【Orbea】Boundless Bonds | PACHAMAMA

Hi, so my name is Anne. And you might know me from the road, because I'm known as Anne in the van for Panama Studios traveling all over Europe. And yeah, if I'm not doing that, I'm riding my bike myself with my friends or discovering new places because I think that's just the perfect combination. I started cycling kind of because of my family. So my parents are cycling, road and mountain bike. And my aunt is actually a very passionate cyclist. So cycling was just the easiest choice and ever since I'm hooked. So that was like seven years ago now. And then when I moved to Munich, I pretty soon found this group called Female Cycling Force. And then these were actually my first experiences in a social ride. Yeah, I started leading community rides about three years ago. There was a girl that I know from social media. She asked for other girls to if they want to create a female cycling group. And I loved the idea because at that moment, I didn't know that many girls in cycling. As far as I know, Female Cycling Force was the first one to really implement those group rides just for girls. And yeah, from there on, it all developed. I got to know awesome people And I got to also guide other females into cycling. And it's been a really, really great experience. Women-only ride are important because I think they are like some sort of safe space. I think just having more women in the sport and empower them that they can also do it. That is what I love. I've been working in the cycling industry and I've been trying to tell women that it is okay also being in mixed social rides. But it's always different for them, especially when they start cycling. And it's nice to also see when they are at a point where they have been riding enough in female-only communities, building their confidence. Sometimes it's just in their head and it's nice to see when they are able to do it. We offer group rides for beginners. So the groups are a little bit smaller. You can concentrate more on the learning aspect. But at the same time, of course, you can only learn. And that's how I learned in cycling a lot. It's from people who are already more experienced that can give you inspiration. When you see someone, you're like, fuck, I want to be like this girl. Guiding a group and seeing the development of a group and them becoming more confident, I think it's the biggest goal we can achieve as a guide. And I have to say that through cycling and women groups like Female Cycling Force, I have found my best friends on and off the bike. I've met these people on different social rides, on different communities. And these are the people I spend the most time with. And I would say on this day, they're my best friends. And we share so much experience. And we've also had so much pain together on their bikes. And I think that makes us what we're today. That's pretty much where it all started for me. And I think this is just the nicest side of those communities. And that's why it's so important to have them. And I think I would never be where I am today without Female Cycling Force and women communities. Storytelling in cycling gives so many opportunities. You have the racing scene, you have the gravel scene, then you have all the social rides, and then you just have the big adventure part. And I think racing is just so niche and so,yeah,almost distant and unreachable for most of the girls. And I think if brands start telling stories about,let's say,normal characters and what they do, yeah,this is like a super easy way to motivate people because anybody,legit anybody, can go take their bike, put on a saddle bag and ride to wherever they want to go. So I think this is super important to really underline that cycling is for everyone. It is really special because different people come from different backgrounds. Someone was riding a professional, someone just started cycling. And at some point, every Saturday, they send the same meeting point, they drink the same coffee, and then they ride the same route. And it's nice to share that passion with other people. Every day of the week in Munich, by now you can choose group rides that you want. We offer on Monday, for example, women's rides. On Tuesday, there are training rides. Then on Friday, there are beginner rides. On the weekend, usually there's a longer social ride. And what exactly you're looking for is what you're going to try to ride. There's awesome energy, I would say. And it's so much fun riding with other people having the same energy because everybody's getting up in the morning and getting dressed. And if you go on the weekend, you know there's probably a long day ahead, a long day in the saddle. And other people are going on that pain as well. And you're sharing that pain and that passion, which makes it really great. Yeah, it's the best thing. And that's why we all do it. It's like the fresh air and the wind. And it's about having a good time and just enjoying it. And yeah, just listen to your body. I think Munich is great for riding, especially for gravel biking, because we're really close to the mountains. And you have some climbing stuff there. We have some really nice woods and some really nice off-road routes. And I would say it's almost champagne gravel. So it's not too technical if you go on the right paths. I mean, yes, there is bad weather. But I mean, as long as you're dressed warm and you have the right gear, it's all good and you can still enjoy it. You have another feeling for the nature and you get another experience. So it's something I really enjoy. It's where I get to experience great places, where I get to also cope with my emotions. So it's, yeah, a lot more than just a sport. Life is like a mountain. Like, you have to work hard to get uphill. But you have the reward on the top, which is the view. And then it goes downhill. But if it goes downhill, it also goes uphill again. So I would say this whole roller coaster, you know, you can apply to your whole life. I think my life has made a 180-degree twist since I've been into the cycling bubble. And, yeah, I'm just beyond thankful for all the people I've met, all the places I have traveled to and all the adventures I have discovered.