Should I take a hint?

Hi ladies…just wanted to get your opinion on something…

I ride with only guys and only towards the end of this season, I started riding with the “fast” pack. These are serious racers and more often than not, I get dropped about 20 miles in. Our rides are usually 55+ miles. I have been able to keep up 3 times and make it through the entire ride. I’m an aspiring racer so my logic is keep riding with them and eventually I will be able to consistently keep up with them. This is a drop ride, meaning that if you can’t keep up, you go home alone. Also, this is not exactly a social club. They go out to hammer and I respect that. I get the sense that these guys don’t necessary see me as a “hardcore” rider. But I follow cycling religiously and am addicted to the sport. I’m not even sure why I even care what they think about me.

I guess my question is, should I keep riding with these guys? I feel like I’ve earned my “stripes” to ride with them but more often than not, I get the vibe that I’m not exactly welcome. I respect that they treat me as “one of the guys” but at the same time would appreciate some kind of support. I guess I can’t have my cake and eat it too. And don't get me wrong, some of them are great and super-friendly, but a few of them definitely give a vibe that I should not ride with them.

I know the answer to my own question but just had to get that off my chest. And to be honest, I think most of the racers in the club had to work up this way so I shouldn’t expect “special” treatment just because I’m a girl. Nonetheless, it can get pretty lonely when no one really wants to talk to you on a 3 hour ride. So ladies…please tell me to toughen up and stick with it!!!

Thanks for reading…

I've noticed that most guys don't like to chit-chat on rides. It's just how they are. I did a group ride a while back and really got the sense that the front group didn't want me and my friend there. Every attempt we made to talk was ignored. In our case, we got the sense that they were peeved that we were able to keep up - but it wasn't really a fast pace at all. Just keep riding. If they didn't want you, they would change the start time or location without telling you;)

Toughen up and stick with it! :D

As long as you're not getting discouraged when you do get dropped, then use them for motivation and to get better. Ignore the jerks (who probably just feel threatened) and socialize with the nice ones. It's awesome that you're keeping up with these guys and the fact that you keep at it should give you a lot of satisfaction.

Hang in there. Some of the guys will accept you and treat you accordingly; others will never accept you and think you have no business riding with the guys! Don't ask me why, but that is the way it is. Remember to use the ride for what you need. Take care of yourself and remember just because some of them are really fast, not all of them are really good bike handlers so be aware of your position in the pack and keep yourself safe.



This is the first year that I haven't ridden with the local fast ride on Saturday and, Boy, I did not miss it either. I have just had my fill of the boys who are still boys and will remain that way until they are 90. Don't get me wrong, I like a lot of the guys that go on these rides, but those few hardheads are still hard to take!

But, like I said, use the ride for what you need and just realize not all of them are going to accept you. When you are feeling real good one day try this. This never fails to give me a laugh. Tactics on a rid:) e are usually as follows: If someone you know who is really not all that fast blasts off the front of the pack and is just going to blow up and get pulled back into the pack, most packs will just let them go and not worry cause they know the pack will just pick them back up. However, try it as a girl - Yeah, blast off the front real hard and then go into time trial mode. Those boys just can't resist even if they know you can't pull away from them in the long run. The whole pack will follow you in a sprint off the front! Maybe you had to be there. Oh well, I get a kick out of it!

I agree with pedal wrench. This is how guys are, especially fast ones. My husband is one of the fast boys on the front of the pack, and he gets annoyed if anyone, girl or guy tries to chit chat, cuz it is wasting energy that could be spent cycling faster. He will also drop his best friend if he can. He still likes his best friend, but they don't talk on a ride and they try really hard to drop each other. This is how they get better. Don't take it to be more than it is. If you are keeping up for 20 miles, that is great, and over time you will be able to hang on longer because you are training with them. If you wanna get social, you could invite them out to lunch *after* the ride, our guys will do that :), but even then I've never seen more men order salad after cyling 50 miles with 4000 feet of climbing!

