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Thank you for sharing your Saturday and the road with us this past weekend. We loved seeing your smiles as you fearlessly joined us for ONE MORE CLIMB ! The Hive Ride was born out of our own personal desires for such an event. Therefore, we take feedback very seriously. Make your voice make an impact and please fill out our post event survey.   Remember, this event wouldn’t be possible without our group leaders. Chiara Donauer  @riderawr Sara Bukies  @gravelleclub Riccarda Mazzotta  @riccarda_mazzotta Janine Marty  @janine.marty Lillie Rumpf @cyclingheidi  Our Generous Partners help bring this event to the next level. We have to give a special shout out to Canyon who believes in our mission at riderawr and was committed to fueling one more climb/making this day epic with coffee, the mechanic workshops, t-shirts and the photos from Fiona. Canyon  PeakPunk ( noblabla 25% off) Grupetto Muc-Off   Komoot  ( SAA38H9650N 30 days free) React  DirtySox (SOX4FRIENDS 20% off) Period Vivikola Fizik Sweet Protection Tranzbag Swijin Hairstrong PS Canyon  offers great discounts on World Bike Day starting on Monday (19 May) keep your eyes peeled for some juicy deals on the website! PPS T-Shirts , Pee-friendly bibs  and Jerseys are back in stock in our online shop! PPPS If you loved the coffee as much as we did, check out the Vertical Coffee Shop ! See you at our next social ride on  strava or next year at Hive Ride 2026!

The forecast looks great, the routes are stunning, the meals are planned -- we are ready! Getting to The Hive Day Plan The Routes  The Workshops Fuel  What to Pack The Goodies Getting to The Hive  The “hive” location for the Hive Ride is Berufsbildungszentrum Natur und Ernährung Schüpfheim Chlosterbüel 28, 6170 Schüpfheim Here you will check-in in the morning, leave any bags you might have, grab a coffee by Vertical Coffee Roasters, fill up your bidon with PeakPunk, do the workshops, eat lunch, and of course pick up your things again at the end of the day. Washrooms are on-site. We have access to both indoor and outdoor eating depending on the weather.  Arrival by train:  From Luzern – direct train to Schüpfheim, no disruptions From Bern – Train and Bus , the trainline is under construction Despite our efforts it was not possible to make a reservation for the bus between Langnau and Schüpfheim for those who arrive from Bern! If you can, please put your bike in a tranzbag. If you have some concerns please write Sara who will also be traveling from Bern and can support coordination efforts +41 76 442 83 16 Arrival by car:  There is plenty of free parking at the Hive Arrival by bike: Also very do-able with well marked bike paths and good legs, let us know if you would like some support finding the route! Day Plan 08:15 - 09:15 Check in and pick up your goody bag Coffee by Vertical Coffee Roasters Bag Drop Bathroom access Chance to fill up your bottles with PeakPunk  09:15 - 09:30 Introduction to your coaches  Dividing into groups 09:30- 12:30 Ride #1 Heart of Entlebuch 12:30-13:30 Vegan curry  and rice ViviKola Coffee by Vertical Coffee Prizes! 13:30-14:10 Your choice of workshop 14:20-16:30 Ride #2 One More Climb 14:20-16:30 Extended Workshops  (Participate in 2 additional workshops– roughly 1hr each. For example, if you do the bike fitting workshop after lunch, you will do skills and mechanic in the extended session.)  16:30-17:30  Check Out Pick up your things and goody bags, hugs goodbye Note: If you have a strict timeline in the evening please let your coach know. Some of the coaches might add an extra climb if the participants are feeling up for it and that could slightly delay the timeline.  The Routes Your coaches will be leading you through the routes so you don’t need to worry about getting lost, however feel free to download the gpx files via the Komoot link! Please download routes according to what you selected in registration (shorter, longer, gravel) BLUE routes are the slightly shorter rides  RED routes are the slightly longer rides  GRAVEL routes are the gravel rides ;)  https://www.komoot.com/user/riderawr The Workshops Everyone will do a short 40 minute workshop after lunch (either Komoot, Bike Fitting, Bike Skills, Mechanic demonstration). Then, those who signed up for the extended workshops will be divided into groups and join the sessions you haven't done after lunch (2 x circa 1 hr). Note: Komoot workshop is only available after lunch To get the most out of your skills session with Lil, fill out her extended questionnaire here . Fuel PeakPunk: Each rider will receive a bar, gel and bottle from PeakPunk and will have a chance to fill it up with electrolyte powder before the rides! If you have unique preferences or dietary restrictions, please make sure to have your bases covered.  