Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
All-Female Eastside Bike Crew in L.A. Forms a 'Clitoral Mass'
Photo by djjewelz via the LAist Featured Photos pool
Step aside, boys, there's a new biking group in Los Angeles, and they want you to know they "don't need no fucking balls."
LA Streetsblog has a profile of the fierce women who make up this new Eastside-based biking brigade called the Ovarian-Psycos.
The riders clearly have more than biking on their minds: Their leaders are referred to as left and right ovaries. Meeting organizers are called "clit checkers." They sport stickers with the slogan: “Ovaries so big, we don’t need no fucking balls.” Their monthly bike rides are called "Luna Rides." Their 2-year anniversary coming up in July will be titled "Clitoral Mass."
The group might not be taken as seriously by other (mostly male) biking groups, but that's kind of beside the point: the group is as much dedicated to creating a safe space for women on the streets as it is to biking for the hell of it. The group is close-knit and they discuss domestic violence. Streetsblog recounts how one of their monthly rides turned into a protest after Lincoln Heights resident Bree'Anna Guzman was discovered on the side of a freeway. During the protest, the riders chanted "Whose Streets? Our Streets."
Ovarian-Psycos sounds a little like Midnight Ridazz, Slutwalk and Occupy Wall Street all rolled into one. For the full profile of how the group came to be and photos, check out the full post over at Streetsblog.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
