Bike Fest Series returns to Cumberland July 17-20.
The festival, open to female mountain bikers of all experience levels, offers numerous cycling skills workshops, as well as humanitarian discussions.
Bike Fest Series is hosted by multiple award-winning humanitarian engineer and top mountain biking coach Anita Naidu of Whistler.
鈥淭here are four mountain bike workshops, and two sessions of anti-racism and allyship training,鈥� said Naidu. 鈥淚t鈥檚 for anyone from beginners to advanced bikers. They learn everything from bike handling, to cornering, to catching air, and learning race techniques, and even how to bail (fall) safely.
鈥淧articipants can take in the whole weekend, or just the workshops they prefer.鈥�
The anti-racism and allyship sessions are optional for anyone who registers for any of the biking workshops.
鈥淓very year there is a social impact angle to the festival,鈥� said Naidu. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 social impact focus is anti-racism, understanding privilege, and how to be an effective ally. I am also an anti-racist and diversity educator, so I work with a lot of companies, organizations, and individuals, on anti-racism training. So I will be hosting a talk on it, then we will have a discussion forum, so people can ask questions and share stories.鈥�
For more details on the workshops, and pricing, email Chris Paquette at crankedgirls@gmail.com
Naidu said that all COVID-19 precautions will be in place to ensure the safety of participants.
鈥淔irst, we are outdoors, so that helps. Also, the sessions are always broken up, so we never have more than about 10 people in any one session.鈥�
Another added safety precaution is the use of innovative wearable artificial intelligence technology - CoronaShield.
鈥淐oronaShield is wearable technology that helps you with [social distancing],鈥� said Naidu. 鈥淭he technology beeps loudly, if you start to get too close to someone. So another person who is wearing this, you will both get vibrations, so you will both know to back away.鈥�
For more information on Naidu鈥檚 anti-racism and allyship session, or other aspects of her humanitarian work, contact her at mountainanita@gmail.com
