To a newbie like myself, entering the world of cycling, the annual Sea Otter Classic can appear a bit intimidating. Jokingly referred to as the Coachella or Comic-Con of cycling due to the enormity of the event, the Sea Otter Classic is the largest consumer bike festival in North America held yearly in Monterey, California. Additionally the festival is hosted inside the iconic Laguna Seca raceway and the course was open for riders to take a test spin on that bike they’ve been eyeing since last racing season. Whether you are a cycling enthusiast, bike industry brand, or somewhere in between like myself, this festival has something to offer everyone.
Small but powerful; the Little Bellas made a big splash at the 2019 Sea Otter Classic. The cycling group made up of girls aged seven to sixteen had crowds parting in respect as the team made their way across the festival. Created by sisters Sabra Davison and cycling Olympian Lea Davison, the Little Bellas were attending Sea Otter Classic to spread their message of #MoreGirlsOnBikes, a movement that aims to introduce and encourage cycling to young girls who may feel that the hobby is not as accessible to them as it is to young boys. In fact the message peddled by Little Bellas delves deeper beyond cycling by nurturing and instilling confidence in these young girls that may have gone untapped without learning the self assurance that comes with cycling. Unfortunately, despite how cool the Little Bellas are, they are not accepting applications from 26 year old males at the moment. Guess I will have to root from the sidelines or at the very least, just get out of their way!