Why do I see fewer women cycling than men?

[Suze]

Opinions, ideas? I'm a 60+ female rider, who mostly rides solo and loves best of all touring, though I ride the roads at home a lot also. For the first time this spring I've joined 3 large rides, most recently a cyclosportif with 130K and 100K options . Over and over I notice that a disproportionately small percentage of women are cycing. Why?? I don't get it, this sport/activity isn't inherently biased towards men. I cross country ski some, and see far more women. In the recent event there were 325 participants: 288 men, 37 women. Ages 60-64: 24 men, 1 woman (me). 65 and up: 16 men, no women. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think it is just events. I notice far fewer women on the roads, riding locally, commuting, or touring. I don't understand it, and would love to hear your ideas and opinions and suggestions for a blog post I'm hoping to write on the subject. If you don't want any comment you make to be attributed to you, just mention that in your post. If you'd rather reach me directly, you can do that via my blog or email. Snmcycling@gmail.com or susancycling.blogspot.com. Thanks, I hope to hear from you. Thanks and happy pedalling!!

[goldfinch]

I'm going to make some guesses, even hasty generalizations:

1. Lack of time. Women with children often don't have the time to ride. You have a job and family and taking the kids is not that easy.

2. Lack of money. Bikes cost money, especially road bikes.

3. Safety concerns. I see far fewer women cyclists on the road than men cyclists. However, on the few multi-use trails that I use occasionally I see just as many women as men. Could they feel safer there, away from the traffic? Some of the difference is women with their kids but I swear I see just as many men riding with their kids on the MUP as women.

I recall reading somewhere than women tend to exercise less than men. I wonder if it is true.

[Owlie]

Suze, I think someone could write a book on this. Here are a few that get discussed a lot:

1) Fear. Even if men and women are equally fearful, I think women tend to be socialized to express it more readily. I hear a lot of "It's too dangerous to ride on the roads!" I live in an area with a very nice network of separate bike paths, and I see more women, but it's still not a 50-50 breakdown

2) Children. Like it or not, women still get the burden of childcare. That means that many don't have the option of going out for a 2-3 hour ride on a regular basis. It's sad, but even in two-parent families, if both ride, it turns into the mother having to ask the father to babysit. (There's a quote from a cycling coach that says pretty much this. I'll have to go dig it up). I've seen a number of families walk into bike shops, and the man will start chatting with the shop guys about the ride he did yesterday while the woman will be attempting to keep two or three children from destroying the shop.

3) While the sport may not be inherently biased toward men, the marketing arm of it sure is. In most bike shops I've been to with my boyfriend, the staff will address him first, even if it's ME who wants something. It's hard to find a modestly-spec'ed WSD road bike the shop floor. LBSes outside of cycling hotspots like Arizona or SoCal tend not to have a wonderful selection of women's clothes.

4) Comfort, psychological and physical. And fashion.
A number of women I talk to (40-60ish) in my department like riding bikes, but really don't like bike saddles. I have yet to convince them that it's a matter of finding the right one. If we're talking road bikes, it has (until relatively recently) been difficult to find geometries that better fit the "typical" women's build (long legs, short torso). (Note the quotation marks. :rolleyes: ) If you're not comfortable, you're not going to ride.
Finally, many women may not be comfortable wearing lycra (since they may see it as a requirement of the sport) for a variety of reasons (body image, cultural, etc). In addition, as silly as it may seem to some of us, there's a fear of helmet hair.

[Maye]

Like goldfinch said: Safety. It's a major concern. Where I live there's a road that has very good bike lanes, not too much traffic, but the area is kind of industrial and close to a big trash dump. Nothing around it. I was told by several cyclists (and non cyclists) to not ride that road alone since is dangerous. But you can see men using it all the time, alone or in group. I use bike paths more than roads because I feel safer there with other women riding there as well.

My husband is always very concerned about what can happen to me while I ride, like accidents or other things. To give him peace of mind I always tell him exactly where I'm going (maps included), to remember what I'm wearing and that he can use the GPS (Find MyFriends app) to locate me anywhere. I also text him every time that I finish a ride.

Also, I think road bikes and the sport by itself is intimidating. I showed my bike to my cousin a while ago and she asked me: "How can you ride that thing with such skinny tires? I would never be able to ride something like that". I told her: yes you can, its easier than what it looks and also you can use a different style of bike and we can ride together.

[maillotpois]

Boy I really don't think about safety much at all - in the context of men vs. women. Accidents can happen to anyone, regardless of sex, so I don't really see any difference in risk between my riding and my husband's. There are 2 places in the Bay Area I can think of where I won't ride alone, but I'd also advise men not to ride those roads alone either. These are very isolated, remote, seemingly haunted type roads and if you had a major mechanical you'd be completely hosed (the Geysers and Mines Rd.).

I guess the only sex difference safety wise I can think of that affects my riding is I'm no longer enthusiastic about riding through the night alone (i.e. on a brevet or double century), whereas I see male friends doing it without really thinking about it. I've ridden through the night alone before, but now I will generally only do it if I have riding companions. But this is pretty extreme, and I don't expect most cyclists to factor in riding at 2 am as an issue.

I will say the majority of people who do the kind of riding I do (brevets and double centuries) are men, and I've had discussions with people about why that is. I do believe that child care is a big factor - it certainly had been for me. Even when we arranged child care, I always had more guilt around leaving the kid for the day to ride than my husband did. Now I've pretty much made a decision not to do any rides over 400k for the next 3 years because during my 600k last year, I really felt bad about being away from home for so long - and the kid is (I hope) going off to college in 3 years, so she's not going to be home forever. I can knock off a ride 400k or less and be home that night (or wee hours of the morning), but 600k, etc., takes both days of the weekend.

I never commuted to work because of (1) inconveniently placed bridges between my work and home with no way around them and (2) lack of shower facilities at work.

[TsPoet]

My first passion is dog training, especially agility. I know dozens of women in dog agility, and 1 man. Why don't more men do agility?

---I don't know if I have a point or not, I think I do :rolleyes:

[indysteel]

@Maye, I know this is very location dependent, but in my area, there have been any number of attacks on our main multiple-use trails. I, personally, feel much safer on the average road.

[Catrin]

@Maye, I know this is very location dependent, but in my area, there have been any number of attacks on our main multiple-use trails. I, personally, feel much safer on the average road.

