Ayesha McGowan (she/they) is the first African-American female professional road racer. After racing in the UCI women’s world tour for Liv Racing TeqFind in Europe for three years, she is taking a break to focus on other programming.

@ayesuppose is extremely passionate about creating representation in cycling that will encourage and inspire other African-American women and youth to follow their dreams whatever they may be.

Ayesha has appeared in various publications such as the Washington Post, CNN, and the BBC. She has notable covers on Outside Magazine and Bicycling Magazine. Ayesha has also been featured in major promotional campaigns for Nike, Oakley, Ford Bronco, Liv Cycling, and SRAM.

Ayesha is a former committee member of the USA Cycling DEI Committee and currently sits on the board of the transportation advocacy not-for-profit, Rails-To-Trails.

In addition to presenting several workshops on authentic representation for people of color, Ayesha has delivered powerful keynote speeches at conferences around the United States.

Join us at Grit Fest this year to make sure you don’t miss this incredible keynote speaker!

Join us for an inspiring evening featuring Ayesha McGowan, a trailblazing athlete and advocate for diversity and inclusion. Ayesha, the first African-American woman to become a professional road cyclist, will share her remarkable journey, the challenges she has overcome, and her vision for a more inclusive world.

Ayesha’s story is not just about cycling; it’s about pursuing your dreams against the odds, advocating for change, and inspiring others to do the same. Whether you’re a cycling enthusiast or simply someone who appreciates powerful, motivational stories, this event will leave you uplifted and empowered. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from a true pioneer and advocate for change.

You’re invited to our Level Up Your Ride Clinic for Women & Girls on Wednesday, June 12! 🚴‍♀️

Bring your bike and get ready to “level up your ride” with Pro Cyclist and @theeabundanceproject Program Director, Ayesha McGowan (@ayesuppose), at @wheelandsprocket in Bay View! Learn and practice your bike handling skills and the basics of road racing.

When: Wednesday, June 12 from 6 - 8 PM
Where: Wheel & Sprocket | 187 E Becher St, Milwaukee

Register to attend at the link in our bio.

Ayesha McGowan @ayesuppose will speak with TCA's Pre-Career Mentor Program athletes about how to harness the power of social media!

McGowan is a trailblazer in professional road cycling as the first African American woman to race as a pro in the Women's World Tour 🚴🏾‍♀️ Alongside her racing, McGowan has successfully started and grown businesses and collectives to advocate for diversity and inclusion in cycling, especially for women and ethic minorities.

McGowan is behind @a_quickbrownfox and @the_blackfoxes, an international collective of eight unapologetically Black cyclists and outdoors people.

The 2024 Pre-Career Program is a year-long program for budding female pros. It is powered by Zwift and Strava 🌟#striveforfairness

6PM EST

Previously, Thee Abundance Summit, Thee Abundance Workshops will be hour-long sessions presented once per month. We are continuing our mission to celebrate joy for Black and Brown folks in cycling and the outdoors. Learn more and sign up to join us below!

This workshop presents a panel discussion among four changemaking women of color holding different roles in the bike race industry. Their diversity of experiences as bike racers, a race director, a race mechanic, and a race official, will make for an abundant conversation about the barriers to participating in bike racing and how folks can support a sustainable future of the sport.

Presented by: Bronco Wild Fund, Zwift, Liv, & SRAM

This workshop will offer a perspective on how to address the needs of one's local cycling community, from an individual who had no prior related experience. While the March Abundance Workshop focused on sharing resources and using cross-community support to address community needs, here the listener will learn how to devise a project plan that is focused on an identified need, and will be offered some suggestions on how to use skills they already have to turn that plan into reality. 

Sheila Mahadevan (she/her) is a resident of Washington, DC, who loves bikes, riding bikes, and the community built around bikes. Sheila has been riding bikes in the DC area for over 10 years and enjoys mountain biking and gravel cycling the most. 

In 2020, Sheila started Melanin Base Miles, a project aimed at removing barriers and increasing racial diversity in her local cycling community. Since 2020, Melanin Base Miles has administered two gravel scholarship programs that have sent 20 BIPOC athletes to gravel events in the Mid-Atlantic. Program participants have received cash stipends, free coaching, mechanical support, and the opportunity to join community gravel rides. 

In 2022, Melanin Base Miles launched a BIPOC gravel racing team. The team currently has 12 members that race competitively in the largest Mid-Atlantic and national gravel events. Further, Melanin Base Miles is a DC-based non-profit corporation.

Sheila serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Melanin Base Miles and was also recently appointed to the Board of The Roam Collective. By day, Sheila is a lawyer who loves cats.

Presented by: Bronco Wild Fund, Zwift, Liv, & SRAM

Previously, Thee Abundance Summit, Thee Abundance Workshops will be hour-long sessions presented once per month. We are continuing our mission to celebrate joy for Black and Brown folks in cycling and the outdoors. Learn more and sign up to join us below!

What does solidarity in action look like? Bikes have an amazing ability to bring together people from diverse communities. In the past two years we have witnessed a shift in consciousness around mobility justice and creating access for marginalized folks in the bike space. This workshop focuses on creative ways to achieve your bike goals by sharing resources, swapping skill sets, and offering support across communities. Actions like barter, mutual aid, sharing social media posts, and using inclusive language are just a few topics we will discuss. 

Presented by: Bronco Wild Fund, Zwift, Liv, & SRAM