Tips for female bicycle travelers

Advice on what to wear when cycling through conservative countries: A small hint, it’s not short shorts or form-fitting lycra…

For periods: Say goodbye to bulky pads and tampons and hello to Mooncups! This small, foldable, reusable silicone cup is designed to collect menstrual blood when inserted into the vagina. Many long-distance female cyclists swear by it.

Some women even carry a peeing device such as the Unigear. This small rubber funnel fits snugly against your crotch, allowing you to pee while standing or into a bottle.

Have questions about bicycle touring, gear, or just want some encouragement for your upcoming trip? Then check out the Bicycle Traveling Women Facebook group. It’s also a great place to share your travel experiences.

Heike Pirngruber aka the Pushbike Girl has been cycling around the world since 2013. Her website features numerous interviews with other experienced female solo cyclists. Plus an informative article on wild camping safety tips from other solo women.

Cyclist Emily Chappell and a panel of women explorers answer the most common questions she receives on cycling as a lone female.

In the BIG WOW eBook by Loretta Henderson you will learn the tips and tricks of successful bicycle touring from over 100 accomplished women from around the world who travel solo by bike.

For all cyclists, including males, the biggest danger comes from motorized traffic.

But what about being hassled or attacked by men as a solitary female?

As Emily Chappell’s article On rape and racism points out:

…Shall I tell you of all the times I have been groped or flashed in my home country, in the course of my day-to-day life, in motorway service stations, in parks, in crowded bars, on public transport? (I think most women will have similar stories.)

For god’s sake, let’s stop painting our own society as a haven of peace and safety, which it most definitely isn’t, and by the same token, let’s stop turning the rest of the world into a no-go zone, full of dangerous criminals…

Emily’s right – there’s nowhere on earth where women are 100% safe.

Solo females often make a risk assessment on the countries they hope to ride through. Many places are just as safe—or even safer—than your hometown. But there are a handful of countries that aren’t so.

How can you find out which countries have a dodgy reputation?

It’s easy—just email a number of solo women who have previously cycled through the country. You might want to skip contacting older women or those who traveled with a male partner, as they likely won’t have experienced any harassment. For example; Iran is often a favourite country of couples who have rode there – but not single females. And for a good reason.

Visit a couple of bicycle touring Facebook groups such as Bicycle Travelling Women and Bicycle touring and Bikepacking. In the group’s search field, type the country’s name along with words such as, “sexual harassment”. Then read any results that might appear. Women typically share incidents shortly after they happen since they seek sympathy and reassurance from like-minded people If you do read of an incident, you can contact the person who posted about it.

Asking about how safe a country is in a Facebook group or on forums may not provide an accurate picture of the safety situation for solo female bicycle travelers. That’s because many women don’t feel comfortable writing publicly about harassment or assault years after it happened. Others have kept silent in order not to be seen as sullying a country’s reputation.

Plus, asking a general question such as; “Is it safe to cycle in country X as a solo female?” attracts comments from women who have never pedalled through that country but are more than willing to write “Follow your dreams!” and encourage you to go there.

Most countries are quite safe. By checking facebook groups and emailing women who have been there before – it will help reassure yourself (and your mother!) that you aren’t doing anything foolhardy or dangerous.

An excerpt from Olivia Round’s interview with Alissa.

Q: When people expressed concern / fear for what you were doing, how did that affect you?

A: Sometimes I get defensive and feel determined to prove them wrong. I’m not actually a risk seeker; I’ve done my research and wouldn’t be doing these things if I thought the risk was unacceptably high, so it’s frustrating when people question my carefully-made decisions. I also get frustrated when people feel more concern and fear on behalf of women, which unfairly holds us back from so many great experiences, despite being well-meaning.

As Juliana Buhring writes in bikepacking advice for solo female cycling “Granted, the world is not as dangerous as many believe it to be, but there are some things the solitary female cyclist can do to increase the likelihood of coming home in one piece”.

For even more information:

Alissa from Exploring Wild – Bikepacking Solo: Risks, Rewards, Words of Encouragement

Ewa Swiderska – This is a men’s world…should a women travelling solo be scared?

Julie Keller’s Final Thoughts & A Note on Being a “Single Woman” on the Road.

The bicycle travel websites page features a number of solo females and couple cyclists.