In case you weren't already thankful for the TE forum...

[abejita]

You could be trying to post on a forum like this:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?689951-Women-s-forum

[ny biker]

How do they want me to prove that I'm a woman? Photos? DNA? Ability to withstand graphic discussions about diva cups?

[marni]

all I can say is thank you TE. I hate snarky forums of any kind and will drop out as soon as snarkiness appears.

[Melalvai]

I was on Bike Forums briefly and I'd only posted a couple times when I was invited to join the women's forum (which I did). I guess they try to keep it women only by making it invitation-only, and invite people who claim to be women in their posts. I hadn't specified gender in my profile.

I didn't stay on Bike Forums very long. TE is way cooler.

[PamNY]

"Metorsexual" is funny.

And the dead chickens, too -- but then I shop in a neighborhood where things like that are common.

I do love TE, but internet snark can be hilarious.

[abejita]

I thought it was funny too...not necessary a place that I would post, but funny to read. Every once in awhile they are serious, but the snark is the norm. Its funny, because my husband likes TE too. He searches it when he is researching stuff and will have me ask stuff.

I thought the chicks pic was funny...but I have that kind of sense of humor. We should all go over there and discuss diva cups and the chaffing of girly bits :-)

[jessmarimba]

It is kind of sad that you have to post 50 points until you get to ask the one to women that you probably came to the forum to ask to begin with. Not to say that I don't believe in the screening process, but it's sad that it has to be that extended to "keep the crazies out."

And as someone who has spent the last 12 or so years in male dominated activities/professions...I wouldn't put up with those guys for two seconds, much less 50 posts. It gets old. Thank goodness for TE!! (and thank goodness my SO and his friends aren't like that)

[KnottedYet]

Did anyone with a Bikeforum acct post up a suggestion that the OP should come over and check out TE?

[abejita]

I think someone did...kind of...

If you feel you need female input, head on over to the Estrogen Cycle Forum. The ladies there can give you insights we guys can't.

[abejita]

Ya think??

[abejita]

Who just joined and posted about TE? I posted the link (I use my husband's account)

Oh, its Knotted. Talk about needing coffee. I stared at it for a long time trying to figure out who it was...

[Trek420]

I'm kinda glad they got our name wrong :rolleyes: oops, too late. There goes the neighborhood ;) :rolleyes:

[KnottedYet]

Yup, Abejita, can you believe I didn't see the bold part of your post with the quote... not enough coffee! I actually went to that thread and read through it all before I found where he recc'd TE. Sheesh, I guess I *don't* think! (where's the coffee?)

That was me giving better directions. Trek, you'll just have to be pissed at me. More women coming to TE = larger community = more customers for SusanO.

Thanks, Abejita, for posting the link. I didn't even think of it, just gave directions.

COFFEE!!!! I NEED COFFEE!!!!!

[KnottedYet]

I'm kinda glad they got our name wrong :rolleyes: oops, too late. There goes the neighborhood ;) :rolleyes:

Men drift through TE all the time. I don't think the men from BikeForums will find TE that interesting, so I don't think the neighborhood will suffer.

Who knows, a few might drift through, and someday in the future if they find a girlfriend they might remember TE and suggest she visit TE so they can start riding together.

[Kathi]

I've been a member of bikeforums since it's inception, quit reading and posting a long time ago.

I was surprised to find the women's forum was by invitation. Because I was already a bikeforum member and they knew I was female I was grandfathered in.

I did post about TE and I don't remember any response. This was probably 3-4 years ago.

[colorisnt]

I posted about getting a bike on there once and was turned off by it almost immediately because I said, "I have less than $300.00 to spend - any advice on getting something used/where to look."

I had a bunch of guys say it was useless and if I wanted to get serious, I needed to do xyz. Note, that I hadn't ridden a bike seriously since high school and had no idea I would take to it like this. I live to bike, but back in April, not so much haha!

I don't mind snark. I am on a horse forum where it is snarky as you can be, but I don't like people who belittle you for trying to LEARN.

I love to learn and I would hope that if I asked a question nicely, someone wouldn't bite my head off.