Yep - being in the same area as Indy, I concur. I feel much safer on the road.

[Maye]

@Maye, I know this is very location dependent, but in my area, there have been any number of attacks on our main multiple-use trails. I, personally, feel much safer on the average road.

Here in Orlando there has been a few attacks on the trails as well. Once I get better and more experienced in road cycling, I'll use more the main roads.:o Here there are way too many distracted drivers.

[Maye]

I do believe that child care is a big factor - it certainly had been for me. Even when we arranged child care, I always had more guilt around leaving the kid for the day to ride than my husband did.

I concur. Child care, another factor. I always feel guilty about leaving my husband taking care of our daughter which is in the terrible 2's phase.

[shootingstar]

I don't know about the area/city where you live Suze. But would tend to agree of more men in general, cycling regularily. However one will notice in Vancouver, the number of women cycling is increasing. It is visible to me compared to 10 yrs. ago.

Here in Calgary waaay more men commute-bike to work than women. (compared to what I saw as a cyclist in Toronto and VAncovuer where I also lived and cycled.) And I'm talking about visual volumes of people I saw cycling in the downtown core in all 3 cities, as comparisons.

Here our cycling infrastructure still is not safe enough to encourage alot of bike commuters into the downtown core. It doesn't mean women lack courage, but if one wants just more people cycling, slower speed of cars, separated bike lanes, must be done.

For me to wear a lycra black skort, when cycling...I feel like an exotic bird in this city.

the city here is dustier than other cities where I've lived because the air in prairies is drier and there's grit/gravel after every winter by road sides.

[kelleil]

There have been some polling & statistics (check out takingthelane.com) that say much about women being risk adverse, money, children etc. There is another problem: bike lanes tend not to go where women need to go: grocery stores, banks, schools, etc.

[Bethany1]

I see several factors:

1. Intimidation by attitudes. Most people see the aggressive racer persona and don't want to look pathetic and out of shape on a bike. You walk in to a shop that has guys all walking around in perfect condition w/jerseys and ignoring everyone else and it's depressing. I equate cycling with aggressive young guys racing as that's what you see in magazines and posters in the store.

I've since learned it's really more a "zone" thing when on a bike. You don't mean to look aggressive/angry but you are just concentrating really hard to avoid stuff.

I try and wave to people, smile when I'm on the road and make cycling more friendly when talking with people.

2. Time/Money. As was mentioned, if you have a family, mom does the care. Bikes are expensive. Gear is expensive. Add in stuff to bring the kids along and it's just easier to find something else family friendly.

3. Fashion. Hate to bring it up but most of us don't have the body to fit into spandex. I quit caring as I realized the benefit of cycling clothes but it took some time. Jeans are uncomfortable and restrictive. A dress would get caught into the chain and skirts would show everything. Cycling friendly clothing for the working woman and for just going around town is hard to find.

I now just put my chamois shorts under my regular clothing and ride off for short rides.

4. Fear/Safety does play into it. It depends on your area and what is available. I really hate riding by myself but I don't have a choice. The trail I ride is always empty in the afternoons since people work. I ride the highways and now the gravel roads much better now with more confidence but it still gets iffy at times.


5. Design/style/choice still is an issue. Most companies still use a cookie cutter frame over and over. Every year just add a better component, slap a new paint color on and keep the frame the same.

Specialized does this big time. Same bike, add different components and the price goes up. You end up with 5 versions of the same bike.

I had a hard time finding bikes that stood out from the crowd. Smaller companies have come up with custom style frames but unless you know about them, you are using the big box companies.

For example, I would love a Pashley bike. Very dainty and feminine. I just wish I could actually look at one.

[lph]

What they all said.

I also think that bike=machine=technical=male thing plays a role. So are cars, and women do drive, but cars are larger, messier and more expensive to repair, so not that many men spend time wrenching their own cars. But walk into a bike store and you'll find men happily discussing the minutiae of bike parts and how to wrench this or that. I guess women may feel that if they're not mechanically inclined, this isn't the sport for them. Skis are pretty straight forward, by comparison.

[hebe]

I concur. Child care, another factor. I always feel guilty about leaving my husband taking care of our daughter which is in the terrible 2's phase.

I try so hard not to feel guilty about this. It's not actually asking them to babysit so much as ensuring that they participate in parenting after all. Plus, my dh enjoys the benefits of my cycling as much as I do so it's not exactly a selfish request.

I put a link onto my fb page about women and exercise - it's a study done by a mental health charity here women scared of outdoor exercise (http://www.mind.org.uk/news/6732_new_findings_show_women_run_scared_from_outdoor_exercise)

+1 to all points above.

[shootingstar]

I also think that bike=machine=technical=male thing plays a role

I think this has alot of influence for women who don't want to cycle + the fear of looking dorky/out of shape against the young males in spandex.

I think it is also true for some men...who want to get back into shape and I know for certain some like bikes, because they are geeky-techy-mechanical guys.

How I try to explain to some about bikes..is to tell them, a bike is like a sewing machine. I meann hey, a sewing machine requires understanding it, how to use it, it is technical and sewing/tailoring well, does require logic, some technical details (and artistry abit). And I use sewing as something totally different metaphor, but has been traditional viewed as "women's stuff", but can be intimidating to people who don't like it/intimidated by the details.

[ACG]

I think time away from children is an issue.

In my immediate group, I'm the only mom. The other women don't have children and are at the age that they will not now.

As SO works, we hire sitter for 9 year old. Other kids are grown.

I will always miss a ride and put family first.

[Crankin]

My take is that women are just more fearful. And sometimes this becomes a reason to say "I can't." I know lots of people who say, "I couldn't do what you do."
As far as the kid thing goes, I'm not the best to ask. I didn't ride when my kids were small, but I was a group exercise instructor, in addition to having a full time job. I never felt guilty. My kids grew up seeing a mom being active.
And when a dad is with his kids, he is not babysitting. He's being a parent.
Where I live, the ratio of cyclists is pretty even in terms of gender. This has happened in the past 5 years

[lph]

I struggled with a bad conscience too when my son was a baby and I wanted to get some exercise and he would scream for me as his dad took him... but I'm pretty sure that was hormones talking :)

Intellectually I had no trouble rationalizing that I needed to get out, he needed to get to know his dad, and his dad needed time alone with kid. We talked about it fairly early on and agreed that our expectations were shared parenting as default, which meant both parents at home, and ask if you want to do something alone. So we called it "babysitting", but that was whenever either parent had to care for baby alone, without the other one. (In reality I had to peel baby off me to do anything, but hey, we tried).

