We Beat The Guys

[Cali Sunshine]

Has anyone had this happen to them before?

This past weekend myself and a few of the girls were out on a bike trek, when a group of guys rolled by laughing saying something about how we needed to "peddle faster" and how we can "do better than that girls." Of course that was irritating and made me furious.

The guys were all proffessional looking with their expensive bikes and their proffessional-looking bike jerseys and cycling bibs and spandex shorts and long tights and knee-length capri-knickers and cycling shoes and sporty helments and all that other stuff... all of them were in shape too. We just had on whatever we could scrounge up.

Me and the other 4 women asked each other should we do a race against them. We all agreed.There were 5 guys and 5 girls, both of equal age range (mid twenties). So we decided to battle it out.

We caught up with them and offered them the challenged. They laughed and said sure. These guys were obviously arrogant, pompous, overly-confident, and full of pride. One of the men said they've never been defeated in a race and that therefore this race would be a sinch for them.

Well, we both agreed to doing a 10-mile race. We were on a road that was wide enough and open enough and long enough. We estimated where the 10 mile marker was (a cross street). Anyway, we started and of course the guys took off and grabbed a great lead. We were way behind for a while until we hit the hill. We pushed up the hill and once at the top we could see the guys in front of us. This was about mile 8. They were obviously tired from pushing up the hill. We still had a lot of energy (perhaps from the anger and determination), so we decide to push hard and take advantage. By mile 9 they were only about 50 yards ahead. A couple minutes later we were neck and neck and these men were both shocked and nervous and began to peddle faster. We told each other to give it all we had and soon thereafter we broke away from them, beating them by at least a good 30 seconds. I don't know how we did it. Perhaps we paced ourselves and they just were overconfident and raced in streaks. We did our push after the hill.

It was a great scene to witness -- all that pride and ego and conceited attitude melted away -- the men were visibly broken, defeated, sweat-drenched, humiliated, shocked, and embarrassed. They had their hands on their hips staring at the ground in disbelief and some were arguing with one another. One was crouched on the ground saying "I can't believe we just got our butts kicked... by these girls!" They didn't even want to look at us or shake our hands! So we parted ways. It was definitely a sweet victory for the ladies that day.

[spokewench]

You probably educated them that just cause they are guys doesn't mean that they can go out and not ride and beat ladies that ride a lot!

Hopefully, they won't be so obnoxious to ladies the next time!

[mimitabby]

what a great story! balm to my soul.

Good work, gals!:p :p

[telegirl]

Maybe some day, if they practice hard and are good little boys, they will be good enough to ride with the girls.:D

Good Job!:cool:

[chickwhorips]

ahhh yes.... way to go. now that story made my morning!

[CyclChyk]

I AM SO IMPRESSED! You just proved that men are so overrated!

[Cali Sunshine]

I AM SO IMPRESSED! You just proved that men are so overrated!

yes they are so why do they get all the attention. i mean the men get the bigger sponsors and get more spectators and people take them more serious and all that. i'm jealous/envious of how the men get all the good accolades and credit for cycling.

[madisongrrl]

Has anyone had this happen to them before?


This does happen and when it does, it feels good. Congrats!

Many of the Sport level women that I race with will beat 25%-50%+ of the the Sport men's field during mountain bike races. While many of the men (who start the race many minutes earlier than the women) who get passed are gracious, there are a select few who are a little less nice about it. They won't give you a pass or they grumble at you. So it's nice to floor it and leave those men behind! That will teach them some humility!

Congrats and way to keep those male egos in check.

[velogirl]

Many of the Sport level women that I race with will beat 25%-50%+ of the the Sport men's field during mountain bike races. While many of the men (who start the race many minutes earlier than the women) who get passed are gracious, there are a select few who are a little less nice about it. They won't give you a pass or they grumble at you.

Here too! What's amazing is that you could be the leader of the women's field and the dude in 80th place in the men's race won't give you the track. I guess he's busy battling it out with the dude in 79th. Drives me nuts!!!

[Bluetree]

Cali,

Your post made me a bit uncomfortable, the way you describe it. I'm not disagreeing that it happened that way, I just haven't come across too many men who still harbor those outdated, macho ideas. My cycling group includes crit racers, cyclo(psycho)cross riders, Ironmen, and guys who have completed Breathless Agony, Badwater and Death Ride. If anything, they have an utmost respect for women cyclists and have all been humbled (at one time or another) by some of the female pros in the area. Hard to make fun of "mere girls" when its Hillary Biscay http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/editorials/0000062.shtml blowing past you.
I hope it's just indicative of their relative youth, and something they will soon outgrow.

