It’s no secret that there’s a profound impact that comes through doing any sort of outdoor sport – especially when you do it as part of a community. Fresh from guiding a women’s gravel camp in central Italy, Shimano Gravel Alliance rider Claudia Gerosa looks back on how riding in an all-women’s environment can be so inspiring.

For the second year running, I’ve had the privilege of guiding a women’s-only gravel camp organised by the Italian women’s apparel brand No Gods No Masters. Called the United We Are Gravel Camp, or UWAG, for short, they have been incredibly formative and enriching experiences in many ways. After these past four days with 25 women from 11 different nations, here are my takeaways:

1. The power of women’s solidarity

One of the most important lessons I’ll take away from guiding this women’s-only gravel camp was how female solidarity is so powerful and worth celebrating. All the riders shared their own personal stories, including challenges and mini-triumphs. This created an incredibly supportive space where everyone, me included, felt accepted and encouraged. I left with a rosy glow, buoyed up by the thought of how important such solidarity is amongst women. In such an uplifting space, self-confidence was able to soar and it demonstrated how much women can achieve when there’s support around us.

2. Embrace all abilities 

The riders at UWAG came from various backgrounds, with equally as diverse off-road skills. This meant I was continually shifting my approach (and the way I communicated) to best meet each individual’s abilities. On a personal level I’m now a better guide, with more adaptability, than I was before this experience.

3. A woman’s mental and physical strengths 

Gravel riding is physically and mentally demanding. This is certainly the case in the Italian region of Marche where we held this camp. Each day the participants had to contend with rough, unpredictable ground and non-stop climbs. Over the three days of riding, I witnessed resilience and camaraderie first-hand as we rode (and pushed at times) through the demanding terrain. The takeaway: When you’re all in it together, you can achieve the seemingly unachievable.

4. The importance of a supportive community

An uplifting community is everything when it comes to sports or other activities. The camp was a beautiful reminder of the necessity to create spaces where riders feel seen, understood and confident to explore their limits. This is an approach that could (and should) be brought to every aspect of life by actively encouraging women to break down barriers.  UWAG’s atmosphere was incredible, which must in part be due to the impeccable organisation of the camp, matched with the energy of NGNM’s founder Milly de Mori. She has combined her passion for cycling with a meticulous eye for planning to create such an experience. And yes, the gravel camp will be organised again in autumn 2024.

5. The joy of new horizons

For the riders, the camp, held in a lesser-known but exceptionally beautiful region of Italy, highlighted the satisfaction of exploring on your gravel bike. Tiny dirt roads, little vineyard lanes and gravel tracks open up a whole new world to discover and you could see the pride on people’s faces each time we crested a climb, cleared a tricky technical part, or just reached the lunch stop. There was permanent inspiration just by looking around the group.

It was an exhilarating few days as a guide at the camp, which I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. An experience like this is never just about the riding or the improved bike handling skills - it’s helping to create a community of passionate women gravel riders who will be there to support and motivate each other. For this reason, I’ll continue to actively help empower women on and off the bike. 

Images courtesy of Nogodsnomasters