Black Girls Do Bike (BGDB) – a national organization dedicated to growing a community of black women and girls who share a passion for cycling, fitness, and freedom – hosted a free bike ride along the Mission Reach Saturday morning.
A group of five BGDB members showed up to take a 13-mile journey that started at Blue Star Arts Complex, continued along Mission Concepción and through a new trail across Cassiano Park. Upon arrival to their last destination, the group peddled back to the starting point.
Known for seeking the “bike curious,” the organization’s core goal is to inspire healthy lifestyles among black females, and the Saturday event did just that.
The intimate ride allowed the women to bike at a leisurely pace and once at Mission Concepción, they had a chance to interact with one of the park rangers.
“We stopped him, and he talked about the five different Missions,” Althea Smith, organizer for the BGDB local chapter, told the Rivard Report. “We even had a chance to go inside (Mission Concepción’s) library and learned all about the artwork being uncovered on the walls by the restoration team.”
Smith said that the group enjoyed their visit so much, they plan to host another bike ride in November, covering all four Missions and the Alamo.
“It was just a beautiful day, so much energy and positivity,” Smith said.
On the way out of Mission Park, one rider fell and she had to get bandaged up, Smith said, “but we kept on rolling. Through it all, even if you fall, you come out a winner. Anyone who engages with physical fitness will have good and bad days, but you keep going. It’s all about resiliency.”
During the bike ride, Smith and other BGDB members also discussed ways to attract more members and different ways they can motivate people to show up. Attendance is one of their struggles, but it’s also one of their goals.
In addition to planning a bike ride to the Missions in November, BGDB members plan to host an all-inclusive bike ride for women of all ethnicities in the fall, and another bike ride in October designed specifically to increase breast cancer awareness.
Top image: Members of the San Antonio Black Girls Do Bike chapter, take a detour Saturday, Sept. 8 at Mission Concepci?ón. A total of five members arrived for the ride, as the group peddled about 13 miles passing Mission Concepci?on, and reaching Cassiano Park before biking back. Photo by Julysa Sosa.
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