Prof Women Cycling

[BarbaraAlys]

So, I was wondering....

why is it that here on the Women's Cycling Forum there is little or no discussion about women cyclists? I know, the men get more attention in the media, and the women are under funded and under sponsored, but why do WE not follow them more closely?

Barbara

[katluvr]

Maybe I am wrong--but--really hard to find information about them.
Less publicity, etc. You are right WE should be following. Maybe I just don't know the right forums to check out. And other that the Womens Crit before the Tour of California, I have never seen anything on TV.

[tulip]

I, for one, am not interested in racing. I just don't care about it. And yes, I'm a former racer.

I am a woman cyclist. I just don't need to go faster than everyone else anymore (not that I ever did!). More power to the women racers out there, but it's just not my thing anymore.

FWIW, I also don't watch the men's races, either, except for the Tour de France. Mostly I like that race because I love France, the tradition of the Tour, the landscapes and towns, and the drama that comes in a stage race.

[beccaB]

I find myself watching particular sport events because I like the announcers. Phil Liggets voice sounds so pleasant to me , that's one of the reasons I watch the tour.

[katluvr]

Paul and Phil are great! That is why I tape the first run and don't watch the evening one...I don't want to listen to the others!
Oh no, I changed the subject here!

[SheFly]

I agree with katluvr - finding information on women's racing is more difficult. VeloNews has gotten better recently with several articles on Kristin Armstrong, one today on Jeannie Longo (who will be racing here in MA next week in the Fitchburg Longsjo stage race - in my category :eek:. Thankfully, I'll just be spectating...), and others on the recent women's races in Europe.

We don't hear as much about it because it is a much smaller presence than men's racing, both nationally and internationally.

That said, anyone looking for some exciting women's racing in MA next weekend should trek out to Fitchburg - 111 Pro/1/2 women taking the line for the four-day stage race, including Jeannie, Catherine Cheatley, Laura Van Gilder, Lyne Bessette, Tina Pic and more. It will be a field deep with talent...

SheFly

[TxDoc]

VeloNews has gotten better recently with several articles on Kristin Armstrong, one today on Jeannie Longo (who will be racing here in MA next week in the Fitchburg Longsjo stage race - in my category :eek:. Thankfully, I'll just be spectating...), and others on the recent women's races in Europe.

What - you have the chance to race with Jeannie Longo and you'e passing it up??? :)

[papaver]

I'm a big Marianne Vos fan. She is spectacular and extremely versatile.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marianne_Vos

Too bad that woman's cycling has absolutely no success in my country.

[OakLeaf]

I can't believe Jeannie Longo is still doing so well.

Back in the day she didn't have a lot of competition. Twenty years later she has plenty, and she's still competitive. That's one amazing woman.

[Cataboo]

I'm not interesting in doing or watching any racing :)

[Andrea]

Info about it is out there if you keep up with cyclingnews or any of the other sites that give updates/reports on all of the bigger races. You usually just have to search a little or at least have a race in mind then look for results/reporting about the race.

[SheFly]

What - you have the chance to race with Jeannie Longo and you'e passing it up??? :)

She's 10 years older than me, and would probably beat the pants off of me! And the rest of the filed is likely on average about 10 years younger than me!

Plus, it's a hilly race - I am NOT a hill climber.

From VeloNews on JEannie today: http://www.velonews.com/article/93791/longo-wins-another-national-time-trial-title

SheFly

[shootingstar]

Good question, especially when prof. female cyclists could use more enthusiastic race fans.

Unfortunately I don't follow any bike races. TdF I watched bits and pieces each day but only for last 3-4 yrs., never the full race each day. Like some here, I enjoy hearing some of the commentators and seeing the areas where the race goes through.

Would I watch Tour de Feminine or similar on TV? Probably, if it was heavily publicized. Unfortunately I haven't read my tv guide in past 8 months. I just flip on the tv at any convenient time for myself. Have no interest in reading about a bike race vs. actually seeing a race. The latter is more meaningful to a racing-clueless like myself.

Nor do I have interest racing at all.

However I do have a greater interest in mega-touring rides done by women. Hence, I have a collection of cycling touring travelogues by female cycling touring authors that I've enjoyed reading over past 15 yrs. Self loaded tour cycling across a continent(s) also takes serious physical and mental endurance, though not speed. :p:o

Some of these books are no longer in print, brand-new.

[Crankin]

Like others here, I like watching races sometimes more for the "sound" of the announcers and the other things you learn during the broadcast. I am not enamored of any one male racer, but I do enjoy hearing/seeing about the ones I am familiar with. If I am home on late Sunday afternoons starting in January, I watch whatever race is on Versus. Saw quite a bit of the Tour de Suisse, the one day races, and the TOC. I watched parts of the Giro on line.
I am familiar with women racers discussed above, but I don't know a lot about them. Last year I saw the women's cat 1 crit at Fitchburg and it was scary fast looking!
Fitchburg is the only "big" stage race I have been to, where there are national names, but I was more focused on the progress of my own racer... the first time I went, it was 98 degrees and right before my son dropped out, a racer pulled over and started to pass out right before my eyes, while the dumb EMT was not paying attention. I started dousing him with water and helped him to lie down until the EMT noticed. That was kind of cool, even if it was bad for the guy. I also have no interest in going fast, but I like watching races just like others like watching tennis. And, it's fun if you know some of the local talent, which I do.

[TrekTheKaty]

Good point. However, I have enough trouble tracking down the races Lance is in--and then the coverage is atrocious. I haven't a clue how to find the women. I've gone to the local Tour of Winghaven to watch the women. I also plan to watch the women's portion of Tour of Missouri (see previous post, it's been expanded and the women's will coincide with a portion of the men's).

I'm always looking for inspiration, so I'd follow them if I could find them.

[smilingcat]

I love riding but I don't care to be watching. same goes with skiing. For better or worse or inconsequential, I am really not that interested in other people's win/loss. Maybe I'm just selfish. I just can't get into it.

Perhaps I'm just older and burnt out on the racing thing. Serious fun rides included. Death ride, did that. Breathless in Agony Ride did that, Ride around the Bear, been there done that. So too with climb the kaiser... and many more. Sierra Classic was a pretty fun ride. Been there done that... If I'm going to do an event I want a spectacular view. Maybe if someone were to organize a fun ride around Olympic National Park, I think that'll be fun and worth the trip. Have to get rained on too for that total Olympic experience.

Women's professional race. hmm mm fun to race but to watch?? maybe during the preem lap or the final lap. The rest I'll just take a nap and wake me when its the exciting stuff.

so this is my darker side. I'm terrible.