How Bee Pedal Ready gets women buzzing about bikes
Charlotte Kay was teaching mathematics at an international school in Shanghai when she rediscovered her love of cycling.
Charlotte, now 34, said, “I cycled a lot as a kid. We lived quite close to heathland, and I’d go out with my siblings on the weekend. But when I went to university I didn’t cycle as much.”
When she returned from China and relocated to Manchester in 2020, Charlotte brought her bike – and her enthusiasm for cycling – with her. During the pandemic she found solo rides in the city, when rules permitted, helped her mental health and fitness.
Discovering new places on your own is fun, but nothing beats the camaraderie of riding with friends. So, when Charlotte heard about Bee Pedal Ready – a National Lottery-funded project helping women ride, repair and learn about their bikes – she jumped at the chance to get involved.
After taking part in a few of Bee Pedal Ready’s group rides, Charlotte was asked if she wanted to become a bike group leader. She took a training course and now spends one day a week leading groups of up to 12 women on rides in and around Manchester. She said, “We get riders of all ages with all levels of experience. Some of them do it for fun and the social aspect, others to keep fit. We usually ride at least 14 miles and try to get out into nature by visiting parks and cycling along canals.”
Like Belinda Everett – who set up Bee Pedal Ready to make cycling safer and more inclusive – Charlotte knows that cycling is still a male-dominated sport and pastime. Government statistics from 2022 showed that in England, men make almost three times as many cycling trips as women and ride, on average, more than three times the distance. This gender disparity is evident in various age groups, including younger adults.
Charlotte said, “A lot of my female friends don’t want to ride because they see it as a predominantly male sport.”
Other barriers include the bikes themselves – most saddles, for example, are designed for the male anatomy – and the fact some women feel unsafe riding in cities.
Belinda is on a mission to shake things up. She said, “I'm eager for things to change quickly, but that’s not how the world works. There’s more visibility in terms of women riding and commuting, but in terms of the bike industry women are still badly underrepresented.”
Supported by National Lottery funding, Bee Pedal Ready offers guided bike rides – including mountain bike trips in the country around Manchester – bike mechanics workshops and the chance to become a qualified bike mechanic. The project also collaborates with the University of Manchester, schools, community groups and events such as Lights Up, a nighttime ride for women that shines a light on cycling safety and gender disparity in the sport.
Belinda said, “It’s been incredible to have financial support from The National Lottery. It means we can put on more workshops, more rides and develop our programs that are already running. It also means we’ll be able to encourage more women to take more leadership roles.”
Charlotte is a perfect example. For her, Bee Pedal Ready is an opportunity to pass on her love of cycling to other women. She said, “I love it because there’s a sense of freedom and being out and about [on a bike] is great for your mental health. It’s brilliant for your fitness and I’m always discovering new routes and new places.”
23rd May 2025
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