For those in the Irish cycling community, R\u00f3is\u00edn Kennedy likely needs little introduction; an Elite multiple National and Provincial medallist on both road and track, a former international competitor, and a founding member of the Arcane Women\u2019s Team \u2013 with whom she still competes.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s also noted for her work as a women\u2019s cycling activist; Chairperson of the Cycling Ireland Women\u2019s Commission until recently, and an active member of the group since its inception. As well as this, she\u2019s a mother of two \u2013 including a cycling-mad two-and-a-half-year-old girl, along with a newborn baby boy.<\/p>\n
We caught up with R\u00f3is\u00edn to discuss the state of Women\u2019s cycling in Ireland\u2026<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the Commission\u2019s role?<\/strong> You\u2019ve been involved in the sport for many years \u2013 on the bike and on the board. What changes have you seen during that time?<\/strong> These are all positive changes, but what obstacles and challenges remain?<\/strong> Are these cycling-only issues, or representative of the sporting spectrum at large?<\/strong> Is there a particular area that represents a priority at this time? <\/strong> Is funding an issue in all of this?<\/strong> What would be your advice to women considering getting in the saddle?<\/strong> What\u2019s been your proudest cycling moment? <\/strong> Want to join the ride but need a set of wheels to start? Check out our list of these Women-Specific Bikes for inspiration. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For those in the Irish cycling community, R\u00f3is\u00edn Kennedy likely needs little introduction; an Elite multiple National and Provincial medallist […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":3259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"global-categories":[73],"class_list":["post-3258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cycling-in-ireland","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nThe Cycling Ireland Women\u2019s Commission is a sub-committee of the Board of Cycling Ireland. Its primary objectives are to promote all cycling disciplines to women, and to facilitate the recruitment and retention of women cyclists in Ireland. The Women\u2019s Commission is supported financially by our National Governing Body \u2013 Cycling Ireland. <\/p>\n
\nWhen I started racing, we could count the women racing regularly in each province on one hand; lots of women were cycling, very few were racing. Most of the races were combined with the men, so a female beginner (to racing) had no pathway into competition. A lot of people have contributed to change that, from the original Commission starting the Boot Inn Leagues (Women\u2019s beginner to Elite Racing), to Corkagh Park, to the Intermediate League. Senior women\u2019s cycling is growing every year, on both road and track; women\u2019s entries often outnumber the men in Elite Track Nationals.<\/p>\n
\nI think that both the Women\u2019s Commission and the Youth Commission are aiming to address the issue with young girls and competition. The numbers are low, and retention is a problem. There is also a challenge to include all the disciplines. Lots of work has been done in recent years with discipline reps, but there is more that could be done with leisure, off-road, MTB and BMX.<\/p>\n
\nIn my opinion, all sports are seeing the same problems with retention \u2013 from youth to junior, and from junior to elite.<\/p>\n
\nThere is a pathway, and paid roles, to look after elite athletes, and beginner women are catered for with the Leagues, training camps, etc \u2013 but we need to see a lot more young girls choose cycling as their sport from an early age. At present this usually only happens within cycling families, but we need to get into the schools and show Irish girls our Irish sport \u2013 one with as long a tradition in Ireland as any of the Irish sports.<\/p>\n
\nWe are all volunteers, and to be honest funding has not been a limiting factor within the Commission. Cycling Ireland has always been supportive of what the women\u2019s commission wants to do; they now have paid roles for the development of Women\u2019s Cycling.<\/p>\n
\nI would say that you should identify what you like about cycling, and pick a club that suits these aspirations. If you want to be social, there are a lot of groups and organised leisure events that you could target. These are a great way to meet people, see new routes, and pick up tips. Once you are doing regular spins, you could contact your local cycling club. If you want to race or have a discipline specific leaning, then join a club that suits these ambitions. My Arcane Women\u2019s Team has a great set-up for women who would like to race on the road or track \u2013 you could turn up for a training day with us, and be racing in a national championship a month later!<\/p>\n
\nDifficult one, as I\u2019ve been racing for over 20 years and I prefer to look forwards rather than backwards. The racing part of cycling has always been about competing for me, and not about the result or level. I\u2019ve won an international stage race while riding on the Irish Team; I\u2019ve been a part of some great teams that have medalled in the Team Pursuit; but I will go with my most recent achievement \u2013 racing last Tuesday night at the B race in Corkagh Park, six weeks after giving birth to little E\u00f3in.<\/p>\n