Lunch:  Vegan curry  and rice ViviKola  Coffee by Vertical Coffee Roasters  Bonus: We will also have some bananas, dates and potatoes that you can snack on in the morning and take with you. What to Pack Helmet  Bike and cycling shoes  Rain jacket , leg or arm warmers Water bottle Bike lights  Personal preference of snacks for rides (each participant gets a peakbar and peakpunk electrolyte drink +bottle) Spare tube and co2 cartridge or pump – our coaches are happy to help but make sure your bases are covered Sunscreen Sunglasses Extra dry layers to change into (depending on the weather) Warmer jacket to wear during lunch (depending on the weather) Change of clothes for travel (personal preference) The Goodies Everyone will be going home with a Ride Rawr goody bag including: Event T-shirt from our partner Canyon Latest Gruppetto print PeakPunk bottle, gel and bar Products from muc-off Products from period.ch Neck warmer from Komoot Fun stickers! Additionally, you’ll have a chance to win some bigger prizes including: Glasses from react  Helmet from  SweetProtection Sox from Dirtysox  Bike bag from tranzbag  Saddles from fizik Insulated bottles from Camelbak  Goodies from Vertical Coffee Roasters Swag from riderawr! For those of you interested we will also have some of our riderawr products for sale!

Schüpfheim, Region Entlebuch, Switzerland The Hive Ride is a Swiss cycling event designed, organized and led by women, guaranteed to inspire you to tackle more adventures on your bike, show you new roads and new skills and, introduce you to some new friends. The Hive Ride SOLD OUT in two weeks! You can secure a ticket on the waitlist here We are excited to be hosting our fourth ever women's cycling event in Schüpfheim in the region of Entlebuch! We chose this underrated location because it is an absolute hidden gem; many ride through the region to access the better known Glaubenberg, Glaubenbielen and Schallenberg passes but rarely detour to explore the small country-side roads and spectacular views. Schüpfheim is accessible by public transportation from various cities and parking is available on site. 🚌 Please note : the train line from Langnau to Schüpfheim will be under construction at the time of the ride and if you are traveling through Langnau from Western Switzerland, your connection will be made by bus -- We will make a group reservation with BLS to ensure you and your bike have a spot, please indicate that you would like us to reserve a place for you --of course you're free to ride to Schüpfheim instead 😝. There are no disruptions when connecting from Lucerne. In the morning, after enjoying a coffee from our favourite women led coffee roasters - Vertical Coffee Roasters and meeting your coaches- you'll join the road or gravel ride of your preferred pace (indicated during registration). After lunch, you will participate in your choice of short workshop and have the option of doing a second ride OR continuing to refine your knowledge by taking part in the remainder of the workshops. In other words, for the afternoon you can chose between one workshop and a ride OR all four workshops! In addition to exploring some new roads and learning some new skills here's what you can expect from the Hive Ride: Schedule 📝 Check-in 8:30 - 9:15 Sign in, grab a coffee, pick up a goodie bag, change, pee, fill up your bottles, and leave your bag with us. 🚴 9:30 - 12:30 Ride 1 = 3 hours: relaxed pace 40km/800hm OR dynamic pace 48km/1000+hm OR gravel 35km/800hm 🥗 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch Break Vegan lunch & amazing prizes from our sponsors! 🎓 13:30 - 14:15 Your choice of workshop 🚴 14:30 - 16:00 Ride 2= 2.5 hours: 25km OR 35km OR gravel 22km 🤗 Hugs Goodbye! Memories & great photos to last a lifetime! which group to join: You have the choice between 3 routes, all will be ridden in 3 hours time: gravel, slightly smaller loop and a slightly longer one with more climbing. However, to account for the diversity in speeds in the road bike groups we will have 2-sub speeds/abilities in each which we will divide up at the event itself. Because the routes are quite hilly, we found it hard to determine what the average kmph would be for each group -- the slow climbs and the fast descents tend to skew what the actual average pace feels like. The idea is that the riders who are newer to riding in groups or don't feel like "speedsters" join the shorter group and the more experienced riders or those who love to hammer a bit more on the pedals join the longer one. Basically, in order to chose a route during the registration process, instead of average kmph pace, you should ask yourself: How long would I normally need to ride either 40km and around 750hm or 50km and over 1000m elevation. Of course, if after the first ride you feel like you could have gone faster or you would have preferred a more relaxed tempo, it's no problem to change for the afternoon. And, regardless of where you are placed, you will definitely not get left behind :) Workshop Choices 🔹 Bike handling skills  with Lillie 🔹 Bike fitting  with Beate 🔹 Komoot route drawing  with Sara 🔹 Mechanic skills   OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF: 💡 This event is intended for women who have some experience cycling and would like to improve their skills, connect with other women, explore new roads, and win prizes. Previous experience riding in a group is NOT required! 