Women and mountain biking

[limewave]

Just an article about how few women mountain bike . . .
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Why-No-Y-Mitchell-Scott-2012.html

[lph]

I liked it. (But how did he manage to find so many photos of really hot girls biking? :D )

We've discussed many reasons why here elsewhere, but there's one more thing, and it's just the feedback effect. There aren't many women (I refuse to say girls unless we're actually talking about under 25 here) in the sport because there aren't many women in the sport. Many women are put off from a heavily male-dominated sport precisely because it is male-dominated. I like riding with guys, but I don't like riding with only guys, all the time. But at some point there will be enough women involved to defuse that "dude-sport" image. It certainly happened to climbing.

[limewave]

I think women are generally community based. Just as you mentioned, more women aren't in the sport because there aren't more women in the sport. . . . I have always been interested in mountain biking. If there would have been a club, a clinic, a camp, something, I would have signed up for it in a heartbeat. But there are very few opportunities (especially where I live) like that. I wasn't about to blindly buy a bike and head out into the woods alone with no knowledge of what to do.

[SadieKate]

One of our local shops has a diva night once(?) a month and sponsors a regular women's only clinic. The last diva night had around 50 women show up. The clinics fill up in no time. I've seen the pictures. These are women of all shapes, sizes and ages. Very cool.

This shop is also the only one in town that truly takes the inclusive approach instead of wondering why the women don't show up for the races. Crap, when you have a huge contingent of world-class athletes who use the races for "training" why should anyone else show up? The non-race rides are organized by groups of testosterone-driven wannabe elites who piss off the drivers - and scare everyone else off from forming a real community bike club.

I hope the shop is bringing in scads of sales.

[indysteel]

We have a local MTB clinic every year that is expressly for women and girls. As awesome as that is, there's little else that's geared toward women in the area No weekly diva ride or, as far as I can tell, any formal or semi-formal group that brings women MTBers together to ride. I really wish it were otherwise. The clinic's great, but it's hard to take the next few steps afterwards. I had my husband for help, but I sure would have preferred a female mentor of sorts in some ways.

[Catrin]

We have a local MTB clinic every year that is expressly for women and girls. As awesome as that is, there's little else that's geared toward women in the area No weekly diva ride or, as far as I can tell, any formal or semi-formal group that brings women MTBers together to ride. I really wish it were otherwise. The clinic's great, but it's hard to take the next few steps afterwards. I had my husband for help, but I sure would have preferred a female mentor of sorts in some ways.

It is going to take a few women willing to start something - perhaps be willing to start a monthly excursion to BCSP? The nice thing about BCSP is the range of trails from beginner to super advanced. I think part of the issue is so many are either busy with a race schedule, children, or both that it makes it difficult to do something more formal.

It would be great to have a female mentor that I could hook up with on the trails from time to time, but everyone is just so very busy. The formal women instructors I do know of in the area are so busy that they just don't have any more time (and I can't afford them right now). I think I would be much further along than I am if I did have someone to work with, but things are the way they are. I still have fun and that is what counts. I will get there.

[limewave]

I have this dream of becoming a certified instructor and leading clinics for women and youth in our region. I am taking a baby step in that direction by starting a family xc group. I thought about talking to our local LBS to see if they would sponsor part of the certification and in return I would host regular clinics for them. Right now we can't afford to pay for that ourselves. DH really does not want me to do that--he's friends with the owner. Anyways, I just think there are a number of women really interested in trying mtbing but are too intimidated. If they had a clinic or group environment specifically for beginners they would be willing to try.

[indysteel]

I think there are MTBers in town, Catrin, who don't race or have young kids. It's just a question of how to connect with them. I'll be honest that I've been hesitant to initiate rides with some of the women I know who mountain bike because I don't know if our skill levels are well matched. I don't want to hold people up. Nor do I want to ride outside my comfort zone in an effort to keep up. I just have to get over that.

[jessmarimba]

I find that most of the women here who are involved (that make themselves publicly known, anyway) are the ones who race and ride for various teams. Which is great - good for them! But they aren't ones who generally go out of their way to help newcomers. Even the normal beginner-ish co-ed (mostly male) group I would sometimes ride with seems to be posting only more skilled rides lately, and I'm just too scared. It sucks that I'm usually ok on the climbs but get left in the dust on the downhills, because that's when no one wants to wait!!

[Irulan]

I've been involved in a lot of women's rides over the years. I think they are absolutely fun. The hardest part is, if you start one, having a ride leader every week. Ours have always been fun oriented, no-drop, and usually involve food even if it's just brownies in the parking lot afterwards.

Maybe find a shop to help you get going. You never know...

