5 Questions with the Roanoke Valley Riveters

Women. Bikes. Dirt.

Those are the three tenets behind the Roanoke Valley Riveters, a community of women who love mountain biking. The group shares information and hosts rides.

Learn more with 5 questions from the Riveters – founded and managed by Pam, Erin, and Alanna — in their own words.

1. Where did your name — Roanoke Valley Riveters — come from?

We wanted a name that would invoke an image of strength and fortitude… Something that truly represented the determination of the feminine spirit.

Rosie the Riveter first surfaced during WWII… She served as a ‘call to arms’ of sorts for women, encouraging them to join the workforce in support of the war effort. After the war ended, Rosie disappeared for a while. In the ’70s and ’80s, she became a symbol for women everywhere who wanted to break into fields and roles previously dominated by men, and who wanted to prove they could fill those roles on equal terms.  Cycling, in general, has for sure been male-dominated, and mountain biking is no exception. We would like to be a part of changing that.

Rosie the Riveter is our call to arms… We want women to conquer their fears, embrace their strength, and realize their potential. We also want them to feel supported as part of an encouraging community of empowered women.

2. How can someone get involved with your group?

Information about our events can currently be found on our Facebook page and Instagram. We also have a Facebook group called the RV Riveters Community Hub that we use to share info, educational videos, etc. We also encourage Hub members to use the space to plan rides and connect with other women.

3. What should someone new to the group expect?

We host a weekly Wednesday ride at 5:45 at Carvins Cove from the Bennett Springs parking lot. We plan to ride with lights through winter, weather pending. We are also hosting some Saturday rides that typically include some sort of social component. Riders of all skill levels are welcome at all events. We tailor the rides to our riders, breaking into smaller groups as needed. All rides are absolutely no drop. No one is left behind.

The Riveters also proudly support the LGBTQ community. All individuals with a female or non-binary gender identity are welcome at our events.

COVID-19 has presented some interesting challenges, and we have had to make some adjustments and delay some of our original plans. We are doing our best to hold events while respecting CDC guidelines regarding the pandemic. We have several ideas and plans for the future once it is again safe to have more events. We hope to host clinics, shop/maintenance nights, crosstraining events, and socials. We are also strongly passionate about service and hope to have many opportunities to contribute to the growth and sustainability of our community

4. What’s your favorite thing about the outdoor community in the region?

Simply that it truly is a community… we have all witnessed or have been a part of this on some level. We have seen how, on many occasions, it has supported or rallied around its members. The Riveters are proud to be part of this community…we are grateful to have been embraced by it, and we look forward to helping its continued growth.

5. If you aren’t on your bike, then what are you doing outside?

Pam: Before I discovered mountain bikes, I was a backpacker for many years. While I don’t do nearly as much hiking nowadays, I still enjoy hitting the trails on foot, preferably with my dogs. I had some pretty intense love for my snowshoes when I used to live up North, but my dad has since stolen them from me, and given the climate in VA, I figured I’d let them go without a fight.  During the summer, I love any activity in, on, or around water. As a kid, I was pretty much always covered in mud, climbing around in a creek bed, or looking for crayfish in the lake. (Let’s be honest, not much has changed.) I grew up racing sailboats, canoeing, kayaking, and generally romping around the great outdoors. I recently discovered stand up paddleboards, which are a blast. I love camping and am looking forward to more trips with our new fancy teardrop camper next summer. I also spend a lot of time drinking coffee on my back porch and hanging out with my pups and chickens. I’m equally content moving or being still, I’m generally just happy to be outside.

Erin: When not riding, I like to wrestle with my four-legged furry animals, cruise calm waters on a standup paddleboard, sip adult beverages on outdoor patios, sleep on the hard ground in a dome made of fabric, and stare longingly at the winter sky hoping for snow so I can go ski with my husband.

Alanna: Bikes were a late discovery for me. I didn’t start mountain biking until I was in my 30s. I grew up in the Pittsburgh area but spent many summers in my youth visiting my mom’s family here in the Blue Ridge. My grandmother embedded deeply within me tremendous love and appreciation for the outdoors. I spend a great deal of time outside just enjoying nature; trying to learn, or remember the things I’ve been taught… hoping I’m not part of the generation that loses that knowledge.

I’ve always been a hiker, and I’ve come to crave road trips and adventures to new places. I love camping (I can’t remember the last vacation I took that required me to book a hotel), rock climbing, and chill paddling. I’ve also been playing a good bit recently with nature photography and am trying to learn how to grow things in the dirt. I’m also pretty content just sitting outside on a deck with good friends and snooty beers.