Women in Cycling: Mexico City Race Weekend

December 29, 2020

Thanks So Much! Gabriela for the inspiration, race report and pictures 🦅✨

Back in September, I saw a flyer for a race called Faded Fridays. A 14 lap circuit of the small central park loop. I wanted to compete but knew women were not participating, and without another woman, there is no category. I convinced Liz to do it with me, and I raced for the first time. Holding that speed for all 14 laps hurt. I felt like stopping many times, especially as the men lapped us twice. We finished in 1st and 2nd and won some money. More importantly, that night, we broke through mental barriers holding back our potential.

Two weeks later, the 3 Blind Mice Alleycat was approaching. Jennifer shared she was intimidated to participate and just wanted more women to show up. I had never raced an alleycat before but offered to race along with her. We rode together the whole race; I followed her route taking notes on her riding abilities. We took turns leading the pace, and I felt helpless, not knowing the city enough to help out. Until, one of the last checkpoints was the fountain where the Faded Friday race took place, and Jen didn’t know this checkpoint. I led us there, and we finished in 7th and 8th. By the end of the month, I was interested in the Rumble Thru the Bronx Alleycat. Intimidated, I convinced Jenifer to return the favor and ride with me. I took 1st place that day and reconnected with my aunt, who passed away 14 years ago. Being alone the whole race, I found strength in riding towards the last checkpoint (City Island), a place she would love to go for father’s day.

After the race, I started grieving my aunt again and lost the motivation to ride my bike consistently. Around this time, I started seeing the flyer for the Mexico City race weekend. Looking to escape, I considered going to Mexico as a documentarian, my other passion. I figured I would distract myself and go photograph the bike community in Mexico City. A month later, Anya’s first race was approaching (Slingshot Madison), and I wanted to support her. My friend Dane was recovering from an injury, and to motivate us both, I asked him to be my partner for the race. Mashing down 5th avenue, I thought about my aunt many times. I asked her to give me the strength to stay focused and safe. We finished in 1st place that night, and the money I won went towards my Mexico trip. Three days later, I was on a plane to Mexico and was randomly assigned a seat next to Rachel. I had seen Rachel at a couple of alleycats, but we never spoke to each other. We talked the whole flight and, by the end, agreed that if the opportunity presented itself, we would race.

When we landed and my bike was delayed with no set day of arrival. I spent the next two days trying to locate my bike. Then, Thursday noon I’m told it arrived. I head over to the airport only to be informed it would arrive on the 7pm flight. Disappointed but with a positive attitude, I head back to the bike shop to wait for the bike. During this time, two girls walk in looking for a team. I remind Rachel of our agreement, and we register for the race. This race was a 4x10km relay inside a freeway known as Circuito Interior. A 42-km-long freeway that forms a loop around the central neighborhoods of Mexico City. Each teammate had to ride 10km (6 miles) and pass a Kryptonite lanyard to the next. The bike shop led a group ride for everyone to get familiar with the Circuito Interior, and I headed to the airport for my bike.

The next day is race day, and I am nervous because I have no idea what to expect. Mexico is about 7,000 feet above sea level, and I had no time to ride around the city and get acclimated to the elevation and traffic. Luckily, I was staying with Laura, and she was also racing the first leg. She reassured me I had nothing to worry about, to just ride like I normally would and stay calm when the elevation starts affecting my breathing. The race was so fun; swerving around cyclists and cars in a different city felt like a dream. Quickly, I started to realize I had the wrong ratio as I started to stay behind the pack. Then the climbs started to affect my breathing, but I remembered what Laura said and stayed calm. Quickly, I was in the pain cave and just wanted to exit the freeway, stop pedaling; I felt my lungs shrinking. I thought about my team and how much was at stake for them. I couldn’t give up, so I focused on a cyclist and pushed to pass them and kept doing that over and over. It felt like the longest 6 miles of my life, then I arrived and handed the lanyard to my second teammate. At this point, we were in second place, and I couldn’t believe what I had just done. Nonetheless, my effort couldn’t compare to the ladies who raced on their cargo bikes. We finished in 4th place out of 6th teams, and I was happy to see Laura and her team finish first.

