Interview with our CEO, Caricia Mondragón, by TradeBike magazine
The magazine specialized in cycling TradeBike, in its March issue, interviews Caricia in the section “El Sector Opina”. Our CEO, along with other professionals in the sector, gives her vision on women’s cycling in Spain.Obviously, we could not miss this event.
1.- What is the assessment of the 2022 season and how is the year 2023 presented?
For Ossby it has been an incredible year in which many circumstances have tested our team. Last season we showed that we know how to adapt to the circumstances and that we want to strengthen our brand in the mobility market and continue to offer very differentiated and innovative vehicles.
Looking ahead to 2023 we start with a lot of energy and a wonderful challenge: to start the manufacture and distribution of our new model of folding electric bicycle Ossby GEO in which we trust as the definitive springboard for the internationalization of the brand.
2.- Do you think women’s cycling continues to grow in Spain? What would help accelerate this growth?
Yes, absolutely. Professional women’s cycling is growing at great strides in Spain. More and more professionals can dedicate themselves almost fully to cycling and that is a sign of the boom that this sport is having among women. Currently, there is more media attention, more communities and associations, more events and events in which cyclists are transforming the professionalization of the discipline.
As for women in urban cycling, which is our sector, we are experiencing a very positive increase. We could almost say that women led the growth of bicycle use as a means of transport. According to data collected by the bicycle barometer in Spain, the difference between the number of men and women who use bikes to move around cities has been considerably reduced. If this gap in 2010 was 22.6%, in 2022 it was reduced to 15.6%.
As for urban cycling, more infrastructure is needed in cities. It is necessary that cyclists feel safe and have good connections in their city to get around by bike.
To accelerate growth in professional women’s cycling would require more support from public institutions, media and especially from sponsors and brands. It is necessary that cyclists have the same training, training and salaries as men’s teams. As in other sports, such as football, the incentive of brands that bet and contribute economically is fundamental. This will generate much more interest for girls who want to dedicate themselves to cycling, but do not see a clear future only with cycling.
As for urban cycling, more infrastructure is needed in cities. It is necessary that cyclists feel safe and have good connections in their city to get around by bike. Also, that the administration and companies make a commitment to the bike as Portugal did, reducing VAT on the purchase of the bike, or offering facilities such as the “cycle to work” plan offered in the United Kingdom.
3.-In which categories do you think women’s cycling grows the most and why?
In our case, we focus our analysis on urban cycling, we see how women are increasingly protagonists and for this we consider that the commitment by some cities to improve infrastructures is being key. In addition, we think that the new generations are incorporating the bicycle as an effective form of transport, regardless of their sex.
4.-What are the latest trends focused on women? What are the latest news from your brand for this category?
In our case, and the frame of folding bicycles, we always work with a unisex approach because we do not differentiate ourselves. We look for simple folding systems and comfortable designs on both our bikes and accessories, regardless of the sex or gender of our users. We flee from the need to simplify the mechanical system or different geometries for one sex or another. We don’t believe in this kind of differentiation.
You can read and download the 75th issue of the full TradeBike magazine here.
For more cyclists in our cities!
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