big john

I've told this story before, but... Years ago there was a female track racer who was probably ranked #2 in the area. We would see her on the road sometimes and one day my friend Ed and I were laboring across a valley into a headwind when she showed up. She pulled us all the way to the 3 mile climb at the end and she excused herself because she wanted to hammer the hill and promised to wait for us on the other side.
Ed couldn't handle being dropped by a girl, he was an aspiring cat 4, after all, and he took off after her. He tore a muscle in his glutes and was off the bike for 6 weeks.
When he came back, the guys were asking what happened. "I was chasing someone..." I asked him to tell them who he was chasing. "Shut up, shut up" he urged. Of course I told them it was a girl!

DrPete 

Men who aren't muscle-flexing hypercompetitive D-bags.

Cateye

Ouch! I don't think that ^^^^^^^^^^^^will help.

gsteinb

BTW, I'm pretty sure there's a woman's track clinic coming up at the lehigh county velodrome. I recall it being listed on bike reg.

kimconyc

There are tons of female cyclists in the NYC area, many triathletes or triathlete wannabes.

I think the smart ones who want a life stick to jogging in the park...

Cateye

More understanding and catering to their needs. Acquiescing more. Men need to spend more time doing things around the house and helping with the kids. This will build up women's emotional well being and free up time for women to ride………………..What in the hell am I thinking? Just bring beer and then who would care if there are more women on bikes.

patentcad

Let me know if you find any and we'll alert the Associated Press.

GirlAnachronism

Did that in the summer of 2007, and that's what got me into road riding. Everyone there was super nice and encouraging as well, and I picked up the road bike to get in more miles so I would be in better shape for the track. Unfortunately I haven't touched the track bike since I got the road bike, but at least I don't have to trek out to Kissena anymore...

DrPete 

I will... It's a tough search.

Matt2.8NJ

The smart ones among us know to make sure she has time to train... I love that my wife has a six-pack. Sadly, my sixpack is in the fridge. Mine sure tastes better, though

I agree with everything else you said though about the reasons why our wives/so's don't want ride, and a lot of the reasons come from us men. I made the mistake of pushing my wife too far at first, and learned quickly that she needs to find her own way.

If you're every around central NJ, I'm sure she's looking for someone to ride with.

Boudicca

Yeah, ok, I suppose this is supposed to be a joke.

But do you really think we're that shallow?

Plenty of us ride because we love it, perhaps not racing, but on bike trails, on country roads, on charity rides, on long distances.

My main complaint on the last (200km) charity ride I did was that the bike shirts came in male shapes only -- tight in the wrong places.

Bah Humbug

Really? I see mostly men around here, at least as far as roadies go.

Wait, was I supposed to get in touch with you when I finally got here?

stonecrd

Down here I would say women are about 10% and no more than 20% of the riders in groups or I see on the road. As for running I think it is closer to 40%-50%. I guess they just prefer running or the gym for exercise.

GirlAnachronism

There are quite a few women roadies here in the NYC area, but there are definitely more men, especially on the fast group rides (especially at the end of fast group rides)

There's certainly a greater disparity in cycling than in any of the other sports I've participated in, with the exceptions of surfing and skateboarding--interestingly snowboarding seems to have more women. I've played competitive tennis, soccer, softball, lacrosse, and volleyball and there were tons of girls and women involved in all of those.

SendMoreChris

As someone who's swam competitively since I was 8... you're wrong.

big_heineken

There are people that actually want hybrids?

Pugdawg1

I'm a woman (35), that started cycling about 4ish years ago. I love it. Started off with a low end Rockhopper, got a giant ocr c3 road bike, moved on to a marin FS mtn bike and my Ridley road bike. I've acquired a touring bike, and a fixie, and an older Univega for when I just want to bike somewhere and grab a coffee or lunch and not stress so much about my bike being stolen.

I have done a bit of mtn bike racing.. enjoyed it. Even won a small race. Haven't gotten involved with racing the road bike, though I think of it. I own a car, but most of my miles I put on my bikes.. I commute to work every day on my touring bike, come home and either switch bikes or go running.

I met my boyfriend when I first got a bike. He's been such a huge help. He was a mechanic at a bike shop. Soon after, we started dating, he quit, we opened another shop. We since then decided to move, so he is now managing another.

I see a lot of women roadies here (Reno). It's cool. They have a few women's group rides but I'm usually working when they are riding. We try to really encourage the women that come into the bike shop. Many say they are intimidated and feel talked down to at other shops. NOT cool!

I can live without the free tampons (I can buy my own, thanks!), and is there anything wrong with victoria's secret? LOL

I will ride with anyone, anytime. And have no problem dropping any ego maniac male that irritates me. Or female for that matter.

Bah Humbug

Some people have an irrational fear of drop bars. My mother is one of them, unfortunately.

Bah Humbug

To be fair, I was afraid of drop bars until I just went ahead and committed to them.

guadzilla

Gear-centric. Testosterone. Hostility on the road from drivers. Testosterone. Compare cycling to running (which is missing a lot of these factors).

Whatever. I dont particularly care for the notion of somehow involving more or less of women in a sport if they dont want to. If there any barriers preventing them from participating, for sure - get rid of them, so that they have no systemic reason discouraging them. But beyond that, each to their own. But trying to proselytize isnt exactly my bag.

There werent that many women playing ice hockey either (atleast not when I used t play). Maybe some sports simply attract the one gender versus the other (broadly speaking)? Certainly, looking at the culture of road racing, I can
see why a lot of women might be turned off by it.

V

SpongeDad

getting them in contact with other women - my wife and I ride together occasionally, but I think she has more fun riding around with some of the other women in the neighborhood.

It is kinda surprising that more women don't cycle outside - just think how many women are in spin classes.

Dio

Birkenstock spd shoes?

Maybe if kohls or macys installed some bike paths around their parking lots?

guadzilla

Marry me?

Edit: I just realized that my golden and lab will squash the pug... so our romance seems destined to failure. But it was great while it lasted.

jeanHTX

+++++

my default is i started riding because my boyfriend bought me a road bike. he was as patient as he could be with me, i wasn't used to riding in the streets, thin tires, etc. i was slow because i hadn't been on a bicycle since i was around 10 years old (even then, just a cheapo kids bike), i was scared, but like i said... he was encouraging and patient. of course, when i was capable of riding on my own, he he rode with me less, mainly because he's always five steps ahead of me. so i choose to ride with my female roommate, who is some steps behind me.

hurley.girl

This made me think of another reason why women don't ride. I wonder how many are intimidated by the mechanical nature of a bike - changing flat tires, for example. That's something you don't have to worry about in a spin class.