Shepparton Bicycle Users Group to hold first ride for women’s health

The event is one of 2300 being held across the country this year as part of Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week, a campaign which aims to boost the health and wellbeing of women and gender-diverse people.

The week is named in honour of pioneering medical practitioner Jean Hailes, who established the nation’s first women’s health clinic dedicated to menopause.

GSBUG member Catherine Meredith said the event hoped to bring women of all cycling abilities together for a casual, inclusive ride.

“I thought it would be really good to do something to promote cycling with women and to keep women active,” Meredith said.

“There could be women out there that don’t like to ride by themselves, or that might like to meet up with other women that ride in their area.

“There might be some that don’t want to do long distances on the roads that might like to discover more about the bike paths.”

Cyclists will meet at Shepparton’s KidsTown at 9.30am on Sunday, before a ride along bike paths to the Australian Botanic Gardens for morning tea.

The ride will then return to KidsTown along the same route – roughly 5km each way.

“It’s not going to be a fast ride, we’re not going to be flying down the road, it’s just about getting people out on bikes,” Meredith said.

“Just a casual have a chat while we ride sort of thing — it’s amazing how the kilometres go by when you have company while riding.”