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

I've noticed that most guys don't like to chit-chat on rides. It's just how they are. I did a group ride a while back and really got the sense that the front group didn't want me and my friend there. Every attempt we made to talk was ignored. In our case, we got the sense that they were peeved that we were able to keep up - but it wasn't really a fast pace at all. Just keep riding. If they didn't want you, they would change the start time or location without telling you;)

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Thanks PW. I don't chit chat with anyone! I'm too busy trying to keep up...they aren't a social bunch but it gets to the point where a rider won't ride up to fill the gap beside me...that's when I'm like....OKAAAAAAY...I get it...you don't want me here and don't want to talk to me...

I will keep riding because I love riding in a group a lot and I've seriously gotten better riding with them...just wish it was a bit more friendly...:)

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Originally Posted by Squeaky

Toughen up and stick with it! :D

As long as you're not getting discouraged when you do get dropped, then use them for motivation and to get better. Ignore the jerks (who probably just feel threatened) and socialize with the nice ones. It's awesome that you're keeping up with these guys and the fact that you keep at it should give you a lot of satisfaction.

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Thanks Squeaky, I will try to toughen up. :o To be honest, I don't know why I care so much since I barely know them...

I don't get discouraged when I get dropped. For me, it's a rite of passage but really at times, it really doesn't matter whether or not I get dropped or not...I doubt anyone would miss me...I will say, a few guys have come back to "fetch" me when I've been dropped so I can't say all of them are jerks...I guess I just have to keep at it...

I'll try to toughen it up but boy oh boy, it's awfully tempting some days to just ride alone...

There are two sides to this coin - riding with the guys can make you very strong, but it can also burn you out too. It's very common for new racers to train too hard right now. Train harder get stronger right? It is actually a little more complex than that. While I don't feel I am knowledgable enough or have enough time to really go into it here, this time of the year it is generally recommended to not go out on those lung burning, leg burning, zone 5, kinds of rides, but to do zone 1,2 rides instead. So for that reason alone you may want to cut down on the number of rides you do with the boys. Yes, it can be hard to cut back. I really want to go out and do longer rides, but I'm being good -mostly :rolleyes: ! (I just started with a coach and she's watching!)

Of course none of that gives the guys any excuses to treat you poorly. Just ignore the ones who are snotty. It can be cliqueish - but if you stick with it even the ones who seem a standoffish right now will probably thaw out in time. If they don't, its their problem not yours. Focus on the ones that are nice and ignore the nasty ones.

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Originally Posted by spokewench

However, try it as a girl - Yeah, blast off the front real hard and then go into time trial mode. Those boys just can't resist even if they know you can't pull away from them in the long run. The whole pack will follow you in a sprint off the front! Maybe you had to be there. Oh well, I get a kick out of it!

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Thanks SW! I will try that but I am usually trying to hold onto someone's wheel nevermind blasting off!!! Ha Ha.

I knew I came to the right place to vent...I need to stop being such a suck!!!

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Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

I agree with pedal wrench. This is how guys are, especially fast ones. My husband is one of the fast boys on the front of the pack, and he gets annoyed if anyone, girl or guy tries to chit chat, cuz it is wasting energy that could be spent cycling faster. He will also drop his best friend if he can. He still likes his best friend, but they don't talk on a ride and they try really hard to drop each other. This is how they get better. Don't take it to be more than it is. If you are keeping up for 20 miles, that is great, and over time you will be able to hang on longer because you are training with them. If you wanna get social, you could invite them out to lunch *after* the ride, our guys will do that :), but even then I've never seen more men order salad after cyling 50 miles with 4000 feet of climbing!

