Woman’s cycling: Racing with the Butterfly

I’m working on a writing project that has taken me of all places, woman’s cycling/racing in Missouri. I’m just coming across these jewels, one after another. I never realized how involved some of the fore founders of the woman’s movement relied on cycling as an example and inspiration to further the rights of women. Here’s an excerpt from a writing from Susan B. Anthony-

Susan B. Anthony was also convinced that bicycling did "more to emancipate women than anything else in the world." A woman on a bicycle, according to Anthony, was "the picture of free, un-trammeled womanhood."

Here is one really interesting story, It made Cathy cry when I read it to her. : )


http://www.radiancemagazine.com/issues/1999/spring_99/spring99_racing_with_a_butterfly.htm

I’m always so impressed when I see women of all ages making the sport of cycling their own. In the year with the NorCal group I’m seeing every time out, or at least on the big popular rides more female attendance. Now we’re seeing the daughters of BF riders starting to step up and grab the torch from their Dad’s and that’s impressive.
March on! Us guys are behind you… like a 100 yards on a tough climb!
Pete

Locally, we have the a couple of women's professional cycling teams (there may be others) - our Webcor Builders http://www.webcorcycling.com/ and Tibco http://www.teamtibco.com/index.html.

Three women from Webcor Builders are going to Beijing to race for Canada. The US Olympic team has not been announced yet. You can find race reports and news on their web sites.

On many occasions, the women pros race in local events including the Canada Time Trial.

Locally, we have the a couple of women's professional cycling teams (there may be others) - our Webcor Builders http://www.webcorcycling.com/ and Tibco http://www.teamtibco.com/index.html.

Three women from Webcor Builders are going to Beijing to race for Canada. The US Olympic team has not been announced yet. You can find race reports and news on their web sites.

On many occasions, the women pros race in local events including the Canada Time Trial.

I've actually had some nice correspondence with the Tibco team manager/coach and did a funny blog on a couple of their riders I ran into one day. It's pretty astounding the competitive but warm spirit they give out.
Pete

Here are my contributions to the movement:

http://ttlens.net/share/Number1.jpg
http://ttlens.net/share/Number2.jpg
http://ttlens.net/share/ToughGirls.jpg

:)

Here are my contributions to the movement:

:)


Thanks..Wow! that is so Awsome!:thumb:
Pete

Thanks..Wow! that is so Awsome!:thumb:
Pete

:)

I just hope it "sticks". The older one (6) seems the most interested. She loves to go fast and especially enjoys riding with me (via Trail-a-bike attached to my machine). She's no slouch on her own, either. You notice in the first picture that she is already ahead of many of the boys, despite starting 2 rows back :D and actually she passed a bunch more before the finish. The younger one has only dressed slightly "more rationally" for riding a bike; she does have a bike jersey but insisted upon wearing a skirt.

Wow - I have new admiration for Susan B. Anthony - she said that back in 1896! And the racing with the butterflies is a beautiful image - thanks for sharing. (Hmmm - that would make for a great women's racing team - I can see the jerseys now.)

And we women cyclists appreciate all your motivating words, Pete. You're a special guy.

So it's not just macho guys who give "the look".

http://ttlens.net/share/ToughGirls.jpg