Until her thirties, Iffat Tejani couldn’t ride a bike at all. Now, she is the founder of Evolve, a cycling network for Muslim women, and has taught over 100 women to ride.
Born in Tanzania, cycling was generally not seen as a sport, and it wasn’t until 2008 that Iffat learned to cycle. A recent cancer diagnosis had left her looking to make lifestyle changes and become more active, realising she enjoyed cycling and was developing a passion, she got in contact with Breeze, an initiative that encourages women to feel more confident in their cycling abilities.
“I loved joining in with the women there, and sharing their enthusiasm, but I realised we were missing a diverse group. There were no ladies in a hijab, like me. I decided then and there, that there was a gap in the market, and I needed to start a cycling club tailored to Muslim women.”
From amidst the pandemic, Evolve Cycling Network was born, supporting Muslim women with many obstacles along their cycle journey, including sourcing modest clothing, which wasn’t always readily available on the market. The foundations for Evolve were already laid- reports illustrated that 97% of interviewed British Muslim women wanted to increase their participation in sports, and the vast majority felt more comfortable attending women-only clubs.
Iffat went on to organise the first ever Muslim women’s sportive, which consisted of 45 riders, in partnership with Stanmore Jafferys Ladies Cycling.
Evolve aims to not only help women learn to ride, but also open up the developmental pathway to competitive racing. The team liaise with many governing bodies, including British Cycling, and has grown to 15 female coaches, who also help with the Go Ride programme, which is for ages 14-16, to get them on track and build their confidence at an early age.
“Diversity, inclusion and creating a safe space for women were the fundamentals of Evolve. Whilst cycling is still portrayed very much as a men in Lycra sport, the network makes cycling accessible to everyone. In the racing scene, you generally would never see a Muslim woman competing. Just this summer, I was up in Glasgow, at the UCI Cycling World Championships, and I could count at least five women in hijabs racing. I was blown away- as a sector, significant change and improvement is clear, but there’s a lot of work to do yet.”
From a small organisation of nine women, Evolve has now grown to a vast support network, that is paving the way for the future women’s cycling. Next year, Iffat will be planning to run their first women’s races, in partnership with British Cycling, but it’s not just the racing element that has left her proud.
“The strength in the women I’ve helped is so wonderful to witness. They come in, feeling wobbly and nervous. Most of them have approached us, as they haven’t learned this skill, and we are able to take it to the next level, advising them on all details, including the best type of bikes, through to technique and development. They become strong, confident cyclists.”
The Evolve Cycling Network continues to break down barriers that hold Muslim women back from cycling, including religious beliefs, tradition and road safety.
“Diversity and inclusion in cycling isn’t an afterthought, it is very much here to stay. Change does need to come from within the community.”
Ready to start your cycling journey?
Visit: www.highwaycycles.co.uk
