Episode 2:1: Adventure mums, accessible trails, women led spaces in cycling & more: Cotic panel discussion
If you’re a mum, or you’re pregnant, and you’re also a keen cyclist, it can be incredibly hard to not only find advice about cycling with a bump or with young children, but also to see any examples of women doing this in the cycling media. It’s rarely written about, it’s not photographed, and in fact it’s only fairly recently that more brands and organisations have started to provide support, advice and even maternity leave for athletes.
‘Kelly’ is a film that addresses this, and more. Following the story of Cotic ambassador and Komoot Community Manager Kelly-Jayne Collinge, it follows her journey into cycling, how her sponsors and supporters reacted when she revealed her pregnancy (spoiler: not all were supportive) and how she’s redefined adventure with her young son and a group of like-minded adventurous women.
Spindrift was invited to come along to the premier of the film ‘Kell’, and host a panel discussion after the event with Kelly-Jayne Collinge and several other amazing women, discussing cycling, motherhood, pregnancy, accessible trails, representation of women in cycling, what the bike industry is doing to support women and diversify how cycling is portrayed - and what it could do better. And a whole lot more besides.
Joining Aoife and Kell on stage were Dr Fiona Spotswood, an academic researching women’s perceptions of mountain biking and who has been a previous Spindrift guest, plus:
Dr Phoebe Sneddon, medical doctor, cyclocross racer and women’s ride group organiser
Bron Black, cyclist and one half of the UK’s only all-female hovercraft racing team
Vicky Balfour, mindful mechanic, writer for MBUK Magazine, and disability and access advocate
Cotic is an independent British bicycle brand based in the Peak District, UK, who make modern steel mountain and gravel bikes.
Watch ‘Kelly’ and find out more about the film:
Follow the speakers:
Dr Phoebe Sneddon on Instagram
Full transcript pending
This episode was presented by Aoife Glass. Sound production and editing by Francesca Turauskis and Takudzwa Mudiwa from the Tremula Network.