💡 After lunch, all riders will participate in a workshop. After that, you can choose to do more workshops OR a second ride . 💡 GPX files  with route and final details will be sent out one week before the event. The kilometers indicated in the registration represent the upper limit per group rather than exact kilometers. 💡 All rides are NO-DROP ! However, riders are responsible for their own safety and must follow traffic laws. Coaches and group leaders retain all rights to make final decisions on about the routes based on their expertise and group dynamic (for example shortening the route). 💡 Goodie bags for everyone!  Plus, all participants will be entered to win BIG prizes from REACT, Muc-Off, DirtySox, Transbag, Period. fizik and more! 💡 The Hive is a short ride from the train station with a seamless connection from Lucerne and Wohlhusen or a replacement bus connection from Bern (RSVP). Otherwise, parking is available on site for your convenience. 🎟 Tickets are limited & non-refundable  because we need to organize coaches and food based on participant numbers. However, if you can’t make it, you may transfer your ticket  to someone else—just let us know so we can update the name. And if you have to cancel, please inform us so we can offer your spot to someone else or prepare one less lunch portion. 😉 If you have to give up your ticket and can't find an alternative, let us know and we will be happy to send you a goody bag. Goodies and Prizes by our generous friends at: Camelbak Canyon DirtySox Gruppetto Hairstrong Muc-Off PeakPunk React Sweet Protection Swijin Tranzbag ViviKola Still unsure? Here's what last years participants said: It was a great experience and incredibly well organized. The bike routes in particular were great chosen so that you can have fun in a group but also decide for yourself at what pace you want to ride. The topics were chosen very appropriately and there was something for everyone. It was also great that you could test the Canyon bikes with the best advice! Many thanks for the offer and the great effort! it is not self-evident! Thanks!!! Keep going! Big compliment! I enjoyed a perfect day on the bike and felt very well taken in even though I had no experience in riding in groups. Thanks a lot! It was my first event like this and my first time riding in a group. And it was perfect for that. I felt really happy afterwards and was so nice to meet and connect with women who love to cycle. Thanks for organizing this event and giving it your all! I'll definitely sign up for the next event :) Thanks so much for organizing this wonderful event!! Certainly was one of the top highlights of my exchange semester in Luzern :) Thank you so much for doing this! You have really exceeded all expectations 🚴💕 Read more about: Hive Ride Sarnen 2024 Hive Ride Bern 2023 Hive Ride Stans 2022

Tomorrow on March 8th we officially kick-off a season full of group rides, adventures, education and good times with our celebration ride on Intl' Women's Day. Chiara has spent all evening baking cakes, sun is in the forecast and we can't wait. Next up, is the Hive Ride - this event SOLD OUT in just two weeks, but you can try your luck and get a waiting list "ticket" here. After that we will be at Cycle Week for a post-work spin and sip! Registration and details here . Then, we are so excited that the Tour de Suisse Women's is coming to our backyard! We will ride the route on Stage 3 - Saturday in Küssnacht and cheer the girls on as they give it their all. Join the ride here. We are hoping to organize some cool gravel rides but the details aren't ironed out yet so stay tuned via our website or socials. Lastly, we will have a group riding together at the Silver Tour of the Alpenbrevet. Tickets are sold out (technically) but we will be giving away two tickets on our social media channel in May! We also organize rides spontaneously and post them on strava so join our group . AND if you're in the Lucerne region, we have a whatsapp group where people are free to write join, connect, exchange, whatever! So get in touch.