The next day was the alleycat, still pumped from the adrenaline the day before, I decided to give it a try. The race began with the classic run to your bike, and the manifest was placed on my saddle. I grabbed it, jumped on my bike, and was out with the group. I opened the manifest and was quickly overwhelmed when I couldn’t identify any of the checkpoints. I kept riding with the group, not knowing where I was going. Then I stopped and started to locate the first checkpoint. About 5 different locations came up for that checkpoint. Anxiety set in as I kept seeing cyclists ride by, and I was just standing there. So I got back on my bike and realized there was 1 checkpoint I recognized. I headed to Bombardier’s bike shop and felt optimistic now that I had one checkpoint down. Then, I took the time to create my route without the first checkpoint. I knew I couldn’t win without the first checkpoint, but at least I wanted to finish the race. Midway towards the race at one of the checkpoints, I heard a guy say he was heading to the first checkpoint, so I asked if I could ride with him. We rode together, and when I looked at the rest of my route, everything left was on that same side of the city. He stayed to wait for his friends, and I continued. Confident that now I had a chance to make the podium, I picked up more speed. I felt free, strong, and fearless. I took my hands off my handlebars and rode my bike with no hands for the first time. I arrived at the finish just to be handed a second manifest. At this point, I was told I was in third, so I created my route quickly and was back on the road. This was the best way to explore the city; getting lost in Mexico is something I will never forget. I finished in 3 hours with 32 miles and placed third.

The next day was tracklocross. Laura competed, so we headed to the course together. Before the race began, she encouraged me to ride the course with her and educated me on the skills needed to race tracklocross. This opened my mind to my future potential if I start riding fix. She finished in 4th out of her group, but with no other women in the competition, there was no category for her to win. This race made me realize how important it is for women to inspire other women to try other cycling disciplines. That night there was a celebration to conclude the race weekend, but we called it an early night. We had plans to ride the next day with Ana Puga. The morning ride was magnificent; the destination was Desierto de Leones, 15 miles of continuous climbing (2,828ft elevation gain) all on a highway. She returned to NY that afternoon, but all the memories we spent in comradery is something I will cherish forever. I was supposed to leave the next day, but I overslept and missed my flight. I tried purchasing a ticket, but they were too expensive, and flying next week would be one-fourth the price.

Standing outside my Airbnb with my luggage and no plans, I felt immense peace and contacted Malini, one of my teammates from the 4×10 relay. I explained my situation, and she offered to host me. That week, I bonded deeply with Malini, her sister, and all her amazing friends. We rode all over the city and being around so much female energy reminded me about all the qualities that I loved about being raised by my aunt. Mexico has an alarming femicide problem; approximately 10 women are killed every day. There is a special type of bonding that happens when you live in a city where every day is focused on surviving versus thriving. Malini, as an artist, paints all around the city messages about feelings we can all relate to. Hoping these messages give comfort to others in difficult times. I also meet Xoch, an advocate for cyclist safety and justice from irresponsible drivers. We had a conversation in English about cycling in Mexico City, and all I could think was what a powerful leader. There was Andre, the mural painter creating mesmerizing portraits with spray paint. Leny, a passionate dancer with a loving, sweet, flowing energy. Shelia, the graphic designer with her bold and fun personality. Monse, my other teammate from the 4×10 relay who is an entrepreneur that loves to chase the adrenaline. Maggie, the amazing hairstylist by day but a strong cyclist on her days off. Her team placed second at the 4×10 relay. Last but not least Ale, a bike messenger who was moving the night we hung out. She was on her 8th trip when we road together. Her strength impacted me so much; watching her move on a bike across the city in crazy traffic was unforgettable. She embodies the true definition of bike life.

On my last night, we all gathered for a meal. Each one gave me something to bring back, something to remember the connections we made. The biggest gift they gave me was their energy and company. It helped me heal, and being immersed in the Mexican culture, I learned how to honor my aunt’s passing. One day while talking with Malini, she told me, “when you ride your bike, you are riding in your aunt’s honor, in honor of many women who didn’t have the opportunity to ride a bike because of social norms, economic norms, and lack of exposure.” It made me reflect on the reasons my mom and grandmother never rode a bike. All these women in the cycling community changed my life. When I look back at the reason I started racing in the first place, it was because we supported each other. Missing my flight was a blessing in disguise. Right before I left, Malini gave me an art piece that had the message “Ya me siento mejor” (I feel better now). I sat there in silence and held it in my hands, thinking how ironic it was. Everything had come full circle; I left NY trying to escape my emotions and left Mexico City feeling more than better.