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Thanks, I agree, I shouldn't over-think it. Just go there and treat it for what it is, a really hard training ride. To be honest, I'm not interested in socializing with them during or afterwards, but a simple Hello, Good morning would suffice! :D

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Originally Posted by Eden

There are two sides to this coin - riding with the guys can make you very strong, but it can also burn you out too. It's very common for new racers to train too hard right now. Train harder get stronger right? It is actually a little more complex than that. While I don't feel I am knowledgable enough or have enough time to really go into it here, this time of the year it is generally recommended to not go out on those lung burning, leg burning, zone 5, kinds of rides, but to do zone 1,2 rides instead. So for that reason alone you may want to cut down on the number of rides you do with the boys. Yes, it can be hard to cut back. I really want to go out and do longer rides, but I'm being good -mostly :rolleyes: ! (I just started with a coach and she's watching!)

Of course none of that gives the guys any excuses to treat you poorly. Just ignore the ones who are snotty. It can be cliqueish - but if you stick with it even the ones who seem a standoffish right now will probably thaw out in time. If they don't, its their problem not yours. Focus on the ones that are nice and ignore the nasty ones.

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Thanks Eden! I agree, I only ride with them once a week. Otherwise, I do my own thing. Even if I wanted to, I would seriously struggle with that kind of pace for more than once or twice a week.

I will try to ignore the snotty ones but it's hard sometimes. I have to keep reminding myself why I'm there and not to let my emotions get the better part of me.

Myabe the problem is that they feel you need to earn their respect. Now if they were to look at differences in strength for men vs women they would respect you more, but maybe its as simple as they are looking at it from the stand point of what do THEY get out of riding with you. Obvioulsy you get pushed hard, but they may view you as simply a wheel sucker that is disrupting the rhythm of their paceline. Don't get me wrong on this, maybe that isn't what they think, but maybe it explains their coolness. I agree they should be friendlier, but only you have to decide if what you get out of riding with them is worth the cool behavior. But don't stress over it. Just make your decision, and understand its not personal.

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Originally Posted by bluerider

Thanks, I agree, I shouldn't over-think it. Just go there and treat it for what it is, a really hard training ride. To be honest, I'm not interested in socializing with them during or afterwards, but a simple Hello, Good morning would suffice! :D

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Hi Blue...

Yours is not an entirely unfamiliar, or for that matter uncommon, dilemna.

I think if you want to race then riding with a group, at least sometimes, is really necessary. You can be incredibly fit, but you still need good bike handling skills that can only be honed in a group. Not only that but a big issue IMO, is riding in these groups prepares you for the accelerations you'll deal with in the peloton while racing. That's very difficult to train solo, doing the spontaneous anerobic work you get from having to try to keep up with the group.

The personality thing with guys and what not, I totally understand and I don't care for it. There's nothing that says you have to ride with guys, if there is a group of strong women riding in your area. Whatever works for you though!

Best of luck :D

I personally hate the talking in a group especially in a race. I had a race this season where all they did was talk for the first two laps. Had I not gone off the front we likely would have waited almost the whole race before the pace went above 15mph. I also made the mistake of not committing to the break away so it didn't take to much to catch me. Never look behind you to see if they are following in a race, they are, and if you don't focus on staying in front they'll catch up even quicker. So in a group on non talking racing men I feel at home.

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Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

Myabe the problem is that they feel you need to earn their respect. Now if they were to look at differences in strength for men vs women they would respect you more, but maybe its as simple as they are looking at it from the stand point of what do THEY get out of riding with you. Obvioulsy you get pushed hard, but they may view you as simply a wheel sucker that is disrupting the rhythm of their paceline. Don't get me wrong on this, maybe that isn't what they think, but maybe it explains their coolness. I agree they should be friendlier, but only you have to decide if what you get out of riding with them is worth the cool behavior. But don't stress over it. Just make your decision, and understand its not personal.

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You are RIGHT ON to what I've been thinking. I think they are trying to figure out what they get from riding with me. Which to be honest, isn't much considering I am really a wheelsucker. So, it comes back to whether or not I should keep at it, the LAST THING I want to do is disrupt their rides but on the other hand, am not sure how I am ever going to improve without them.