Warmer temps are on their way, so let's talk about how we are going to make sure we stay well-hydrated this cycling season. In this post we answer Why our hydration needs as women are unique and how much fluid we need on our rides. Why Do You Need Fluids? Fluids regulate your body temperature, transport nutrients and oxygen, and enable cellular reactions to occur. When you sweat, you lose water. If you don’t replace it, your heart has to work harder, your core temperature rises, and your power output drops. That’s why it’s essential to stay ahead of dehydration—not just by drinking water but by replenishing electrolytes, too. Women’s Hydration Needs Are Different The research is clear: women have unique hydration needs  due to lower total body water, different sweat rates, and hormonal fluctuations. Women sweat less  than men but experience heat strain sooner . Core temperature rises twice as fast  in women during exercise. Hydration needs fluctuate across the menstrual cycle , with higher core body temperatures and a blunted thirst response in the luteal phase. A recent mini-review in the Journal of Applied Physiology  confirmed that women are more susceptible to cardiovascular and heat-related stress at the same level of dehydration. Despite this, most hydration research has been conducted on men. This highlights the need for sex-specific hydration strategies . Should You Drink Water, Electrolytes, or Both? For lower-intensity rides under 90 minutes , water with a small amount of added sodium will suffice—about 250 mg of sodium and 4 g of carbohydrates per 500 ml of water  (try adding a pinch of salt and 1 tsp of maple syrup ). For higher-intensity or longer sessions , plain water isn’t enough. A well-balanced electrolyte drink containing sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, with a 1.5-4% carbohydrate solution  (glucose and sucrose) will optimize hydration and absorption. PeakPunk is our Hive Ride partner and provides us with 100% natural ingredient electrolyte with a mix of both carbs and the important minerals (sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium) and a total of 345mg sodium per serving. On long and sweaty days in the saddle where 345mg isn't enough, some of us like to compliment this with some salt-tabs because they're easy to pace out throughout the day. Helena uses these, but be sure to consult with your coach or a medical professional about the right amount for you before going too salt-crazy. How Much Fluid Do You Need? Hydration needs vary based on factors like fitness, environment, training load, and sex differences. A general guideline: In cooler temperatures (below 24°C) : 4 ml per kg of body weight per hour  (for a 63.5 kg cyclist, that’s 250 ml per hour ). In hotter temperatures (above 27°C) : 5.4 ml per kg of body weight per hour  (for a 63.5 kg cyclist, that’s 350 ml per hour ). Before, During, and After Training Before Training : If your urine is dark or you’re feeling thirsty, drink a low-carbohydrate fluid  in the 90 minutes before your ride. In hot conditions, consider a sodium preload  (e.g., miso soup or electrolyte solutions like our Hive Ride partner PeakPunk). During Training : Don’t rely solely on thirst cues—your body’s thirst mechanism becomes muted during exercise. Sip fluids early and often, adjusting intake based on temperature, intensity, and duration. After Training : Rehydrate slowly over 2-3 hours . Avoid chugging large amounts at once, as this can trigger excess urination. Replenish with a protein drink, salted fruit (like watermelon), or an electrolyte beverage . Drink Up to Power Up To maintain hydration and performance , follow these general guidelines: Drink according to your needs : Hydration should be individualized, not one-size-fits-all. Prehydrate strategically : If you’re racing in hot conditions, drink sodium-rich fluids the night before . Optimize your electrolyte intake : Avoid excessive water intake, which can lead to hyponatremia  (low sodium levels, more common in women). By staying on top of your hydration, you’ll be able to ride stronger, longer, and smarter this season. So grab your bottles, mix up a functional hydration drink, and get ready to make the most of the sunny days ahead! Hydration is power—so drink up and ride on! More on hydration with our fav female physiology guru Stacy Sims

