Cycle Sisters expansion boosts Muslim women cycling Waltham Forest 2026

Key Points

• Cycle Sisters was founded in 2016 by Sarah Javaid to make cycling accessible to Muslim women and others who felt excluded.
• The group began as informal rides in Waltham Forest and has grown into a multi-city, volunteer-led network offering beginner lessons and women-only rides.
• Instructors and members report increased independence, confidence and community; some participants have gone on to take part in large cycling events and triathlons.
• The network addresses barriers Muslim women face in sport: lack of women-only spaces, modest wear concerns and fear of discrimination.
• A 2023 Muslimah Sports Association report found only 9% of Muslim women in the UK participate competitively despite 80% doing casual sport.
• Cycle Sisters runs teaching programmes and rides that preserve cultural and religious values while improving cycling skills across the UK.

Waltham Forest (East London Times) June 9, 2026 – As reported by Sarah Javaid of Cycle Sisters, the group began in 2016 when she realised, after nearly 20 years off a bike, that London’s roads felt “overwhelming” and that there was no obvious, comfortable entry point for women like her. Javaid told Hyphen Online that she and friends used WhatsApp to organise informal practice rides in Waltham Forest; those small gatherings formed the nucleus of what would become a national network.

Why did Sarah Javaid create Cycle Sisters and what problem was it trying to solve?

As reported by Sarah Javaid of Cycle Sisters, she created the group because she found returning to cycling unexpectedly disorientating and saw that visible cycling spaces didn’t feel designed for her. The initial aim was pragmatic: to offer a women-only, culturally sensitive place to practise basic riding skills, build confidence and gain independence in urban travel. The format prioritised volunteer-led lessons and beginner rides so participants could learn without feeling judged or exposed.

How has Cycle Sisters grown since 2016 and what services does it now offer?

Cycle Sisters has expanded from a single WhatsApp group in Waltham Forest into an award-winning network operating across multiple UK cities. The organisation now runs:

• Beginner lessons for people who have never ridden or are returning after a long gap.
• Women-only group rides that provide practice in real-world urban settings.
• Volunteer instructor training so sessions can be community-led and scalable.
  As reported by Deryn Ellis (instructor) in Hyphen Online, members often progress beyond basic skills; some have since taken part in events such as Etape Loch Ness, Etape Caledonia and triathlons.

What barriers to sport and cycling for Muslim women does Cycle Sisters address?
Cycle Sisters explicitly targets barriers highlighted in broader research. The 2023 Muslimah Sports Association report identified low competitive participation (9%) among Muslim women despite high casual participation (80%). Key obstacles include:

• Lack of women-only spaces.
• Concerns about modest wear and appropriate facilities.
• Fear of discrimination or exclusion in mainstream sporting settings.
  Cycle Sisters mitigates these by providing single-sex sessions, respectful instruction sensitive to modest clothing requirements, and a community environment intended to reduce instances of discomfort or discrimination.

Who teaches the sessions and what impact do instructors report?

Sessions are largely volunteer-led. As reported by instructor Deryn Ellis in Hyphen Online, teaching has delivered unexpected personal benefits to instructors as well as participants:

“Through cycling, my independence, confidence and sense of community has increased far more than I ever imagined it would,”

Ellis said. Instructors note the transformational arc many women experience — from tentative first attempts to participating in large cycling events — and emphasise the importance of peer encouragement and localised, incremental skill-building.

What evidence exists that Cycle Sisters changes participants’ lives?

Anecdotal and programme-level evidence from Cycle Sisters’ reporting and participant testimony indicates measurable shifts in individual confidence and mobility choices. Stories reported in Hyphen Online show members progressing to long-distance events and triathlons, suggesting that beginner-focused, culturally sensitive access can translate into sustained engagement. The organisation’s growth into multiple cities and recognition via awards further support its impact at scale.

How does Cycle Sisters fit into broader efforts to increase diversity in sport?

Cycle Sisters complements campaigns and organisations working to improve accessibility in sport for underrepresented groups. By focusing on women-only sessions and cultural sensitivity, it provides a model for grassroots inclusion that can be replicated or supported by local councils, transport bodies and larger cycling charities.

The network’s volunteer model also demonstrates how lived-experience leadership encourages trust and lowers entry barriers for marginalised participants.

While Cycle Sisters addresses immediate access barriers, structural problems persist:

• Infrastructure: Safe cycling routes and protected lanes remain patchy across London and other UK cities, limiting where women feel safe to ride independently.
• Funding and capacity: As a volunteer-led network, scaling to meet demand depends on sustained volunteer recruitment and secure funding for bikes, helmets and instructor training.
• Long-term participation: Turning initial access into sustained, competitive participation requires parallel supports — coaching pathways, event access, and facilities that remain inclusive.
  Cycle Sisters can alleviate individual-level barriers, but broader policy and investment are needed to fully close participation gaps indicated by research such as the 2023 Muslimah Sports Association report.

What have participants said about their personal experiences with Cycle Sisters?

Participants quoted in media coverage report profound personal benefits. As noted in Hyphen Online, members describe increased independence and confidence, newfound ability to travel around London by bike, and stronger community ties. Several members went on to enter mass-participation cycling events and triathlons, demonstrating progression from beginner lessons to ambitious sporting goals.

• Hyphen Online, features and quotations from founder Sarah Javaid and instructor Deryn Ellis, provide primary narrative and participant quotes.
• Muslimah Sports Association report (2023) supplies contextual statistics on participation rates among Muslim women.
  This report draws its statements and participant testimony from those sources; all direct quotations and reported claims are attributed to the original journalists and organisations where they were published.

Background of this development

Cycle Sisters began in 2016 after founder Sarah Javaid, then living in Waltham Forest, realised she lacked an obvious or comfortable way to return to cycling. Initial rides were coordinated via WhatsApp and aimed at practising basic cycling skills in women-only spaces. Over the following decade the model scaled into a multi-city, volunteer-led network offering lessons and rides designed to respect cultural and religious needs such as modest dress and single-sex environments.

The network’s growth occurred against a backdrop of broader research — notably the 2023 Muslimah Sports Association report — highlighting low competitive participation among Muslim women, and wider campaigns to improve diversity and inclusion in UK sport.

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Prediction: how this development may affect the target audience

For Muslim women and culturally conservative communities in East London and across the UK, Cycle Sisters’ continued growth is likely to increase short-term access to cycling, enhance confidence in using bicycles for local travel, and create social networks that encourage sustained activity. In practical terms:

• More women may choose cycling for local journeys, reducing reliance on short car trips and improving mobility.
• Increased visibility of women cyclists could encourage local authorities to prioritise safer cycling infrastructure in neighbourhoods with rising demand.
• Volunteer-led instructor pathways may produce community leaders who can advocate for further funding, equipment provision and inclusive sports programming.
  However, without complementary investment in protected cycling infrastructure, long-term changes in commuting patterns and competitive sports participation will be constrained. Continued collaboration between grassroots groups, local councils and national sports bodies will be necessary to translate Cycle Sisters’ grassroots success into broader, systemic gains for the target audience.