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Originally Posted by Cassandra_Cain

Hi Blue...

Yours is not an entirely unfamiliar, or for that matter uncommon, dilemna.

I think if you want to race then riding with a group, at least sometimes, is really necessary. You can be incredibly fit, but you still need good bike handling skills that can only be honed in a group. Not only that but a big issue IMO, is riding in these groups prepares you for the accelerations you'll deal with in the peloton while racing. That's very difficult to train solo, doing the spontaneous anerobic work you get from having to try to keep up with the group.

The personality thing with guys and what not, I totally understand and I don't care for it. There's nothing that says you have to ride with guys, if there is a group of strong women riding in your area. Whatever works for you though!

Best of luck :D

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Thanks Cassandra. I agree whole-heartedly that in order to get faster, I need to ride with faster people. The problem is there are absolutely no women in the area who ride as fast as this crew. They ride more for leisure and it's great to do recovery rides with them. I think I need to suck it up or find another group.

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Originally Posted by CR400

I personally hate the talking in a group especially in a race. I had a race this season where all they did was talk for the first two laps. Had I not gone off the front we likely would have waited almost the whole race before the pace went above 15mph. I also made the mistake of not committing to the break away so it didn't take to much to catch me. Never look behind you to see if they are following in a race, they are, and if you don't focus on staying in front they'll catch up even quicker. So in a group on non talking racing men I feel at home.

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I really prefer not to talk as well! It's not the chit chat I'm after. I guess I should explain that it's the non-verbal vibe I'm getting that is telling me to go home. I am no chatterbox. I'm pretty shy when it comes to these guys and just keep the line. But I think I am intuitive enough to sense when I'm not welcome...*SIGH*...

You said that they'll drop off and help you bridge up if you're dropped? I can't imagine them doing that if you weren't welcome, especially since it is not a no-drop ride. I would take that as an obvious sign that they want you to hang on.

Hi blue

It's a guy thing, just let it glide of your shoulders and ignore them.

I can see why you want to train with them once a week, it's good to train for speed and acceleration. But like stated by one of the girls, don't over do it, once a week is enough.

I am planning on training at the local club on their closed circuit. Once a week they have their clubrace, the group consists maybe out of 40 guys and 2 women (at the most). I don't expect any 'easy stuff' from their side and I don't want it either. I am there to exercise and I want them to make it hard on me, that way I can get better.

The 'guy thing' is already noticable when a faster groups of males pass during a training. I allways grab the last wheel, get into the speed of the group and join in. Often guys respond with that look which sort of says 'what are you doing?'.

I agree with pedalwench - if there's folks who will bridge you, then they're welcoming you. Could be that the negative vibes are part of the competitive intensity that is going to radiate in that atmosphere, not a personal thing... or could be some folks don't mind, and other folks do.
ONce a week they should be willing to "endure" a wheelsucker, especially if you're getting better.

Bottom line - guys, especially guys on a training or hard core ride, aren't gonna be into chatting. Personally, when riding hard, I hate to chat as well.

I'm sure no one minds you riding with the group, provided you observe proper proctocol but don't expect special treatment. There are some women out there that can ride any man into the ground. They would expect the guys to push them hard and not except any special treatment and guys, being guys, won't give it. They don't give each other special treatment why would they give any other rider such treatment, even if a woman?.

If you are training to race, or become a stronger rider stay with the guys. If you think they are trying to drop you, try harder to stay with them. Think of the respect you'll earn. Any rider has to earn the respect of the others.

If you are there to socialize, or chat, drop down to the "B" group or maybe the "C". Or mix it up after or at the coffee break.

PS: Guys aren't like women - women like to give "hints" which men typically don't get. Men will tell you to your face or will let you know if they don't want you around. THings are so much simplier with men. Just ride, don't think so much!!!

