Changing Gears: Meet the women expanding representation in cycling

By Kevin Chang Barnum,

Wayne Edwards, Khalilah Brown-Dean, Meg Dalton, Catie Talarski

Published August 16, 2023 at 11:44 AM EDT

A photo of Katie Walker sitting on a bicycle on a cycling track wearing her team USA uniform and a helmet

1 of 3 — Katie Walker, 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships

Katie Walker just finished competing at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships and is currently training for next summer's Paralympic Games. Katie says that growing up, she didn't have many role models who looked like her.

Casey Gibson/USOPC

A photo of Leta Highsmith standing next to a bicycle in front of a brick building

2 of 3 — Leta Highsmith

Leta Highsmith after an 80-mile group ride from New Haven to North Hampton, MA. Leta is the first Black woman to become a League Cycling Coach with The League of American Bicyclists. Leta remembers one of her students saying, "Oh my goodness, you look like me," upon learning Leta would be teaching them.

A photo of Hannah Ross wearing a white shirt and standing in front of a store window with a bicycle behind it

3 of 3 — Hannah Ross Headshot Credit Plume 2023.jpeg

Hannah Ross, author of Revolutions: How Women Changed the World on Two Wheels, says that for women, riding a bike has always been political.

Plume

This hour, we take a look at representation in the cycling world. Connecticut-based bike instructor Leta Highsmith talks about being the first Black woman to become a League Cycling Coach with The League of American Bicyclists. Hannah Ross discusses her book Revolutions: How Women Changed the World on Two Wheels. And Katie Walker, who just finished racing in the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, explains what it's like competing at the highest level as she prepares for the Paralympic Games next summer.

GUESTS:

Leta Highsmith: League Cycling Coach with The League of American Bicyclists. She is the first Black woman to be a cycling coach with that organization.
Hannah Ross: author of Revolutions: How Women Changed the World on Two Wheels
Katie Walker: Paracyclist for Team USA who competes in track cycling

Special thanks to our interns Carol Chen and Stacey Addo.

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