A friendly nudge became something so much bigger — a sisterhood on wheels. 💞

From Apparel Brand to Cycling Club

It only seems natural that after founding Evelyn Hill Cycling, a women-specific cycling apparel company, the next step would be to start a cycling club. But believe it or not, that wasn’t my plan at all.

For years, my husband Mel and I were known at our local gym as “the tandem couple.” Members followed our cycling adventures through New Zealand and beyond. One woman must have asked me a dozen times, “When are you going to start a ladies’ cycling group?”

My answer was always the same:
“Sorry, I ride a tandem—not a single bike. So, I don’t think so.”

Still, her question lingered. Eventually, I realized that if anyone could have a bike built for them, it was me. I asked Mel to put something together—and he was thrilled.

Before I knew it, I was posting flyers around town announcing: A new women’s cycling club is coming!

Learning to Ride—Together

And that’s how the Evelyn Hill Cycling Club began—more than six years ago.

At first, I could handle the mileage, but I didn’t even know how to shift gears! My dear friend Diane and the first few ladies who joined helped teach me. They appreciated that I was learning right alongside them.

We started with three rides each week:

• Monday evenings for beginners, on a quiet rural route. Our motto then (and now) was “No one rides alone.” Back then, 4–5 miles in 45 minutes felt like a major victory.
• Thursday evenings for intermediate riders, about 12–15 miles as we raced the sunset. Friendships formed, and word spread quickly.
• Saturday mornings for more experienced cyclists—25–30 miles through farmland to a nearby town, always with a mid-ride coffee stop and a group photo.

What began as a small group soon became a sisterhood—women of all ages riding, chatting, laughing, and even stopping at the occasional yard sale.

Community, Connection, and Purpose

There’s never been a fee to join the Evelyn Hill Cycling Club. I simply suggest that members wear Evelyn Hill Cycling apparel when they need new gear—a symbol of pride and unity for our group.

Four years ago, our members decided to channel our energy into something bigger: a charity ride for women only. We chose to support our local women’s shelter for domestic violence and named the event She-Bikes.

 

Since then, we’ve raised more than $15,000, and we’re now working toward nonprofit status to grow our impact. Each holiday season, we also collect gifts for women and children at the shelter—helping bring warmth and hope to families in need.

The Power of a Nudge

Sometimes you don’t realize your potential—or where it will lead—until someone gives you that little push.

To the woman who kept asking me to start a cycling group: thank you.
You never did come out to ride but look what you inspired.

Join the Ride

If you’re looking for community, empowerment, and the joy of cycling with other women, we’d love to have you join us.

Visit our FB page, Evelyn Hill Cycling Club to learn about upcoming rides, shop our apparel, or connect with us today.