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Women’s Mountain Bike & Tea Society Reaches Milestone

WOMBATS

Box 757

Fairfax CA 94978

For immediate release

Precisely two decades ago American champion (team Cunningham) Jacquie  Phelan took the bull by the horns to shape the direction of the sport she ruled unbeaten for six seasons.

By creating an insanely silly sounding club name and adding her own inimitable feminine flair (and repeated pourings of hot black tea,  day-old pastry and juicy gossip), she set a high standard for future champions to aspire to.

Phelan was invited to speak and teach at shops all over the USA. Christy Lawyer and Sue Edwards of Boston, Sue Bannay and Jean Galli of Connecticut, Jennifer Buntz and Bonnie Nuttall of Albuquerque, and Rose Austin and Karen Lee of Anchorage have made such an impact with their WOMBATS chapters that trails are named for the club in a few states.
Nowadays  there are even more women’s mountain bike clubs to serve new riders around the USA, taking their cue (and sometimes even their mission statement) from WOMBATS’ inclusiveness goal.  The names, 0774 704 8099

MadFORCS, Glittergirls, VeloBella, Velogirls, WOMB, BOMBB, Pedal Queens, etc). This trend, Phelan predicts, will augment as long as the bike industry struggles to get a clue about what women want.

A brief list of the accomplishments of  WOMBATS:
First fat-tire instructional camps in the world --for anyone, women OR men.

First club rides where leader is last (i.e., nobody gets dropped) Admittedly, this is unverifiable.

First time mountain biking was extensively featured in Vogue, Elle, O, Ladie’s Home Journal,  Sunset and other popular periodicals.

First retreat and assorted symposia  for women in the bicycle industry (Women of Power in The Industry, aka WOPITI) which inspired the outdoor equipment industry to do the same.

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