What’s Not to Love about the Venus de Miles?

During the years Teresa Robbins had lived in California’s Bay Area she had the opportunity to ride in the Cinderella Classic. She loved the feeling of sisterhood and camaraderie in that all-female cycling event. After she and her husband moved to Longmont, Colorado, they fell in love with the area, but she felt it was “kind of intimidating to break into cycling as a woman.” Teresa didn’t feel the need to be a competitive racer, all she wanted was a community of cycling women who could have fun on their rides, would stop for a latte sometimes and were the type to laugh and joke as they rode up hills. She thought what Colorado needed was a women’s only cycling event to bring that feeling of cycling sisterhood to the area. She didn’t see herself as an event planner but two opportunities stepped right in her path. The first was a very worthy charity in need of a fundraising event: the Greenhouse Scholars. The second was found in a Bicycling Magazine article about Hope on Wheels, a women’s only cycling event in Tennessee started by Vida Greer and her daughter, Katherine Carroll.

After reading the article, Teresa picked up the phone and called Vida Greer, who gave her lots of advice on starting a women’s charity ride. The Greenhouse Scholars enthusiastically stepped in to run the event as a fundraiser and the Venus de Miles ride was born. The first year was launched by their grassroots organization and army of volunteers; and they were pleased with the number of women who came that year: 661. By 2009, the numbers had more than doubled and enthusiasm spread through the community of Prospect New Town, where the event started and finished, as well as nearby Longmont. Businesses stepped forward with help in promoting the event, giving donations and in volunteering. Male cyclists showed their sense of humor even as they volunteered by offering sag support, while dressed in drag. (Look for the guys in the fishnet stockings at the ride this year, not only will they be fixing flats, but they will be handing out gourmet chocolates as well!)

As Teresa had hoped, the Venus de Miles ride has had its impact on women in the community. Beth Burcham, who is into yoga and dancing, is typical of many women. She hadn’t been on a bike since she was 20,and she rode a commuter bike with road tires during the ride, and says, “the Venus de Miles definitely got me into cycling again!” This year she plans on signing up for 65 miles because “last year’s distance just wasn’t enough!”

 A handful of 12-year old girls did the 50-mile route last year, surrounded by many wonderful women they could look up to as mentors. Melissa Newell, the owner of Terrior, a restaurant in Longmont, rode in the Venus de Miles both years with her mother, who had flown into town for just that reason. Like Melissa and her mother, there were many family generation groups who enjoyed riding together. As Teresa had hoped, a change came to the community that lasted for much longer than the ride itself: women wanted to keep up cycling and they wanted to do it together.  As a result, two Venus de Miles bike clubs were formed, one in Longmont and one in Denver where women were easily able find a fun group to ride with or even spin with.

The students from the Greenhouse Scholars program enjoy volunteering during the Venus de Miles ride

Last year, Venus de Miles raised over $100,000 after expenses for Greenhouse Scholars, a non-profit organization that meets a need that is usually unmet in many communities. For students who come from underprivileged backgrounds, the odds are stacked against them for getting into college and paying for it. The odds against them graduating are equally bad: only 11% of such students will graduate from college. Enter Greenhouse Scholars who are there to help such students not slip through the cracks. Not only do they provide scholarships, but they provide mentors during their college years, give them networking and professional career coaching, offer summer seminars and help them make the most of internships. Many of the current group of Greenhouse Scholars is in colleges throughout Colorado, but a few have been enrolled in Harvard and Dartmouth. If you ride in the Venus de Miles, most of your money goes to the Greenhouse Scholars. You’ll see many of the students volunteering along the ride, especially at the first rest stop.

The Venus de Miles ride has a great sense of fun--and style!

After Competitor Magazine named the Venus de Miles as the “Best Cycling Event” in Colorado, Teresa Robbins could have rested on her laurels, but no, this year promises to be bigger and better! The evening before the 2010 Venus de Miles, riders will sit down to enjoy a gourmet “farmhouse dinner” and listen to music by Elephant Revival. Have kids? During the ride, children ages 5-10 can get in a fun workout of their own, mountain biking and kayaking at an adventure camp put on by Avid4Adventure. The ride itself promises to be scenic and entertaining. You’ll be greeted at the start by the Denver Roller Girls and see an all-women break-dancing team in action along the course. During the ride or afterwards you’ll enjoy a gourmet lunch and can sip mojitos, wine or handcrafted beer. Take it easy after your ride relaxing at the spa-like Rejuvenation Center with massages, mini-facials, pedicures, manicures, even waxing and acupuncture! Amazingly, you can have this much fun and yet, over 80% of your registration money will go to the Greenhouse Scholars. I don’t wonder anymore that the ride was named in tribute to a goddess of love and cycling miles.

You can sign up for the August 29, 2010 Venus de Miles by going to their website here.