Winter fun now part of recently launched program
A cycling program for women ages 55+ that started in the spring has expanded its activities to continue all year.
Sarah Gravelle-MacKenzie and Rose McDonald founded Cycling with Sarah to help older women become more comfortable riding their bikes.
The program started after Gravelle-MacKenzie became an ambassador for Liv Cycling, a cycling brand focused on women. Because of the program’s success, Cycling with Sarah began organizing group hikes in the fall and now is launching winter activities, including hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Gravelle-MacKenzie said the continuation of the program was a way to keep people connected while keeping them active to prepare for cycling next year.
“It’s all about support and encouragement, being active and, first and foremost, having fun because of course if anything we’re doing is fun, then we want to do it again,” she said.
Cycling with Sarah has partnered with the Winnipeg Trails Association for the skiing portion. Winnipeg Trails has a mobile ski library that people can borrow equipment from.
Winnipeg Trails and Cycling with Sarah are hosting an information session on Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. at Kildonan Park Golf Course to discuss the winter programming and how people can participate. The event is open to women 55+ and is free.
Cycling with Sarah has also partnered with Manitoba Parks to offer interpretive hikes and snowshoes in parks, including Birds Hill Provincial Park, in the new year. Gravelle-MacKenzie said she’s been talking with Pineridge Hollow about having the group of women gather there after activities to sit around a fire and have a warm drink.
“Everybody talks about the benefits not just being physical, but it was also the social and the mental health that became a real theme throughout the summer,” Gravelle-MacKenzie said. “It really made everybody feel better having this consistent routine of getting together and being active.”
Gravelle-MacKenzie said the mother of one of the women who joined a hike had recently passed away, and the woman found comfort in talking with other people on the hike.
“It was sort of that instant support group right there, and she just sort of talked to a variety of different hikers,” Gravelle-MacKenzie said. “Everybody had something different to offer her.”
There’s also a philanthropic aspect to Cycling with Sarah. The group has hosted fundraisers, for Willow Place and Main Street Project in Winnipeg. Gravelle-MacKenzie said this was a way to extend the group’s impact and support beyond just the women who attend Cycling with Sarah activities.
“What started out as let’s get women out there and let’s get active and support each other and encourage each other has really grown to become much more than I ever anticipated when it started,” Gravelle-MacKenzie said. “It’s been so gratifying, and as great as I feel about it, all the women feel the same way.”
Gravelle-MacKenzie said cycling with the group will start again in the spring. For people who want to take part in Cycling with Sarah activities this winter, contact Gravelle-MacKenzie at cyclingwithsarah@gmail.com. She’ll send a waiver, which is offered through another partner, the RM of East St. Paul Recreation Facilities.
Once the participant submits the waiver, Gravelle-MacKenzie will help them register with the app the group uses to organize hikes.
To stay up to date on Cycling with Sarah and to follow along the group’s journey, follow @cyclingwithsarah on Instagram.
