The BABE podcast with Coach Coral Owen

Every day there are still three to four times more men than women getting on their bikes and going outside. In road racing, women often only represent 20-30 percent of registered riders. Safety and not feeling welcomed are among some of the reasons women are less likely to ride but people like Coach Coral Owen who is the Team BABE race director are trying to change that by organizing events that are by women and for women. In triathlons, women are the fastest growing demographic.

Coach Coral and others will be getting together for the Tampa Bay BABES Triathlon on June 22, 2025. Scarborough Bicycle Accident Law is the presenting partner for this year’s event and a strong supporter of women in endurance sports. He and Coach Coral recently sat down for a conversation about women in sports, bike safety, and more on the BABE podcast.

Scarborough has been biking seriously since the 1980s when he got his first aluminum Cannondale and quickly started doing biathlons before branching out into mountain biking and other bike sports. He’s been licensed to practice law for 32 years and in recent years has expanded his practice to combine what he loves with representing people he cares about—fellow cyclists.

“There’s such a need for cyclists of all kinds—triathletes, gravel cyclists, road cyclists, and pedestrian cyclists, just normal day to day people—to have the knowledge of what they need to do to protect themselves on the road,” Scarborough told Coach Coral.

Scarborough sponsors a number of local triathletes but would love to see the number of female athletes increase. “There seems to be more enthusiasm on the women’s side and love of the sport,” he said, a statement Coach Coral agreed with.

Want to get more women in endurance sports? Lead with community.

In the 1990s when Coach Coral was watching her mother race in Tampa Bay, only 10% of participants were women. “We go to races now at the sprint distance and it’s almost an even 50/50 split.” She offered some theories about why this might be happening and believes community and representation are the biggest reason for the growth of women in triathlons. With the Tampa Bay BABES, the goal, Coach Coral said, “is to create a widely inviting space that’s 100% come-as-you-are regardless of age, experience, and background.” For over half of the people who joined last year’s triathlon, it was their first endurance event.

This, Scarborough said, is why he’s so excited to be this year’s presenting partner for the BABES Triathlon. “Do you remember the first time you did road cycling how intimidating it was to jump into a group ride?” Scarborough said. “It’s an off-putting experience sometimes and this provides a space for women to be able to do these sports—to do cycling and swimming and running—without being judged.” If this gets more people comfortable with those sports and competing in whatever level they’re at, it’s a huge milestone. “If you didn’t have that spark and you’re providing that spark [with this race] that’s incredible,” Scarborough said.

Coach Coral asked Scarborough if he had any tips for how triathletes or cyclists can proactively protect themselves while training or racing.

Bicycle Safety for Endurance Athletes

The first thing Scarborough recommended was that cyclists check their equipment carefully. Check the stem and connections. Check the brakes and make sure they’re adjusted properly, he said. New bicycle disc brakes often only have a life of about 500-2,000 miles depending on the brand. If they fail at the wrong moment, it can create a dangerous situation.

Cyclists should wear a helmet at all times while riding. “The ones I had to wear in the 90s looked really bad,” he said. “We’ve got cool helmets now.” There’s no excuse not to wear one.

Have flashing lights on your bike. “I don’t care where you are, even if you’re riding trail you should have a blinking light,” Scarborough said. “It makes you so much more observable.” Front lights are required at night in most states now but going above the legal minimum is good for you and the people around you.

Dress appropriately. Make sure your kit is bright to make you more observable.

Get uninsured motorist coverage. This is Scarborough’s more technical tip but it can be a crucial help if you’re in an accident, especially in a state like Florida where drivers aren’t required to have insurance. “If you’re involved in a bike accident or driving around in your car and get into an accident with somebody has no liability coverage you won’t get anything,” Scarborough said. A few years ago, he represented a man who was hit by a car and went through the windshield. “The person driving only had $25,000 in coverage; this guy’s medical bills were $400,000.” Luckily, the cyclist had an uninsured motorist policy of $600,000 that paid out, otherwise he would have had astronomical medical bills for an accident that wasn’t even his fault. “It’s so important for everybody to have this coverage,” Scarborough said. “It’s the only thing that will protect us when we’re on the road.”

For more safety tips and information about women in triathlons, listen to the full podcast episode.