[zoom-zoom]

I have this dream of becoming a certified instructor and leading clinics for women and youth in our region. I am taking a baby step in that direction by starting a family xc group. I thought about talking to our local LBS to see if they would sponsor part of the certification and in return I would host regular clinics for them. Right now we can't afford to pay for that ourselves. DH really does not want me to do that--he's friends with the owner. Anyways, I just think there are a number of women really interested in trying mtbing but are too intimidated. If they had a clinic or group environment specifically for beginners they would be willing to try.

If you do it, you know I would be there in a heartbeat!

[Owlie]

I'm not a MTBer, though I'd like to at least give it a shot.

I agree that part of it is the feedback effect. As far as I can tell, it's a very macho, testosterone-driven culture, and that's off-putting to me, especially since I'm not willing to mountain bike alone, since I'm a klutz.

Another issue around here is that there's a shortage of easy trails. We have a mountain bike area as part of the local park system, but none of the trails would be beginner-friendly. I'd have to drive quite a way to find one. That's time I don't have. The flat stuff around here with few obstacles doesn't allow bikes.

[SheFly]

I have been MTBing longer than any other kind of riding - it's what I started on and what I still really love.

A year or so into my riding, while I was still very much a beginner, I needed like people to ride with. So, I started leading rides. No certification, no training, just leading rides from my house. Once you invite one person, they know someone who knows someone who knows someone.

My original rides were mixed gender, but evolved to women's only rides. For about five years, we had a WEEKLY women's ride at different locations on Tuesday nights. It was social, the focus was on fun and getting better. We had beginners and experts all mixed together out enjoying the trails.

I still lead these kind of rides and LOVE it. Some weeks, I'll offer to do a beginner skills type ride, while others are just down and out hammer fests. If it's advertised correctly, everyone has a good time.

Don't wait - if you want to encourage other women to MTB, start a ride group. And a group can be as small as 2 :). You'll be amazed at how fast it grows into something more, and how much satisfaction you'll get from doing it! Also, if you are a beginner and thinking "I can't lead an MTB ride - I'm just a beginner", think again. I started out as a beginner doing this as well. And if you don't do it, who will?

SheFly

[tealtreak]

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-MTB-Luna-Chix-Team/113876685301961

http://www.teamlunachix.com/richmond_mountain_bike

Have to share this link! I have been riding the RLAG instructional rides 2x a month with these awesome ladies! Wish there was a team everywhere- the support, coaching and "good job" affirmations are so different than when I ride with my sons...lol (lots of gnarly, near death, epic lunacy....)

[Aggie_Ama]

We're lucky that in the summer we have Ride Like a Girl. The first night (2 weeks ago) we had over 50 women! I feel mountain biking is actually fairly popular in Austin, I would like to believe it is because of things like RLAG. We break into groups based on skill and ride two different trails here. The beginners will session things and learn new skills. We also advocate things like trailwork and we're talking about having a maintenance clinic.

It is always great to see at the end of the season women develop friendships and ride together. I actually met several of the women I ride with regularly at these rides.

[Crankin]

I agree that mountain biking is even more testosterone driven than road cycling, if that is possible :eek:.
But, what really popped into my mind is the title of one of the threads in the new rider forum: fear, just plain fear.

I really tried at mountain biking and my motivation was my love of being outside on the trails. I had good instruction, but I never felt comfortable and basically always was thinking about the next bad thing that could happen. And, as someone said above, I never really found any "easy" trails" around here. Even the easy trails at Great Brook Farm seemed daunting to me. I once went on a group mountain bike ride (I knew the leader) and it was the most humiliating experience of my life. And this was when I was probably at my peak in terms of my overall cycling fitness.
I cried when I sold my mountain bike last fall, but even though my bone issues from osteoporosis are improving greatly, I felt like mountain biking presented an even greater risk for crashing than road cycling.
But, I still wish I could tear down a trail, even though it's a fantasy!

[Catrin]

Oh Crankin, I am sorry you had to sell your mountain bike, I would cry myself if I had to do so. Osteoporosis is a good reason to do so though, after all, when it comes to mountain biking the question isn't IF you will fall but when. I recognize that eventually my cervical spine problems might reach that point where I will have to make the same decision - which is why I am trying to make mountain-bike-trail-hay while I can. I may not be a speed demon on the trail but that doesn't mean I don't have fun :)

It would be great if we had a local trail that actually was my level without having to drive to southern Indiana. There are trails in Indpls, certainly, but they are either much too easy (one trail) or either much too difficult or have a high volume of riders who think they have a race number on their bikes and don't pay attention (the rest of the trails - only one fits that last category - have been warned many times about the latter one). My skills would be further along if I didn't have to go on a road trip to ride - but I will.