Thanks ladies, you have no idea how much your feedback has encouraged me. I keep telling myself not to take it personally but those darn feelings keep creeping up. I will stick with it because I’ve proven before I CAN!

It just really depends on who shows up for the ride, if it’s a mix of more “friendly” guys, they will “police” each other not to get too crazy. But when hammerheads show up, that’s when I’m in trouble. No mercy for the weak! I definitely don’t chit chat with anyone unless they initiate it and I think I have pretty good bike handling skills. I usually try pulling when it comes to my turn but the past few times a few of them told me to not worry about it. So I’m happy to be a wheelsucker, but would never ever want to hold back the pack.

You are so right bcipam, I shouldn’t expect “special” treatment, I’m just another rider. Keep riding, keep getting dropped…come back and repeat until I can keep up!!!

Thanks again to everyone who read this and posted their comments. I really appreciate it! :)

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Originally Posted by bluerider

Thanks Cassandra. I agree whole-heartedly that in order to get faster, I need to ride with faster people. The problem is there are absolutely no women in the area who ride as fast as this crew. They ride more for leisure and it's great to do recovery rides with them. I think I need to suck it up or find another group.

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Blue - I'm glad you got some ideas from all the comments and insight that was posted on the thread.

You know, it sounds far-fetched perhaps, but there's no reason you can't put out some flyers inquiring about fast women wanting to ride/train together. Stranger things have happened!

And if none of that works out, well if ever in NM, drop me a line, we'll go riding and drop a bunch of those guys! :D

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

You said that they'll drop off and help you bridge up if you're dropped? I can't imagine them doing that if you weren't welcome, especially since it is not a no-drop ride. I would take that as an obvious sign that they want you to hang on.

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I agree with Pedal. Is there a chance that maybe since you feel this "vibe" that you intensify it with your insecurities about riding with them?? Maybe some of it is just in your head. I'm not saying that's the case; its just a different view point....

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Originally Posted by Cassandra_Cain

Blue - I'm glad you got some ideas from all the comments and insight that was posted on the thread.

You know, it sounds far-fetched perhaps, but there's no reason you can't put out some flyers inquiring about fast women wanting to ride/train together. Stranger things have happened!

And if none of that works out, well if ever in NM, drop me a line, we'll go riding and drop a bunch of those guys! :D

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Thanks Cassandra. I have been thinking about organizing a women's only ride. Not to get more fast women out necessarily but just to get more women to enjoy the sport.

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Originally Posted by CyclChyk

I agree with Pedal. Is there a chance that maybe since you feel this "vibe" that you intensify it with your insecurities about riding with them?? Maybe some of it is just in your head. I'm not saying that's the case; its just a different view point....

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I think you may be onto something...I know they haven't intentionally tried to drop me or make me suffer (although at times, I am very close to passing out). I just need to keep at it and show them that I am getting better and eventually be able to pull them...:D

But you're right, I am VERY insecure about riding with them. I know I'm not as fast. It's my first year with this club and I know there is a lot of history with the guys so I shouldn't expect to be welcomed right away...

Thanks for making me sit back and look at it with more rationale...

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Originally Posted by CyclChyk

I agree with Pedal. Is there a chance that maybe since you feel this "vibe" that you intensify it with your insecurities about riding with them?? Maybe some of it is just in your head. I'm not saying that's the case; its just a different view point....

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I remember when lived where everyone spoke Spanish around me- I would stand in line in the supermarket and be absolutely certain the women in back of me were whispering unkind things about me. Then I learned Spanish and it turns out they were just whispering about which tampons they liked, their gall bladder problem, or what color hair dye hides grey the best, etc. :cool:

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Originally Posted by bluerider

..I will say, a few guys have come back to "fetch" me when I've been dropped so I can't say all of them are jerks...I guess I just have to keep at it.....