Congrats for the great ride!

P.S. PLease introduce yourself in Open Topic > Getting To Know You thread! :D

[BikeMomma]

Just one word: SWWWWEEEEEET!!!!!

Power to the Females!! I love it! Let that be a GOOD lesson to those who underestimate our resolve.

Good job, Cali S. and to your "team" as well!! :D

~BikeMomma

[Offthegrid]

Nice work. I once was keeping up with a skinny man on an expensive mountain bike with clipless pedals while I was on a rented cruiser without toeclips. That was cool.

[light_sabe_r]

Good on ya Cali Sunshine!

it always feels good to win. the fact they were bad sports about it is egg on their face.

Silly boys. When will they learn.

(Meanwhile BF is still riding rings around me)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The guys were all proffessional looking with their expensive bikes and their proffessional-looking bike jerseys and cycling bibs and spandex shorts and long tights and knee-length capri-knickers and cycling shoes and sporty helments and all that other stuff... all of them were in shape too. We just had on whatever we could scrounge up.

Golly Cali, were they wearing all THAT?? What kind of weather was it, and weren't they too hot wearing all those proffessional-looking bibs, shorts, capris-knickers and tights?? Maybe the weight of all that was too much for them.
Weren't you girls wearing "sporty helmets" too? If not- you're gonna konk your noggin' one of these days!

Impressive how you and "a few of the girls" turned those "arrogant, pompous, overly-confident, and full of pride" boys into "visibly broken, defeated, sweat-drenched, humiliated, shocked, and embarrassed" mere shadows of their former selves in just 10 miles! Utterly AMAZING!!
It's so amazing that it almost sounds like a story that a guy might imagine girls would be wanting to hear about....

[roguedog]

Woo HOO. I LOVE this. This is just sweet given they were such prissy little sh**s.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

yes they are so why do they get all the attention. i mean the men get the bigger sponsors and get more spectators and people take them more serious and all that.

Maybe its their proffessional bibs and sporty helments.


i'm jealous/envious of how the men get all the good accolades and credit for cycling.

Maybe you've been hanging around the wrong places.

When Life hands you a bunch of accols....make accolade.

[Cali Sunshine]

Cali,

Your post made me a bit uncomfortable, the way you describe it. I'm not disagreeing that it happened that way, I just haven't come across too many men who still harbor those outdated, macho ideas. My cycling group includes crit racers, cyclo(psycho)cross riders, Ironmen, and guys who have completed Breathless Agony, Badwater and Death Ride. If anything, they have an utmost respect for women cyclists and have all been humbled (at one time or another) by some of the female pros in the area. Hard to make fun of "mere girls" when its Hillary Biscay http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/editorials/0000062.shtml blowing past you.
I hope it's just indicative of their relative youth, and something they will soon outgrow.

Congrats for the great ride!

P.S. PLease introduce yourself in Open Topic > Getting To Know You thread! :D

I don't exactly understand what you mean (about it making you uncomfortable).

I do agree, it did sound a like cliche male "macho" stereotypes, and to clear the record, most men are not like this. The majority of men from my experience (98%) are not like the men I described.

[Cali Sunshine]

Golly Cali, were they wearing all THAT?? What kind of weather was it, and weren't they too hot wearing all those proffessional-looking bibs, shorts, capris-knickers and tights?? Maybe the weight of all that was too much for them.
Weren't you girls wearing "sporty helmets" too? If not- you're gonna konk your noggin' one of these days!

Impressive how you and "a few of the girls" turned those "arrogant, pompous, overly-confident, and full of pride" boys into "visibly broken, defeated, sweat-drenched, humiliated, shocked, and embarrassed" mere shadows of their former selves in just 10 miles! Utterly AMAZING!!
It's so amazing that it almost sounds like a story that a guy might imagine girls would be wanting to hear about....


Lisa, what in the WORLD are you talking about??

[Bluetree]

I don't exactly understand what you mean (about it making you uncomfortable).

While I support the empowerment of women to compete on the same level as men (and I work in one of the few professional sports where women do) I do not condone antagonism between the sexes. Your story contained a bit too much venom for my comfort.

Sure, "a group of guys rolling by laughing" is completely unacceptable. But is it acceptable to gloat over competitors who are "broken, defeated, sweat-drenched, humiliated, shocked, and embarrassed?"

Sportsmanship goes both ways. Grace is not the private domain of either gender, and should apply to everyone... in defeat or victory.

[Squeaky]

Sure, "a group of guys rolling by laughing" is completely unacceptable. But is it acceptable to gloat over competitors who are "broken, defeated, sweat-drenched, humiliated, shocked, and embarrassed?"

