Tag: Georgena Terry

CATCHING UP WITH GEORGENA.

Call us biased, but when it comes to innovators and icons of women’s cycling, we place our founder, Georgena Terry at the top. Not only was she the first to the women’s cycling market when she started Terry Bicycles (circa 1984), over the course of three decades she revolutionized the saddle industry with patented designs for both women and men, launched a pro women’s cycling development team, was named one of four female cycling pioneers by Bicycling magazine, had a documentary filmed about her, started the Wild Goose Chase and got a law degree a few years ago to fuel her efforts in environmental issues. Although she retired from terrybicycles.com several years ago, Georgena has a robust custom bike building business and is still innovating daily on a customer-by-customer basis. We caught up with her recently…

Q: How is life in the world of custom bikes?

GT: Incredibly busy and always challenging since every bicycle is as unique as its rider. I never cease to learn something new with every bike I build. Collaborating on the frame design with Waterford, not to mention working with wonderful customers, bike shops, and fitters is very special.

Q: Most fun project you’ve worked on recently?

GT: They’re all fun, but the standouts are two bikes I built for customers who plan to ride the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Canada to Mexico. The bikes have Rohloff drivetrains, generator hubs, and a Gates belt drive. The learning curve was incredibly steep!

Q: You were early to the gravel/touring bike party. What do you think of the explosion in that arena?

GT: It’s great because it attracts new riders to bicycling. These days, there seems to be more and more aversion to riding on the road. Thankfully, bikes have become so much more versatile they can take riders to new venues where the ride feels safer and is certainly visually exciting.

Q: There are some companies out there claiming they’re the first cycling brands dedicate to women. As the true first, and founder of Terry, how do you personally feel about the state of the industry & women’s offerings in 2023?

GT: I find it humorous and rather perplexing that for 35+ years the industry has been debating the validity of “women specific designs.” I’m certainly not arguing that only a WSD will properly fit a woman. It’s fine for some, but not for others. As an industry, we should stop debating this and concentrate on what’s best for our customers. The goal is to get more riders on bikes that fit properly, regardless of how the bike is classified.

Q: Do you still follow pro racing?

GT: You bet — especially the burgeoning women’s side of racing which is exciting and thrilling to watch.

Q: Greatest bike racer of all time?

GT: Greatest can mean so many things — to me, it means the most inspiring. And not just one racer, many — Annemiek van Vleuten, Marianne Vos, Mark Cavendish, Eileen Sheridan, Beryl Burton, Sean Kelly, Chris Froome, Greg LeMond.

Q: Favorite podcasts?

GT: My favorites:

Cyclocross Social Podcast

Cyclocross Radio

The Cycling Podcast

The Move

The Placeholder

Matt Stephens Unplugged

Geraint Thomas Cycling Club

Q: You started the Wild Goose Chase benefit weekend at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. What’s the latest there?

GT: We’re about to open registration for the 2023 Goose which will be held October 7 – 8. Covid was hard on the Goose, so 2023 will be our chance to blossom again. A lot will be going on — bicycling in and around the Refuge, of course, but also a guided bike tour of Harriet Tubman’s haunts in the area, yoga classes, bike maintenance workshops, exhibitors, guided nature rides in the Refuge, and a spaghetti dinner followed by a showing of the new documentary, “Uphill Climb,” about the 1984 Tour de France Féminin. Registration is here: https://www.bikereg.com/wildgoose.

For more about Georgena:

Watch this award-winning short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oElAA0zp3A0

Visit her website: https://georgenaterry.com/

Follow her on Instagram: @georgenaterry

February 25, 2023
WHERE’S GEORGENA?

As a matter of fact, she’s just launched a wonderful new website for her custom bike building business: georgenaterry.com.

Georgena started Terry Bicycles some 30+ years ago, building bikes by hand and building a company dedicated to female cyclists, along the way. At first, her basement was her workshop until the demand for her women-specific bikes took off and she hired a crew and moved into a building in East Rochester, NY. Eventually, bike demand required a bigger team and off shore resources from Italy, Japan and Asia. Terry was never the biggest bike company for woman, but it was definitely the FIRST. Those like me who’ve worked with her have a strong appreciation for her commitment to frame geometry and her unwillingness to compromise on things like slack head and steep seat angles in order to “fit” a woman. Like many of you out there, I wouldn’t even be able to consider 100 miles on a bike without a Terry underneath me.

Although in recent years she’s gone off on her own (and even pursued a law degree), Georgena never lost the desire and energy to make the ultimate bicycles for women. When asked about what fuels her now, she says,

Today, I’m building bikes one on one, with and for you. I hope I’m part of a movement that encourages women to think for themselves. To be stubborn. To break the rules. And not be afraid to be a pain in the butt sometimes. Susan B. Anthony did. And it turned out pretty well for her.

Even if you’re not in the market for a custom bike, check out the new website — it’s enlightening and engaging, filled with good information and a good place to dream…

May 10, 2017
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGENA!

When I first started working at Terry 20+ years ago, I was delighted to find out that birthdays were a holiday. The mark of a cool company, for sure. But the frosting on the cake was the inspiration from above, where Georgena (Terry) would always devote her birthday to riding one mile for every one of her years. On Tuesday, May 31stth, join us in saying, “Happy one more mile, Georgena!”

May 25, 2016
SPRING ADVICE FROM GEORGENA TERRY.

When Spring arrives and the heady scent of thawing earth and emerging blooms is in the air, the lure of a bicycle ride is overwhelming. Best to make sure you and your bike are ready for the enjoyable hours of riding to come.

Human bodies and bicycle bodies aren’t really all that different when it comes to preparation. Analogies abound. Consider suppleness: are your muscles supple and ready for action? After a long winter, your bicycle’s tires better be supple, too. If they’re dried out and inflexible, they will prone to punctures. Not only that, the feel of the bike will suffer since stiff tires don’t flex. They bounce around rather than deflecting and absorbing imperfections in road surfaces.

I replace my tires and tubes annually, regardless of how many miles they have on them. Time and mileage both take their toll on rubber. Buy the best tires and tubes you can afford. It’s money well spent.

How’s your core strength? It’s the springboard for efficient pedaling. Your bicycle has a core, too: its frame and fork. Time spent cleaning the bike’s core not only makes the bike look good, it can reveal problems before they become disasters. While light scratches in the paint aren’t necessarily a problem, cracks are — especially in aluminum or carbon fiber. If you find a crack, have your local shop check it out.

Steel and aluminum bikes can be waxed and then kept shiny with periodic applications of Lemon Pledge®. The appropriate cleansing and polishing of carbon fiber varies from brand to brand, so ask your dealer about the best way to care for the finish.

Just as stretching keeps the human body from creaking, lubrication helps the bike do the same. What to lubricate? The chain and the pivot points on both derailleurs are the easiest. Chain lubes abound — wax-based products are the cleanest, but may not be robust enough for frequent wet weather rides. A light oil will suffice for the derailleurs.

Finally, make sure everything works! When you squeeze the brake levers, does the bike stop? Do the gears shift properly? Is your saddle ready for another big season? If not, a visit to the bike shop is in order!

Warmer days are coming, so tune up your body and your bike now so you’ll both be ready to take advantage of them!

For more advice and information from Georgena, click here: Georgenaterry.com

Women’s cycling pioneer and founder of Terry Bicycles, Georgena Terry is still actively engaged in her custom “Heart of Steel” bicycle business and is a voice for female cyclists. She continues to ride thousands of miles a year and pursues her passion for the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge with the Wild Goose Chase bike ride/fundraiser along Maryland’s Eastern Shore. We thank her for continued efforts and the contribution of her columns.

January 19, 2016
TURNING 30.

The Originals.

2015 marks Terry’s 30th anniversary in putting female cyclists first. Think about it, how many women-specific brands were in the cycling industry, or any sports industry for that matter, in 1985? We’re celebrating all year with our largest line-up of new product introductions and limited-edition 30th anniversary products:

Fly & Butterfly Classic: the originals in their textured leather covers with embroidered butterfly and fly.

Susan B Anthony Jersey: in conjunction with the Susan B Anthony House in Rochester, New York (available this April).

Founded by Georgena Terry in 1985, Terry Bicycles is the original women’s bicycling company that has been committed to getting more women riding through innovative product design. We are 100% dedicated to making cycling a more comfortable, safe and beautiful experience for all women.

On to the next decade!

March 1, 2015
A RIGHTEOUS BIKE, WORTHY OF A DREAM VACATION.

Adventure Cyclist Road Test: Heart of Steel Coto Doñana Tour.

Named after the Spanish nature reserve, designed by our founder, Georgena Terry, and just reviewed by Adventure Cyclist magazine, the Coto Doñana Tour is getting some much deserved attention. Read Jill Janov’s review of this lovely, true touring bicycle here: GT_Adventure_Cyclist_5

April 16, 2014
GEORGENA TERRY AWARDED THE PIONEERING WOMAN AWARD.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) Announces Winners of Bike Industry Leadership Awards.
Pioneering Woman and First Ascent Awards recognize senior and junior women

September 8, 2009- OIWC announces the 2009 winners of the bike industry’s Pioneering Woman and First Ascent Awards. Georgena Terry, Founder of Terry Precision Cycling will be presented the Pioneering Woman Award and Kaitlyn Gang, Marketing, Communications, and PR Manager for Advanced Sports Inc. will receive the First Ascent Award. Nominations were submitted by industry peers and the winner was selected by the OIWC Board of Directors.

The Pioneering Woman Award recognizes a woman with a commitment to mentoring female colleagues, which exemplifies the OIWC’s mission to equip, educate and support women in the outdoor industries.
Nominated by the Editor of BRAIN, Megan Tompkins stated, “Georgena founded Terry Bicycles and is a pioneer in creating women’s products, long before women’s-specific products was a trend. She has been an innovator and an inspiration.”

The First Ascent Award complements the Pioneering Woman Award by recognizing a junior level female with a notable commitment to leadership within the bike industry. This award presents a platform for the OIWC to nurture and support the industry’s next female leaders.

In one of six nominations submitted for Kaitlyn Gang from Advanced Sports Inc., Luke Elrath, Product Manager for Transportation and Utility Bikes, stated, “Kaitlyn is the glue that holds Advanced Sports together. From writing marketing copy to planning our trade show booths and international sales meetings, she does it all. Her general organizational acumen sets her in a class by herself.”

Click here to download the full release: OIWCAwardWinners

For more information, contact:
Terry marketing director, Paula Dyba
Paula@terrybicycles.com, 585-415-3849.

September 8, 2009