All-female bike class teaches empowering essentials

After Wednesday, Kristen Duffield knows how to change a flat tire on a bike.

Duffield was one of eight women who signed up to learn how to repair their bikes in a four-week class at The Freewheel Project, located at 618 S. Main St. The class, which is designed for female bike riders, first met Wednesday and will meet weekly from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. until Nov. 1.

Students paid a suggested donation of $10 to $25 to reserve one of the eight spots in the class.

Gaby Mendez, a mechanic at Bikes and More, taught the students how to change a flat tire during the first class.

“Do all the steps,” said Mendez to the class. “It’s like working harder instead of smarter because people will usually take shortcuts and have to go back and double check their work.”

Duffield donated her bike to be used by the class for practice. By the end of the class, all of the students had changed a bike tire.

“When I first came in I had basically no confidence when it comes to my bike and repairs, but now I feel more empowered,” Duffield said.

Ariel Drescher, Duffield’s friend, watched Mendez assemble and reassemble the bike’s wheel and replicated her in five minutes.

“My bike’s been a great mystery to me, as much as I love it, now I feel more safe on trails alone if something happened to it,” Drescher said.