Velocity Ladies: Growing Women’s Cycling Across the Netherlands
Some cycling clubs focus on speed. Others focus on competition. Velocity Ladies chose a different path: building a community where every woman feels welcome, supported, and inspired to ride, regardless of her experience level.
About Velocity Ladies
Founded on February 22, 2019, in Eindhoven, Velocity Ladies had a clear mission: make women’s cycling bigger and better across the Netherlands. Six years later, they’ve grown into a network spanning nine Dutch cities: Eindhoven, Den Bosch, Lisse, Venlo, Amsterdam, Nieuwegein, Roermond, Breda, and Assen; plus a special 10th division, Velocity Ladies Cross Country, dedicated to off-road gravel and MTB rides throughout the country.
A strong growth in members the last three years
In January 2023, Velocity Ladies had less than a hundred members. By October 2025, that number more than trippled. The roads of the Netherlands are getting more purple (their signature color) as more women join the cycling club.
Their success comes from offering members a varied program that goes far beyond regular rides. Group rides for various speed levels, participation in events like Amstel Gold Race, skills clinics, winter training on Zwift, bike maintenance workshops, but also drinks, barbecues, bowling nights, walks, and even “dipping” sessions (briefly jumping into cold natural water).
“It’s about cycling and growing together, in confidence, in skill, and in connection,” the club explains. This diverse range of activities, supported by an active social media presence on Instagram and Strava, attracts new members and ensures they stay engaged year after year.
The challenge of managing ten divisions
As Velocity Ladies expanded to ten divisions across the country, communication became increasingly complex. How do you keep everyone informed, organized, and connected?
Initially, they relied on email for weekly updates with routes, start times, and coffee stops. They also posted schedules on their website. But emails often ended up in spam folders or went unread. Only a few people could manage the website, so calendars were often outdated or incomplete.
The club moved more communication to WhatsApp, which helped. But they still maintained the website and email. Then they added a separate attendance app to better anticipate how many riders would show up, critical information for organizing the right number of ride leaders. The difference between 4 and 24 participants changes everything.
Managing email, website, WhatsApp, and an attendance app meant more work for volunteers who were already dedicating their time to organizing rides and building community.
One platform for all branches
Since joining Cyql on September 13, 2025, Velocity Ladies found the solution they needed.
“The biggest benefit? All branches now use the same platform instead of multiple different apps for planning and management,” the club shares. This unified approach solved the communication puzzle and unlocked something even more valuable.
With just one app for ride scheduling and coordination, it became much easier to enjoy one of the greatest advantages of having multiple branches: members can easily join rides organized by other branches.
“It’s already great to be a member, but how amazing is it to ride with your own club in a completely different part of the country? This strengthens the sense of connection and truly embodies our motto: ‘Cycling together is simply more fun.'”
Now members can explore different regions with their club, whether joining a gravel ride with Cross Country or road rides in Amsterdam. Everything is visible and accessible in one place, making cross-branch participation effortless.
Building a cycling community that lasts
Through their journey from a single branch to a national network, Velocity Ladies has learned one essential truth: “It’s about much more than just cycling, it’s about connection, confidence, and growing together.”
Their advice for other clubs? Choose more than just sport. Build a community where every woman is welcome, whether she just bought her first road bike or has been riding for years. Organize social rides, coffee rides, clinics, and cycling trips. Be active on social media. Celebrate achievements together, first 100 km rides, first climbs, personal milestones all matter. Make space for the social side, weekend trips, challenging tours, and bowling nights create a sense of belonging.
“When members feel they’re part of something welcoming and enjoyable, they stay, they participate more, and they bring friends along.”
This philosophy, combined with efficient management tools that free volunteers to focus on community-building rather than administration, has created the foundation for sustainable growth.
How Cyql can improve your club experience too
Velocity Ladies solved their multi-branch coordination challenges with features that work for clubs of any size:
Advanced ride Planning: Create and manage rides across all your branches or groups in one place. Members see everything in a single app.
Member Management: Know who’s coming before the ride starts, so you can plan the right number of ride leaders and support.
Member News & Communication: Replace scattered emails and WhatsApp groups with one platform everyone actually uses.