Corner Brook -
Annette Hiscock kept hearing women's concerns about buying a bike because they were unsure if riding was something they could enjoy.
So she decided to do something about it.
Hiscock, who works at Cycle Solutions, decided to form a women's cycling group in the city to address the fears of female riders.
Affectionately known as Slick Chicks, female riders of all ages and walks of life have been hitting the pavement twice a week.
Hiscock said the objective is to help cyclists build confidence and enjoy the activity in a fun environment. "Get women comfortable on their bikes, have them learn the rules of the road and build friendships and companionships," Hiscock, spokesperson for Slick Chicks, said Monday.
The response so far has been great, according to Hiscock.
"I guess the past couple of rides the weather has been terrible so we had about 15 for the past two, but the first ride we had 45," she said.
"A lot of women say they are feeling so much better getting outdoors," she added. "It's a lot of mothers that had all day with their kids and just an hour getting out and trying cycling."
Twice a week - Thursday 6 p.m. at Marble Drive in Steady Brook and Saturday 9:30 a.m. at Tipping's Pond in Massey Drive - members of Slick Chicks can be seen riding around with smiles on their faces. Hiscock sends out regular emails to members informing them of the ride site on a weekly basis, but for now safety is paramount and the ride will always be held in an area where there is a flat surface and low volume of traffic.
"We try to stay in the low-traffic areas so nobody feels like they are going to get ran over," she said, noting there are a lot of new riders who just purchased a bike last week.
Before the group hit the road, Hiscock and company at Cycle Solutions held a group session for the purpose of preparing them for the road. Over a couple of hours, participants were introduced to such things as rules of the road, safety concerns and bike maintenance.
"We all sat down and tore a bunch of tires apart and put them back together. It was really fun," she said. "If you're out on the road and you get in a jam and you got nobody else there to help you, then you got to have your tube on you and a little pump ... we just kind of show them what they have to take with them if they are going by themselves."
Slick Chicks is a group of women who cycle for fun and socializing. There is no competition for medals and trophies.
It's all about socializing and making new friends while doing something a person enjoys.
"I guess if you are just learning or just starting out, and you know there are so many people there with you then you are going to build a friendship that way because you know they are going through the same thing as you," she said.
For more information on Slick Chicks contact Hiscock at 634-7100 or visit the Cycle Solutions website at cyclesolutions.ca.
