Recently Manchester’s very own Belinda Everett, founder of Bee Pedal Ready and sitting GM Bicycle Mayor featured on the BBC’s Business Daily Podcast, alongside Brenna Wrye-Simpson from America, who is the only female mechanic on the cyclo-cross World Cup, and Shavari Vidwan, a female bike mechanic from Mumbai India who set up her own bike maintenance shop in the city.

All 3 spoke of their experiences as bike mechanics, and the similarities of barriers and hurdles they often face in the industry, despite living and working thousands of miles away from each other.

It is clear from all three that the cycling industry, national and internationally, needs to work harder to diversify and truly represent all of society.

Following the interview, Belinda said;
“For the small percentage that we make around the globe, it was inspiring to meet Brenna who also races elite, works in a Bike Shop and is a mechanic in the pits for the Women’s cyclo-cross team that she manages. At one point, she was the only female mechanic on the Cyclo-Cross World Cup.

Sharvari was also incredible, she managed to set up a Bike shop in Mumbai, is a frame designer and wheel builder, and even had to travel to the UK to receive training. With the many cultural barriers that she faces, in which I too can relate, I found her resilience and persistence to keep going immense”.

Finally, Belinda noted: “In the end we all agreed, that if you want to see change, you have to become it. We continue to represent a very different bike mechanic, and as time continues, I hope some day there is a more equal representation”.

Check out the podcast via the link below to hear their stories and find out what happened when they all got talking to each other.