TWO women from Cheshire were named in Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling.
Immy Sykes and Suzie Akers Smith were both recruited for their work encouraging women to ride a bike.
They join TV and film actress Maxine Peake, BBC Radio 4 host, Melanie Abbott, and gold medalists Katie Archibald and Elinor Barker on the cycling charity list recognizing significant achievements in promoting women’s cycling.
The women were all honored to celebrate the great job they have done to inspire other women to cycle as part of Cycling UK’s Women’s Cycling Festival, which runs from July 17th to August 1st.
The list also includes lesser-known names of women who worked tirelessly at the grassroots level during particularly difficult times to encourage and support more women to cycle: people like Immy and Suzie.
Immy Sykes, 27, is an influencer who shares her passion for cycling on Instagram to inspire other women to ride a bike.
Bicycling came to Immy when she was at rock bottom and suffering from a running injury, her physio suggested she ride a bike.
She did not know women who rode bicycles and assumed that women did not do so unless of necessity. Immy bought a bike and fell in love, changed her life in a calm way, pushed the boundaries of life, helped her cope with fear, strengthened her self-confidence and her relationship with herself.
As the Cheshire East Council cycling and walking champion, Suzie Akers Smith, 55, works tirelessly and actively with the campaign groups in each city. In this role, she ensures that the guidelines are changed, which means that active travel is now a driving theme and requirement in all planning / highway decisions.
To kick off its annual Women’s Festival of Cycling, Cycling UK has also released numbers showing that more women have started cycling during the coronavirus pandemic. A survey found that 31% of women surveyed switched from cars to bicycles for everyday trips, and those who cycled regularly reported an improvement in their wellbeing.
Although the number of women cycling during the lockdown has increased, men still cycle almost twice as much as women.
Cycling UK encourages women to pedal and continue to replace their car journeys with cycling, and highlights women who inspire, teach and encourage others to do so.
Sarah Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cycling UK, said, “Congratulations to Immy and Suzie for making our 100 Women in Cycling in 2021. It’s an incredible achievement and a testament to the tireless work they have done to raise the profile of women’s cycling.
“Every woman on our list is a strong ambassador for women’s cycling, and many have done an excellent job helping women cycle during the lockdown. Unfortunately, women remain underrepresented in everyday cycling.
“During this year’s festival, we ask every woman who already rides a bike to find another woman who can help and inspire them to get on their bike.”
The Women’s Festival of Cycling features a series of virtual events, local group rides, and a social media challenge that encourages women to share pictures of their “bike faces”.
Find out about events near you and find a full list of nominees on our website: Cyclinguk.org/womensfestival