Lucerne, Nidwalden and Obwalden group ride Recap You can have your cake, and eat it too! Riding in a group of almost 30 women of varying levels of experience isn't "fast" by any traditional means. There's a lot of stop and go, there's waiting after a set of lights because half of the group didn't make it through, there's stopping for selfies... but it turns out that when you're paving new ways of what it means to ride as women, traditional ideas of what makes a ride successful don't really matter.  Our ride on Intl' Women's Day this past Saturday was EPIC in our favourite ways; mother nature provided perfect weather, the route led us through quiet country roads, the riders engaged in great conversation, we had strong leadership at the front of the group, new friendships at the back, we enjoyed epic views and of course, we ate CAKE too!  Now, every rider will find their time and place to challenge their pace (and the Hive Ride on May 10th provides just that) but on a ride that celebrates solidarity and womanhood, we are so proud to have had inclusivity and our values at the core of the ride.  Strangers shouted at us from the side of the road "allez les femmes!" Little girls on their kick-bikes with their moms waved at us as we rolled by like a herd of wild stallions, pony tails waving in the breeze... these were the moments where I felt tears welling up in my eyes and I felt a deep sense of pride for our shared womanhood. These are the moments that knew: this is what it's all about!  Every single one of us are unique (and you are too) but our social ride on Saturday was a celebration -with cake- of our shared identity and, as two drivers sprayed us angrily with their windshield wiper fluid, it was also a recognition of the long road that is still ahead of us.  This group ride was a huge success, but it was four years in the making and a reminder that there are decades to come. So, who else is inspired and ready to saddle up?  Disclaimer: All of our events at @riderawr are organized as non-profit formats. In fact, this Saturday dozens of self-governed social groups like ours hosted rides all over Switzerland without any financial incentives. Cycling IS female, and it's impact is driven and upheld by volunteer work of the passionate women in it's community.

If you're like me, you've found yourself looking for a helmet with the signature yellow MIPS sticker. You know it's become industry standard for safety but beyond that you're not really sure what MIPS does, how to recognize it in your helmet and don't understand how it should improve helmet safety. After a few heated discussions with friends trying to pin-point where the MIPS was in our respective helmets, I decided to reach out to MIPS personally and get to the bottom of things. Check out my interview with Marcus from MIPS in the youtube video!

In preparation for our Velos, Vulvas and Vaginas event, Dr. Giulia and I sat down to dive deep into the topic of female sexual health and cycling. Listen on spotify here I'll be honest, there were moments during this chat that I felt a little dumb... or naive.. things that I NEVER thought of before -- for example it's crazy to think that it took me until my 33rd birthday to learn to NOT wash my vulva with soap! This recording was truly a discussion where we got to explore our curiosity, consider why things are the way they are (taboos and cultural norms, like shaving our pubic region for example) and I'm so grateful for the safe space and the really informative discussion we had. Chatting with Dr. Giulia changed my perspective on my vulvular and vaginal health and also, importantly, what sex can be and how it can be compatible with cycling rather than a pressure or a pain. Key points of discussion: the pudendal nerve -- numbness or "electrical" type pain as a redflag the importance of a good saddle and a good fitting blood profusion and the pelvic floor friction and bartholin gland inflammation shaving, chammy cream and soaps sex hormones after cycling redefining sexual pleasure after cycling getting to know our bodies better, evolving and connecting to our our sexual experience pain during cycling or sex is not okay communicating with our partners, listening to our bodies

(PSSST, KEY TAKE-AWAYS AS PDF'S IN DE AND EN BELOW) 30 women (road cyclists, MTB shredders) of all ages joined our fantastic event on November 30th at KaffeeKranz in Lucerne. In addition to some great local drinks, we had delicious snacks: veggies, apero platzli with cheese and olives, popcorn, homemade squash soup and tarte flambee --> massive thank you to Jeannine  who made this all possible! The session started with a little anatomy lesson where Dr. Giulia based around a few different vulva models and also some cool cards of photos of different vulvas for everyone to pass around. Then we started the panel discussion with Dr. Giulia where we covered all topics from the pudendal nerve and numbness, blood profusion and sensitivity, chaffing and friction and then dove a little deeper into how to take pleasure in