#mountaintomountain

In 2009, Shannon Galpin, Liv Ambassador and founder of non profit NGO Mountain to Mountain, became the first woman to ride a mountain bike in Afghanistan. Then in 2010 she rode her bike across the Panjshir Valley as a way to engage cycling communities in support of M2M’s projects in Afghanistan that benefited women and girls. And since then Afghan women and girls have been quietly pedaling a revolution.

In Afghanistan it’s not technically illegal to ride a bicycle, but a woman riding a bicycle is a deep-seeded taboo and is seen as controversial, provocative, and immoral.  It's hard to believe that the same could have been said about the UAE not so many years ago. In Afganistan, girls on bicycles have been sling-shotted, had rocks thrown at them, they are insulted and their families are insulted.  These days, it's easy for us in Dubai to take for granted the simple freedom that comes from riding a bike—and many of us can’t imagine having to face that kind of risk every time we go out for a ride.

  The Global Solidarity Ride was a powerful way to unite communities around the world on two wheels and show Afghan women that they are not alone—the world sees what they are doing and supports them.

“After five years of mountain biking in Afghanistan, it's amazing to see Afghan girls starting to ride for the first time in their country’s history. Even more amazing is seeing how the global cycling community is coming together to ride bikes in solidarity with these young women that dare to ride,”  Shannon said. “The bike was an integral part of the the American, English, and French women’s rights movement and these young Afghan women are pedaling a revolution of their own, our job is simply to support and encourage them!”

I always get such joy riding with the women of the Dubai Velo Vixens and I was really looking forward to riding with a bunch of them for this event.  Driving up to the meeting point for the 50km ride, I passed a big group of women riding up to join us.  I opened the window and squealed with excitement, I hadn't expected so many to ride the 85km.  Arriving at the carpark, I looked around in amazement as more and more women turned up.  Quite a few women I didn't recognise, that had never ridden with us before.  I got a bit over-whelmed!  The number of women cyclists in Dubai is definitely on the increase and I really hope that we can continue to encourage more women to get back on their bikes and come and ride with the Velo Vixens.

In all, more than 40 women gathered just after dawn to ride out on the Al Qudra cycle path, in a show of solidarity for the Afghan Women's cycling team.   We all rolled out together and split in to several groups; there was a 20km, a 35km, a steady and a fast 50km group and an 85km option for the experienced riders.  The weather was kind to us, it stayed relatively cool for an August morning and even the wind was more of a breeze.  Everyone rode brilliantly together - there's such an amazing energy when you get women riding together in this way.  A big thank you to all of the women who came to ride and a special thanks to the Velo Vixen ride captains who did a fabulous job of keeping the pace steady and making sure nobody was left behind.  Not forgetting our wonderful photographers and support drivers who gave up their Saturday morning to be with us on our adventure.