Venus de Miles Rides into the end of summer

Holly Hatch is a former editor of OFM.

It’s that time of the year again – cyclists gearing up for the long haul of Century Rides and long weekend outings.

The Venus de Miles is Colorado’s only all-women road-ride, promoting the message: “A celebration of sisterhood” and a fundraiser benefiting the local community.

It’s not a race, but a challenge: Women riders of all abilities band together to empower themselves through exercise and pushing their fitness limits.

Last year more than 2,100 women rode in the Venus de Miles between samplings of organic foods, hula hooping at rest stops and taking hearty advantage of the complimentary spa services.

Not only is this a great chance for a workout among sisters, but it’s organized and sponsored by the Greenhouse Scholars, a program that each year supports 50 Colorado students who are the first in their households to attend college. And the event is going green – more than 86 percent of the discard from last year’s event was either recycled or composted, sparing Colorado landfills 2,300 pounds waste, said Venus de Miles public relations correspondent Maria Hennessey.

If you’re a guy and you’d like to get involved, don’t fret! The “Men in Drag” program is a way for men to support the women in their life by dressing in a “killer outfit” and assisting with the riders’ basic bike maintenance. <