Karissa Bo Bissa / SheWolves

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions Karissa – 

Please introduce yourself to our readers by telling us about how you got into riding.

Of course there were bicycles and tricycles throughout my childhood but my adult history of cycling doesn’t really start until 2012, when I came to San Diego. I moved here from northern California with a beach cruiser that was almost immediately stolen; but was fortunate enough to be gifted an older Klein road bike that I LOVED and ended up riding literally everywhere.

At some point I moved to North Park and was honored to live one street over from the premier fixie bike shop known as Retrogression. One of the owners, Angie; had started a local riding club with friend Magz to promote female cyclists outside of the dude-bro full spandex bike rides of the time. And so a niche was formed. My first ride with SheWolves was late in their first year but proved formidable in my quest for bicycle rides and a growing friend circle. 

What is your role with SheWolves? 

I took over the management of SheWolves when the two founders moved away at about the same time like 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 years ago. I really have lost track. Since then I’ve been hosting the rides and running the account almost entirely by myself, with input here and there by other SheWolves. Organizing a ride like this is a lot more involved than people think; picking an ending spot and potentially corroborating with  that establishment; designing and creating a poster/flier for that ride, sharing that poster and continuing to promote it, hosting the actual ride; making sure everyone knows the rules and how to be safe; making sure everyone gets home okay, and then filtering through all the photos and videos to find the best ones to include with a post, etc. It’s not “work” per se but it’s definitely involved and can often take up quite a bit of time.

What are you currently focused on with SheWolves?

That’s a good question, we’re currently in the middle of a big shake-up. It hasn’t really been made public but I’m actually stepping down from SheWolves; mainly because I’ve been doing it for so long and I kinda need a break, but also to pursue the return of GoldSprints to San Diego. I’m part of BARF: a collective of folks who put on bike events here in SD which stands for Bikes Are Really Fun; because they are and this event is something I’m so very excited about. 

SheWolves will hopefully be taken up by quality individuals who will do our nearly 11 year history justice; and I’m not stepping back completely; I really just need a vacation and would love the privilege of just showing up like everyone else has had. I have high hopes it’ll continue on like it always has. 

What do you want our readers to know about Shewolves? 

SheWolves is a monthly no-drop bicycle ride for people who identify as women, trans, femme, queer, gender non-conforming, and other marginalized communities to meet up and empower each other to ride bicycles together in a safe and inclusive way that promotes individuality and confident ridership in a big urban environment such as San Diego. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about SheWolves?

I think I mentioned everything I wanted to?

Lastly, what is your favorite area to ride in San Diego and why? 

I live in North Park so the upper neighborhood Mesa is what I know best. I’ve grown fond of the trails in Morley Field/Florida Canyon and the Bridle Trail along the 163, there’s so many hidden gems in these neighborhoods and canyons and I still havent explored them all, but Tecolote and PQ and new faves as well. Traveling to the beach neighborhoods always prove worthwhile on weekend coffee rides and make up a huge part of why I love living here in San Diego.

Thanks for sharing all this with us Karissa. Thanks to you the reader for reading – be sure to give Karissa a follow on the socials mentioned.