WOW
WOW is a group of volunteer women from various cycling backgrounds and interests working together to form a a one-stop shop for female bicyclists in and around the Kansas City area. WOW targets first-time cyclists providing resources and information encouraging women to start riding.
In its' inaugural year as an organization, WOW has encouraged hundreds of women to get more involved in the sport of cycling. Thank you to the GREAT VOLUNTEERS that led the WOW initiative and got this group off the ground and in motion! As a new development, WIN for KC is excited to take WOW under our umbrella and continue to work with the great team of women involved, and carry on the momentum already established.
WOW PARTNERS
helpful information & resources
Choosing the Right Bike
In order to throughly enjoy the sport of cycling, finding the right bike is the first and most important step.
The bicycle marketing machine has been in action for many years. Long gone are the days of the
simple kid’s bike or the “ten speed” you used to ride. Many manufacturer bicycle catalogs battle the
phone book for size supremacy. Beneath all the fancy names and numbers is a very simple idea: each
bike has an intended ride experience. The tough part is deciding what experience you want!
Define your intended cycling experience:
- Where will you ride? Some options include roads, paved trails, crushed rock paths, mountain bike trails.
- Who will you ride with and what types of bikes do they ride? Chances are you will be better off if you have a similar bike.
- How far will you typically ride? A bike made for a 5 mile ride is quite different from a bike you’ll ride during a 50 mile charity ride.
- How fast will you typically ride?
- What are your long term goals? Is a triathlon or charity ride in your future?
- How much are you willing to spend?
Get shopping:
Find a good bike shop that is willing to take the time to ask questions, listen and help you find the right bike based on your desired riding experience. If the salesperson you encounter isn’t attentive, helpful and a good listener it is best you look for a different shop. You are spending your hard earned money and you don’t want to make a mistake buying the wrong bike.
After the initial conversations, the sales person should be able to show you two or three logical bike
options for you to consider. These should be appropriate for your intended cycling experience.
As you look at the different options ask a few questions of your own.
- Which one has the best frame?
- Which one has the best wheels?
- Which one has the best components?
- What size is recommended for you?
- What type of service plan does the shop offer (bikes need regular maintenance and shops will
often provide initial tune-ups and adjustments for free)?
- What bicycle fit services do they offer? You shouldn’t buy a bike unless the shop will make sure that the saddle height and fore/aft are set appropriately for you.
Take the bikes for test rides. You cannot make a good decision without riding the bikes. Pay attention to how they shift and how smooth they ride. Most importantly, does it feel comfortable? Does your position on the bike feel too stretched or too cramped? Ride a couple of different size bikes so you know what feels best even if the sales person recommends a certain size bike. Based on everything you’ve been through you are now ready to make your decision. Don’t worry, you’ve done your homework.
Additional Information
BUDGET: Always start with a budget in mind and buy the best bike you can find that fits your budget. Good bikes don’t have to be expensive but there are significant differences between bikes just a few hundred dollars apart. If you have a $1,000 budget don’t buy that bargain bike you run across for $599. The extra $400 will likely get you better wheels, smoother shifting and a lighter weight bike – which translates to easier pedaling, more speed and a smoother ride.
BUY LOCAL: Buy a bicycle from a local bike shop. Don’t underestimate the value your local shop provides. The internet bargains or the low prices at the big box store are deceiving. Your local shop built each bike with your safety in mind, can help with warranty issues, offers free advice, provides local bike scene knowledge and makes sure your bike fits properly. Family Bicycles, LLC and Epic Bike and Sport are two great local shops.
TIRES: The skinnier the tire the faster the bike will roll. The width of the tire and the amount of tread will dictate the terrain you can ride. Skinny tires stay on pavement; wider tires with tread want the variety of dirt, rock and off road.
MATERIALS: There are many different frame materials. You’ll typically find aluminum, carbon, steel and titanium among others. Aluminum and steel will be prevalent on less expensive bikes. Carbon and titanium bikes cost more. Often your budget will dictate the material you choose. If your budget is under $1,000 you’ll typically find an aluminum bike. Between $1000 - $2000 you’ll find a mix of aluminum and carbon. Full carbon or full titanium bikes will occupy the $2000+ levels.
TERRAIN: Where will you ride? Will you stick to paved trails? Many popular trails, like the Katy Trail or the new Riverfront Trail, are made of crushed rock. Will you ride on streets? Do you want to ride the local mountain bike trails? A single bike may not be able to satisfy all your needs but it needs to be capable enough to handle the terrain you’ll want to ride most.
WHEELS: Wheels are a very important part of a bike. They have a big impact on how smooth the bike rides, the durability of the bike and they make up a big part of the bikes overall weight.
MAINTENANCE: Sign up for a maintenance class. Many shops offer them free of charge. This will allow you to handle minor problems that might arise during a ride, like a flat tire or dropped chain.
*Article courtsey of Scott Schleisman, Owner, Epic Bike and Sport
other resources
Local Bike Shops
Local Cycling Groups
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Brookside Rides Yahoo! Group, This site is for use as a communication and information tool regarding cycling that begins in the Brookside area of Kansas City, MO and other rides that may be of interest.
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Choose2Bike.com, I chose my bike instead of my car. That's what this site is about. We want you to use your bicycle instead of your car and tell us about it. No, we don't expect you to ditch the gas guzzler for good immediately. What we want to encourage and support are baby steps. Tell us when you jumped on the velo to go to the convenience store for toilet paper. Or three blocks to the liquor store for a sixer.
