Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
I hadn’t ridden a bike since October 2024, so I was equally excited and nervous. The Girls on Bikes social ride set off from Cycle Boutique – the home base of Banditz Bicycle Club, an urban cycling crew, co-founded by Titi Mashele (read his #MyJoburg interview here), dedicated to spreading the love of biking and promoting cycling as a lifestyle. Girls on Bikes is the women-centred offshoot of Banditz, which was founded by Titi's sister Karabo Mashele, a 32-year-old social media strategist and copywriter. The Mashele siblings led the ride.
While getting geared up, I spoke to Titi, who was clear that Girls on Bikes is not a cycling club – it’s a community. Gearing up entailed getting a hired bike suited to my height and a helmet for the ride. Bikes and helmets are available from Banditz (at around R200 per event).
“I could go on forever about this community that’s become a safe space for women to push limits, build sisterhood, and make lifelong friendships. We literally took the spirit of the girls’ bathroom and added bicycles.” – Karabo Mashele, founder of Girls on Bikes
Girls on Bikes began with a simple but powerful mission. Karabo shares, “We literally wanted to get girls on to bicycles. Whether teaching women how to ride, encouraging them to join races, or just cruising the city together for fun, the goal was simple: more girls on bikes.”
That mission is very much in motion. I felt that, as I got to know some of the other women, who kindly reassured me that I’d be okay and had my back, despite being out of practice. My sense of camaraderie with the group only deepened as the ride progressed.
What started as a small, rainy ride at Banditz Bicycle Club's former headquarters in Braamfontein in March 2023 has blossomed into a vibrant sisterhood. Today, Girls on Bikes isn’t just about social rides – it’s also a powerhouse community where women train for the 94.7 race, conquer triathlons, graduate from social rides to owning their own bikes, and even join the challenging and competitive, male-dominated Banditz Bicycle Club 6am ride.
Our route was a scenic detour through some of Joburg’s most charming suburbs. We pedalled through leafy Westcliff – and yes, the hills are just as steep as the real estate – then rode through Parkview and smoother and more levelled streets of Saxonwold, before rolling into Rosebank. The roads were generally quiet, making crossing streets less stressful, and cars were often accommodating to the group.
Girls on Bikes rides generally start at 44 Stanley, looping through neighbourhoods like Greenside, Parkview, and Emmarentia. “We also have routes that start in Rosebank, Melrose, or Soweto,” Karabo tells us. “Those are our go-tos in warmer weather – they’re great for exploring different sides of Joburg and give us the chance to ride longer, tougher routes with plenty to see along the way.”
The ride had its ups and downs – both literally and figuratively. As someone getting back on the saddle, I found myself trailing behind, struggling on the steeper hills, and occasionally questioning my life choices. But there was also a real sense of freedom and power in moving through Joburg on a bicycle – slower than a car, faster than walking. The heightened awareness yet groundedness that comes with being on a bike on the road made me notice what makes each suburb unique, and the state of the roads themselves, which is not great. Luckily, it was a quiet Saturday morning – traffic was light, crossings felt less stressful, and most drivers were surprisingly accommodating to our group of casual riders.
Girls on Bikes social rides are open to all levels of cyclists, as long as you’re reasonably fit and can manage a bit of exercise. “I wouldn't suggest a riding level – that would exclude people from even trying,” says Karabo.
The community is all about encouragement, not elitism. The point is to show up and give it a go, with an average of 15 – 25 women on most rides. In the early days of Girls on Bikes, there was quite a large gap between the newbies, the haven’t-ridden-in-years crowd, and the seasoned cyclists. But over time, that gap closed. Karabo explains, “Those who needed lessons got them with Coach Danko, and the group naturally split with marshals helping guide the mid-level to experienced riders.” The result? A ride where everyone finds their rhythm, no one gets left behind, and the road feels a little more open to all.
Our group reached Rosebank and took a well-earned 20-minute break at The Firs – just enough time to catch our breath, rehydrate, and grab a much-needed caffeine fix. The ride back to 44 Stanley switched things up: we took on the bustling Jan Smuts Avenue and pedalled through Parktown North. By the time we reached Parkview, my energy levels were hanging by a thread, and I was lagging. But with the help of a few strategic “breaks” – also known as walking every uphill stretch – I powered through.
