Women in Sport Week 2017 has been inspiring the nation with stories of dedication, success and confidence splashed across the internet.

Scottish Cycling aims to promote and develop women’s cycling, offering opportunities for women to get involved, so now you are inspired, we have pulled together seven reasons why you should get involved – starting NOW!

1. 1.      Cyclocross is now the fastest growing disciplines for women

Let’s keep it growing – with an average of over 600 competitors competing in national series events, you are never on your own. The season starts in October, with the Championships on 3^rd December at Knockburn.

Your practice can start well before that by entering the rounds in the Scottish Raleigh Cyclocross Series.

1. 2.      Our Women’s Road Race Series now has a team element

There is now no excuse for your pals to turn down an offer of riding a series event with you – you need them in your team. With three rounds still left, you still have plenty of time  to gather some well-earned points for your club.

Round #3 – 02-07-17 – Women’s Mortgage Hub Trophy (John Gordon Memorial), Larnark (entries close Sunday – get your entries in!)

Round #4 – 13-08-17 – Pedal Power Road Race, Baadsmill (warm up to the National Championships)

Round #5 – 10-09-17 – Sally Anne Memorial Road Race, Cairngorms (make it a 2-day by doing their TT or Hill Climb on the Saturday!)

1. 3.      You have lots of opportunities to challenge yourself, and to be fast

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in time trial, with five time trials still on the Championships calendar, and many more regional events taking place across the country. These events give you the opportunity to challenge the clock without worrying about what everyone else is doing.

09-07-17 – National 50 Mile TT Championship, Fordoun (entries close on Sunday!)

12-08-17 – National Team TT Championship, Forfar

19-08-17 – National Youth TT Championship, Forfar

27-08-17 – National 100 Mile TT Championship, Fordoun (enter here)

22-10-17 – National Hill Climb Championship, Stow

1. 4.      Everybody gets muddy when they mountain bike (and let’s face it, getting muddy is pretty fun!)

Nobody has ever complained about being muddy in the mountain bike scene, in fact, the muddier the better! Blow of some steam and get on your mountain bike – there are trails across Scotland, so you have no excuse.

If you want to race, there are plenty of opportunities to:

06-08-17 Scottish National Downhill Mountain Bike Championships - Aberfeldy

03-09-17 Scottish National Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships – Glentress

You can also find information on the Scottish National Downhill Series at the Scottish Downhill Association, and the Scottish Cross Country Series at the Scottish Cross Country Association

Ride like a Grrl is also taking place in September in Aviemore and is a women's only MTB race run by Petal Power. It's open to solos, pairs and trios and is just such an amazing event! Brilliant trails, brilliant scenery, completely entry level but also really good fun for more experienced racers. 

1. 5.      The more women riding, the more fun the race is

The bigger the field, the more interesting the race! There are lots of road racing opportunities still available this year – and if you all enter, then you are guaranteed a friend in the race for those tactical changes to get you ahead of the bunch. Be ahead of the game and don’t wait for others to enter first!

20-08-17 – National Road Race Championship (David Campbell Memorial), Kennoway

10-09-17 – National Veteran Road Race Championship (Sally Anne Memorial), Cairngorms

30-09-17 – National Criterium Championship, Ingliston

30-09-17 – National Youth Road Race Championship, Ingliston

1. 6.      You don’t have to cycle outside all of the time (except at Caird Park, but it is always sunny in Dundee)

Track cycling is growing in Scotland, with regions calling for velodromes across Scotland! This year we have introduced a Scottish National Senior Omnium Championship giving an extra date on the calendar to get involved.

29-07-17 – National Senior Omnium Championship, Dundee (be the first ever National Omnium Champion!)

10-12-11-17 – National Senior Track Championship, Glasgow

TBC December – National Madison Championship, Glasgow

1. 7.      Sometimes you just need to go on an adventure…

Scottish Cycling, Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS), The Adventure Cycling Syndicate and Velocity Café recently offered this amazing opportunity for girls between the ages of 13- 16.  A full on weekend of adventure with the focus on inspiring confidence and enabling , developing independence and just getting out there and having an adventure. As part of the successful Women on2 Wheels programme, this pilot was designed to engage teenage girls and help support and encourage them to spend a lifetime enjoying bikes. Read more about it here.