In partnership with MB Wales, Beicio Cymru and Project FIAS:
MB Wales is committed to establishing Wales as a global leader in gender inclusivity in mountain biking. MB Wales has adopted the FIAS Framework to shape the realisation of this goal. The Framework is underpinned by rigorous academic research about mountain bike culture in the UK. It identifies four strategic areas that should be prioritised in order to drive cultural shift and address the existing male dominance and masculinisation of mountain biking:
What is the Women’s Offroad Community of Practice?
Through collaboration between Beicio Cymru, the MB Wales Women and Girls Officer, Lindsay Hanley and Project FIAS, we plan to introduce a number of targeted activities for MB Wales that map against the FIAS Framework and will contribute to MB Wales’s ambitions to support women+ and girls in mountain biking and become a leader in fostering inclusive action sport.
As part of this work, we are setting up a Women’s Offroad Cycling Community of Practice to share experience, exchange knowledge, and to provide support for each other, with the shared goal to help drive the development of women’s offroad cycling in Wales.
The sessions are organised around the 4 priority areas of the FIAS Framework:
- CoP 1: Thurs 27th Feb – Online 7-8.30pm – Theme: Introduction to MB Wales and FIAS plans, Regional champions, Future CoP sessions.
- CoP 2: Thurs 24th April – Online 7-8.30pm – Theme: Demystifying Ride Leadership
- CoP 3: Fri 23rd May – Hybrid – Bike Park Wales 9.30am-4.30pm – Theme: FIAS Community Building Toolkit workshop followed by a ride for those who attend in person.
- CoP 4: Thurs 26th June – Online 7-8.30pm – Theme: Inclusive events workshop.
- CoP 5: Sat 26th July – in person at Afan, Glyncorrwg Mountain Bike Centre – Theme: Storytelling and cultural representation, followed by a ride.
Who can join?
Anyone interested in supporting the development of women’s offroad cycling in Wales is welcome to join the CoP sessions. Some activities will be targeted towards specific groups (e.g. women’s MTB community leaders), while others are open to anyone.
The first Community of Practice session is Thursday 27th February!
To join the first introductory CoP session this Thursday, please register here. Please share this invitation with anyone who may wish to join.
What to expect from session 1?
- Introduction to Project FIAS (Fostering Inclusive Action Sports)
- Introduction to the new MB Wales Women and Girls Officer – Lindsay Hanley
- Introduction to our exciting plans to support women and girls in MTB in Wales
- Introduction to our incredible new team of FIAS MTB Regional Champions!
Trail Hub Discussion Platform:
We have also set up a thread on the Trail Hub discussion platform titled ‘Supporting women and girls in mountain biking’. This is a space to share examples of best practice, exchange knowledge, share resources, ask and offer ongoing support for each other. If you would like to join the discussion platform, please email Maria.Moxey@Bristol.ac.uk
For any questions, please contact:
Project FIAS Policy Fellow: Maria.Moxey@Bristol.ac.uk
Project FIAS lead: Fiona.Spotswood@Bristol.ac.uk