Right now I am focusing on regaining my confidence on the local beginners loop. It may be much too easy for me, but it is a good place to practice different things before the Women's Clinic here in a few weeks. I want as much of my old confidence back before hitting BCSP again - haven't been there on the bike since my whiplash injury in October. Looking forward to changing that :D

[TigerMom]

Crankin....I don't know how old you are, but you sound like an awesome athlete! I'm sad that you can't do MTB anymore, but keep up your had work on the road biking! I'm almost 38 years old and just started falling in love with biking. I've never been athletic; However, biking seems to be something that I can actually progress on compared to all the other sports that I have tried. I'll probably never be a fast descender (because I am very clumsy). However, I hope to continue riding for many years to come. Exercise=keeping your body healthy and your brain intelligent.
_______________
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

[Crankin]

Well, I'm 20 years older than you, Tiger Mom. It still makes me laugh when someone calls me an athlete, but you are right; cycling is a sport you can progress in, fairly easily.

[Artista]

Hubby and I rode today. I was delighted to see almost as many women riding the trails as men. Two women were with men, presumably their husbands or boyfriends. Two women were riding together, and one woman was riding alone.

We frequently see women riding these trails but never as many as today.

[Anelia]

I started riding confidently alone when I had studied well the place where I ride. It's a plateau above our town and I know it pretty well. There are millions of roads, paths, single tracks, etc. First I started riding with a group and the organizer of the rides led us and showed us. I could't remember all the trails and I felt confused at first. But it helped me a lot when I started riding alone: I was able to find directions by my own and even explored more of the region. Now I lead people and show them the trails.
Now I feel safe because I ride these trails so often that it feels like HOME. It's incredible!
this VIDEO (http://vimeo.com/14909796) is inspirational!

[Irulan]

Really? And why is that? Is it the bears or is it the perverts that hang out at trailheads?

[limewave]

Really? And why is that? Is it the bears or is it the perverts that hang out at trailheads?

lol.

[zoom-zoom]

This is the same guy (who appears to be preparing to spam) in another thread on the mtn. bike boards who recommended all the proper safety gear -- including air bags! :eek:

[Catrin]

This is the same guy (who appears to be preparing to spam) in another thread on the mtn. bike boards who recommended all the proper safety gear -- including air bags! :eek:

Yep, the only reason I didn't report it then is that it wasn't a spam email - but he is obviously trying to get past the post limit.

[SpinDiva]

A friend and I just started a weekly women's group ride a couple of weeks ago. We have both been mountain biking a year or so and wanted to find other beginners. It has been so fun, and we have already met some really cool women.

We posted our ride time on the local mountain biking association Facebook page and web page. Some women heard about it from their husbands or boyfriends who ride. We live in a fairly rural area, but 9 women showed upon week one, and 7 on week two.

If you want a local women's ride, start one! Even if you are the only one who shows up, you are committed and ready to ride, so it's all good. :D

[Catrin]

A small group of local women have set up a couple of regular rides via Meetup, and one of those weekly rides is at my favorite park. I keep holding back on signing up, part of me says that they will be so much more advanced than I...but of course there is no real way to know that. After I do a couple more rides solo I will make myself sign up if they continue with this :)

[indysteel]

A small group of local women have set up a couple of regular rides via Meetup, and one of those weekly rides is at my favorite park. I keep holding back on signing up, part of me says that they will be so much more advanced than I...but of course there is no real way to know that. After I do a couple more rides solo I will make myself sign up if they continue with this :)

Why not specifically suggest--if you haven't already--a beginner-specific ride? It looks some of the other members are beginners and would probably welcome a ride like that. Perhaps you could meet at BCSP and do the beginner trails, and maybe some of the more advanced women will come as well and offer some guidance/instruction.

[Catrin]

Why not specifically suggest--if you haven't already--a beginner-specific ride? It looks some of the other members are beginners and would probably welcome a ride like that. Perhaps you could meet at BCSP and do the beginner trails, and maybe some of the more advanced women will come as well and offer some guidance/instruction.

Good idea! I've sent a question out about others interested in riding this Saturday morning so we shall see if I've company. I stressed that it is a beginners trail. It's been 2 weeks - time to get back out there ;)

[sashadieken]

Thanks to all the encouragement and answers to my questions that I've found here, I've been riding several times a week for the last month. I'm up to about 22 miles now and loving it, but am beginning to think about adding mountain biking.

I have an old mtb that I haven't ridden for at least 10 years but I got it down and pumped up the tires yesterday. I hope my son will be able to check it out before I go, since I haven't ridden it for so long.

In our local weekly paper there was a small article about a women's mtb meet up and when I emailed to find out more this was the reply: "We meet once a week, and range from age about 40-65. We are trying to do different trails, but we take our time and work on skills as we ride."

Now I'm really excited, particularly because there will be another 65 yo there! And working on skills together sounds exactly like what I want/need.

Do I wear my same bike pants with the chamois?
I have a gel pad on the bike seat--I thought I read somewhere not to do that.
Same helmet as my comfort bike riding?
Same gloves?

-Shelley

[Irulan]

Gel pads really contribute to saddle soreness. That is reason enought to get rid of it.