trust to improve access for mountain bikers.

“I honestly don’t know where I would be without my bike right now, it feels like my safe space (albeit my hospital history wouldn’t say the same!)”

Shawnee Finlayson - Cycle Influencer

Founder of Unbound Collective

Shawnee Finlayson started riding after impulsively buying a mountain bike, and as soon as her wheels hit the trails, she was hooked! She often rode alone or with her male friends, but noticed a lack of women to ride with.

To create a space for women and girls in mountain biking, Shawnee started Shred Like a Girl, now Unbound Collective. Within the brand’s first year, she moved from Australia to the UK for mountain biking. Since moving to the UK, Shawnee has held many women’s social rides, has co-founded a women’s mountain bike festival, Unbound Fest, and sponsors up-and-coming UK-based riders. It’s safe to say, mountain biking has changed Shawnee’s life for the better!

Michelle Tonge - Community Champion

Founder & ride leader for Horwich Ride Social

Michelle got hooked on cycling after attending a Skyride in Manchester in 2011. Since then, she’s achieved multiple Ride Leader qualifications—including Level 1, 2, and Mountain Bike—and has also earned a Level 1 coaching qualification to further support her community.

In 2018, Michelle founded Horwich Ride Social, a group that welcomes cyclists of all abilities, from beginners to experienced riders. The group has developed highly successful programmes like ‘Sofa to Saddle’ for those returning to cycling and ‘Sofa to Sportive,’ which inspires participants to tackle ambitious challenges. Another favourite is ‘Dirty Divas,’ a six-week mountain biking series designed to introduce women to off-road cycling in an inclusive and supportive environment.

Michelle was nominated for her enthusiasm and dedication to helping people of all abilities get back on their bikes.

“My mantra in the group is ‘don’t say no until you’ve had a go!’”

Kay Emmerson - Community Champion

Pedalling progress for women in mountain biking

Kay Emmerson is the founder of Devon MTB Ladies, a vibrant Facebook-based community for female mountain bikers created during lockdown. With a focus on support and inclusivity, the group has become a lifeline for countless women, fostering friendships, encouraging skill development and inspiring adventures ranging from bikepacking to downhill racing. Kay’s unwavering dedication has united women across Devon, helping them thrive and discover the joy of mountain biking together.

Beckie Hamilton - Community Champion

Swinley Bike Hub ambassador

Beckie Hamilton has been passionate about cycling for as long as she can remember.

Alongside her demanding job as a firefighter, she dedicates countless hours to sharing her love of cycling with others. Through her club, Newbury Velo, Beckie leads off-road rides and coaches mountain biking and cyclocross for both adults and children.

She’s also a tandem pilot, enabling partially sighted young people from Berkshire Vision to experience the joy of cycling. An ambassador at Swinley Bike Hub, Beckie inspires women of all abilities to explore the trails at Swinley Forest. To celebrate her 50th birthday, she took on 50 cycling challenges for the ‘Ride for Charlie’ charity, including riding a penny farthing, tackling Snowdon and rallying 50 women for a group ride.

Beckie also delivered prescriptions by bike to housebound people during the pandemic. Whether she’s bikepacking, racing enduros or commuting, Beckie is a firm believer in the mental health benefits of cycling, which she shares with her infectious enthusiasm and warm personality.

“Resilience, fitness, and feel-good vibes all come from cycling, and that’s the message I try to share.”

Sarah Mitchell, Cycling UK's chief executive, emphasized the transformative power of cycling and the charity's ongoing efforts to make it more inclusive. The initiative builds on Cycling UK's long history of supporting women in cycling, dating back to 1880 when women were first admitted to the organization.

By highlighting these remarkable women, Cycling UK aims to inspire the next generation of riders and encourage more women to make cycling a part of their everyday lives. The full list of 100 Women in Cycling for 2024 is available on Cycling UK's website, showcasing the breadth of women's contributions to the cycling world.

Read: 224 times Published: 14/12/2024

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