Can’t tell the difference between a spoke and a shifter? Ask The Cycling Sisters, an all-female group of bicycle mechanics and enthusiasts.
“We are fighting tired cultural stereotypes that mechanics aren’t women,” said member Arline Welty. “We want more women on bikes.”
To help more women master mechanics, the group is offering several upcoming events. On May 29, volunteers will staff a booth at the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s Bike the Drive postride festival in Grant Park (Columbus and Balbo Drives). The annual Bike the Drive event closes Lake Shore Drive to cars and opens it to bikers for the morning.
At the booth, Cycling Sisters volunteers will answer questions about bike fit and mechanics and “perform minor tuneups on the spot,” Welty said.
On June 12 the group will host a Street Smarts workshop from 10 a.m. to noon at Logan Square, 3200 W. Logan Blvd. Tips such as how to bike safely in traffic and pick good bike routes will be offered along with a 2.5-mile instructional bike ride. Beginners are welcome.
For more information, visit www.cyclingsisters.org.