Originally Posted by YMCA

As a former board member on the local association for USAC, I can tell you what does NOT work for attracting more women:

1) upping prize money
2) increased distances
3) un-combining categories
4) stipends, sponsorships, financial incentives
5) advertising

The only way you'll ever find women that want to "race" bikes and not just "ride" a bike (tri's, centuries, fondos), is for women to help women. And that aint happening on a grand scale.

Boys find other boys who want to destroy each other and join the cause.
Women tend to bi*ch about each other and destroy hope (yes, a general statement, but fairly accurate).

USAC says 11% of licensees are female.
Yet we most often have only 4-9% of the entrants as ladies on any given weekend.
We've tried everything.

And lastly, the problem that needs fixing is not necessarily a problem. Maybe it's just what it is.