both our sexual health AND cycling (which sometimes seem to work in opposition with each other). Then, the participants had a chance to write down or raise their hands for questions and Dr. Giulia brought the answers. A few hot topics were: shaving (or rather not) before cycling to prevent in-grown hairs, avoiding using soaps and chammy creams around the vulva and managing soreness. Afterwards, the participants had a chance to measure their sitbones with a retool sensor thanks to bike-fitting pro Livio Waldispuehl , check out some saddles from fizik , selle italia  and specialized and then finally we gave away some prizes and announced the save the date for our next event:  the Hive Ride 2025 . Last but not least, every participant went home with a little handout with some ideas for homework and we would like to share them with you too! This amazing event wouldn't have been possible without the generosity of Dr. Giulia - thank you thank you thank you! Special shout out to Livio, the saddle providers, Patrick and Judith from KaffeeKranz, Jeannine and Naedu! Hope to see you all at the next one.

Do you want to get that "epic" feeling of riding a renown Swiss pass but avoid the people and all the traffic? Yesterday (Nov 2nd), Jill and I set off on our road bikes to search for some sun and explore some lesser known parts of the Klausen pass area. We took the train from Lucerne to Altdorf and started the journey there. Our goal was to get out into the sun, away from the November fog, as early as possible. We rode the main pass road up to Spiringen and exited onto some small (and steep) farm roads. Although steep, very steep, they were still rideable and at this time of the year, these roads were much more in the sun compared to the shady valley below so it was well worth it. It felt like 17 degrees up there! At 1313m elevation we crossed over the mountain to Fadental and started a nice descent back onto the main road and down to Unterschaechen. From there we took a sharp left, onto the beautiful deadend road into Brunnital. After around 4km of ascending on this majestic deep valley road we ended up at the end of the valley surrounded by a stunning amphitheatre of mountain walls. We decided to continue on the gravel road which wrapped along the east side of the valley in hopes of finding more sun and an alpine restaurant. The gravel was compact and easy to ride on the road bikes with just one challenging steep stretch of road the last 200m before Alpstubli Trogenalp. Sadly, everything was closed up there so we couldn't buy any fresh sodas or sweets but luckily we packed potatoes and sandwiches and snacks! There was a beautiful bench to sit on and the sun was so hot we could dry out our sweat drenched gear before started the chilly descent. We were super glad to have packed puffy jackets, gloves, neck warmers and extra layers as we started the descent into the fog. At the end of the gravel road I was, I think, going to fast over some cow gutters and got a flat tire... and then changed the tire with Jills help, looked for a stone, couldn't find anything, put a new tube in -- only to get a flat 2 km later again. Jill continued the same way back that we came and I called my boyfriend who was in the area for help. Driving back in the car in the fog felt surreal.... like the day spent in the sun surrounded by these impressive mountains was just a dream. Below is the route Jill proposed: I recommend you adapt as necessary for your legs or lungs or flat tires <3

I had the great pleasure of visiting the Elastic Interface headquarters to chat about the history of the cycling pad, where their company fits into the mix and what kind of women specific solutions they have developed and why. Head of marketing Irene sats down with me for an interview and I could ask her all my burning questions like: what is the origin of the pad and why is it called a chammy/chamois/shammy, how many units do they produce, what are some trends in womens cycling and what are their dreams for the future of cycling pads? Irene explains the core-three women specific cycling pad models which they have developed based on user feedback and research. She goes on to show me the various constructions of the WP1, WP2 and WP3 models. I learn that the WP1 is the top seller currently and offer the standard protection. It targets those women who feel the need for a more substantial and continuous support throughout the perineal area. The pelvic tract area is developed to support the rotation of the pelvic bones while pedaling, and paddings are skillfully placed according to anthropometrical parameters. The pad we use in our shorts is the WP2 road performance pad which has a pressure