[tulip]

Hi. I post on the Bike Forums women's forum regularly. I really like it. There are so many bozos on the regular Bike Forum that I don't even bother with them anymore. I've met some really wonderful people from the Bike Forum women's forums. It's much smaller than TE, and because of that, I've gotten to know and really appreciate the women there.

Seems to me like it might make a little bit of sense to think twice before dissing something that one has no idea about.

[KnottedYet]

I thought Colorisnt made a very clear distinction that her experience was with BikeForum, not the Women's forum.

She didn't express any disrespect of the BF Women's forum at all.

[tulip]

I wasn't responding to colorisnt. I was responding to several of the posts that seem, to me at least, to be leveled at the Bike Forums women's forum and their screening process.

But maybe that's just my take. No offense meant.

[KnottedYet]

No problem, sorry I thought you were replying to Colorisnt.

After seeing the kind of posts in the main forum (as pointed out by the OP) I'm not at all surprised they screen for 50 posts and hide the portal completely.

Snarky boys can be entertaining, but when someone asks a simple question (where's the women's forum) and gets 1 real answer and 2 pages of snark, well, that's a lot to plow through.

It does make me very grateful for TE.

[Catrin]

I belong to Bike Forum, I do like their Long Distance/Endurance Cycling forum, have felt uncomfortable in the others - but that is just me. Kind of a shame that they have to go so far for their women's forum. I wouldn't mind joining it but doubt I will ever have 50 posts there... (and how do you prove you are female on an online forum :confused:)

[KnottedYet]

I wouldn't mind joining it but doubt I will ever have 50 posts there... (and how do you prove you are female on an online forum :confused:)

Well, you've got your TE history. You could ask one of the TE'ers who've said they belong to the BF Women's Forum if they would sponsor you and help you get permission to join.

It would be a shame if you missed an opportunity on BF just because you were so uncomfortable that you'd be unable to post there 50 times, when you have this HUGE history here on TE.

[NbyNW]

Some of the comments on that thread reminded me of this old SNL skit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEEfxzVUzCQ)

[Catrin]

Well, you've got your TE history. You could ask one of the TE'ers who've said they belong to the BF Women's Forum if they would sponsor you and help you get permission to join.

It would be a shame if you missed an opportunity on BF just because you were so uncomfortable that you'd be unable to post there 50 times, when you have this HUGE history here on TE.

Good idea, I will contact one of the admin there and see if they would go for that.

[colorisnt]

I wouldn't mind being on the women's forum because I am sure it is nice and supportive because it IS hidden. However, I don't think I would even make 50 posts after that. Snark is one thing. Belittling a noob who is trying to learn is different and something that wouldn't happen on TE.

Tulip, I am glad that you enjoy the women's forum. Clearly you post shows us that BF is not all that bad. Good point!

[Catrin]

I emailed the admin at BF and all of a sudden I have access to the women's forum there... that was nice of them.

[nscrbug]

I've been a member of the BF women's forum for several years. I don't post too much, but I do read. I also peruse through a few of the other "male-dominated" forums over there. Yeah, it's true that some of the regulars (guys) can be a bit obnoxious at times. I avoid posting on topics where things get crazy and out-of-control...it's too easy to become a target or labeled as a troll over there. But I have found a lot of useful information on that forum, so it's not all "bad". ;)

Linda

[Irulan]

IIRC, the whole BF invitation thing is old news? And so what. There are lots of forums to choose from, and many ways to do it.

I belong to a women's only ski board that requires 25 posts for full access, and if you are not female, you WILL be banned. It is not a sub forum of a different board.

I belong to a design entrepeneur board that require that you either purchase a specific book or pay a certain fee.

It's all different, and it's all good and we can all make choices. Personally I think it's bad form to
put down board on another, but that's just me.

[jessmarimba]

I can't speak for anyone else, obviously, but I don't have a problem with BF or with them doing whatever they feel like to grant entry to the women's forum.

However (and the quote is taken from one of their posters on the linked thread) the reason they have to block access is just (to me) a little sad. I don't like that there are people who are so immature and insensitive that they've driven the women into hiding.

