IRIS, HeyHeydeHaas and Off the Map, three women-led businesses, believe in the power of community and the strength that comes from supporting one another. Women deserve the opportunity to connect, share, and inspire each other as they pursue their dreams and goals. Recently, they joined forces to organize The Sleepover, a two-day cycling experience exclusively for women that offered participants more than just a ride.

They wanted to intentionally create space for women to step off their bikes, build deeper connections, and have meaningful conversations about how to bring their aspirations to life. Past initiatives like School of Rocks, Women’s Weekenders, and The Cheer Squad were proof of the supportive community surrounding female cycling, and they could not wait any longer to create another event where women could connect and inspire one another.

Winter escape

These kinds of weekend adventures are usually organized only when the temperatures are mild enough, but on January 25th, 40 women bravely faced the cold of South Limburg and the Belgian Ardennes in winter to ride 170 km on gravel over two days in bikepacking style. Event organizer Elske defined The Sleepover as “a celebration of community, connection and the joy of winter exploration.”

Lexi Brown, one of the participants in The Sleepover, shared her experience with us, highlighting the common excitement at Off The Map in Maastricht before the start. There was a nice mix of young and old people, introverts and extroverts, some more experienced and others taking part in a bikepacking adventure for the first time.

Iris Slappendel, former pro cyclist and founder of IRIS, led the way, and they headed towards Malmedy, in Belgium. At first, it was cold and rainy, so any trace of sunlight was very welcome. “We were all starting to hit that wall where cold seeps past physical defenses and into your soul. But nature has a way of delivering gifts just when you need them most”, explained Lexi.

Forged bonds

They had split into multiple groups, and the last one arrived at the cozy mountain mansion well after sunset, supporting each other through the harsh, dark conditions. Franke Elshout prepared kimchi pancakes and vegetable dumplings, complemented by a needed warm soup. Everyone stayed close to the fireplace for the rest of the evening while playing Bingo. “With beautiful artwork bingo cards created by HeyHeyDeHaas, we ticked off number after number. Lots of ooh’s, aarghs and excited shouts of Bingo! Fun fun fun, but sadly no win for me”, said Brenda, who was experiencing her first group bikepacking adventure.

Addressing the aim of the event, there was also time to do other off-the-bike things like exchanging book recommendations or getting career advice from any of the fellow participants of The Sleepover.

Snowy return

The following day they climbed to the highest point in Belgium – yes, it is only 697 meters above sea level, but the fresh snow made things interesting. There was a beautiful contrast between the white landscape and the colorful jerseys that characterize the brand IRIS, which in some way lifted the spirits even more as they counted down the kilometers to arrive back in Maastricht.

According to Lexi, the main highlights of the latter part of the route were the strategic bakery stops where they huddled around warm pastries and coffee while sharing plans for future adventures. They took advantage of the several punctures in the closing kilometers by practicing their repair skills, and they finished with a smile despite the challenging conditions faced.

“Let’s embrace the weather, find your people, and discover the magic that happens when you stop waiting. Because sometimes, the most challenging experiences can create the best memories.” – Lexi Brown