Wow. Now my son is 15, gruff-voiced and moustached, and just sat up later than my bedtime, dissecting computers with his dad :) Time flies.

[redrhodie]

Where I live, the ratio of cyclists is pretty even in terms of gender. This has happened in the past 5 years

I agree. The lbs rides are split pretty even these days.

[climbergirl]

I'm going to throw out another vote for fear of the mechanical aspects: I used to be terrified to ride alone because OMG what if I had to change a tire? Or if something broke? Practice, and always carrying a cell phone, help a lot.

Also, yeah, the aggression/competitive thing.

[maillotpois]

I think time away from children is an issue.

In my immediate group, I'm the only mom. The other women don't have children and are at the age that they will not now.

I will always miss a ride and put family first.

+1 to all of this.

[Jiffer]

I think there may be a fear factor for many women for a few reasons.

If we're talking about riding a road bike . . . on the road . . . with cars, turning left in the left turn lane . . . riding along seemingly small windy roads, etc. This can be overwhelming for some women.

My husband was a cyclist long before I was. I had ridden bikes and loved it, but within the confines of a neighborhood or on a safe bike path mostly. The idea of getting out with the cars was a little scary. We'd drive along some windy road and he'd tell me how he rides up this road and descends very quickly down it and it would seem so dangerous to me. How do you not get hit by a car?

And then there's the clipping in factor. Oh my. Being "attached" to my bike?! Surely I'll fall over!!!

Descending is another one. I, personally, LOVE descending quickly. However, when my husband first got me on a tandem and we'd go down a hill, I was a bit nervous, always wanting him to slow down at first. (Part of that was the lack of control I had.)

I road a few times with an extremely fit and fast endurance runner, who had just gotten into cycling. I was shocked at how fearful she was of going down just a 2% grade with any speed whatsoever. She kept hitting her brakes while I waited at the bottom. I often find myself passing both men and women on a downhill. It's like they don't even TRY to go fast and that's the best and easiest time TO go fast!!! Haha!

Some women may not want to have anything to do with the "silly looking cycling clothes" . . . padded cycling shorts, the shoes that click when you walk funny. ;)

The skinny "saddle" might not help. It doesn't provide much cushion or support . . . and can be a little ouchie to get used to and can leave you with saddle sores.

Another issue for some women could be the fact that it IS a sport dominated by men. If they don't have a girlfriend to ride with, but there is a cycling club in there area . . . they may feel intimidated to show up with a bunch of men who, by nature are born stronger (and typically more fearless).

There are, however, a few things I like about riding with men that are worth noting.

#1 - I love it when I am strong enough to hang with a group of guys (even if they aren't the racers or hardcore guys, though it's fun to train harder and eventually hang with the stronger and stronger guys).

#2 - While I might have a hard time remembering who all the guys are underneath the helmets, they all seem to remember who I am, because I'm one of the few women! (And usually in PINK!)

#3 - There's ALWAYS someone offering to help change a flat! I don't even have to be on a group ride. If I'm on the side of the rode changing a flat, inevitably a man or two or three will come along and offer assistance!

#4 - Short lines for the women's bathrooms! I crack up when I go to events and the men are lined up outside the men's room and I get to just walk right into the ladies' room! Now THAT's not something you don't see every day!!!

This is an interesting thread. I'll be curious to read your blog entry when you post it.

[Anelia]

In my society, and we are very close to the oriental culture, the woman doing something for pleasure is almost unacceptable. To ride a bicycle, a woman should be strong. But isn't that a controversy? Women are supposed to be weak :mad:. How come a little lady is riding hundreds of kilometers on her own?
I feel constantly the eyes of people on me when I ride, especially when I pass small villages. People comment things like "Oh, look that woman on a bike", like I were an UFO or something like this. My parents also disagree with my activity because of the dangers on the roads: dogs, cars, criminals, accidents...lots of them. So I don't tell them everything I do.
It's good that my husband is supportive but not always. Sometimes I hear nasty remarks from him like I'd better clean the house than ride "all day long" which is not true. I ride only when I have the time: I have a job and two extra jobs, I earn twice as much as he does. Our home is not the best one but I am not going to be a slave in the house, rubbing and mopping to perfection. Every day I cook something nice and we don't buy ready-to-eat meals. Our son is 8 years old and he doesn't feel like hanging around me all the time so I feel comfortable leaving him at home for a couple of hours. I only feel guilt when I do my endurance training and it takes me the whole day outside and I ride 8 or 9 hours.
But my husband is supportive as much as I spend money on bikes and parts, also I go to races and sometimes I call him to pick me up because I had had an accident or he drives me to races and cleans my bike after that. He also fixes small things like brake pads or pedals, etc.
Well, this is the situation I am in and all these inconveniences that I have to put up with are the reason why the other women in my country and town don't ride a bike. To sum it up: social diapproval, lack of time and money, inability to balance the bike (yes, I've seen women that zig-zag or even can't ride a bike), and of course fear of doing something outside your comfort zone or something unfamiliar.

[TigerMom]

1) For me, I was not exposed to gears/shifting when I was young.

No gears+hills=No fun

2) Also, the bikes are heavier and larger in proportion to body weight of a woman (I am 5ft 1in and 115pounds) vs. a man (husband is 5ft 7in and 145pounds). So, for a novice woman to have a heavier, larger bike in proportion to her body, it is less fun for her than a man. Quality bikes are expensive.

3) Child care issue that the other women above mentioned

4) I can't find anyone to ride with when I have free time because I am NOT going to ride on trails during the day or night by myself. Road bike lanes that are narrow are scarier for clumsy me than my more risk taking husband. So, road riding by myself is also not happening.



_______________
2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle

2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle

[shootingstar]

Also, the bikes are heavier and larger in proportion to body weight of a woman (I am 5ft 1in and 115pounds) vs. a man (husband is 5ft 7in and 145pounds). So, for a novice woman to have a heavier, larger bike in proportion to her body, it is less fun for her than a man. Quality bikes are expensive.

