Carla Myers, Maria Wherley, and Kristin Peterson prepare for a ride in Oak Hall, near Boalsburg. Photo by Emily Dabney

by Emily Dabney

In the U.S. women make only half the number of bicycle trips that men do, according to a 2009 Scientific American article entitled “Shifting Gears.”

Three local women hope to change that. They have started a bicycle touring company hoping to get more women out on two wheels in Centre County.

The founders of See Jane Ride, based in Oak Hall, say they want to bring women of all shapes, sizes and athletic experience together to embrace their physical abilities while exploring the hidden beauty of the region’s back roads.

“It’s not a race, and there’s no shame,” said co-owner Carla Myers as she described the bike tours.

Their private company hosts weekly rides, offering the introductory ride for free to women who’d like to try out the sport but are hesitant about getting started. Their classes run for six to eight weeks and are designed to combine learning the skills of cycling with nurturing an enjoyment of the activity.

The first ride starts with a lesson that includes training to position seats correctly and practicing proper gear shifting – little details that, when done right, can enhance a rider’s physical endurance and capability, See Jane Ride co-owner Maria Wherley explained. The sessions begin with a five-mile ride. By the last session, the entire group is able to complete a ride of about 22 miles, said Myers.

A major attraction of cycling is that it’s a “very empowering type of sport,” Myers said.

Wherley said the company has revised the typical bicycle tour by promoting a group atmosphere so that everyone enjoys and shares the adventure together. With initial guidance from the staff and encouragement from more experienced riders, beginners get charged up and become eager to continue the sport, Wherley said.

The tours the company organizes are structured to emphasize local attractions, and all tours come with full support, including a full-time, ride-along guide.

“Usually when signing up for a tour, you are given a map, and there may or may not be an actual guide riding along with the group,” she said. “It’s less connected—less of a team.”

The more advanced weekend bicycle tours often have a theme, such as the wool tour, which begins on Friday evening with wine, cheese and yoga, and a night in a bed and breakfast. The next day, cyclists stop in Coburn, Pa., for a home-cooked meal by chef and fellow cyclist Bobbie Dash. The ride continues on to Tamarack Farm, an Icelandic sheep farm in Spring Mills. After another stop at Cooke Tavern in Spring Mills, they all eat dinner at Elk Creek Tavern in Millheim and spend Sunday resting and exploring the Penns Valley area.

“You’d be surprised how many beautiful country roads there are in Millheim,” added Kristin Peterson, See Jane Ride’s third partner.

The three women are currently creating new tours including a fly fishing and cycling combination with a visit to Eric Stroup’s Spruce Creek Fly Co.

Peterson said she feels a bonding experience when biking with her mother, so the three are considering reaching out to teenagers with a mother-daughter ride.

“We want them to look from the inside out. We want to show them what they can do with their bodies,” said Myers.

In April, the three women co-sponsored a fundraiser for the Centre County Women’s Resource Center and the founders said they are eager to continue their business endeavors centered on a philosophy of charitable work. As their company progresses, they foresee more opportunities to help both local and international charities.