Women on the Move!

Team Karl Strauss/SDBC

1. Can you explain how your team came to be?

San Diego Bicycle club has been promoting bicycle racing for more than 60 years. Most people join because they ride for fun or fitness. After a while people become interested in bike racing, but just don’t know how to begin. SDBC has Team Directors to help new riders make the transition to racing and to give more cohesiveness and visibility to those who are already racing. We offer structured training, funding to support racers, and club races for those who just want to test the waters. This year, we have a development and elite women’s squad within SDBC.

2. What is it like to be a part of a cycling team?

Being part of a team is fun. You have people around you who have similar interests and goals. It is fun to be challenged in training and to have people to race with. It is fun to have teammates to craft and execute a plan with for a race. It means riders can enjoy racing and feel appreciated even if they are not to the point of having race winning fitness. Just doing your best and helping someone else win is exhilarating.

3. If a woman is interested in joining your team now, can they?

Women can join anytime. It is, of course, easier to get involved in the fall or early winter to obtain current clothing before we get into the thick of racing season. Also, in the Fall and winter there are more group training opportunities before folks start racing every weekend. New Racers are always welcome to join us! www.sdbc.org

4. What are the future plans/goals of your team?

I came onboard as director of the women’s development team quite recently. I would like to raise the visibility of bike racing among the recreational riders in the club and provide more opportunities for them to connect with racers and hopefully to stoke their interest into the sport of racing bicycles. I want to continue to build a feeling of unity and camaraderie within the development team. The ultimate goal is to breed our own and see some of our cat 3 or 4 riders eventually join the Women’s elite team.

5. Any comments you'd like to make about women's cycling, racing, the
WCC?

Women often have family and job responsibilities that make it really tough to get in time to train or to travel to races on the weekend. We recognize that and just want to encourage women to do whatever suits them. We want to encourage racing, but don’t apply pressure and don’t have “must do” races. We’ll appreciate you for whatever you can contribute to the team. One of the things I like about the WCC is that it is structured to encourage participation. We can’t all be stars, but if you line up and race and help out you’ll be recognized and appreciated.

Adrienne Brian, SDBC Women’s Development Team Director

PARAMOUNT WOMEN'S TEAM
STATE TTT CHAMPIONS OPEN WOMEN! CONGRATS TO YOU LADIES

Can you explain how your team came to be?

Paramount as a racing club has long history, but in the past several years has really stepped up its support of women’s racing by financing a women’s only squad within the larger team. Last year we were specifically a Cat 3/4 women’s developmental team, but as our current members continued to develop and upgrade we morphed into more of an Elite Women’s Team this year. We continue to make every effort to support new riders!

What is it like to be a part of a cycling team?

Racing as part of a dedicated team effort is hands-down the best part about bicycle racing. Every win is a team win and we always support each other. One of the great things about being on a team is that even if you do not have a winning sprint, you can still play a crucial role in the team’s success. Most of all, we have fun together.

If a woman is interested in joining your team now, can they?

YES. Paramount is an open club that anyone can join at any time ( see paramountracing.org). To be a sponsored rider with the associated perks (and added responsibilities) is a little more difficult to add mid-season, but if someone is truly interested than we are always willing to talk and see if we can work out a mutually agreeable arrangement. We have had several riders join recently because they loved the way we race as a team, and even though they are not technically part of our Elite Women’s Squad they have been crucial to our overall success and will have the opportunity to be full members next year, if that is what they want.

What are the future plans/goals of your team?

To continue to learn how to be smart and effective bike racers while maintaining the crucial element of fun. The beauty of bike racing is that there is always more to learn, and since most of us started racing about the same time (1 to 3 yrs experience for most of us), every race is an opportunity to figure out how to be a better team player and optimize our chances for success. We hope to continue to grow as a very strong force on the local racing scene, as well as attend several NRC events each year. Our goal is to be successful in all disciplines: criteriums, road races and stage races.

Any comments you'd like to make about women's cycling, racing, the WCC?

It was so much fun to be part of the inaugural year of the WCC last year and see the amazing growth that has occurred because the WCC’s continued efforts. The bar has been raised in women’s cycling – races are much more challenging this year then last, both because of more aggressive team tactics and more strong women coming out to play. Keep it up!

Heather Rose, Paramount Women's Team Captain