Riding for the Afghan National Women's Cycling Team - Kate Holbrook's Story

Kate (Right) with a work colleague.

Kate Holbrook rode Gear up Girl SA last year - now she's riding in solidarity for Afghan National Women's Cycling Team. You can join her this Saturday (30 August)

 

"Last year I rode the Gear Up Girl SA ride to encourage more girls to get on bikes," explains Kate Holbrook, who put together a team from her work last year at Bike SA's event. 

"Cycling provides me with a fantastic sense of freedom and independence and it is a key part of my stress management and general well being strategy,"

She believes that more girls should get on their bike and experience the same great feelings and benefits that cycling provide. And in Adelaide, there's a clear lack of ladies on bikes. Only 1 in 5 people cycling are women. 

But Kate however thinks that in Australia - and in Adelaide, women have it easy.

"I think we are really lucky because it is totally socially and culturally acceptable for women and girls to ride bikes here in Australia."

Which brings us to the women of  Afghan National Women’s Cycling Team. According to a study by Human Rights Watch, Afghans perceive women on bikes as committing a "morality" crime such as adultery and it's commonplace for people to throw rocks at female riders or try to run them off the road with their cars.

Afghan Cycles Trailer from LET MEDIA on Vimeo.

That's why the Afghan National Women’s Cycling Team are breaking gender barriers with every pedal stroke as the first women to ride bikes.  On Saturday, 30^th August cyclists around the world will ride their bikes in solidarity with the Afghan Women who dare to ride by taking part in the Global Solidarity Ride. 

Kate's calling on other cyclists to get on their bikes and show the women of Afghanistan they are not alone in this revolutionary act. A Solidarity Ride will be taking place in Adelaide, departing from Trak Cycles Norwood and heading to Henley Beach and back along Linear Park. A gold coin donation is all that is required to participate and the lovely folks from Pavé Cafe (in the courtyard @ Trak Cycles) will be able to fulfil your ride pre-ride caffeine requirements and post ride lunch requirements.

More information about the Adelaide Solidarity Ride can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/solidarityrideadelaide or on the website http://solidarityride.wix.com/adelaideride 

Get your friends together and register to ride Gear Up Girl SA on Sunday 23 November.