WITH this year’s Tour de France just finished, you’d be forgiven for thinking cycling is predominantly a male sport. But Oxford based club the Cowley Road Condors are proving it’s very much a women’s pursuit too. Established only five years ago, they are proud to have a 40 per cent women’s membership within the 200 strong club.

How have they managed this? "The first thing you need is a welcoming and friendly atmosphere" says club president Cheryl Reid. "Everyone involved from the very first ride onwards have been wonderful lovely people, and the policy of non-drop social rides meant that both men and women could come along without being worried about behind left behind. There was also a real commitment to developing women’s cycling. Before I even joined the club they had made great strides – such as having a women’s officer on the board and then adding a women’s section to the website”

But the real surge in numbers began in 2015 following the launch of their women’s summer sessions, an eight-week course designed to build confidence and skills in group cycling. Team Beryl from the Broken Spoke Bike Co-op ran a maintenance session teaching riders how to check their bikes before they set off and how to fix a puncture when out on the road. This combination of upskilling and reducing barriers seems to make a real difference when recruiting women, who typically lack confidence at the start.

Since then there has been a real momentum and growth in all areas, from social riding to racing. In fact the Condors were able to enter two women’s teams at this year’s Silverstone Team Time Trial, run by another local club, Bicester Millennium.

The Condor Women’s A team put in a brilliant performance and took third place on the podium!

Looking ahead, the Condors are keen to continue building on these successes – offering a home for anyone who wants to get out and ride, and get closer to a 50:50 gender split. Anyone wanting a taste should check out the club's website at www.condors.cc or sign up for Bike Oxford, a sportive event which the club is helping to run on Sunday 11th September.