Female cycling is growing in popularity and it might come down to a few things, it could be the endless possibilities to accessorise, the interesting and eye-catching rolling runway of lycra fashion, the cafe dates or the opportunity to be faster than some of the guys out there! But for Yasmin Berry it is all of the above and so much more.
Yasmin is the oOh! Media Data Insights Manager and if that sounds foreign to you, she explains her job very well a little later. She has fallen in love on the bike and with her bike and this affair has taken her to corners of the globe that she may have never had the chance to get to before she flirted with the gorgeous two-wheeled machine.
Her two wheeled adventure to France last year exposed her to some people that have inspired her to make a difference to other peoples lives, as well as the exposure to great food and the prolific riding in the Alps!
Here is her story…
Who is Yasmin Berry?
I’m a country girl from Dubbo who has since adopted Sydney as my home and I love it – the chaos of Sydney life suits me much better. I work in Research for a media owner and I have really enjoyed the work and the journey so far. I’ve been with oOh! Media for the past 4 years, with a focus on consumer research. Basically, I’m interested in understanding how data is opening the door to new levels of business insight, partnerships and accountability. I’ve recently taken on a new role with oOh! based on this, and I can’t wait to get stuck into it.
What’s your first memory of the humble bicycle?
Santa bought my first bike, and he knew the way to my heart getting his elves to work on a Barbie bike. It was pink and white with training wheels with a cute little basket on the front – 100% style. Funnily enough it was also my youngest brothers first bike… Mum and Dad managed to convince him to paint it red to garner some masculinity. Of the ‘first bike’ stories he definitely got the raw deal.
How were you introduced to the sport of cycling as an adult?
An old boyfriend bought me a bike so we could ride together, and I’ve loved it ever since. On that note, I’d argue there is no better couples activity. Fancy dinners and movie nights are great, but you can totally fall in love on a bike. Riding around in the sun, roaming the city with your buddy – there is nothing better.
What motivates you to ride?
Its funny, I used to be a night owl come zombie in the morning. Somehow I have found myself loving a hobby, which requires me to be up at 5am on a weekday (suited up in lycra). I love watching the sunrise over the eastern suburbs on my bike with my buddies. There is also an enormous sense of satisfaction and healthy competition beating yours or someone else’s time. And then the lycra!
Cycling could be the natural progression of dancers – my childhood involved outrageous patterned lycra leotards for dance eisteddfod. When that was no longer an option, I deviated to the sport that celebrates adults in visions of coloured lycra!
New bike feeling, have you had it recently? How does that feel?
Pretty damn exciting. It is the adult version of the white and pink barbie bike trophy I paraded in my early years. I bought my last bike off bike exchange 3 years ago, for about $500 and have barely spent a penny on it since. I upgraded to a beautiful Ritte Ace about 2 weeks ago. She is gorgeous and lovely to ride, light, fast and fun. No idea why I didn’t take the plunge and upgrade years ago.
Where would we expect to see you on a normal ride before work?
Living in Surry Hills, I’m placed nicely between two spectacular hills loops. I’ll either ride the East Hills of Sydney or the Mosman Hills. My boyfriend lives in Manly, so we sometimes ride the scenic route to the city before work.
You’ve ridden in France recently haven’t you? Living some avid cyclist’s dreams! How was that? Any memorable stories from that trip?
Incredible. If you’re considering it, do it. Strava route planner meant we could plan all 10 days in a few effortless afternoons, which took away some big barriers for me. We rode some incredible scenery like the Gorges du Verdon, and I had my first real mountain foray with Mont Ventoux. There is an incredible sense of freedom and adventure traveling countryside with nothing but your bike, your friends, and a croissant tucked into your jersey.
And as my spirit animal is a Labrador (haha), and every holiday for me centers around food, you cannot have imagined my joy when I realised I could eat 3 full French meals a day of cheese, pastries, wine, terrine and – between hours of climbing – still be starving for more.
Has that trip inspired you in any way?
One of the guys I cycled around France with last year has been part of the Tour de Cure rides in the past, and he and another friend have been touched by cancer recently. Having people you care about having to deal with loss is terrible. I feel the TDC have got a bunch of strong, quirky and welcoming people, who make it an empowering movement with valuable outcomes. I have joined TDC though the oOh! team, and have been running fundraising personally as well as through the business – BBQ’s, pub crawls, cruises and trivia nights as a team.
Have you been successful in encouraging any female friends to ride?
I have. I’ve managed to get a few girlfriends to join our girl bike gang and a few even came to France as well – shout out to Alex, Sarah and Ness for their awesome effort on the relentless mountains the French call hills.
Will we see you at the Bowral Classic?
Yep I cannot wait to get down there. Perfect mix of a beautiful location and a great riding, the course looks like a cracker. I’ve managed to get a crew to commit already, which consist of about 70% riders and 30% wine drinkers, so I think it will make for an awesome and balanced weekend.
Great to see the girl gangs of cycling expand !