Riding, Access & Showing Up with Vanessa Hauswald of She Sends
I’ve had a lot of conversations on the podcast about access, representation, and what it really takes to get more women outdoors, and this week feels like the perfect moment to highlight a foundation doing exactly that. I sat down with Vanessa Hauswald of the She Sends Foundation to talk about what it really looks like to create access in cycling, support girls and women, and build community without big budgets or flashy backing.
We also get into the She Sends capital campaign, how donations are being doubled this week, and why even $5 can directly impact riders and grassroots programs.
Click play below to hear our full conversation.
The She Sends Story
She Sends launched with a simple idea: connect, support, and inspire women and girls through cycling. But they’re not operating with big backing or polished budgets. The team is small, scrappy, and powered by passion and community rather than venture capital or major donors.
Every dollar they raise goes directly back into riders and grassroots programs—no waiting, no sitting in a bank account, no complicated layers. If someone applies for support, She Sends finds a way to show up for them. That immediacy and intentional giving is what makes this foundation so special.
Vanessa shares how they’re focusing on access at every level—helping young riders try cycling for the first time, supporting women who want to get certified as coaches, and offering grants to riders chasing their next challenge. Whether someone is brand new or aiming for high-level racing, SheSends is creating space for them to grow.
Vanessa’s Journey
One of my favorite parts of this episode is hearing Vanessa’s own story. She grew up around bikes, eventually became a teacher, and later shifted into nonprofit leadership through NICA. Her path took a sharp turn after facing a cancer diagnosis in her mid-30s—a moment that forced her to reevaluate how she wanted to spend her time and what kind of impact she wanted to make.
Her honesty about pivoting, learning on the fly, and raising her hand even when she didn’t feel perfectly qualified is powerful. So much of this episode touches on identity, confidence, and the bravery it takes to start again—whether that’s on the bike or in life.
It’s a reminder that expertise isn’t the prerequisite for doing meaningful work. Showing up, trying, and caring deeply can take you farther than you think.
Why Access Matters
We also talk about the reality of cycling still being far from equal. Women currently make up about 25% of the sport. Even though mountain biking feels like it’s booming, especially in women’s spaces, the numbers haven’t caught up.
Vanessa and I break down how access shows up in ways big and small—everything from trail proximity, early exposure, and financial barriers to the subtle ways the sport can feel intimidating or elitist.
And we talk about what it looks like to shift that. Welcoming beginners. Expanding what “counts” as mountain biking. Supporting girls in cities. Building community rides. Creating opportunities that didn’t exist before. And showing up without needing to fit a certain mold or be the fastest or the strongest.
Support She Sends
She Sends is currently in its first-ever capital campaign, Every gift—whether it’s $5 or $50—directly supports riders, youth programs, women’s coaching opportunities, and organizations doing the work locally. If you’ve been wanting to support women’s sports in a real, tangible way, this is a moment where your contribution stretches twice as far.
👉 Donate: https://shesendsfoundation.org
Connect
Website: https://shesendsfoundation.org
Instagram: @shesendsfoundation
Podcast IG: @tarin.it.up.podcast
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