relief zone by using lower density foams in the perineal area, while guaranteeing the same support and protection of always throughout the rest of the pad. Finally, the WP3 is a construction intended for those women who are extremely sensitive to compression. Additional relief is delivered by using thinner and lower density foams in the genital area, minimizing pressure. In this solution, the ischiatic padding is raised and the perineal area features a medium-density padding only. The pelvic tract area is developed to support the rotation of the pelvic bones while pedaling, and paddings are skillfully placed according to anthropometrical parameters. I will be testing this pad in the next weeks to see if it's something we want to integrate into our shorts and tights! Irene also explains the relevance of the type of riding you are doing (MTB has different pelvic tilt compared to road cycling for example) and the relevance of personal preference for density of padding and duration of riding. Overall, I learned A LOT and had a lot of fun with Irene and Martina, looking forward to seeing how the future of women's comfort evolves!

I was on the phone with one of the organizers of the 2024 Tour de Suisse Women's and I said "I know it's kinda crazy, but do you think I could come and do some behind the scenes coverage during the women's race?!"... He said "umm let me get back to you" and we ended the call. Fast forward to June 15th and I found myself in a rainy Villars-sur-Ollon at the start line with a media badge around my neck, a camera and microphone in my hand-- feeling some adrenaline mix of nervous-excitement and asking myself "what the heck am I doing here?" My goal in going behind the scenes of the racing was to create a bridge between the world of professional cycling and our women's cycling community made up of a beautiful mix of cyclists, from beginners, to explorers, to veterans. I wanted to make pro-cycling relatable but seeing these women heading to the riders check-in, kitted out in their aero gear, team radios taped to their ears and covered in sponsors I suddenly wasn't sure how I would make that happen... So I started small, I headed into the mixed zone and made eye contact with girls as they came through. I spoke with anyone who would stop for an interview. I got rejected a bunch but after the first few chats, I felt a wave of beautiful relief that turned into a wave of emotion over the next four days of racing.... I'm not exaggerating when I say I cried multiple times during those days; I often had to step away for a few breathers after speaking with my heroes, or should I say sheroes, of women's cycling. The adrenaline of it all may have been responsible and I was right in the emotional peak of my menstrual rollercoaster, I mean-- cycle but when I look back I know exactly what did it to me... It was the realization that even though these women are faster than the rest of us, incredibly talented and brave they are just like us! It sounds cliche but I watched these girls dance and sing their favourite songs, be silly, hug their friends and family and laugh and cry...I saw that they're strong but they suffer, they struggle in the heat and like us, their legs hurt when it's steep! That's why, without a doubt, my favourite part of this 4-day journey into women's professional cycling was to see the fiercely human side of this sport. To see women SO HAPPY to be there racing, rain or shine (and this was in stark contrast to the men's racing which seemed much more routine like "I'm just here to do my job"). To see women having FUN together, to see them supporting each other and looking up to each other was so inspiring. Here are some of my fav interviews Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig talks about emotions and how to enjoy climbing ( was literally shaking so aggressively so please excuse the trembling footage) Here is my interview with Demi Vollering , she was so poised during the entire race, it was so impressive Kristen Faulkner on cyling in the heat, hydration, fuelling and the menstrual cycle Pro cyclist Matilda Raynolds on carbs as a secret weapon and tracking our menstrual cycles Simply put, watching these racers, speaking with them and feeling their absolutely electric energy made me so proud to be a woman. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in how far I've come with riderawr, proud of myself for not being afraid to pick up the phone and ask for this opportunity, proud to call producers and say - we want to make pee-friendly bib shorts, proud to talk to sponsors and say "please support us"... the list goes on... It feels so good to be a part of this momentum. Won't you join me?!