The steady presence of ride marshal, Sfiso “Fistos” Tshabalala – along with a few kind souls like Akhona Ndugane who hung back with me – also made all the difference. They let me go at my own pace while gently encouraging me to push a little harder, with the occasional literal push from Fistos when I needed it most. “Mind over matter” and “I can do hard things” were some of the mantras Ndugane shared and made me repeat, even when my optimism was wearing thin and they weren’t quite what I wanted to hear or believe. But their support was a powerful reminder and brought home something Titi had said just before we set off: Girls on Bikes is not a cycling club – it’s a sisterhood on wheels.
Although at the back of the pack, I felt completely safe. In fact, safety is top of mind at Girls on Bikes, with clear riding protocols and experienced marshals, usually male cyclists who are part of the early-rising Biking Banditz 6am riding club. These marshals help block traffic at intersections, ride to the right of the group for visibility, and make sure the group sticks together. Golden rules: No one overtakes the leader, and no one falls behind the final marshal.
“We literally wanted to get girls on bicycles. Whether teaching women how to ride, encouraging them to join races, or just cruising the city together for fun – the goal was simple: more girls on bikes.” – Karabo Mashele, founder of Girls on Bikes
Girls on Bikes always includes male marshals to support women cyclists navigating the city’s often challenging and sometimes hostile streets. “[We've experienced everything] from catcalling to being made to feel like we’re just in the way, like we shouldn’t even be on the road," says Karabo. "Then there’s the constant judgment about how we are dressed, like we don’t fit the typical image of cyclists in cleats and spandex.”
Beyond gender issues, cycling in the city has other obstacles. “Honestly, cycle lanes are barely respected. If it’s not cars, [then] there is a vendor in the lane... not to mention the potholes, which are the worst!” But Karabo also points out: “Certain parts of Joburg are genuinely trying. Rosebank is trying with fewer cars being parked on the road and a cycle bay, and so is Melrose with their general respect for cyclists and people on the road.”
Despite rolling back into 44 Stanley a little later than the rest of the group, I felt accomplished having finished the ride, and that’s what counts.
After the ride, I stuck around for what I learned is a Girls on Bikes tradition: brunch at La Pergola. Mimosas, cocktails, and pizza provide the perfect chance to catch up with familiar faces or meet new riders. That’s where I met Malisela, who – like me – hadn’t ridden in a while and had just completed her first Girls On Bikes ride. “I literally told them, I’m so nervous because I don’t know what I’m going to do. Will I have the stamina, be fit enough, all of that? Despite the challenge, she’s hooked, sharing, “I’m definitely coming back next month.”
A friend of Malisela and a Girls On Bikes pro, Neo, jumped straight into the deep end with the Banditz Bicycle Club Homies Night Ride on Thursday evenings. She soon switched over to Girls On Bikes rides instead. When asked what she loves most about this community, she said, “The fact that it’s chill. With the guys, it’s more competitive, we don’t regroup as much, and we cover a lot of kilometres.” Girls On Bikes? “I meet new faces every time I’m here.”
Regular riders say there are always new faces, with riders constantly bringing friends, sisters, cousins, and nieces. Even some of the guys join in, and often leave feeling inspired to step up their game when it comes to respecting women on two wheels. Karabo sums it up: “I could go on forever about this community that’s become a safe space for women to push limits, and make lifelong friendships. We literally took the spirit of the girls’ bathroom and added bicycles.”
The movement continues to grow, inspiring girls and women of all ages to get on their bikes, especially through the upcoming “Learn 2 Cycle with Girls on Bikes” programme. After a rewarding and challenging day in the saddle, the encouragement and support from this community have me eager to ride again. In a city where cycling is often seen as a male-dominated Girls on Bikes boldly and joyfully declares: we belong here too.
For more information on rides, check out Girls on Bikes' Instagram page or contact hello@girlzonbikes.org. In addition to the bimonthly social rides, Girls on Bikes also offers cycling lessons with Coach Danko at Cycle Boutique, 44 Stanley – weekends for in-person sessions at 44 Stanley, and house calls during the week. For more details, get in touch with Cycle Boutique via email at hello@banditzbicycle.com or +27 84 033 6687.
Written by Unathi Nkhoma, who attended a Girls on Bikes ride in May 2025.
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