Paniccia uses it as an opportunity to expand Stillwater ’ s biking community . Of the 120 slots in February ’ s race , 40 were set aside for women , LGBTQ + participants , BIPOC ( Black , Indigenous and people of color ) and “ diverse cyclists ,” she said . Additionally , The Truffle Shuffle held a contest that awarded free registration to five women / LGBTQ +/ nonbinary participants .
“ I ’ m like , ‘ OK , I want to see people like me who are there ,’” Paniccia said . “ And I know that I ’ m the kind of person who would need a little extra coaxing to sign up for something , and so having those spots specifically stated and separated out , it ’ s saying , ‘ Hey , you have a spot here .’”
Paniccia values accessibility . She said she recognizes registration fees can sometimes be a barrier for people who want to enter races , so she sets The Truffle Shuffle ’ s cost at $ 35 per person . If someone can ’ t afford it , then she is willing to make accommodations .
Paniccia works to spotlight the riders , running the event ’ s Instagram account (@ truff . shuff ) and creating a unique post for everyone who registers . “ The ethos around Truffle Shuffle is , bikes are for everybody , bikes are fun ,” Paniccia said . “ Let ’ s all just get together and be happy that we ’ re alive and getting to share bikes with other people .”
To ensure that the cycling world is fully inclusive of women , activists are recognizing the need to diversify the industry in multiple ways . Renee Hutchens , a Diné ( Navajo ) cyclist and writer who works to amplify Indigenous stories , emphasized this point .
“ When we talk about women , it ’ s so important that we include all women ,” Hutchens said . “ Not just white women , but all women of color , and now , even thinking about adaptive cycling .”
Her personal experiences show her the importance of this intersectionality . Hutchens supports the work of her best friend , who was paralyzed last year and turned to adaptive cycling . For Hutchens , who grew up in Stillwater and northern Arizona , her interconnectedness with the land as an Indigenous woman means cycling is more than a recreational experience . Hutchens said she often illustrates this point by extending an arm and explaining that just as her arm is connected to her body , the land is part of her “ whole being .”
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Apollo Leonard , left and Samuel Hansen , left placed first and second in the first nonbinary category at the 2022 Mid South .
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE