The State of Women's Racing

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If you don't race, but plan on it, what is the threshold? A certain avg. pace? Staying with a fast group?

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I started riding very seriously this year. I need to build more skills a little bit, a bit of strength too.

But I was truly scandalized at the low number of women in competitive cycling where I come from (Quebec). That is strange because I say we have more local cycling stars who are women than men (Genevieve Jeanson, Lyne Bessette, Marie-Helene Premont in mtb). At a recent race there were 8 women out of 200 men!!! (Actually it was not an official race but we were timed and I finished 7th, I think 8th was DNF... The first lady in, a 16 yo girl!!!, was totally up there with the fastest men, I was really impressed!!!)

That is maybe my biggest motivation, put some women in there. But I couldn't care less about winning or even coming in the highest spots on the roster... I love being involved in something where I can be last and it doesn't matter.

I also find events in general make extremely good and motivating training goals.

Personnality issue? It may have become a personality issue, but maybe because I'm a sociologist I definitely see it as a social thing. Until recently in history women were NOT encouraged to participate in competitive sports but rather to stay on the side and cheer for their male heroes... Even today many competition sports are not considered appropriate for women, and let's say that, exception made for some families, girls are not pushed in becoming competitive in sports, and there's not that many role-models for us out there compared to men. So of course many of us may (sincerely) not be interested in racing (of any sort) but it's not as if it would have been seriously presented as an acceptable option for a lady through our lives. So no wonder it doesn't come "naturally" to us to feel like racing.

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If you don't race, but plan on it, what is the threshold? A certain avg. pace? Staying with a fast group?

After starting cycling last summer, I had decided to give racing a try. However, an unexpected pregnancy squelched those plans. Maybe next season???

Road riding came really easy to me. After just a month of riding, I was keeping up with the faster group ride at 23-25 mph for 40 miles. The club has been trying to recruit women to race along with their mens team and I thought I would step up to the challenge.

I like doing new things and proving myself against the odds. I love facing physical challenges and finding out how strong the human body really is. Hopefully I'll be able to give racing a try.

1) Why did you descide to start racing?
It started as being on a team for a 24 hour mtb relay race. I found that i liked pushing myself.

2) What kind of local support do you have(ie team)?
I am sponsored by a local bike shop. I used to have a coach, but he quit coaching to go back to a "real" job.

3) How much of your group riding is with men, do you have female teammates?
I do most of my training on my own, and i have to say right now that it is 50/50 with men and women.

4) Did you play agressive sports in HS/college?
Nope. Mom never let me play. it interfered with studying.

5) What do you see as the main obstacles to women racing
Most women aren't competitive enough or agressive enough. They don't see the point of racing. Many women don't get a lot of support, and i believe that the lack of exposure of women's sports in general just give that "what's the point" feel to female competitiveness.

I have not yet raced but would love to. I have only been riding for about two months and need some more time and training on the bike so I am looking at next spring. I have always competed in "aggressive" sports, like martial arts, kick boxing, body building and powerlifting so I am kinda used to being one of very few girls in a training atmosphere. I think the challenge will be to either find a trainer to help me get started or perhaps get on a team that has members that might be willing to help with this. I think something that would help more people race is maybe local seminars about racing and as far as Im concerned it wouldnt matter if they were for men or women, I would really want to attend.

Thanks for asking and showing interest in getting more of us to race!

[QUOTE=runnergirl4) Did you play agressive sports in HS/college?

What do you consider an agressive sport? (just wondering)

With regard to converting non racers to racing - I think you might find that some of us are inspired by different things in cycling. Its not a matter of feeling not experienced enough or not having enough women to train with its that we dream a different dream. I cant speak for others but I know when I read about women that have cycled massive distances that this is the challenge I want to step up for.

Having said that I am sure with women like you out there that are willing to offer positive feedback and encouragment you may find a few more racers come out of the woodwork with dreams of speed and podium places it just wont be me. :)

PS - I have played lots of different sports throughout my life including rowing (I raced in the masters cat).

I was thinking of lacrosse, field hockey, basketball, etc. as agressive sports. While crits aren't intended to be full contact it gets pretty close sometimes. Running, swimming, triathalon etc. while competative are more individual.

I understand that some women have no interest, and that's fine. For me, martial arts is a just for fun and personal improvement thing-no desire to go to tournaments etc. I see such a massive gap (only 10% of USCF members are female), but no real explanations as to why that gap is so large.

Racing is only one aspect of cycling, and I respect the many other varieties (messengers, recumbants, long distance touring, commuting etc.). Out of these various cycling outlets women are most under-represented in racing.

