Episode 41: Jessica Guo on Ostroy Racing & Development, and creating a more accessible bike culture

Social Sport

Today I am speaking with Jessica Guo. Jess is a York City cyclist, and the founding member and current team captain of Ostroy Racing and Development. Without a doubt, cycling is an extremely white, male-dominated sport. In New York City, in 2017, only 17% of competitive cyclists identified as women! Over the last few months, jess has spearheaded a team that aims to represent a “refresh button” for femme, transgender, and women ridership. And it has grown fast--now holding a roster of 64 riders. Formerly called Ostroy Women’s Team, Ostroy Racing and Development is not just for people who identify as women. Instead, Jess wants to continue making cycling accessible to people of all genders, races, and financial backgrounds.

Discussed in this episode:

• Demographics of cycling
• Ostroy
• Learn more about Alex Ostroy and the Ostroy brand
• AIDS/Lifecycle ride
• Inaccessibility/barriers to entry in cycling
• Girls Bike NYC
• MBR Cycling
• NightCAP Brooklyn
• Reducing gendered language
• Coach Tara Parsons
• CRCA
• Park Slope Food Coop model
• On the Clock by Emily Guendelsberger

Quote:

• “I think this year, the BLM movement has raised the profile of needing diversity, equity and inclusion to be prevalent in every single aspect of how you’re living your life. So I brought that perspective with me in terms of building the team—not only diversity in terms of racial and ethnic backgrounds, but also with financial backgrounds—making it accessible to anybody who is interested in cycling. I think it’s a sport that anyone can enjoy.” -Jessica Guo

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