Once again, She Pedals Scotland encouraged women and girls of all ages and abilities to take part in a nationwide celebration of cycling. Whether it was a gentle ride through a local park, a social club outing, a race, or an epic endurance challenge, it was fantastic to see so many women and girls taking part and experiencing the joy of cycling.
The weather provided a striking contrast to last year’s event, with gorgeous sunshine greeting riders across the country. The warm conditions created the perfect backdrop for a packed weekend of activity much of which were shared through She Pedals Scotland’s social media channels.
The weekend got underway on Friday with a ride organised by Get On A Bike. Members of a chronic pain group took part in a special She Pedals Scotland ride, supported by volunteers Diane and Susan. The session helped individuals who experience balance challenges to enjoy cycling in a safe and supportive environment, highlighting the inclusiveness of cycling.
Across Scotland, cycling clubs and community groups organised rides and activities that brought women together. Deeside Thistle and Moray Firth Cycling Club shared colourful photos of riders enjoying the sunshine, while Breeze Champions once again played a vital role in helping women gain confidence and get involved.
The celebrations also reached some of Scotland’s more remote communities. Orkney enjoyed a particularly busy weekend, with three Breeze rides taking place, including one that even incorporated a ferry journey.
Young riders were keen to get involved too with girls at the Ecosse Northboats Youth session taking on a half-mile circuit challenge to see how many laps they could complete in 45 minutes. Meanwhile, Deeside Thistle’s Snow Roads Femmes embraced a different kind of challenge, completing an impressive 200km ride through some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery.
The celebrations continued on Sunday with more rides, social gatherings and, of course, plenty of cake. Kinross Cycling Club hosted a welcoming event at Fife Cycle Park, bringing together women aged 14 to 70 for a relaxed and friendly session in the sunshine. As ever, home baking proved the perfect reward after a day spent on two wheels.
For some participants, the weekend became an unforgettable personal achievement. Diane Maciver and Linda Arnott set off late on Saturday evening for an overnight adventure from Elgin, watching the sunset in Lossiemouth before cycling through the night to witness sunrise over Nigg Hill. The ride marked Linda’s first century ride and was just one of many inspiring stories shared throughout the weekend.
A huge thank you goes to everyone who took part in this year’s She Pedals Scotland, and to the She Pedals Scotland Ambassadors, volunteers, ride leaders and organisers whose enthusiasm and hard work made the weekend possible.
At the time of writing, we’ve received over 700 registrations, surpassing last year’s registrations. The photos, stories and smiles shared throughout the weekend perfectly captured why She Pedals Scotland matters. By creating opportunities for women and girls to ride together, the initiative helps more people discover the joy of cycling.
If you took part in She Pedals Scotland, we’d love to hear about your experience. Please take a few minutes to complete our feedback form and tell us how your weekend went.