Originally Posted by
TMonk
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.
I've worked with and gone to school with a lot of guys ... the Engineering Tech field is full of them. I've also ridden with a lot of guys. The places I've lived haven't exactly been overflowing with female cyclists. And quite a number of them have expressed to me that when a woman joins their group, they feel as though they have to change their behaviour. They feel like they shouldn't fart, swear, and talk about women we happen to be cycling past or who happen to come into the office or whatever.
Originally Posted by
TMonk
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.
I've had varying reactions when I go into bicycle shops. Some places are fine. These usually employ women. Others vary between being quite rude to ignoring me completely. One place was notorious for ignoring female cyclists.
Originally Posted by
TMonk
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.
I've found touring clubs to be quite good when it comes to female members. I've been a member of three touring clubs and they've all got a good mix of males and females, and make females welcome.
I was also a member of my local Randonneuring club in Alberta ... and that group didn't want females involved unless the female was equally as fast as the guys. Having a female out there on the course meant that someone might have to look after her ... can't have a female riding through the mountains alone at night ... so they'd rather just not bother with females, or any sort of slower rider for that matter. They kept talking about getting more people involved ... but if anyone slower joined, they'd leave that person in the dust and make him or her feel very unwelcome. This from a club that's not a racing club doing events that are not races.