“Well-behaved women seldom make history.” – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
This month is Women’s History Month, an incredible opportunity to learn more about the women who paved the way for the opportunities and freedoms we have today.
We kicked off the month the best way we knew how: together, on our bikes.
Our ladies’ ride brought women from all over the DFW Metroplex, different cycling organizations, different backgrounds, different stories, together for one shared purpose: to connect, to move our bodies, and to celebrate community. We clipped in, rolled out, and supported a woman-owned business, Pull Through Coffee Bar. There was laughter. There were strong pulls at the front (wind!). There were conversations that reminded me why this community means so much to me.
I could go on and on about the joy and empowerment I feel when I ride alongside other women. But today, I want to stress something deeper.
The freedom we feel when we ride, wearing what we want, riding where we want, competing if we choose, was not always guaranteed. It took bravery. It took strength. It took rule-breaking. It took women who were willing to be uncomfortable, criticized, and even excluded so that future generations could move freely.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve mentioned Women’s History Month only to be met with surprise, “I didn’t know that was a thing.” That alone is reason enough for us to lean in. This month isn’t just symbolic; it’s educational. It’s a reminder. It’s a responsibility.
Our right to vote.
Our right to work.
Our right to participate in sports.
Our right to show up boldly in public spaces.
None of it was accidental. Every freedom we enjoy today exists because some woman, or group of women, fought for it.
One woman I’m beginning with this month is Kittie Knox.
In the 1890s, cycling was exploding in popularity, but it wasn’t welcoming to everyone. Knox, a pioneering Black cyclist, refused to accept the limits placed on her because of both her race and her gender. At a time when women were criticized for riding bicycles and racial segregation was deeply entrenched, she joined and competed in cycling clubs that often tried to exclude her. When organizations attempted to bar her from membership due to discriminatory policies, she stood her ground and continued riding.
She didn’t just ride for recreation. She rode as an act of resistance.
Her presence challenged social norms. Her determination confronted discrimination. Every mile she pedaled pushed against a system that said she didn’t belong.
Because she rode, she made space.
That same courage lives on every time women gather in kit, take the front of the group ride, start a business, or build community where there once was none. When we support women-owned businesses. When we mentor younger riders. When we show up unapologetically.
We owe so much to those trailblazers. And we honor them not just by remembering their names, but by sharing their stories and continuing the work.
So I encourage you this month: learn something new about a woman who changed history. Share her story on social media. Tell a friend. Tell a young girl. Make it known that life wasn’t always like this, and that progress happened because someone was brave enough to push forward.
I hope this month inspires you to research, to reflect, and to keep forging your own path in this world while inspiring others to do the same.
Keep moving. Keep pulling the line. And choose one woman this month whose story you will learn, and pass on.
