London’s largest LGBTQ+ cycling club LDN RIDERS, supported by Leigh Day, has created a short film called Shifting Gears, about how through Pride Month its members celebrated Pride In London and fundraised to support the trans and non-binary community.
The film, produced by Stone Visuals, hears from key members of our community on what Pride means to them, the importance of LGBTQ+ grassroots sports clubs and need for safe fitness spaces for trans+ people.
LDN RIDERS is raising awareness about the discrimination faced by the community worldwide and fundraising for Not A Phase’s MISFITS programme that provides safe and inclusive fitness spaces for the transgender community.
Throughout the month of June, LDN RIDERS took on FOUR epic charity Pride Rides ranging from 218 km to 400 km. The first ride took place on Saturday 10th June with 4 riders taking on a gruelling 8+ hour 218 km loop of Greater London, including 2,000m of elevation, on the hottest day of 2023!
On Friday 16th to Saturday 17th June, 44 riders took on various endurance rides from London to Paris (Tower To Tower), starting from Tower Bridge or Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) and finishing at the iconic Eiffel Tower.
80 members also marched to show solidarity at the Pride in London Parade on 1st July.
The club is asking supporters to donate to their campaign via JustGiving, pledging to donate 100% of the funds raised to the MISFITS programme.
The club hopes that every contribution, no matter how small, will make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
One participant, Lucius, said, “I’ve never been around another trans person. The first meeting at Misfits, I was so nervous, and everyone welcomed me with open arms. I couldn’t thank the team enough.”
Ash added, “Misfits is a community founded on mutual respect and care, and it helps trans people connect with others and build friendships.”
Julian Gregory, Founder, LDN RIDERS, said in a statement: “Transgender individuals face daily battles for acceptance and safety in traditional fitness spaces, often encountering discrimination, lack of inclusivity, and the distressing reality of being denied access to basic facilities like toilets and changing rooms. We’re therefore fundraising for Not A Phase’s MISFITS – a fitness, well-being, and self-defence programme that focuses on building confidence while breaking down the barriers between the Trans+ community and fitness spaces. As a club we also organise dedicated rides and training sessions to ensure transgender, non-binary and cisgendered female cyclists feel welcome.”
Alix Anson-Jones, the Founder of Misfits, said: “The money raised by LDN RIDERS supports Misfits greatly with operational costs of gym rental, trainer fees and sports equipment to be able to provide quality fitness and wellness classes in prime locations of four major cities in the UK with plans to expand to another 2 by the end of 2023. These are completely free for trans+ people as well as activity days throughout the year offering events such as rock climbing, rowing, cycling and beach tennis. Trans+ visibility and representation in sport is vital to allow integration and acceptance in both recreational spaces with more accommodations needed in the majority of gyms and competitive sports where there is still a lot of hostility and segregation.”
LDN RIDERS is an LGBTQ+ cycling club open to all members of the community and its allies. Founded in September 2021 by Julian Gregory, LDN RIDERS quickly became London’s largest LGBTQ+ cycling club and has been nominated for multiple awards. Community is at the heart of everything the club does. Its mission is to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where the community can come together to ride, train, and socialise. Website
Misfits is a fitness, wellbeing and self defence programme created by Not A Phase, powered by Nike. Focussing on confidence building whilst breaking down the barriers between the Trans+ community and traditional gym spaces. Its team of instructors are handpicked based on their years of experience across all aspects of health and wellbeing, along with their awareness of the needs of Trans+ people. They run their London Misfits program in partnership with Gymbox, whose beautiful, modern gym spaces operate with a zero-tolerance policy to prejudice. They welcome between 15-20 misfits per class. Website
Leigh Day is a unique law firm working for people in the United Kingdom, and across the globe, who have been injured, discriminated against or had their human rights abused. The firm specialises in many aspects of national and international personal injury, human rights, clinical negligence, employment, group claims and more. Website