I've never thought at all about my weight /small size as a deterrent from enjoying cycling. I don't have a $3,000-$5,000 carbon bike. Most of my bikes are under $1,000 (still cheaper than a car to have and ride several bikes!!) I am 5' 1" @100 lbs. And yes, he is taller @5' 10" and can go farther, but it's just not useful for me to compare my enjoyment against his.

Just because he's bigger does not mean he has it easier: often he carries far heavier weight on his bike compared to mine. Even when my bike has fully loaded bike panniers. HIs clothing in his panniers just takes up more space, more bulk and more weight, because he's just bigger!

It's like comparing apples and oranges. We're both cyclists but @different ages/stages in life. Besides, a fit female cyclist could out cycle some men. And some TE women can.

I just cycle for the sake of enjoying for myself. Otherwise I wouldn't be cycling!!

2 main things that did inhibit me from buying a proper bike and returning to cycling sooner were:
*learning to cycle with multiple gears
*knowing some great, decent bike routes that were safer for me. I had no clue about bike paths at that time and didn't want to explore ravine parks on my own without knowing where to go to get out of potential trouble.

Fortunately I met my partner 5 months after my interest was stoked. But I had no clue he was a cyclist until several months into our relationship. :)

Safety: I feel much SAFER cycling compared to walking on the street.

[CAL]

As a single mom with two young ones it is difficult to find time to cycle outdoors (yes, I usually use my Cycleops trainer). The area in which we live is not bicycle or pedestrian friendly. Just outside the neighborhood there are many share the road signs, but the posted speed limit is 50 mph. When I do manage an outdoor ride it involves me driving 45 min. to and from a lakeside park that allows me to ride a 9 mi. path that I can loop around until it's time to get my kids. Also, when I take my kids for their activities (martial arts, etc) it is usually the mom that is there with their children. I've read where some women are poorly fitted for their bike and when they question their LBS about it are made to feel that they just don't know what they are talking about. That the bike that was sold to them is perfect for them. So many reasons.

[hebe]

...Safety: I feel much SAFER cycling compared to walking on the street.

Me too. At least in traffic I have some rights of way, as a pedestrian I am hugely frustrated by having to rely on drivers' good-will in order to get across some roads safely.

The children thing is a huge challenge to cycling time for me, and I only have one. I'm lucky enough to have the magic combination of 15hrs/week daycare, no paid job, and a variety of cycling routes on the doorstep. I do ride on 60mph country lanes, because there's not much traffic on them and at the end of the day they are there to be cycled on just as much as driven on. I do try to tow my girl in a trailer, but adding a trailer does add more limits in terms of the roads that you feel safe riding on, the risks you are comfortable taking, the places you can ride (many cycle paths here have barriers that trailers can't fit through and dropped kerbs that are too narrow to take a trailer's broader wheelbase), and the places you can park your bike and trailer once you do reach your destination.

[Suze]

Hi everyone and thanks!!!!! I used quick reply since that's all I know how to use right now, but my H U G E thank yous are to all of you!!! This forum is a brand new experience to me and it is great. I am thrilled to have found it, your insights and experiences are broadening my perspective and understanding..exactly what anyone wants from a discussion. I won't respond to each post but will reference them as best I can in a blog post. I hope in the next week or so, but want to let this conversation continue for a bit before I try to "digest" it too much! Thanks again for taking the time and energy!! Suze

[nuliajuk]

One thing I have noticed over the years, in a variety of activities, is that some women feel guilty about spending money on adequate equipment. So they get something cheap'n nasty, "just in case I decide I don't like it", and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

My first encounter with this attitude was with my ex sister-in-law, who was trying to cross-country ski on horrible skiis with no camber to them at all. When I pointed out that she'd actually be able to glide if she had a half-decent pair from a proper shop, she just said "Oh no, it's not the skiis, it's just me, I"m not good at sports...etc, etc." Then I encountered it with female cyclist on a club tour, riding an extremely flexible step-through bike that tried to change gears on it's own with every pedal stroke. "Oh no, it's not the bike, it's me..."

Years later, I noticed it again on a sewing forum where women would ask what machine they could buy that would do pretty much everything, but only cost about $100, because "I don't want to spend more in case I don't like sewing." Or they'd express guilt about spending $800 on the machine they really wanted. So I'd point out all the things that you can spend that same money or more on, and have nothing to show for it at the end of the year - a weekend in Vegas, going to the bar after work every Friday - and remind them that the sewing machine would last at least 10 years if properly maintained and give them pleasure every day.

I suppose I'm guilty of this to some degree. I just bought a new road bike, last year's model on sale, and it took 5 months of arguing with myself about whether I should really pay that much money for a bike I'd only use a few times a week in summer. In the end, I reminded myself that my old road bike is 23 years old and still working, so I'll probably get my money's worth over time.

[OakLeaf]

Although I really have no experience with most of it (no children, commuted in heavy traffic through my teens and early 20s and had no car, so couldn't afford to be afraid), what everyone else has said rings true intellectually to me, except for the thing about size being a disadvantage.

I can't TELL you how many men behind me in a paceline have grumbled about my size! :D And vice versa, it's super easy for 5'3" me to tuck in and hang on with a much stronger group. They don't even mind so much if I only take token pulls, since I'm basically not doing anyone any good at the point anyhow. :p

As far as hills, that extra 20-30# of body weight that a man has to drag up a hill costs him WAY more than the extra 2-3# if the woman can't afford a bike as snazzy as his. BTDT, with men who can completely dust me on the flats.

[jyyanks]

For me, it has everything to do with lack of time. I work full time with a 2 hour commute which leaves me no time to cycle during the week. During the weekends, the kids have activities and quite frankly, i feel guilty spending time away from them since I'm not around as much during the week so weekends are primarily devoted to family. I get about an hour or two each day during the weekend but thats not enough time to go on an extended group ride (which typically lasts longer and does not work with my schedule). Therefore, I end up riding alone on the bike trail a lot. When my kids are older, I hope I could devote more time to cycling and join more group rides but unfortunately, that isn't possible now.

[ivorygorgon]

My club is dominated by FAST men. When I talk to the guys about their wives, the inevitable reason their wives don't ride is that they are afraid to ride on the road.

[Eden]

I'm like Oak - I grew up riding on the road. I started cycle touring with my parents when I was about 10 or 11 I think - I was in middle school. I was riding all over by myself in city traffic by the time I was 14. I didn't even have a driver's license until I was 25. I don't have kids.

None of the worries other people have expressed have ever really affected me, I guess. I suppose a lot of it has to do with how I was raised. My parents were always quite active and I was allowed, perhaps even pushed to do things that other girls never were. Other kids thought I was weird, but I don't think that ever really bothered me. It certainly didn't change my behavior - nor has the fact that now other adults often think I'm weird bother me or change my behavior.

[lph]

One thing I have noticed over the years, in a variety of activities, is that some women feel guilty about spending money on adequate equipment. So they get something cheap'n nasty, "just in case I decide I don't like it", and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

This is a good point. We all know about and roll our eyes over men's "expensive toys", that's sort of just part of being a guy, while a woman beginner will often feel that she really needs to deserve a good quality bike (kayak/pair of skis/whatever), doesn't have the know-how at that point to buy something used of decent quality, and ends up feeling heavy, slow and unathletic on crappy gear. I've done it, though my excuse was just lack of money. My dh taught me that yes - the weight of a bike does count, a lot! - and steered me towards decent gear. Makes a huge difference in enjoyment. I'm now more of a weight-weenie than he ever was :)

But he's roughly my weight. A strong man who outweighed me by half might not even think I had a heavy bike in the first place.

[Crankin]

Come to think of it, I rode all over, on the road starting at age 10, until I got my license. It wasn't city riding, but a very hilly, densely populated suburb. I rode at night, too. There are certain places I won't ride, but I started out right on the road.

[Owlie]

I totally agree on the "deserving" a nice bike. And while I can understand the desire not to sink a lot of money into a new hobby immediately (because I did it too), and I do realize it's an expensive hobby, the fact that it isn't nice is probably going to hinder your enjoyment.*

And if I see couples together on the bike trail, if they're not riding comparable bikes, it's always the man that's riding the decent bike, while the woman's huffing and puffing away on a heavy mountain bike or something.



*Maybe I'm a masochist, because I rode for 3 years on a bike that didn't fit and I still like it...:rolleyes:

[featuretile]

Where I live in California, there are almost as many women in the bike club as men. Most of the people are over 60. If you are younger than 60, you are a kid. Both men and women have pretty nice bikes. But, the faster riders are mostly men (but not all).

In fact, they are all great roll models for me of how to stay fit as you get older. We have 3 men who are over 80, and I think, 3 women who are over 70. Most members are very encouraging. There is some problem with different levels of speed in the group rides, and I have experienced being dropped. But they are trying to remedy that.

Since no women that age are dealing with raising children, that does not stop them from riding. And the weather is good all year. Everybody wears hi-vis jerseys or jackets and black biking shorts, and I have gotten used to that as working better and no longer feel self conscious about the clothes.

I feel lucky to be in this kind of environment.

I prefer a group ride to riding alone because there is someone there if something happens, and I get to learn new roads.

[Grits]

There is also the vicious cycle of more men riders bring in other men riders and so on. When I started riding it was because three other women I knew had just started, and we had a group of about the same ability starting out and learning everything together. That is fairly rare. If I hadn't known them, I might not have gotten started because I doubt I would have gotten into it on my own or with a group of guys because it does seem intimidating.

[Jiffer]

By the way, cycling IS growing for women in a big way. At least it is in Southern California. The owner of one of our bike shops was telling us a while back that he had recently been selling way more bikes to women than ever before (this was a year and a half ago or so.) He hosted a women's clinic, too, to encourage women to ride and to teach them HOW to ride.

[lovelygamer]

I don't have a lot of advice on the why's of women and cycling. I only can say that I myself have worried about the practical vs. recreational aspect (time spent on a hobby vs. something more practical), the risks to my physical self, the costs of the equipment, and the fashion or lack thereof. Maintenance of bikes is intimidating to me too. I haven't learned it yet and I feel at a disadvantage for it. That's a hell of a lot to get over and I don't even have a child!

I will say that locally, we have one competitive road cycling group, one mountain biking group, and one group that is a non competitive ladies only group.

btw I just marked an article for further reading today, about this topic.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/05/getting-more-women-bikes/1984/

[shootingstar]

I only can say that I myself have worried about the practical vs. recreational aspect (time spent on a hobby vs. something more practical), the risks to my physical self, the costs of the equipment, and the fashion or lack thereof. Maintenance of bikes is intimidating to me too. I haven't learned it yet and I feel at a disadvantage for it. That's a hell of a lot to get over and I don't even have a child!



Interesting that you should feel guilty /wonder if cycling is a hobby /recreation /practical. Since I haven't lived in a home with a car for past few decades, I consider my bikes (yes, 4) practical for transportation purposes. I don't apologize anymore for having this number of bikes since I've cycled all of them and still all cheaper than owning and driving a car.

If cycling is good for your health, then that for certain is damn practical! I don't kid myself that bike maintenance is something I know much about nor practice it in an knowledgeable way, even though I've been shown several times. And I've been cycling regularily for past 20 yrs. I think I can intelligently look/name a troublesome bike part and intelligently ask a bike store what can be done + assess whether or not the bike mechanic fixed it properly.

I've noticed way more women cycling in Vancouver now compared to 10 yrs. ago.

[Crankin]

I really have a hard time understanding why anyone would feel guilty about cycling. Feeling guilty about having a hobby, participating in a sport, contributing to a less polluted environment, and doing something positive for your health (both physical and mental) just doesn't make any sense. Why shouldn't you spend money on yourself, when it's something that has all of these positive benefits? I sincerely believe that most of this comes from the way a lot of women are socialized, i.e., don't ever do anything for yourself.
I guess I must have missed that message, because I never gave any of this a thought. I also had a ton of encouragement from my DH, my son, and my exchange student when I started riding.
I do agree, there are a lot of azzholes in the cycling world, but if you look around, it is possible to find someone who has similar cycling goals. I've always been firmly in the "too fast for the slow group, too slow for the fast group" camp, but I found both individuals and a group that are perfect for me to ride with. I have no interest in real "training" and I never wanted to race, but over the past 11 years, I've improved, gained confidence, become a ride leader, had years when I rode less/lost strength/speed, as well as buying/selling 7 bikes.
Am I perfect? Of course not. I'm still a wimpy descender, I don't like certain traffic situations, and my mechanical skills are minimal. But, I keep going and every year is more interesting.

