Herne Hill Velodrome is hosting a series of events this week to celebrate and support women in cycling, writes Louisa Woolf…
The iconic venue, built in 1891 and now one of the oldest cycling tracks in the world, will host a jam-packed schedule of events including women’s track and gravel taster sessions, a women’s cycling market, and a meet-up of London’s cycling clubs.
The International Women’s Day takeover will kick off this evening (Thursday, March 6) with a panel discussion and Q&A with a diverse group of women, including Donna McConnell who joined the cycling community after taking part in an Ironman aged 51.
Herne Hill Velodrome’s women’s officer, Megan Barclay, said: “Cycling is one of the most powerful tools for social change.
“It hits all of the social justice markers, like sustainability, active travel, mental and physical health, connecting people, community, it’s such a brilliant tool, and the fact is that over half the world has less access to that.”
Cycling has historically been a male-dominated world, and women are often underrepresented, from the elite levels of competitive racing, all the way through to those of us who cycle for leisure or daily commutes.
Less than a third of cycle trips made in London are made by women, revealed a 2024 report by the London Cycling Campaign. The event is all about getting more women involved.
“There truly is an entry point for any woman, whether you’ve never ridden a bike before, or you want to try track, or try off road or you want to get back to a certain level of fitness.” Barclay added.
“We have entry points at all levels and a real community, I’ve seen friendships built at women’s sessions. And that’s what International Women’s Day is all about, is that you can drop in and chat to people, and take part in these events for free.”
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See the full schedule and buy tickets here.