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EarthRiders Mountain Bike Club , The 200 members of EarthRiders are devoted to maintaining and preserving the 100+ miles of singletrack mountain bike trails in the KC metro area to the standards of the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Monthly ride meetings and several weekly rides give you plenty of opportunities to experience nature by bike.
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Explore KC, Explore KC is MARC's campaign to promote the exploration of the Kansas City region by foot or bicycle while trying to increase the number of citizens that bike or walk to work, school and other destinations, and for exercise.
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Johnson County Bicycle Club, The JCBC is strictly a recreational (non-racing) cycling club whose purpose is to promote bicycling safety, advocacy, and fellowship. Although its roots and club name are centered about Johnson County, JCBC's interests cover the greater Kansas City Metro and beyond.
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Kansas City Bicycle Club, The oldest cycling organization in Kansas City, The Kansas City Bicycle Club is a great way to meet people with similar interests and finding the best places to ride in the metro area.
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Kansas Cyclist, Kansas Cyclist is the web's premier resource for cycling in the great state of Kansas.
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KC Bike.Info Blog, This site was started to provide a place for bike-related news and information from around KC and the surrounding areas.
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Leavenworth Bicycle Club - Leavenworth Bicycle Club, Inc. was founded in September 1985 to serve the Leavenworth, Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, and surrounding area. The club is focused on growing to meet the desires of all the members. Members of the club participate in triathlons, cross state bicycle tours, bed and breakfast bicycle weekends, and supported or self contained bicycle camping tours. Weekly Saturday moderately paced road rides and slow to leisurely paced trail rides are offered.
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Let's Go KC--Alliance for Transportation Choice, Let's Go KC is a coalition of individuals, local organizations and advocates who promote transportation choice in the Kansas City region. We work to educate, engineer, encourage and evaluate our region in the interests of better walking, bicycling and transit opportunities.
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localcycling.com, Cycling news, information, gossip, rides and races in and around the Kansas City Metropolitan area. Also includes cycling information for the following communities: Atchison, Lawrence, Leavenworth, St. Joseph and Topeka
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Mid-America Regional Council, As our local transportation needs continue to grow, MARC promotes walking and bicycling as healthy, environmentally friendly modes of transport.
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Missouri Bicycle Federation, A statewide, not-for-profit, membership organization advocating advancement of bicycling access, safety and education.
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OutSpokinKC, OutSpokin' is Kansas City's gay/lesbian bicycle club. Our purpose is to support cycling activities in the gay and lesbian community within the greater Kansas City area.
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The Katy Trail, The Katy Trail is a 225 mile (365 km) bike path stretching across most of the state of Missouri.
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The Trolley Track Trail, The Harry Wiggins Trolley Track Trail was the site of Kansas City's last streetcar line, called the Country Club route. The Right of Way extends 7 miles, from Westport Road to 85th Street.
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Tour of Missouri, 2009 Marks the third year of this professional stage race. Years one and two began in Kansas City and ended in St. Louis...this year Kansas City gets to host the grand finale. Come out and watch your favorite pros go round and round.
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faq
I'm not a WIN for KC member. Can I still come on a ride?
- Everyone is welcome to participate in our rides. We're a friendly bunch of women and you'll feel right at home.
How often does the group ride?
I ride a mountain bike/commuter bike/old bike. Will I be able to keep up with the group on road rides?
- Most of the women who participate in our road rides are riding either a road bike or a hybrid. Occasionally, a rider will participate on a mountain bike. For most riders, the pace differential on a mountain bike (versus a road bike) will be significant. We suggest you try out the Beginner Ride first to see how your pace fits in with the group.
Can men come on the WOW rides?
- We created this group to give women a safe, friendly, encouraging environment to pursue cycling. So, no, men are not invited on our rides. Not to say that men can’t be friendly and encouraging, but they do change the dynamic of the group. There are many co-ed rides through out the city; check localcycling.com for more information.
What's the average pace of the rides? How long will a typical ride take?
- The pace really depends on two things – the individual riders and the terrain. But in general, on group rides you can plan approximately one hour for each ten miles (beginner) or one hour for each fifteen miles (intermediate). We stop and regroup when needed which allows the slower riders to rejoin the faster riders.
I've never done a group ride before and I'm a little nervous about riding with a group.
- Don’t be nervous. The whole purpose of WOW is to teach you everything you need to know to safely ride in a group. Once again, we’re a friendly bunch of women and you’ll feel right at home.
I'm a beginner rider. Which ride is right for me?
- We have Beginner Rides that will always have an experienced ride leader to coach you, give tips, and encourage you on your ride. This is also a "No Drop" ride, which means that everyone stays together.
Do you ride in the rain?
- If in doubt, come on out! Unless there’s lightening or a tornado, a Ride Leader will always be at the meeting point for a ride. We may modify routes, but if the group is interested in riding, we’re there. And if all else fails, we’ll just socialize early. Cancellation notices will be posted on Facebook.
I am not interested in racing, are there others like me?
- Yes. Many women enjoy all kinds of cycling events or just want to cycle to stay fit.
I want to train for the WIN for KC Women's Triathlon, should I do the group rides?
- Yes, yes, yes! The riding skills you will learn through the group rides are valuable to any rider and help you feel cofortable in a race atmosphere.
I'm not familiar with the lingo of cycling, can you explain what some of the terms mean?
- No problem. Click here to view some common cycling terms and phrases.
2009 kc wow bike festival PHOTOS
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KC WOW Bike Festival Committee
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Bike maintenance clinic
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The WIN for KC Booth
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The Headstrong for Jake bike fitting
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The KC WOW Bike Festival
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One of the bicycles at the Festival
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