[tiva]

Great topic. I spend a fair bit of time in Europe, where more people ride bikes in the cities than take cars, and you see more women than men riding, I think. Women on road bikes, women in fancy dresses and heels on city bikes, women with kids--all sorts.

Here in the US, it never occurs to me to be afraid alone on roads or on trails. Wisconsin is a pretty safe state, but still.

I ride every other day, either alone or with a couple friends. But I never go with a bike club, for some reason. I'm much less comfortable with competition than many men are, and because I usually ride alone, I don't know how to ride in groups. And I know I'm not as fast as the guys who ride in the clubs. But it would be interesting to try group riding.

[FlyingScot]

The biggest thing that makes me think twice about going for a ride is the safety factor. I, by necessity, ride alone 99% of the time. My two choices for riding (path vs road) each have pretty significant issues. The bike path nearest me is very secluded in some parts, runs through subsidized housing (think large groups of bored, disaffected and often angry young men rolling around on undersized bikes but not going anywhere), has easy access by other vehicles (service drives that aren't blocked off), increasing numbers of homeless men and so far has had two murder victims found on it. In addition my community is not bike-friendly. We have had multiple accidents most of them ending with a dead cyclist. It seems that drivers are actually aiming for us so the roads aren't a great option either. You'd never know that I live in a rather up-scale part of town.
The second thing is my personal discouragement whem I'm being passed by what appear to be 80 year old men on BSO's. Seriously, am I THAT slow!:eek:

[nuliajuk]

I don't have a lot of advice on the why's of women and cycling. I only can say that I myself have worried about the practical vs. recreational aspect (time spent on a hobby vs. something more practical), the risks to my physical self, the costs of the equipment, and the fashion or lack thereof. Maintenance of bikes is intimidating to me too. I haven't learned it yet and I feel at a disadvantage for it. That's a hell of a lot to get over and I don't even have a child!...

Interesting that you should mention fashion. I remember sitting in the infield of the velodrome between races years ago and mentioning to another female rider that I'd wandered into a high-end dress shop on my lunch hour and seen an $800 dress. I remarked that you could buy a pretty decent bike for $800 (this was in the 80s) and she laughed and told me I had my priorities straight. Many women who balk at paying more than $200 on a bike don't hesitate to spend that and much more on shoes and clothes that will be out of fashion within a year.
Find a maintenance class if possible - they are out there. When I bought my first "serious" bike as a teen in the late 70s, the bike shop I got it from offered a free maintenance class to anyone buying a new machine. Being young and dumb, I didn't know that it was supposed to be intimidating, so I took to it with enthusiasm and did my own overhauls for years. I'm eternally grateful to that shop (now long gone) for having offered that class, because even though now I don't do my own repairs much any more, I know enough about bikes to at least have an idea what's wrong before taking it to a shop. (Actually, modern bikes require a whole lot less maintenance than older ones, what with the sealed cartridge bearings everywhere.)

[PamNY]

Maintenance of bikes is intimidating to me too. I haven't learned it yet and I feel at a disadvantage for it.

Basic maintenance is easy to learn. I'd suggest a class. There's a lot of information, including how-to videos, available online.

This forum is a great source of information on maintenance, and will rejoice with you over very simple accomplishments. I once posted about adjusting my brake, which involved two turns with a screwdriver.

[zoom-zoom]

The other night DH and I went mountain biking at a nearby Boy Scout camp that lets hikers and cyclists use their land on the off season. They have some really nice, challenging trails of about 20+ total miles.

I was the ONLY woman out there. I know Limewave rides there, too. But I have a tough time finding other noobie women to ride with. I don't get a lot of opportunities to ride with DH (childcare is an issue) and I refuse to ride alone. I'm VERY much a novice and VERY crash-prone. I have nightmares of becoming incapacitated and leaving my child with a seriously injured or dead mother. So that keeps me from progressing at mountain biking. My DH, on the other hand, just returned from a week in Moab and Fruita. He has no qualms about riding alone.

I don't have quite the same level of apprehension riding my road bike alone, but I still don't enjoy it nearly as much as riding with others and I do worry about being miles from home, on rural roads, and having a major mechanical or encountering creeps. I know it causes me to swap a lot of rides for runs or cut my rides shorter than I might otherwise. I also contend with boredom on solo rides. After about 90 minutes I can't stand myself anymore. :o

[Maye]

I have nightmares of becoming incapacitated and leaving my child with a seriously injured or dead mother.

This is exactly how I feel and one of the reasons why I'm so cautious and afraid of highly trafficked roads or riding alone.

[shootingstar]

Well one thing I still haven't gotten into which is having the opposite effect of drawing in more women: is the cycling chic trend of cycling with dress/heeled shoes, dresses and skirts, suits. I think this latter flexibility now in some big North American cities is drawing more women to cycling as simply part of ordinary life. Because it is. :)

I don't think I'll get into that much at all simply because I do have a nice collection of some jerseys and cycling jackets to wear. Will preserve my business dress clothing longer by not cycling and sweating up/dirtying them up as much.

As for the fear of being alone: As long as I can cycle at a certain speed (and it doesn't have to be fast) without stopping too much at the wrong time (that's unsafe for me), then I'm fine. And that's feeling safe 95% of the time, in terms of my safety as a female cyclist. I have commuted daily through quieter or isolated ravine park system to get to work, but most of that route were wide, paved paths.

I have lived in "rougher" or perceived as "rougher" areas of big cities. Which translates as: lower income, non-white neighbourhoods. Yes, there were shoot-outs that made the press, which I found out later. But it only takes a few bad folks to make it bad for everyone else.

In VAncouver, we live in a nice area, yet just 5 blocks away there was a shooting at a major hotel. Is that going to stop locals from hanging around? No, if you know the area: there's tons of people walking around shopping, hanging out in the cafes, etc.

So for certain, I consider cycling in the city, actually waaaaay safer for me as a woman than walking or jogging. For certain at night, I don't choose to cycle in unlit areas with narrow paths, etc. nor busy aerterial roads with tons of cars and no shoulder if I can.

