Originally Posted by
Machka
The second paragraph is born of a very strong feeling (stemming from experiences and comments) I've gotten when I've visited certain bicycle shops and been a member of certain clubs. That having to do anything to cater to a woman (so that she can get what she needs to enjoy the sport of cycling in the shop, or so that she is made to feel welcome in the club) is just an annoying hassle they would rather not deal with.
I'm not sure if it is a "threatened" thing, although that might be part of it. Maybe they have no clue how to talk to women or relate to women, and so if a woman comes into a shop they really don't have the faintest idea what to do with her or what she wants.
Or when it comes to the club thing, when the guys are out there riding on their own, they can be themselves. But if a woman joins the group all of a sudden they feel like they probably should make a few changes to make her comfortable, and they don't want to. They'd rather be just guys like they were before she came along. So instead of trying to get more women in their club, so that the women have the choice of riding with other women or being "one of the guys, they'd rather just get rid of the women all together.
In many of the fast racer-type group rides that I do some impressibly fit and fast women that show up, some more occasionaly than others.
I usually don't think anything of it, unless she's hot (Sorry its true; Im in my 20's and full of testosterone). Especially if she is fast-er or fitt-er than me, i'll probably find her even more attractive.
I also don't feel a need to change the way that I behave either. I don't mind saying things that are slightly slobish or slightly sleezy as long as I conclude that it is not extremely innapropriate.
EDIT: If I was a business (bike shop) owner or even employee, I would treat all of my customers with courtesy and individually regardless of gender because I would want them to spend money.
Sorry about your experiences with the bike clubs. Both clubs that I ride with on a regular basis have females that ride with us on the regular basis and I think I can speak for all of the members when I say it's great to have them around.
One of whom is the owner of the local "elite roadie" shop (which is also a general outdoor-rec store) and she is fit absolutely gracious and almost motherly to me and a number of other male college racer-types. With her shop she sponsors the local club. She gives us free gels, huge discounts, free water bottles and even free bibs/jersey/vest/cap/entire kit whenever we want one.
Not to mention that she is pretty freakin fast, about on par with your average cat4 male.