"Some women post personal issues that they would be embarrassed about if men could read them, and some men can't control themselves from posting juvenile comments when women bring up sensitive issues. Bike Forums handles that by making the women's forum accessible only to female members and requiring a posting history on Bike Forums before access is granted."

[Irulan]

I can't speak for anyone else, obviously, but I don't have a problem with BF or with them doing whatever they feel like to grant entry to the women's forum.

However (and the quote is taken from one of their posters on the linked thread) the reason they have to block access is just (to me) a little sad. I don't like that there are people who are so immature and insensitive that they've driven the women into hiding.

"Some women post personal issues that they would be embarrassed about if men could read them, and some men can't control themselves from posting juvenile comments when women bring up sensitive issues. Bike Forums handles that by making the women's forum accessible only to female members and requiring a posting history on Bike Forums before access is granted."


The flavor of any board is determined ultimately by the admin and the guidelines given to the moderators. We don't have the above problem at mtbr, where the women's board is huge and not closed to men. The women got sick of the bs from the guys and formed a team of moderators, with the back up of admin. It took a few months, but with a zero tolerance approach to men being d**kheads, some forum guidelines posted about what behavior was acceptable, and the problem was solved. I have yet to understand why this approach isn't taken elsewhere.... the guys only do it because they can ( ie, the "the more annoyed you get the more fun it is for me" concept). All is takes is setting a standard, letting people know you mean business, a warning and then banning individuals that are pushing the limit.

In addition, this empowered the women to be in control of their own board, and it rarely takes a moderator to send a guy out of there, tail between his legs, for inappropriate posting. Women routinely discuss any biking issue, without inappropriate posts from guys, without the secret club approach.

Here's what we did, works great. I was on the moderator team that put this in place, and enforced it, for many years.

I do find the number 50 kind of ridiculous.


The Women's Lounge is a place for mountain biking women to discuss topics of their choosing. Guys are welcome, but consider yourselves guests, in this small corner of Mtbr designated for Women, specifically.

Wit and humor and being a good sport are appreciated; trolling and baiting are not. Any post that is deemed inappropriate for this forum will be deleted at the moderator's discretion without explanation.

This includes but is not limited to:

* Posts that insult women, either individually or in a group
* Posts that criticize sexual orientation
* Posters that are deemed to be harrassing female posters


We take complaints from our regular users very seriously, as they are the core of this forum.

Access to the WL may be restricted if the rules are not heeded.

Questions/concerns/complaints can be sent to the Site Manager directly: "

Thanks in advance for your compliance.



easy fix, dunno why they don't do it.

[Koronin]

My husband actually found this forum for me. We both were looking for cyling forums this summer after getting our road bikes. (My husband has been riding mountain bikes his entire life. I finally this summer for the first time got both a road bike and mountain bike that actually fit me.) So we were looking for forums to learn at. He is the one that found this one for me to join. The other forum we both are members of and check on a regular basis is Road Bike Review. They have a forum as part of their page. They do have a women's board on their forum that is open to everyone.

[Irulan]

It is not whether there is a women's board or not, the discussion is having to prove you are female through a posting history, and women's boards that have idiot men dominating them.

[PamNY]

Some of the comments on that thread reminded me of this old SNL skit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEEfxzVUzCQ)

Oh, that's hilarious. Thanks for the reminder.

[Trek420]

It is not whether there is a women's board or not, the discussion is having to prove you are female through a posting history, and women's boards that have idiot men dominating them.

I wish I could find it, probably buried somewhere on Thread Drift but somewhere we'd designed a multiple choice quiz that proves if you're a girl. ;) :p :cool:

[tulip]

A while back--a couple of years, perhaps--Bikeforums made an effort to figure out how to make people new to BF and women more comfortable posting in the general forums (duh, like it was hard to figure out!). I was asked to participate in a subcommittee of sorts, since I have a long history on BF. I found the subcommittee to be almost as bad as the regular forums, so I let my thoughts be known and left. The admins there COULD do the right thing and simply ban all the bullshit (wow, it didn't get ****--sorry to offend anyone), but they choose not to. I think their motto must be Quantity over Quality.