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I agree with the others that say this IS there way of saying you are welcome. I also agree that what you are feeling is the testosterone that is seething as they push hard, that is all. They obviously respect you if they are helping you get back on. Its only once a week, and I would say if you can do it, more power to you. I read that Dede Barry did so well cuz she showed up with her husband at the Disco training cramps, and trained them as best as she could. So, be glad you are talented enough to hang with the fast boys, and don't sweat the small stuff!

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Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

I agree with the others that say this IS there way of saying you are welcome. I also agree that what you are feeling is the testosterone that is seething as they push hard, that is all. They obviously respect you if they are helping you get back on. Its only once a week, and I would say if you can do it, more power to you. I read that Dede Barry did so well cuz she showed up with her husband at the Disco training cramps, and trained them as best as she could. So, be glad you are talented enough to hang with the fast boys, and don't sweat the small stuff!

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I appreciate your insights because I think I'm mixing up what I think is happening vs what is really happening. Really appreciate.

I'm actually excited to go riding again (ie get dropped again) this weekend!!!

Thanks again to all those who offered encouragement!!!

Okay, just a mama-hen word here... we had a bad summer for crashes here, and seemed most of them were from people pushing **so hard** that they wobbled at the wrong time (twice it was pushing really, really hard to catch up... and then catching up and catching a wheel and going down HARD.)

So... be careful out there... suffer gracefully!!!

I remember reading, I think it was in Michael Barry's inside the postal bus, the shock when he showed up with his wife at training camp (I think a few other guys brought their wives as well, ?Leipheimer). Apparently that is a big no-no to the european cycling coaches but these women ended up doing better than their husbands from that high level of training, and they saw the womens presence did not disrupt anything. If I were you I would just enjoy the fact that you can hang. I hung for 5 miles with the fast boys on last sundays club ride. The good news its more than I ever managed before, and I got dropped when DH took a pull and pushed the pace......... But I know that I will never have the strength to really hang with men like that so I really admire what it means that you can! Just enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Several others have said the same thing, but I'll share from my own experience.

I wanted to race. My coach coached a local club and sent me out to ride with them. I felt like they rejected me. So I rode with another local club and felt the same way. And then a third. I finally decided to start my own club (Velo Girls).

Well, over the years, I've gotten to know a lot of men who race. They'll say what some of the other women have also said -- no one is rejecting you or judging you. They don't really care. They probably don't see you as much a threat as they do the other men. Men are just different. They aren't welcoming and encouraging. They won't mentor you. They might think you're cool for coming out to ride with them, but they're not going to tell you that. They just want to ride their bikes and win the town line sprint.

Now, if you did attack them, they'd probably take notice. You might even gain some respect. But don't take the way they treat you personally. They probably treat the overweight guys who get dropped the same way. It's not about you -- it's not really about anything.

On another note, I would totally encourage you to start a woman's ride. Even if it's a recreational ride, you'd likely find women who aspire to race and are fit and fast. Who knows where that might lead.

Hijack alert:

Hey, VG!

I didn't know you STARTED the VeloGirls -- that's so cool! I have a pair of your shoe-covers. White with purple flames, that I bought on eBay. They cause quite a stir whenever I wear them!

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Originally Posted by velogirl

Several others have said the same thing, but I'll share from my own experience.

I wanted to race. My coach coached a local club and sent me out to ride with them. I felt like they rejected me. So I rode with another local club and felt the same way. And then a third. I finally decided to start my own club (Velo Girls).

Well, over the years, I've gotten to know a lot of men who race. They'll say what some of the other women have also said -- no one is rejecting you or judging you. They don't really care. They probably don't see you as much a threat as they do the other men. Men are just different. They aren't welcoming and encouraging. They won't mentor you. They might think you're cool for coming out to ride with them, but they're not going to tell you that. They just want to ride their bikes and win the town line sprint.

Now, if you did attack them, they'd probably take notice. You might even gain some respect. But don't take the way they treat you personally. They probably treat the overweight guys who get dropped the same way. It's not about you -- it's not really about anything.

