Life Cycle

Girls with Gears pedals for philanthropy, health

Two years ago, three New Albany women took one unexpected detour that changed their lives.

In 2009, Lisa Hinson watched her husband, Alan, ride in Pelotonia, a twoday, 180-mile round-trip bike ride from Columbus to Athens to raise money for cancer research at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

She was struck by the presence of cancer survivors and other supporters who had lost loved ones to the disease holding up signs along the route.

“I stood there on the sidelines taking pictures over the two days,” says Hinson, founder of Hinson Ltd. Public Relations. “It was so emotional to see the families cheering on the riders. … I looked around at the riders and said, ‘I want to do this, but I can’t do this sport.’ It’s kind of intimidating with the Spandex and the equipment.”

Knowing there must be other women who felt the same way, Hinson called up Tammy Krings, founder of travel agency TS24, and Hope Wolman, an executive at Insurance Office of Central Ohio. She persuaded them to join her in training for the coming year’s Pelotonia.

The three women started sending out packets of information about their idea – dubbed Girls with Gears – to women with similar backgrounds, “executives in companies or owners of their own businesses, overachieving women and stay-athome moms,” Hinson says.

When the group met for the first time at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday at the Market Square Starbucks, they realized how little they knew about the sport they were attempting to break into.

“The idea of riding with women who were, like me, busy professionals … with no pressure to perform was very appealing,” Krings says.

Krings, 50, never imagined she’d be a part of a bicycling group.

“I typically am thinking more about how I can get out of exercise,” she says.

Not only did the group members know nothing about bicycling, they also completely lacked the proper equipment. Some of the women had mountain bikes or cruisers not suited to road riding and definitely not worthy of the two-day trek to Athens. Not everyone had helmets, and some even wore flip-flops.

“Those of us who showed up on the first day had a good laugh about it,” Krings says. “We all at least had a bicycle.”

It didn’t take long for the ragtag group to look like pros.

“About six months later, we all had racing bikes, those clip shoes, helmets and jerseys,” Krings says. “We have come a very long way from that first night – everything from the gear to the clothing to the health and diet type of issues.”

The women began riding each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, often bringing in “celebrity guests” to help teach them the basics for 10-15 minutes prior to their ride. Guests include experienced cyclists who talked about bike safety and local professionals like doctors who could educate them on nutrition.

The trainers had so much fun they stuck around. Now, they’re considered the wranglers who help group members whenever they’re struggling and generally assist with keeping the pack, known as a Peloton, together as they ride.

“There are all types of (women) –those that were in great shape and well into our fitness goals, and others that needed a kick start,” Hinson says.

That kick start led to 19 Girls with Gears riders raising $37,000 for The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and the Richard J. Solove Research Insititute. during the 2010 Pelotonia. This year, that number grew to 24 riders raising more than $44,000.

Hinson and seven other Girls with Gears members biked 102 miles – all the way to Athens – and the rest of the Peloton, including Krings, rode 43 miles to Amanda, Ohio, the second stop on the Pelotonia route.

This year’s trek was “a stretch” for Hinson, who does not consider herself an athlete.

“Not only have we grown in number and in funds raised, we’ve grown in our ability to go longer distances,” says Hinson. “A friend of mine bet a case of beer with my secretary that I wouldn’t get past 58,” she says. “I did it, and I felt so proud. I got off and walked the hills when I needed to, because those hills are killer.”

Krings has realized some health benefits from her involvement in the group, she says.

“I will still do just about anything to get out of exercise,” she says. “It’s important for me to be part of a group. I feel healthier. I am healthier.”

Hinson and Krings will continue biking the Pelotonia for the foreseeable future, they say.

“It touches everybody,” Hinson says. “We have people that have had cancer or who have lost loved ones to cancer. … It’s spiritual; it’s social. There are just so many things that make you feel good about doing it.”

Lisa Aurand is a contributing writer. Feedback and comments welcome at editor@healthynewalbany.org.

Get in Gear

Girls with Gears is open to new members who wish to ride in next year’s Pelotonia or who wish to train for other biking events. The group meets Tuesdays and Thursdays around 6 p.m. and around 8 or 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays at the Starbucks in New Albany. Times subject to change during the winter months. For more information or to join the mailing list, e-mail Lisa Hinson at

By Scott McAfee,