Connections - Episode 008 - Seb & Merida - On Queer Joy, Safe Rides & Showing Up Anyway
- Miles Baker-Clarke
- Aug 15
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
“Take Space to Make Space”
When Seb and Merida first met, they were brought together by a shared love for bikes—and a shared frustration with the lack of spaces where they truly felt they belonged. In this episode of the Cycling Culture Club podcast, we sit down with two community builders who are reshaping the cycling landscape in The Netherlands and beyond.
Seb is the founder of Queer Wheels, the first LGBTQ+ cycling club in The Netherlands, born out of a personal need for connection and safety on the bike. Merida is the founder of Project Fearless, a youth program focused on empowerment for girls and gender-fluid youth, and a core team member at No Ordinary Women, a fast-growing cycling community for women and non-binary riders.
Together, they talk about their personal journeys through cycling and queerness, how friendship became a source of strength, and the emotional work of holding space—not just for themselves, but for others who are still finding their voice. From the patriarchy of Lycra to the quiet joy of a Pride Ride in the rain, this episode is a love letter to anyone who's ever felt like the outsider.
But it’s also a reminder: no one should have to build these spaces alone. Whether you’re creating, joining, or cheering from the sidelines, showing up matters. And as Seb puts it,
“Just riding your bike as your whole self—that's a protest in itself.”
Stream the episode now, and let it be your reminder to take space, make space, and ride proud.
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