Breaking the Cycle: Redefining What Cycling Means for Women
The Grand Nairobi Race has always been close to my heart. I’ve never missed a single one. This year was special. Through Samsung, we partnered with the organizers as part of our Wearables Awareness Campaign, aligning with a group that rarely gets recognized: the Black Mamba riders.
Every year, I’ve shown up like every other cyclist, road bike, helmet, gloves, jersey, and glasses, the full kit. But this time, I chose to ride differently. I showed up as my mother would have, as the women back home in Samia, Busia County do every day. I swapped my cycling gear for a skirt, blazer, and a pair of comfortable heels.
Once upon a time, my mum owned a bicycle called Comerera. For years, we thought that was its name until we discovered it was actually a Carrera brand. My mum grew up in Bunyore, where cycling wasn’t common. But when she moved to Samia, everything changed. There, cycling is part of daily life for men, women, and children. It’s the most affordable and accessible way to move. She learned from scratch and once she did, she made sure all of us learned too.
Fast forward to Nairobi, where cycling suddenly felt foreign, especially for women. Unsafe roads. Raised eyebrows. The belief that cycling must always be ceremonial with helmets, gloves, closed roads, and specialized bikes.
This year, I decided to change that. At the start line, dressed in a skirt, blazer, and helmet, I rode a not-so-common bicycle. Everyone stared. One friend even asked if I planned to change later. I smiled and said, “No, I’m riding just as I am, even without padded shorts.”
Throughout the route, I was cheered on and encouraged. Some were amused, others were inspired. What struck me most was how unusual it still felt to see a woman cycling freely, not as a racer, but simply as a person. That says everything.
Cycling shouldn’t require special gear. We still face poor infrastructure, limited parking, and the perception that women cyclists are unusual. Security guards look puzzled when you ask where to park, and most offices lack cycling facilities.
Cycling should be for everyone. It shouldn’t matter what bike you ride or what you wear. I long for the day when cycling feels natural again, when I can wear a lovely dress, hop on a bike, and ride to work stress-free, just like we do in Samia.
Meanwhile, technology is helping modernize cycling. Through Samsung Wearables, we’re redefining what modern cycling looks like, blending innovation with everyday movement to create a connected ecosystem for today’s cyclist.
On your wrist: The Galaxy Watch is your coach, tracking sleep, guiding heart-rate zones, and helping you recover as you ride. It even assists with navigation.
In your ears: The Galaxy Buds keep you connected, music for motivation, noise canceling for calm, and ambient mode for safety on busy streets.
In your hands: The Galaxy Phone becomes your storyteller, capturing every sunrise start and finish-line smile with pro-grade cameras and Nightography.
By Nakhulo Khaimia
Head of Marketing, Mobile Experience, Samsung Electronics
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