SITW is a community that runs gravel riding events for women and non-binary folk. Hosted in the impressive Lake District National Park, their first event was a two day & two night camping event, focussed on off-road cycling and bike packing.
This community driven space was filled with magic and a contagious buzz. You can read more about this event and see a collection of my photos here (on bikepacking.com) or here (on We Love Cycling).
The event offered optional workshops in the morning and evenings, run by mechanics Lily (from Women In Tandem) and Joey (from the Bristol Bike Project). The aim was to get folks self-sufficient on their bikes, from changing or repairing a flat tyre to understanding how your gears work.
Not being much of a gravel rider myself, I had to get creative with how to capture the action of the weekend. Each day there were two route options for the riders: one short, and one long. Both rides passed by some good view points, so I was able to park up nearby and run (/walk) in to the good spots. All routes went past a checkpoint, where Outdoor Provisions had provided snacks to keep the riders energised - and to provide a well-needed rest stop!
The evenings featured chats and discussions with Rachael Walker and Emma Kingston (author of Bikepacking England), offering advice and tales on everything from kit to route planning. The fire-pits and marshmallows were another highlight of the evening, with folks gathering around the warmth to chat and laugh into the night.