[Crankin]

If you are "focusing" on getting hurt and leaving your kids with a "handicapped" or dead mother, than some cognitive behavior therapy might help. You shouldn't let this incapacitate you. Yes, be aware of the risks, learn to ride assertively and safely, and realize, yes you could get hurt, but don't let it stop you from enjoying something you like. Anxiety where you picture a bad thing happening is not something you need to live with.
Mountain biking is kind of in another category because crashing is just part of it. I only stopped because of my osteoporosis... I didn't mind crashing, as it's part of the experience, but I couldn't risk it. I didn't attempt things beyond my ability and when I actually spent some time practicing, I did improve. I went alone a couple of times, on my way home from work. I got lost, but I survived.
I do a lot of things I swore I would never do, and I am pretty proud of it. I come from a family of neurotic worriers, who are afraid of everything. It's no way to live your life.

[Reesha]

I'm like Oak - I grew up riding on the road. I started cycle touring with my parents when I was about 10 or 11 I think - I was in middle school. I was riding all over by myself in city traffic by the time I was 14. I didn't even have a driver's license until I was 25. I don't have kids.

None of the worries other people have expressed have ever really affected me, I guess. I suppose a lot of it has to do with how I was raised. My parents were always quite active and I was allowed, perhaps even pushed to do things that other girls never were. Other kids thought I was weird, but I don't think that ever really bothered me. It certainly didn't change my behavior - nor has the fact that now other adults often think I'm weird bother me or change my behavior.

This is pretty much me in a nutshell. I rode my bike everywhere as a kid for transportation... didn't get my license til my 20s and by then was fully adapted to road riding. Now I'm nearly 30, no kids yet... just a full time teaching job, domesticated DBF (who is afraid to ride on the roads go figure!), a dog, a cat, and some chickens. I'm not afraid to let my lawn go if it means I can have more time on the bike :D

[Reesha]

Interesting that you should mention fashion. I remember sitting in the infield of the velodrome between races years ago and mentioning to another female rider that I'd wandered into a high-end dress shop on my lunch hour and seen an $800 dress. I remarked that you could buy a pretty decent bike for $800 (this was in the 80s) and she laughed and told me I had my priorities straight. Many women who balk at paying more than $200 on a bike don't hesitate to spend that and much more on shoes and clothes that will be out of fashion within a year.
Find a maintenance class if possible - they are out there. When I bought my first "serious" bike as a teen in the late 70s, the bike shop I got it from offered a free maintenance class to anyone buying a new machine. Being young and dumb, I didn't know that it was supposed to be intimidating, so I took to it with enthusiasm and did my own overhauls for years. I'm eternally grateful to that shop (now long gone) for having offered that class, because even though now I don't do my own repairs much any more, I know enough about bikes to at least have an idea what's wrong before taking it to a shop. (Actually, modern bikes require a whole lot less maintenance than older ones, what with the sealed cartridge bearings everywhere.)

I was with a friend at Tiffany's when she was preparing to get engaged and we were trying on rings and I couldn't stop thinking about how I'd spent more on each of my bikes than most of the rings we were trying on. It really cracked me up. I'm not sure I'd put that much money on my finger, but I'd put it between my legs!

[zoom-zoom]

If you are "focusing" on getting hurt and leaving your kids with a "handicapped" or dead mother, than some cognitive behavior therapy might help. You shouldn't let this incapacitate you. Yes, be aware of the risks, learn to ride assertively and safely, and realize, yes you could get hurt, but don't let it stop you from enjoying something you like. Anxiety where you picture a bad thing happening is not something you need to live with.
Mountain biking is kind of in another category because crashing is just part of it. I only stopped because of my osteoporosis... I didn't mind crashing, as it's part of the experience, but I couldn't risk it. I didn't attempt things beyond my ability and when I actually spent some time practicing, I did improve. I went alone a couple of times, on my way home from work. I got lost, but I survived.
I do a lot of things I swore I would never do, and I am pretty proud of it. I come from a family of neurotic worriers, who are afraid of everything. It's no way to live your life.

I still ride and enjoy it, just not alone. If something happens to me I don't want it to be potentially hours before I am found. Cell service is spotty (at best) out there, too. I wouldn't run trails alone, for the same reason. I badly sprained my left ankle during a trail relay 2 years ago. I was able to continue "running" on it and other runners were able to notify people at the next exchange point, but had I outright broken it and been alone it could have been hours before I was able to find help way up in BFE.

[Anelia]

If you are "focusing" on getting hurt and leaving your kids with a "handicapped" or dead mother, than some cognitive behavior therapy might help. You shouldn't let this incapacitate you. Yes, be aware of the risks, learn to ride assertively and safely, and realize, yes you could get hurt, but don't let it stop you from enjoying something you like. Anxiety where you picture a bad thing happening is not something you need to live with.
Mountain biking is kind of in another category because crashing is just part of it. I only stopped because of my osteoporosis... I didn't mind crashing, as it's part of the experience, but I couldn't risk it. I didn't attempt things beyond my ability and when I actually spent some time practicing, I did improve. I went alone a couple of times, on my way home from work. I got lost, but I survived.
I do a lot of things I swore I would never do, and I am pretty proud of it. I come from a family of neurotic worriers, who are afraid of everything. It's no way to live your life.
I agree with Crankin, we shouldn't focus on bad things.
zoom-zoom, have you checked Vitamin B in your blood? Many women suffer Vit B deficiency and that can lead to anxiety and fear. I would suggest that you do blood examination. I have VitB anaemia and since I supplement, I am way better. It might not be the case with you but still an idea...

[nuliajuk]

Well one thing I still haven't gotten into which is having the opposite effect of drawing in more women: is the cycling chic trend of cycling with dress/heeled shoes, dresses and skirts, suits. I think this latter flexibility now in some big North American cities is drawing more women to cycling as simply part of ordinary life. Because it is. :)
...

As for the fear of being alone: As long as I can cycle at a certain speed (and it doesn't have to be fast) without stopping too much at the wrong time (that's unsafe for me), then I'm fine. And that's feeling safe 95% of the time, in terms of my safety as a female cyclist. I have commuted daily through quieter or isolated ravine park system to get to work, but most of that route were wide, paved paths...

I have lived in "rougher" or perceived as "rougher" areas of big cities. Which translates as: lower income, non-white neighbourhoods. Yes, there were shoot-outs that made the press, which I found out later. But it only takes a few bad folks to make it bad for everyone else...