OH, I know this answer! It's yes when it's in response to people like the "men" who rode by laughing and making snide remarks. Sorry, but you gotta be able to take what you give. Is it the most gracious thing to do? Maybe not. I suppose it would be easier to sit on my high horse and judge people if I were perfect all the time. But then, perfection is highly overrated.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa, what in the WORLD are you talking about??

Well to speak honestly, the story seems very carefully crafted to elicit "yeah, aren't men just awful" responses from women. The writing style seems somehow familiar- have you been a member before? It's usual to introduce yourself on the "Getting to Know You" thread.

[Bluetree]

It's not about perfection, it's about maturity. And I agree with Lisa. It sounds like a phishing expedition for "anti-man" comments. If that's the game, it's one I'll sit out.

[Cali Sunshine]

Well to speak honestly, the story seems very carefully crafted to elicit "yeah, aren't men just awful" responses from women. The writing style seems somehow familiar- have you been a member before? It's usual to introduce yourself on the "Getting to Know You" thread.

I was a member here a little over a year ago. For the life of me I couldn't remember my password or the e-mail account I was using at the time.

[Cali Sunshine]

While I support the empowerment of women to compete on the same level as men (and I work in one of the few professional sports where women do) I do not condone antagonism between the sexes. Your story contained a bit too much venom for my comfort.

Sure, "a group of guys rolling by laughing" is completely unacceptable. But is it acceptable to gloat over competitors who are "broken, defeated, sweat-drenched, humiliated, shocked, and embarrassed?"

Sportsmanship goes both ways. Grace is not the private domain of either gender, and should apply to everyone... in defeat or victory.


Maybe I did have some "venom." Maybe I was angry. And yes we gloated but they deserved it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I was a member here a little over a year ago. For the life of me I couldn't remember my password or the e-mail account I was using at the time.

Your writing style and content remind me very much of a guy who was briefly a member here last month.
Again, why don't you (re)introduce yourself to us all on the "Getting to Know You" thread? It's considered customary on this forum.

[SadieKate]

I was a member here a little over a year ago. For the life of me I couldn't remember my password or the e-mail account I was using at the time.I didn't notice any rules against re-introducing yourself.

[Cali Sunshine]

I didn't notice any rules against re-introducing yourself.

I didn't notice any rules against not re-introducing yourself.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I didn't notice any rules against not re-introducing yourself.

Well now that you've started another thread supposedly about how your boyfriend liked wearing your smelly used biking shorts, I think it's now obvious that you are the same (teen?) male who got thrown out of here last month, the one who started that lame thread about peeing while riding your bike.

[Cali Sunshine]

Well now that you've started another thread supposedly about how your boyfriend liked wearing your smelly used biking shorts, I think it's now obvious that you are the same (teen?) male who got thrown out of here last month, the one who started that lame thread about peeing while riding your bike.

uhhh... for one, i didn't say my boyfriend "liked" wearing my cycling shorts. he was more-or-less nonchalant and acted like wearing someone's used clothing is normal. which is i guess how a lot of guys are. me personally would never do something like that.

and i never saw any thread about peeing on a bike seriously please and have no idea what you're talking about stop harrassing me thanks. i'm just here to participate in the forum, share advice, and share adventure stories. :)

[madisongrrl]

This situation would easily be resolved if the moderator would check the IP address...

[paigette]

he was more-or-less nonchalant and acted like wearing someone's used clothing is normal. which is i guess how a lot of guys are.

How in the world would you assume that that is how a 'lot of guys are'?:eek: I don't know of a single person (guy or girl) who would be willing to use recently used bike shorts. We aren't talking a t-shirt...you are 'supposedly' talking about a piece of used clothing that is the equivalent of used underwear! Sorry...just ain't buying the story!

[snapdragen]

This situation would easily be resolved if the moderator would check the IP address...

Not the same. Everyone please calm down. Thank you.

[madisongrrl]

Not the same.

Thank you.

[velogirl]

So much negative energy, ladies! My suggestion, if you don't like a post, ignore it. Report it to the moderators and let them make the decision. If indeed she's a troll, getting a response like this from TE members is just what she's looking for.

We're all different, remember. Maybe CaliGirl is relating true stories in her own style. Maybe not. That's not for me to decide and I don't think it's fair for any of you to decide either. She actually reminds me a lot of my 20-something neice. She hasn't insulted me or anyone else on this forum. She's simply sharing her experiences and others don't seem to believe her.

Whether or not CaliGirl is a "real" person (girl or boy), it would be a real shame if she were real and we ostracized her. I thought the TE forum was a friendly, comfortable, safe welcoming, inclusive environment.