Getting into racing has been a difficult process for me, and I hope that by better understanding how other women think about cycling, and the barriers that exist, I might be able to effectively recruit women in my area. Someday I would love to get involved with a women's team or an east coast equivelent of velo bella.

Thanks again for all the feedback!

Just for a bit more feedback...

I've played competitive team sports all my life. I played soccer as a child, soccer and volleyball in HS, and volleyball in college. When I started cycling, I think what really held me back from racing initially was because I thought I was too weak of a biker to race. I'm competitive and I like to do well in what I do. I biked with guys only and I was terrible compared to them causing me to think I would be humiliated racing. Don't get me wrong, they were supportive and said I was doing well, but I compared my beginner skills to their advanced skills and did not think I was capable of racing. Now, after riding with girls a couple times and advancing my skills, I'm more confident and hope to start racing next season.

1) Why did you descide to start racing?
It was a way to keep me motivated to ride. If it is wet, cold or muddy, I might consider blowing off a ride. But if I have a race coming up, I'll push myself out the door.

2) What kind of local support do you have(ie team)?
I race solo except for one race per year. That race is a 5-person team (4 guys and me). For support, my LBS helps out with deals on parts and stuff that I buy. Also, they give me product to test for them.

3) How much of your group riding is with men, do you have female teammates?
Almost all my group riding is with men only. Occasionally some of the wives/girlfriends show up. But we split into 2 groups. I'm almost always the only female in the group.

4) Did you play agressive sports in HS/college?
Aggressive? Nope. I was a competitive gymnast in high school and college.

5) What do you see as the main obstacles to women racing?
As far as mountain biking goes, it's just a matter of lack of interest--at both the competitive level and just fun riding. You can't force people to like it. The fear of falling seems to be a big factor. But oddly enough, I am 100 times more afraid of falling on my road bike!

I have never raced nor had any particular interest in competition, but I wouldn't rule out racing in the future. It would all depend on finding the right kind of races to participate in. I wasn't into aggresive/contact sports in highschool. A lot of that was to do with my general klutziness and the fact that I was really busy with all the music I was involved in, but it was also because I enjoy sports for the social factor and the getting outdoors factor rather than the competition. If I found a race (or series of races) more about getting out there, giving it a go, having fun, meeting people and learning more about the sport than riding faster than everyone else I'd certainly consider entering it. There seem to be lots of triathlons like that, but not as much for other sports. I can imagine getting hooked if I did well, and it would provide motivation to get out there and ride when I couldn't entirely be bothered.

Well, so I'm pretty much wet-behind-the-ears when it comes to my bike skills but that didn't prevent me from trying to pass as many folks as possible during my last tri (Danskin Seattle) :D I didn't really even intend to kick it out on the road ride portion, but my competitive-ness got the better of me (and I wanted to see how fast I could go on I-90 when there aren't any cars around). Suprisingly, it was much easier to pace and pass in small spaces than I expected, and a lot of verbal communication helped loads in preventing any accidents, otherwise I may never have thought I could race other people.

So in response to question #1- I decided about 200 meters after I started pedaling the bike leg of the triathlon that I reallly really wanted to race it. I know that isn't a true bike race, but it made me want to get my skills solid so that I can in the future (Oh, and I finished 300th out of 4000 in the bike leg 154th overall, so that's not too shabby)

#2) No support, except for my boyfriend who bike-commutes with me.

#3) Sadly, I don't have any women to ride with

#4) I played soccer from ages 4-15 (to make me less shy, my parents said), b-ball from 7-12, started running competitively at age 12 thru 22 (and maybe again this year at 26)- so, yes, I think I'm pretty well steeped in competitive, aggressive sports, although I tend to be a quiet, mellow person otherwise.

#5) Main obstacles? I don't have anyone to ride with, and I'm a little concerned I'm not good enough with keeping control to ride with a group yet, nor do I know how to get started.... I imagine it's similar for a lot of women.

I've never raced and am not really competitive, except against myself. I like to challenge mind and body by overcoming obstacles such as distance, a faster pace, getting over longer/taller hills, etc. While a little "friendly competition" can be fun (ie., finishing a long group ride before x-percent of the group), for the most part, I like to ride just to get some exercise and enjoy the countryside.

Can't say I'd completely rule out racing, but I'm more interested in maybe a duathlon - provided a wide range of abilities participated. Serious competition doesn't interest me, and I guess you could say that bike racing is too aggressive for me as well - just looks too intense.

Deb