On another note, I would totally encourage you to start a woman's ride. Even if it's a recreational ride, you'd likely find women who aspire to race and are fit and fast. Who knows where that might lead.

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Wow, I really appreciate your feedback and especially more so because I am a huge admirer of the VeloGirls group. You've formed an amazing group and I love what your group represents.

I have seriously thought about forming a women's only ride because I know a lot of the guys I ride with have GFs, wives, whatever who would really like to come out but never had the right environment to do so. Every opportunity I can, I take out new riders to my local riding spots. Although most have been guys, I have successfully brought two women into riding which I'm really pleased about.

I think there is a part of me that takes pride in riding with the boys. Not because they are boys but hopefully to show the women as well that we can do well in this sport and have a good time at it. Getting faster, going longer are all very rewarding but there is nothing greater than getting a new rider into the sport. That's part of the motivation in getting better is that eventually I can lead these rides and get more women out there!

I agree, men just aren't as "warm and fuzzy" ie nurturing like we women are. I shouldn't take it personally and just keep at it. I have earned my stripes by doing pulls when needed and once in a while go on an attack with the crew in the front. So I DO BELONG there and your words have confirmed that 100%.

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

Hijack alert:

Hey, VG!

I didn't know you STARTED the VeloGirls -- that's so cool! I have a pair of your shoe-covers. White with purple flames, that I bought on eBay. They cause quite a stir whenever I wear them!

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How interesting. Did you get them from Sock Guy? We ended up not printing them because they couldn't seem to get the color right. I thought I had the only pair in existence. Guess not.

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Originally Posted by bluerider

I agree, men just aren't as "warm and fuzzy" ie nurturing like we women are. I shouldn't take it personally and just keep at it. I have earned my stripes by doing pulls when needed and once in a while go on an attack with the crew in the front. So I DO BELONG there and your words have confirmed that 100%.

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Even my husband complains my team (an all women's team) is so much better organized, more supportive and much better at developing riders than the men's teams are. For the lower level guys its pretty much a dog eat dog kind of mentality. The women however are much more willing to hold workshops, work as a team even as 4's, mentor each other, etc. Guys just aren't used to doing that. There's really only one guy on my husbands team who is willing to put effort into the lower cat guys and this is treatment from teammates.

On the other hand we have a very large racing community around here, and a pretty well respected women's racing community. Most of the guy racers seem really nice to me - like they realize that while I may be able to hang on at their fast pace, I may not be able to take pulls and they don't get bent out of shape if I pull right off to the back. In return I try to be sure I don't mess with the pace or break up the paceline. The guys that don't give me the time of day I assume treat everyone like that. Club/rec riders on the other hand can be a different story - must prove manliness - must crush little girl racer....... I can't give them all a hard time though. I was at a race that did not have enough women to give us our own start. I quickly found myself in a group of unnattached guys. They were sweet and really wanted to help me (they had a crazy notion that I might be in the lead for the women - I wish - it may have been wishful thinking on their part too, that they weren't being beaten by women), but they didn't know how to paceline properly so they were being a bit of a hinderance at times too.

Give the guys some time. If you keep riding with them and prove you are serious they give you more respect.

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Originally Posted by velogirl

How interesting. Did you get them from Sock Guy? We ended up not printing them because they couldn't seem to get the color right. I thought I had the only pair in existence. Guess not.

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I bought them on eBay, and they are made by Sock Guy. I actually bought two pairs because they are so cute - one unworn, if you need them!

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Originally Posted by bluerider

I have seriously thought about forming a women's only ride because I know a lot of the guys I ride with have GFs, wives, whatever who would really like to come out but never had the right environment to do so. Every opportunity I can, I take out new riders to my local riding spots. Although most have been guys, I have successfully brought two women into riding which I'm really pleased about.

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You are scratching the surface of something bigger with these comments. