Ashley Frear Cooper

Biking has been a mode of transportation, a mechanism for health and wellness, a source of inspiration, and a form of therapy for me.

What's more, it has brought a sense of community and extended my family. It has exposed me to new places, new experiences, and new people.

It connects me to nature and to myself. It brings out the grit, exposes fears, and challenges me in new and exhilarating ways.


I have met so many amazing women through cycling. A few of these women (Lis, Casey, Tammy, Emma) first exposed me to gravel, cyclocross, singletrack, and adventure racing. I felt comfortable trying new styles of riding by watching, listening, and learning from them. I felt safe, which emboldened me to ride more and simply have more fun on my bike. Over the next few years, I would ride with remarkable women for Gravel Girls and Women of Wilderness (aka Wilderness Wednesday) in Lincoln, Nebraska. I would travel to new places and meet more fearless women of dirt at adventure races and the KC Women's Dirt Summit.

I want to share that excitement, create that safe space, and empower other women and girls to experience the joy of riding, especially dirt and gravel. As a FWD ambassador, I look forward to working with you and fellow ambassadors to help more women connect to the dirt trails and find their own form of therapy, community, and fearlessness. And, to be honest, I'm excited to grow my own network of fearless women of dirt, ride more of the trails in my new town (Kansas City, Missouri), and learn about other trails in the Midwest, riding tips/clinics, and bike maintenance/gear from other women.

I am affiliated with a KC bike shop, Epic Bike and Sport, which my fiancé owns and operates. I have a full-time job outside of the shop, but collaborate and support my partner's business in any way I can. We are both passionate about riding and what it has contributed to our lives. We love new riders, families, commuters, and those looking to push their own limits or try a different discipline of riding--you know, everyone!