Meet The Pedal Pusher Society
Meet the Pedal Pusher Society, your friendly neighborhood female bicycle gang. These ladies like the wind their hair, the ease of a freshly greased chain and shredding the bike lane together. Meet a few of Milwaukee’s most rebellious riders!
A. LIVERMORE
PPS member since : About 2007
Why did you join: What? Bloomers, duh!
Your take on being a female biker in Milwaukee: No other way.
Favorite places to bike : Montreal
Favorite bike to ride: Lemond
Favorite summer events in Milwaukee: Warmth
SHEA SHAKE-YER-BOOTY
PPS member since : 2005, since we founded it in our friend’s basement
Why did you join: To create a space which was welcoming & empowering for women to bike.
Your take on being a female biker in Milwaukee: I think as a woman I’m particularly sensitive to staying safe and very aware of my surroundings once the sun goes down in Milwaukee, it’s unfortunately not uncommon for crazy stuff to go down. My bike gives me more freedom to be able to travel where I please, even at night, providing my confidence that I have a dependable, speedy way to get home.
Favorite places to bike : Anywhere, particularly with my posse of awesome ladies
Favorite bike to ride: My tandem, a Santana which is built for long rides and overnight adventures.
Favorite summer events in Milwaukee: Riverwest 24 hour race, Bike Fed’s Bike-In Movie Series, SantaCycle Rampage, scandalous night swims….
NICOLE (COCO) WATSON
PPS member since: Approx. 2006
Why did you join: Biking in a group’s more fun.
Your take on being a female biker in Milwaukee: It’s frustrating at times but worth it.
Favorite thing about biking in Milwaukee: Fresh snow on empty streets
Favorite bike to ride: Late 70 Schwinn Paramount, I’ll cry when that bike dies!
Favorite summer events in Milwaukee: PPS Prom, Riverwest 24 Hour Race, Bike Fed’s Bike-In Movie Series, tandem rides to the lake
LESLIE M VAGLICA
PPS member since: Summer 2007
Why did you join: The call of the road; a pack of hot legs
Your take on being a female biker in Milwaukee: Feels safe all the time. Fast some of the time–breezier in a short skirt!
Favorite places to bike: Anywhere in a warm summer evening rain.
Favorite bike to ride: It’s a toss-up–fast or slow?
Favorite summer events in MKE: RW24, Picnics!
PPS member since: about 2007-08
Why did you join: To meet other rad ladies who bike and the parties are awesome.
Your take on being a female biker in Milwaukee: We need more alliance
Favorite places to bike: Most roads suck, but I like to ride anywhere & everywhere
Favorite bike to ride: Schwinn Speedster, Trek 1200 aluminum road bike
Favorite summer events in Milwaukee: Riverwest 24hr race, sunrise and Bradford Beach, Rocker Box, Biketoberfest
KATIE MAEDKE-HALL
PPS member since: Summer 2007
Why did you join: Peer pressure
Your take on being a female biker in Milwaukee: As a mom, I love to see my kids get excited about biking and to set a good example for them
Favorite places to bike: With the kids to school & everywhere else.
Favorite bike to ride: Pewter Univega
Favorite summer events in Milwaukee: 4th of July in Riverwest, Pedal Pusher Prom
LAURA MAKER
PPS member since : I helped start PPS in 2005.
Why did you join: We wanted to create a place where women felt comfortable riding bikes. We wanted PPS to be a welcoming and empowering space. I think we’ve achieved that.
Your take on being a female biker in Milwaukee: Being on a bike is the best way to experience Milwaukee. There is nothing like riding along the lakefront and feeling the wind from the lake rush through your helmet vents. Being on a bike is empowering for people of all genders – it lets you take control over how you get from point a to point b.
Favorite places to bike: I like to bike to Leon’s, home of the best custard in the world. I also like to ride to Mary Nohl’s house on the north shore.
Favorite bike to ride: Whatever bike is handy. It’s all about being on two wheels.
