It didn’t take me long to purchase my first mountain bike after relocating to Boulder nine years ago. Since then, I’ve been warmly welcomed into the biking community and can emphatically say this sport has connected me with more likeminded women and lifelong friends than even the burrito bar at Whole Foods. While social media is my tool of choice for fostering my love for two wheels, I’m constantly inspired by the women around me and in particular the three below.
The features editor at Outside magazine with a formidable Strava profile, Gloria Liu is known around town for her enthusiasm for big air at the bike park. She’s not afraid to speak up for inclusion in the bike industry and encourages people to follow their purpose, whether it’s conquering a new feature on your local trail or going after the career of your dreams. On what makes Boulder so unique, Liu explains: “What’s really cool about Boulder is that over the past five years or so, it’s become a vibrant outdoor media hub. Nearly every major cycling media outlet has representation or presence here."
A true jill of all trades, chances are if you ride on the Front Range you’ve heard of Elorie Slater. As the marketing manager for Pivot Cycles, part owner of local shop Sports Garage, and founder of Women’s Outdoor Cycling Congress (WÖRCC), Slater spends her time equipping women with the gear and resources they need to succeed. Slater explains, “My different roles in the industry have given me a front row seat for the experience of female-identifying riders, particularly in the off-road disciplines like gravel and mountain biking. First as the owner of Sports Garage here in Boulder, and now as a storyteller for an international mountain bike brand, I've always felt a responsibility to improve the way the cycling industry represents and relates to women."
Finally, take one look at Jenn Dice riding a bicycle and you’ll know she’s in her happy place. As the CEO of Boulder-based organization PeopleForBikes, Dice is a Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee, 14-time Leadville Trail 100 finisher, and lifelong lover of cycling. Dice believes “in the power of bikes to bring people together, to heal communities and to move our nation forward. PeopleForBikes’ mission is to make biking better for everyone.” Every day she shows up to achieve this goal, whether that means spearheading a new federal policy or simply clocking a spin on Ride Spot, PeopleForBikes’ new beginner-friendly trail app.
As Liu says, “Boulder is a good place for anyone who loves bikes and wants to work in the industry to call home.” Nearly a decade later, I couldn’t agree with her more.