Latinas en Bici (LEB) was founded in 2019, when Olivia Barraza had a vision to create inclusive cycling opportunities for Latina women. It’s now grown into Northwest Arkansas’s most welcoming cycling community. The motto is “Ride, Connect, Thrive.”
To quote Olivia, the Co-Founder and CEO:
“I wanted to create the cycling community I wished I had when I first started riding, one where your background, gear, and experience level didn’t matter. What mattered was showing up and supporting each other.”
The Beginning – in 2019, Olivia founded LEB with a vision to create inclusive cycling opportunities for Latina women in NWA. The mission statement reads:
“To empower Latina women through cycling education, community building, and inclusive outdoor experiences that foster mental wellness, build confidence, and create lasting connections.”
The goals of the organization are:
Inclusivity – Every woman, regardless of experience or background, belongs here.
Cultural Pride – Celebrating heritage while building bridges.
Community First – Supporting each other on and off the bike.
Empowerment – Building confidence through cycling and connection.
Growing Strong – in 2020 and 2021, despite challenges, the community grew from 10 to 50 members, proving the power of connection and resilience. Now, LEB is more than 100 strong and claims to be Northwest Arkansas’s premier inclusive cycling organization.
Program Expansion – later, two new programs were added, Biciescuela and LatiNitas MTB Camp, formalizing their education and youth development programs.
Biciescuela is LEB’s signature program for women who are new to cycling or what to build confidence. Participants learn bike handling, safety, and maintenance in a supportive, bilingual environment. The session is 2 hours long and includes bike safety education, basic maintenance skills, and traffic navigation. No prior experience is needed; all equipment is provided, and it has a fun, supportive vibe.
LatiNitas MTB Camp is for girls ages 7-12. It is a mountain bike camp focused on building confidence, leadership, and outdoor skills for young Latina girls. Its goal is to create future community leaders through cycling. The program lasts 4 weeks and is scheduled weekly on Mondays. Participants learn bike safety, basic maintenance skills, and traffic navigation. All equipment is provided, and it’s designed to be fun and supportive. To date, over 50 girls have participated.
LEB also hosts weekly community rides, inclusive group rides that build community, friendships, and healthy habits. On the rides, they explore the beautiful greenways and trails of Northwest Arkansas. The rides happen every Wednesday between April and September and last 1-2 hours.
That’s what I have as of today on this another advocacy organization for cycling in Northwest Arkansas. I hope you found it enlightening and maybe a little bit entertaining. Remember, if you’ve got the fever, keep it burning, and if you don’t, catch the fever, and I will see you next time on Running: A FEVER.