Exeter woman named in UK’s 100 most inspirational women in cycling for 2023

An Exeter woman has been named among the most exceptional women in cycling, revealed today (Thursday 23 November 2023) by Cycling UK through its annual 100 Women in Cycling list. 

Filmmaker, founder of The Alternative Film House, Catherine Dunn, has been recognised for her work encouraging other women to get on their bikes.

Each year, the UK’s cycling charity recognises women from all corners of the cycling world who have had a positive impact by inspiring others to cycle and thus helping make cycling a more inclusive space. 

Despite the 2021 census showing there are more women than men in the UK, men are much more likely to cycle regularly than women. Cycling UK wants to show through its annual celebration of these inspiring individuals that cycling can be for everyone – no matter your gender, background or ability. 

Sarah Mitchell, Cycling UK’s chief executive, said:b“Cycling is a fantastic way to get around sustainably, keep fit and have fun outdoors and we want everyone to benefit from the joy of cycling. But in the UK, substantially fewer women ride than men. It’s our mission to reverse that and see equal levels of cycling across all genders. 

“A great way to encourage more women to cycle is to share the stories of these amazing women – whether they’re chronicling their adventures on social media, advocating for better infrastructure in their neighbourhoods, inspiring their communities to join them for a ride or winning medals around the world. 

“Choosing the top one hundred winners involves some really tough choices – there are so many brilliant women out there who we’d want to celebrate.”

Gongs are awarded for a wide range of achievements that have helped inspire more women from diverse backgrounds to get on a bike. They are given in four categories: community champion, industry mogul, cycle influencer and sporting hero.

Catherine Dunn, 28, uses film and photography to capture and tell impactful stories of women on their bikes. She focuses on strength, mental health and community, elevating voices that need to be heard. One such voice was Jessie Stevens’s – the young climate activist who cycled 600 miles across the UK to attend COP26, documented in Not a Hero’s Journey.

Catherine said: “I've been riding a bike since before I can remember, whether that was BMX, road biking or mountain biking. As long as it was two wheels it didn’t matter, because the important thing was that I had found a space where I could feel strong as a young girl.”

The 100 Women in Cycling 2023 list also includes:

• Hanna Ahmed, director, instructor, ride leader and mentor at Hop On, a social enterprise organising bike rides for the community in Bradford
• Emily Williams, Scotland’s first bicycle mayor
• Dr Fiona Spotswood, an academic at the University of Bristol researching inequality in the mountain biking scene
• Aileen McGlynn OBE, paralympic tandem champion cyclist, who grew up in Glasgow but is based in Greater Manchester – and many more.

Dr Fiona Spotswood said: “The 100 Women in Cycling initiative showcases the role women have to play in fostering a more inclusive culture across cycling. My roles in cycling vary - I lead a kids’ mountain bike club, I lead groups of women mountain bikers, and I use my research at the University of Bristol to underpin work with public organisations all committed to helping transform mountain biking. Collectively we’re working to continue transforming mountain biking so it is a place where women and girls feel they belong and can thrive. 

“It’s been fantastic to be nominated and to learn about all the other women working in incredible ways to foster change in cycling. I feel very proud.”

This year, Cycling UK’s panel was joined by two guest judges, Michelle Arthurs-Brennan, digital editor of Cycling Weekly, and Hannah Dobson, managing editor of Singletrack World.

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan said: "Judging Cycling UK's 100 women in cycling has been a challenge - there were just so many incredible and inspiring nominees. It's been eye-opening to read the stories of so many wonderful characters, doing so much to drive the women's cycling community forwards, growing numbers and confidence levels across such a broad range of cycling styles, from sports enthusiasts to commuters, and those using bikes to cross cultural barriers and enact meaningful change. The future is bright, and riding a bike."

Hannah Dobson said: “It was great to see so many women bringing something to the cycling community, and interesting to see so many different types of contributions across all disciplines. It's good to see people being recognised for their enthusiasm as well as sporting prowess - illustrating that inspiration comes in many forms. 

“You don't have to be on the list to help inspire people to ride - everyone that gets on a bike, whether it's to go to the shops or to escape to the countryside - is showing the possibilities that bikes offer. I hope some of the stories here will inspire others to try cycling - who knows who will see them and think 'I could do that, too'?”

To see the full list, visit Cycling UK’s website: https://www.cyclinguk.org/100women/2023