Stonewall, a charity striving for equity, freedom and opportunities of the LGBTQ+ collective, published a report in 2018 with crude statistics including: “Half of LGBT people (52 per cent) experienced depression in the last year (2017)” and Sport England published a report on sport and physical activity participation by the community in 2016, highlighting challenges and inequalities for the collective.
But we are working to change that narrative.
The community support that was historically offered on the 'scene' in our big cities is now mostly found in LGBTQ+ sport and social clubs and we think there will always be a place for these, creating a space where people can relate to each other in a non-sexualised context beyond the apps and bars.
The conversations at our events are noticeably different to those in a traditional cycling club, too.
People talk about their relationships, work and other aspects of life in an open and inclusive environment, sharing what's not often shared and we talk openly about mental health and difficult life decisions.
This has become part of our culture in Out Velo, but it has always been present in our community.
Of course we also talk about cycling, but we focus more on what bucket list adventures we're planning next than kit, power or pace.
This creates an environment that's especially welcoming for women, trans and non-binary cyclists.
Why Out Velo?
As a team, we founded Out Velo in 2022, having known each other for over 10 years as part of various organisations including OutdoorLads, Pride Out, the Gay Outdoor Club and Cycle Out. We're run by a steering group of eight people, all used to running successful adventures in our wild spaces.
In the UK, there has never been a dedicated LGBTQ+ road cycling club outside of London - something our community has been talking about changing for years!
With the growth in cycling as a sport, the availability of free and simple club management apps like Spond and Heylo, and the success of new clubs like the fantastic LDN Riders, we knew the time to launch had finally come.
Personally, Out Velo offers me a great way to enjoy bucket list cycling adventures with friends, having been on some amazing trips including the French Alps, the Dolomites and Stelvio Pass, the Scottish climb of Bealach na Ba and our regular pilgrimages to the Yorkshire Dales.
This has become a really important part of my life and the mental and physical health benefits have been incredible, plus I've also made an amazing network of friends all around the UK and abroad.
It really has been great in many different ways!
Geographic inclusivity
In LGBTQ+ cycling, our historic challenge has been a focus only on London.
This is despite other LGBTQ+ sports having a national network of independent but cohesively branded clubs, for example Frontrunners in running.
We hope that in time, Out Velo can act as a bridge and an informal network, helping others to grow and to seed independent local clubs in all our cities and regions.
To make this happen we aim to work closely with the other clubs that are out there, and it helps that most of our members are part of one or more of them.
Going forward, recognising we're all part of one interconnected national community and putting that community first will be essential to the growth of LGBTQ+ cycling.
At the same time, digital changes have made it easier than ever to set up cycling clubs and sports clubs in general - and pick and choose events - so it's critical to embrace this more network-based approach to sports organising.
This will allow us to reach more people and more places, and be stronger together, as well as helping us in our quest to grow a national network of clubs.
The wider sport of cycling, and LGBTQ+ sport in general, is changing and growing and we are excited about the future!
