Come Meet Our BABBs Girl Gang - Featuring Dara!

Come Meet the Girl Gang Series

Celebrating Dara!

We're All Inspired by Dara!

Dara is actually our OG Beginner BABBS. She found one of our flyers at Blue Heron Bikes, read about this new girl gang for women over 40 and thought, Oohhh, I qualify! On her first ride with us, Dara brought a brand-new city bike and a genuine joy for being out on two wheels, and she's been consistently, persistently showing up ever since.

Dara doesn’t need flash or fancy. She is big-hearted. Funny in the most beautifully understated way. Curious. And she embodies a deep, wise sense of self.

When we tried to convince Dara to sign up for the Cinderella Classic last spring, she listened to our pitch and then told us, very matter-of-factly: Nope. I’m not ready for a bike event yet. But I will be. That tells you a lot about this BABBs.

A couple of months later, Dara was ready. And, in the spirit of "go big or stay home", she decided to take on the Marin Century’s San Geronimo route, with more than 30 miles and 2,000 feet of serious climbing. It's not exactly the most beginner-friendly route, but she went for it anyways. To prepare, she rode hills, and worked on new skills. We watched Dara get stronger and more confident. And on an incredibly hot August day, she took on those Marin hills, rode farther, and climbed more than she ever had before (or at least in this decade). She didn’t quite finish the course that day. But that was just the beginning. In early September, Dara entered the Tour de Fuzz, rode more than 32 miles solo—and this time, she finished the entire course. We're very sure there are many more cycling adventures and events in Dara's future. Lucky us!

When we launched BABBS back in March, we saw that first season as a pilot. We were figuring out what newer riders really needed from us, and Dara helped us figure that out more than she probably knows. Riding with her, watching her build skills and confidence, and learning when to coach, when to encourage, when to push a little, and when to let her decide for herself helped shape the Beginners & Builders program we have today. In a very real way, we have what we have today because Dara showed up.

And now other women are watching, dreaming, and taking risks.

Our Instagram video about Dara’s Marin Century ride was voted one of the best stories from this year’s event. When we were recruiting for our new Beginners & Builders cohort, one rider told us, “I was so inspired by Dara. She made me believe that I could do this too.”

That may be the most badass thing about Dara. Without making a big fuss about it, she has become the kind of rider who makes another woman look at something that feels a little scary or a little too hard and think, Maybe I could do that too.

We love you Dara -- you are truly a #badassbikebitch!

Let’s learn about Dara in her own words...

Meet Dara

What do you do when you’re not on a bike?

I love to be outside in the sun, cleaning the river rocks that surround the stepping stones next to the sidewalk and connecting with the people passing by. Artichokes and Japanese cucumbers are the favorite things in my garden, which may also include green beans, tomatoes, zucchini, and fresh herbs.

My household—young adult children, my wife, and an adoring small dog—enjoys watching reality TV (Survivor, The Amazing Race, and another show that shall not be named), playing cards and board games, including multiple versions of Monopoly, and playing Wii Sports and Mario Kart.

What’s something your fellow BABBS might not know about you?

I typically spend four to six weeks in Medellín, Colombia, during the winter, where it is sunny and in the 70s every day. I am enamored with the bicycling culture there, including the Ciclovías, when roads are closed to motorists and taken over by a festival of cyclists, skaters, walkers, runners, strollers, wheelchairs, and dog walkers—all moving in the same direction.

Why do you ride?

I ride for the joy of the movement, the wind in my face, and the discovery of new places, sights, and smells. I love being part of a posse, all exploring together—urban and rural, bridges and boats.

What’s your cycling—or Badass Bitch—superpower?

Persistence.

Since you started riding with BABBS, what has changed?

I showed up with my heavier-weight city bike, with no cycling clothes, clipless pedals, repair kit, replacement tube, electrolytes, snacks, or any of the things regular cyclists seem to carry. I could barely complete my first 10-mile ride with zero elevation gain.

A few months and more than a dozen rides later, I have crossed a bridge, built some endurance for elevation gain, and completed most of my first group cycling event, the Marin Century. Still riding my city bike, but now with chamois shorts. Woot, woot!

Why BABBS?

This year in Medellín, I befriended a woman who told me her cycling story, which included joining a women’s cycling club during the pandemic. She talked about the joy of regularly riding with a group, increasing the distances they covered, and ultimately doing a cycling trip together in the Netherlands. That planted a seed.

When I returned home, I took my bike to the shop for an adjustment and saw a flyer announcing a bicycling club for women over 40. It seemed that the universe brought BABBS to me. Since I met the qualifications, I decided to check them out. And I’ve been showing up almost every Saturday since.

Rapid Fire

Favorite cycling treat? Currently, a sandwich with seeded bread, peanut butter, and banana. I also love the bakeries and eateries we visit for rest stops—and sometimes a hearty lunch after the ride.

Favorite post-ride ritual? Getting my feet out of my cycling shoes and socks and giving them lots of fresh air in my Chacos.

Favorite cycling swag? Chamois padded cycling shorts. Keep the body comfortable.