So for certain, I consider cycling in the city, actually waaaaay safer for me as a woman than walking or jogging. For certain at night, I don't choose to cycle in unlit areas with narrow paths, etc. nor busy aerterial roads with tons of cars and no shoulder if I can.
I don't think the "cycle chic" thing will have much of an impact. From what I've seen of the bloggers, many of them seem to feel compelled to ridicule people who ride for sport, and are unlikely to join the rest of us for a road ride. Yes, it's great that they ride to work, but let's face it, riding in regular clothes only works for shorter distances over flat roads. I can do it where I work now (4k ride to work, no hills), there is no way I could have done it when I lived in Calgary, 9k from work with several short but very steep hills in the way. I was sweating no matter how slowly I rode.
I agree that riding feels safer than walking or jogging at night. And the "rough neighborhood" thing. I grew up in such a neighborhood, so perhaps that's why it doesn't bother me to occasionally ride through one on the way to the only 50 meter pool in town. The majority of people living in low income neighborhoods just want to live their lives and have no interest in someone riding through on a bike.

[Suze]

Thanks everybody! This was a terrific discussion and great input. I posted a (wildly general) summary of your responses on my site, and will continue from time to time referring to them. If anyone wants to comment there, add to it or modify, please do! In case the site doesn't show up with my icon, it is Suze, Cycling at [URL="http://susancycling.blogspot.com/2012/05/cycling-landscape-of-home-women-riding.html"] Oh, and hope that is within discussion board etiquette to mention, if not please tell me!

By the way, I'm having a lot of fun investigating these discussion forums.

[Maye]

Thanks everybody! This was a terrific discussion and great input. I posted a (wildly general) summary of your responses on my site, and will continue from time to time referring to them. If anyone wants to comment there, add to it or modify, please do! In case the site doesn't show up with my icon, it is Suze, Cycling at [URL="http://susancycling.blogspot.com/2012/05/cycling-landscape-of-home-women-riding.html"] Oh, and hope that is within discussion board etiquette to mention, if not please tell me!

By the way, I'm having a lot of fun investigating these discussion forums.

Suze,
Great blog post!! Thanks!

[limewave]

I think part of the fear of riding alone is instilled in us as young children. It was no big deal for my brother to go exploring in the woods, but my mom was worried about me doing that! There were so many dangers for a young girl alone! Sheesh.

DH said he used to not worry about me riding alone until he started watching those magazine shows on Friday/Saturday night. He made the comment how there's hardly ever an episode about a man going missing, but there's weeks and weeks worth of episodes of women disappearing while running or hiking. He freaks out about me going alone now :rolleyes:

Zoom-Zoom, I'm not a fan of riding alone on the trails by us. But I've been on them enough that I know quite a few short cuts if I were to get in trouble. I can take you out sometime and show you some of them. I also wear an emergency whistle on my camelbak and carry an emergency blanket. It may be over the top, but after watching 127 hours, I've started carrying a good knife too. I don't want to have to do something like that with a cheap piece of crap.

[Crankin]

We call those the "murder shows."

[zoom-zoom]

Zoom-Zoom, I'm not a fan of riding alone on the trails by us. But I've been on them enough that I know quite a few short cuts if I were to get in trouble. I can take you out sometime and show you some of them. I also wear an emergency whistle on my camelbak and carry an emergency blanket. It may be over the top, but after watching 127 hours, I've started carrying a good knife too. I don't want to have to do something like that with a cheap piece of crap.

I'd love to hit the trails with you in the future--especially after you've tackled Lumberjack...I know that event is weighing heavily on you (and my hubby, though he won't actually admit it. He's totally freakin' out, ha! ;)).

You know, there are still random cougar sightings around these parts...and now black bears, wolves, and the wild boars from last Summer. Sometimes I think I should be more on my guard for aggressive critters than I should be of nefarious humans or my own klutziness. :p

[maillotpois]

It may be over the top, but after watching 127 hours, I've started carrying a good knife too. I don't want to have to do something like that with a cheap piece of crap.

Visual image: limewave's arm trapped under bicycle; hacking it off. :eek:

[tealtreak]

my two cents(: ditto on the critters! though it is pitbulls and dobies that are my nemesis! I have biked (trails and road) and backpacked by myself- love it! NEVER had trouble with people or "wild" critters....but those two breeds ...sigh...are the reason I carry mace and a knife ):

[zoom-zoom]

my two cents(: ditto on the critters! though it is pitbulls and dobies that are my nemesis! I have biked (trails and road) and backpacked by myself- love it! NEVER had trouble with people or "wild" critters....but those two breeds ...sigh...are the reason I carry mace and a knife ):

Ha, my nemesis seems to be doxies...why are such tiny dogs such a-holes!?! I don't have issues with them on the bike, but I sure do while running, for some reason (and they can run pretty fast when they want to chomp on people calves). And I have decided that red-winged blackbirds are the a-holes of the bird world. What a lot of jerks those guys are this time of the year! :mad: We encountered a bull mastiff on our CX bikes last Fall...he kinda scared us. Until we realized that he was standing in the road in hopes that we would stop and love on him, not to hurt him (though I nearly crashed into the big lunk). His name was buddy.

[limewave]

My friend was attacked by a red winged blackbird last week while we were walking. It was freaky!T

[zoom-zoom]

My friend was attacked by a red winged blackbird last week while we were walking. It was freaky!T

I can see them hovering behind me when I run on some farm roads. On my bike they follow me until they hit the next bird's territory, then that bird follows me, ad nauseum. I know some folks have been pecked by them.

[nuliajuk]

Red winged blackbirds are nesting right now, that's why they're so aggressive in the spring. They get mellow after the fledglings grow up, leave the nest, graduate from birdiversity, rack up huge student loans and move back in...

One road we used to ride on south of Calgary years ago had a pair of hawks nesting beside it every spring for 3 or 4 years (it's all suburban houses there now). Far scarier and larger than blackbirds! A friend of ours had talon marks in her helmet shell where one of the birds swooped down and clawed her. My husband decided to draw faces on ovals of paper and tape them to the back of our helmets, as he'd read somewhere about Africans doing that to protect themselves from lions attacking from behind. It seemed to work.