I do like the Women's Forum on BF, however, and continue posting there. I used to post on a regional forum, on touring, and on 50+, all of which are better than, say, Road Riding. But the Admins refuse to do their job, so I quit posting in the other areas as well.

I find very little overlap between TE and BFWF. Some, but small.

Catrin, next time I check in to the Women's Forum, I will welcome you.

[oz rider]

The flavor of any board is determined ultimately by the admin and the guidelines given to the moderators.
Exactly. There's no problems from guys on BV forums (http://www.bv.com.au/forums/index.php), although they enjoy their photos on one thread. But Australian Cycling Forums (http://www.bicycles.com.au/forums/search.php?search_id=newposts&sid=4d41871b60ee58ec235aa169932a826a) made an awful mess of setting up its women's forum (and even a male friend mentioned last weekend they discuss their bits too much). I logged out after the women's forum debacle and won't be back. Just wish I could tell their sponsors I'll be avoiding them too. Who would have thought it's that hard? :rolleyes:

[jobob]

The N. California regional forum on BF is quite good, with a generally helpful and supportive bunch. Just MHO.

[Catrin]

The Long Distance/Randoneeuring forum is pretty good as well. It is supportive and pretty helpful.

[uforgot]

Hi. I post on the Bike Forums women's forum regularly. I really like it. There are so many bozos on the regular Bike Forum that I don't even bother with them anymore. I've met some really wonderful people from the Bike Forum women's forums. It's much smaller than TE, and because of that, I've gotten to know and really appreciate the women there.

Seems to me like it might make a little bit of sense to think twice before dissing something that one has no idea about.


I didn't read beyond this post, but I also belong to this forum and totally agree with tulip. It's not strictly invitation, you can request to join, and it's pretty easy. I always thought that the point was to make it a safe place where you can ask anything and not put yourself out there for the guys snarky comments. Women have issues that men don't and some people aren't comfortable posting personal issues with saddles or even newbie questions on the wide open forums.

[Catrin]

I wish I could find it, probably buried somewhere on Thread Drift but somewhere we'd designed a multiple choice quiz that proves if you're a girl. ;) :p :cool:

Oooo, this sounds like fun, maybe it can be found sometime?

[Susan Otcenas]

I tried to get access to post there several years ago. More than once. The admin never even bothered to reply to my request.

[Trek420]

Oooo, this sounds like fun, maybe it can be found sometime?

In 14,185 posts in TE TD? I don't think so. Easier to create a new one. Remember there is no truly right answer.

You're out on a long ride, you have a flat, replace the tube and ride on, another flat, you patch it .... another! :mad: Do you:

a) Call your SO.
b) Adjust the capris, show a little calf and hope a bike dude stops.
c) Call Better World, you have the bike coverage :)
d) Use that Luna bar wrapper to MacGyver a patch kit to get you home

[Chile Pepper]

In 14,185 posts in TE TD? I don't think so. Easier to create a new one. Remember there is no truly right answer.

You're out on a long ride, you have a flat, replace the tube and ride on, another flat, you patch it .... another! :mad: Do you:

a) Call your SO.
b) Adjust the capris, show a little calf and hope a bike dude stops.
c) Call Better World, you have the bike coverage :)
d) Use that Luna bar wrapper to MacGyver a patch kit to get you home

hee hee. I never would have made it to the third flat! I carry one tube and no patch kit. If I've changed one flat, I've proven all I need to prove for the day. Time to use the cell phone.

[Catrin]

In 14,185 posts in TE TD? I don't think so. Easier to create a new one. Remember there is no truly right answer.

You're out on a long ride, you have a flat, replace the tube and ride on, another flat, you patch it .... another! :mad: Do you:

a) Call your SO.
b) Adjust the capris, show a little calf and hope a bike dude stops.
c) Call Better World, you have the bike coverage :)
d) Use that Luna bar wrapper to MacGyver a patch kit to get you home

Hmmm, I don't have an SO at this time so that is out...
Don't have Better world coverage either...

Guess I would just have to start working that calf :D