Joy is...Sharing Adventures.

Another Friday episode in the ‘Shining Lights’ series, platforming lesser-known voices with their own incredible stories of showing up, shooting their shot and putting one foot in front of the other.

Emily Wormald is a cyclist based in the Lake District and is the founder of Lakes Gravel Gang, a women’s only cycling group, which has now grown to over 150 members. Having got into cycling through her then boyfriend, Emily is now a huge advocate of literally 'fixing your own puncture' and the freedom that cycling can bring, to women in particular.

I couldn't stop smiling throughout our conversation: Em positively radiates joy and enthusiasm and the community that she has built really does reflect that. We discuss Emily's introduction to the outdoors via the Scouts; gravel biking and out-the-door mini adventures; 'princess gravel'; reclaiming the word 'empowerment'; the barriers to women getting into cycling; amplifying everyone's voices; putting community first; pants, 'flaps' and safe spaces; skill-share evenings fuelled with pizza and planning routes according to cake; thoughts around language and ownership; the challenges and rewards of bike-packing; vulnerability in life and cycling; getting more women onto start lines, as well as unintentionally philosophical quick-fire questions concerning the classification of doughnuts.

Follow: Em Wormald @emwormald

Lakes Gravel Gang @lakesgravelgang

Map of Women and ENBY led groups by Saoirse: Women & ENBY led cycle groups (arcgis.com)

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