[Triskeliongirl]

I agree with velogirl. She did introduce herself. Shes twenty something. Thats not inconsistent with her posts. I can imagine a group of twenty something girls that ride a lot beating a group of poser guys. I believe her short story cuz my husband would do the same thing. Give her a break, ignore her posts if you want, but stop giving her a hard time.

[chickwhorips]

hey i'm a 20 something gal and dropped a boy once... so it was a couple times on the same ride and gave my ego a HUGE boost. i think i bragged about it too.

[CyclChyk]

hey i'm a 20 something gal and dropped a boy once... so it was a couple times on the same ride and gave my ego a HUGE boost. i think i bragged about it too.

I'd be braggin' if I was a 20 something gal too............:p Oh wait, that's not what you were braggin' about.....;)

<sigh> getting old just plain sucks.

[Veronica]

I've dropped a water bottle, food, my sunglasses... Thom dropped his cell phone down a drain.

V.

[CyclChyk]

That definately sounds more like the kind of dropping I do.

For now. ;)

[Veronica]

I've seen bird droppings, cow droppings, horse droppings...Some name dropping.

Why are some droppings referred to as scat and others as dung? Predator and prey? The prey should probably pray.

V.

[chickwhorips]

i asked the same thing to the biologist i work with. her answer: it just is.

[spokewench]

Velo Girl, I believe there may be discrepancies in this story and other posts. This person rides a Azure which as far as I know is a full suspension mountain bike, the story is talking about beating a bunch of guys on the road (you kind of assume that they were on road bikes given the description?) Cali is either the next Juli Furtado or maybe not what she/he seems to be. I'm hoping for the sake of all that the first is true, but there are definitely questionable issues here.

[Trek420]

Veronica "I've seen bird droppings, cow droppings, horse droppings...Some name dropping...."

yes, I'm dropping in and maybe we'll drop this ;) :rolleyes: :)

or impose a restriction that you are not allowed to post epic descriptions of dropping guys or chasing cars until you have been officially verified on a ride by at least 3 TE gals.

Then you'd get some kinda "te approved" icon or something.

That way we could say with certainty "yep, V could really do that" or "heh, troll, no way Trek could catch up with a guy.

[velogirl]

C'mon, ladies! Has anyone given me a "TE Approved" icon? Or anyone else on this board for goodness sake? Believe her or don't believe her but let's quit picking on her. I frequent this board because I thought there were kind, sensitive women here.

Regarding discrepencies in her story, I believe that many women on this board embellish their posts. It's human nature. Life itself isn't that interesting so we spice it up a little, right?

ps -- I've been grunged out on my mtn bike and dropped a bunch of guys on road bikes who (to a 20-year old) look all pro. And I've had kids on mtn bikes drop me when I'm on a road bike. It's not impossible.

[maillotpois]

I've dropped a water bottle, food, my sunglasses... Thom dropped his cell phone down a drain.

V.

One of the guys I ride with dropped his brand new Rudy Project sunglasses down the pit toilet hole in Tahoe....

[Grog]

I agree with Velogirl, let's all calm down.

I knew a girl in her early twenties, on an old clunker of a bike, who'd climb up the Mont Royal crazily fast, leaving all the middle-aged guys with their brand new Kuota carbon bikes quite ashamed and feeling like wannabes. She was not especially a cyclist but a hell of an athlete generally. These things happen.

I'm not especially fond of the 'guys are stupid, let's throw rocks at them' style (it's a line of design items with this logo on them), but if you don't like Cali's posts, you can either ignore them, block them altogether, or share your concerns in a respectful manner... And if she's a guy, well I feel sorry for him having to impersonate a kick-a** woman in his free time, instead of kicking a** in his own skin, but maybe it's therapeutic. :D

So let's move one.

[NJBikeGal]

Maillotpois...I just had to remark on your tag line...

Denis...there's some lovely filth down here! :)

LOVE that movie! :)

Hooray for Monty Python.

[spokewench]

Well, I'm going to say this but probably shouldn't. A forum is a forum. If certain people have a different opinion than you do so be it. If they express it in a different way so be it. BUT that does not give you the right to basically tell them to "Shut Up". I take exception to that.

[Triskeliongirl]

I don't think anyone is telling anyone to 'shut up.' A situation has come up in which some hostile posts have appeared on our normally ultra supportive board. As a group, a community really, we are discussing how we think we should handle it. I am sorry if you interpreted my comments as a suggestion to shut up, they were intended more along the lines that I thought we should give her the benefit of the doubt and not post hostile things back, in the spirit of keeping this board a friendly place, that's all.