While living in New York City in the 1980’s, Ann Hardy ’80 became tired of traveling underground to travel to work each day.So she took her commute above ground and began cycling. That practical solution led to a lifelong passion for the sport and the creation of River City Women’s Racing in Richmond.

“For me, cycling embodies values that I hold in high regard: healthy lifestyle, environmental stewardship and freedom,” Hardy said. In 2008 Hardy identified a need in Richmond to create a cycling organization to address the specific issues related to navigating a male dominated sport. The result was River City Women’s Racing (RCWR), an amateur women’s road racing club, founded along with Emily Wilson Helmboldt.

The gender gap in the sport of cycling is addressed in the film “Half the Road.” Hardy brought a public showing of the film to campus earlier this year along with film director and professional cyclist Kathryn Bertine. During the school day, Bertine met with St. Catherine’s students and held a viewing for Middle Schoolers, faculty and staff. The public showing benefitted a Middle School Think Tank that provided bikes and helmets to other students. 

RCWR has experienced growth in numbers and in its reach. In addition to a variety of races, RCWR is engaged in advocacy in partnerships with RVA MORE and Ride Kore and their own initiative, Yoga for Poca, a fundraiser for the Friends of Pocahontas State Park. Cycling is experiencing rapid growth in the Richmond area as well. The city was selected to host the 2015 UCI Road World Championships, just the second U.S. city to host the event, since its beginning in 1921.“It will put us on the world stage of sport and provide an unprecedented opportunity for us to showcase our famous southern hospitality to the thousands of visitors from around the globe,” Hardy said.