BikeWalkKC's Women's Bike Summit Hopes to Empower Women to Become Bicyclists

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'There is a movement nationwide to get more women on bicycles,' says Sarah Shipley, BikeWalkKC Development and Communications Director. 'We want to bring this movement to KC and show women how easy and worthwhile it is to add biking to their life.'

Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) April 30, 2014

The first KC Women’s Bike Summit will create a venue for women of all ages and backgrounds to come together and celebrate bicycling, discuss issues that are relevant and important to female cyclists and provide hands-on opportunities for women to become more confident. We will empower women to get on bicycles and participate in their communities as riders and leaders, and bring the nationwide momentum of more women on bikes to Kansas City.

Through a day of workshops, panel discussions, and clinics, the KC Women's Bike Summit will create an inclusive, positive and educational environment for women of all backgrounds. Complimentary childcare will be available.

"There is a movement nationwide to get more women on bicycles," says Sarah Shipley, BikeWalkKC Development and Communications Director. "We want to bring this movement to KC and show women how easy and worthwhile it is to add biking to their life."

An updated schedule has also been released by BikeWalkKC:

8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Registration and Breakfast
Wake up with Yoga for Cyclists
Sharon Prothe, Lululemon Ambassador

8:45 – 9:30am Breakfast and Opening Session
Why the Summit: Our Stories
Sarah Shipley, Director of Development and Communications for BikeWalkKC and Kansas City B-cycle Powered by Blue KC

9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Break-Out Sessions
A. Bike Fit
What is a women’s bike fit anyway? Why is bike fit important? What is my stem size and why is my frame too large? Find out these answers and more.
Gina Poertner, Owner of Life Balance Sports and Wellness

B. Why Women Don’t Ride
Its time that we figured this out. Together. We will discuss why women don’t ride and what we can do about it - together we can get more women and girls on bikes.
Panel Discussion

C. More Than a Bike Shop
Every town has a bike shop. But do they have a bike shop that is welcoming to women, that makes people want to return and have a exciting bike shop experience? Meet three of Kansas City's bike bike industry leaders and see how they are changing the bike shop experience in the region.
Theresa Van Ackeren of Family Bicycles, Elizabeth Bejan of Revolve KC, and Vincent Rodriguez of Velo+

10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Break-Out Sessions
A. How to Carry Stuff/Bike Touring
Always wanted to go across the country via bike, to explore the world, even the backyard by bike. Learn how to go on a bike tour and carry all stuff- in style!
Theresa Van Ackeren, Managing Director of Family Bicycles

B. Biking with Kids: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Learn about the reality about living car lite with kids. Its all great until moms have to pull the bike over. Learn how to ride with kids on bikes, how to ride with kids in traffic and the fun of being a car lite mom.
Gina Overshiner, Columbia, Missouri bike advocate, newspaper columnist, and mom

C. Guaranteed Ride Home
Many women don’t ride to work because they are worried about what would happen if they had a school emergency or an illness and had to leave quickly. MARC’s Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) solves this problem. Learn about this program and how MARC is dedicated to getting women on bikes.
Ellen Schwartz, Mid-America Regional Council

11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Bike Pop-Up Shop
Meet the sponsors and vendors supporting Kansas City's first Women's Bike Summit.

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Table Discussions
Keynote: The Bike Evolution of a Female Engineer
Sherri McIntyre, P.E., Assistant City Manager for Infrastructure and Director of Public Works
City of Kansas City, Missouri

1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Break-Out Sessions
A. Mechanics 101, a hands on session!
Maggie Priesmeyer, BikeWalkKC Education and Outreach Coordinator

B. Riding with Groups 101
Riding with groups can be intimidating. What are the laws? Whats a corked intersection? Why are those guys in lycra making all those silly hand signals? On my what? Learn the ins and outs of riding with a group, the lingo the hand signals and why its really important not to touch tires.
Teresa Jarzemkoski, LocalCycling.com

C. Women Owned Bike Business, How Jamis is Changing the Dynamic
Learn how Jamis ( a women owned bike company) is changing the face of biking with their Femme frames that have shorter top tubes, longer forks, and angles just for women.
Margo Caroll, Bike Gypsy at Jamis Bicycles
2:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Break-Out Sessions

A. Racing
Ride fast? Watch the Tour de France on TV and say, “I can do that!” Learn the basics of racing, how to get started, who to practice with and the pride and perils of performance racing.
Karen Brocket and Michelle Windmoeller

B. How to Deal With Crashes
Everybody takes a spill. Learn about the experience of one of BikeWalkKC’s staff as they went through their crash experience and then hear from a bike lawyer about the exact steps to take if involved in a crash. See BikeWalkKC’s new crash application and how to use it.
Maggie Priesmeyer, BikeWalkKC Education and Outreach Coordinator and Vance Preman, Attorney

C. Building a Bike Group
Can’t find people to ride with? Tired of getting dropped? Sick of riding behind boys that shave their legs and wear lycra? Start a group! Its easy and these wonderful women will tell how they did it.

    STARS, Sisters That Are Riding Strong: Denesha Snell
    Earth Day Pub and Pedal: Nicole Harper and Kate Waldron
    Velo Vixens: TBA

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Closing session
Steal these ideas

4:30 p.m. Social Ride and Happy Hour
Join us for an easy and casual ride to happy hour at a nearby restaurant.

The first 200 individuals to register and donate $25 get a free custom Timbuk2 messenger bag.

About BikeWalkKC
BikeWalkKC is the unified voice for active living, promoting a healthy, safe and accessible outdoor experience for all in a vibrant, engaged community. BikeWalkKC is a member-supported organization that works to make Greater Kansas City a safer and more accessible place to walk, bicycle, live, work, and play.

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