Ticket to ride

Fri July 10 2009
Posted Jul 10, 2009
4,969

CEDAR FALLS --- Know how to change a bike tire? Sarah Uhlenhopp does. "Raise your hand and say: "I'm a woman. Stop and help me," she deadpanned, as fellow female cyclists chuckled at the joke. But Uhlenhopp's quip carried a kernel of truth. Although she's preparing for her second RAGBRAI --- a 442-mile bike ride across the state --- the Cedar Falls woman has never fixed a flat on the trail. "I've always been kind of nervous about not knowing how to do it," said the 45-year-old, who finally learned the process last month. "I think I'll feel a lot more confident trying it out on the road now." That sense of security comes courtesy of Europa Cycle & Ski's women's ride nights. The sessions start at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays with a workshop. Past topics addressed included nutrition, bike accessories and that all-important tire- changing tutorial. Then the ladies hit the road for an hour-long ride led by store owner Russ Clarke. "(Europa has) seen a big boost in the number of women coming into the store," said Megan Youngkent, the shop's women's cycling director. "Sometimes they aren't comfortable joining a co-ed group, or just want to learn some basic bike maintenance skills." The rides started last year and run through this month. Evening attendance has ranged from two to nine cyclists. The program is free and open to the public. "We've seen really experienced bikers and people who are just starting out," said Youngkent, 32. "They pick the pace. I tell them: 'If you and the bike are happy, it's perfect.'" Youngkent hopes the weekly sessions encourage more women to pick-up the activity. Unlike contact sports such as basketball or soccer, cycling can be enjoyed at any age. The workout is easy on the joints and a simple way to enjoy the great outdoors. The group also helps bikers bolster their workouts, said Julie Fisher, a cyclist from rural Janesville. Before Europa introduced its women's night, the 46-year-old trained alone. "When you ride by yourself, you don't really push yourself --- at least I don't," said Fisher, another RAGBRAI finisher. "When you ride with someone else it's more of a challenge." It's also more fun, she added. "Before this I didn't have anyone to ride with," Fisher said. "But you meet people with the same interests, and you end up making friends."