Southern California - Women's Clinic @ Helen's Cycles - Sun 1/21

Hi All!
Helen's Cycles in Santa Monica is having a women's clinic on Sunday January 21st.
Here is a website with the info...

http://celebratingwomenonbikes.com/

Karen

Thank for posting this, Karen!

my bike shop needs to do stuff like this! last time we were in there they said there were going to start doing some stuff (i.e. teaching women to change tires) but this clinic looks AWESOME! it so stinx that i live so far from everything (i'm still wanting to do that MTB clinic!)

I told SCC that they need to do this type of event as well cali...hopefully as they get settled, they'll decide to host one.

But SCC doesn't have Mark-Paul Gosselaar!

In your womens clinic, I would like to know what these people think of the Cervelo viewpoint that a woman specific bike is not necessary. I think that's what Cervelo is trying to say, how they view bike geometry. I think their conclusion is that they way they design frames, its not necessary for a company (like theirs) to roll out a line of woman specific frames.

Isn't Women Spefic design (WSD etc) just marketing speak for geometry features like shorter top tubes? I have a female friend who has shorter legs and a longer torso, so she rides a 'mens' bike.

Isn't Women Spefic design (WSD etc) just marketing speak for geometry features like shorter top tubes? I have a female friend who has shorter legs and a longer torso, so she rides a 'mens' bike.

According to Cervelo, the answer is not just shorter top tubes. Its more than that and that's why they don't think WSD is not necessary. Now, interestingly enough, Helen's Cycle carries the Cervelo brand.

hey socalers-- is anyone going to this? i'm signing up since helens is right near me.

hey socalers-- is anyone going to this? i'm signing up since helens is right near me.

I'd like to go - waiting to hear back from a friend. I live in Culver City but I really like the staff at Santa Monica Helen's.

According to Cervelo, the answer is not just shorter top tubes. Its more than that and that's why they don't think WSD is not necessary. Now, interestingly enough, Helen's Cycle carries the Cervelo brand.

If that's their attitude, it's their loss. My next bike will be full CF and I would have been a potential customer, but they are simply not available in my size. I'm 5-1 and the standover height of their smallest frame gives me a serious bike wedgie.
Nah, my $$$ will go to the company that reaches out to women, i.e. Specialized.

If that's their attitude, it's their loss. My next bike will be full CF and I would have been a potential customer, but they are simply not available in my size. I'm 5-1 and the standover height of their smallest frame gives me a serious bike wedgie.
Nah, my $$$ will go to the company that reaches out to women, i.e. Specialized.

I think Cervelo's point is that their smallest bike wouldn't fit anyone who is 5'1", regardless of sex. A 5'1" male would probably need a frame smaller than a 48 as well.

I think Cervelo's point is that their smallest bike wouldn't fit anyone who is 5'1", regardless of sex. A 5'1" male would probably need a frame smaller than a 48 as well.

Not always the case. I tested two bikes last week.. the smallest Tarmac (49cm) and the Ruby (48cm) The Tarmac was smooth but in no way could they make this bike fit. The 48cm Ruby fit me like a glove. If it hadn't fit, there was the option of a smaller 44cm size. All I'm saying is that Specialized invested the time and money to cater to the women's market. So they (or another likeminded company) will be rewarded with my business. That's all.


Postscript: Since Cervelo is among the premiere makers of TT/triathlon bikes, they'd be crazy to ignore the market. Here's an except from an article on SlowTwitch:

Not only is the sport of triathlon a lot bigger now than it was a decade ago, women make up 35% of the sport here in the U.S., not 15% as was the case in the early to mid '90s. Further, the rate of new entries into multisport is evenly split among the sexes.
This means what, exactly? It means that if you're industry, and you're watching this trend, you'd better pay a lot of attention (both at the manufacturer and retail level) at what sort of bikes you currently make or stock to service triathlon's entry- and mid-priced levels. It also means you must face this fact: you're going to be selling just about as many mid- to high-priced 47cm, 49cm and 51cm tri bikes as you do 57cm, 59cm, and 61cm units, in the last half of this decade.

Full article:http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/kona2005/kona2005_women.html

Voltman, didn't you mention that you were planning to put on a women's clinic?

Voltman, didn't you mention that you were planning to put on a women's clinic?

Booked solid.

*bump*--seriously, though. i do hope to see a few of the ladies here-- the event's still pretty wide open and I hope this encourages the local shops to do more of this-- show them that there are tons of women cyclists in the area. plus- it's only $25!

No, they're not paying me to promote ;) PM me if you want to go and grab drinks/early dinner afterwards. we could leave bikes at my place (less than 1 mi. from Helens) if you don't want to leave them on cars.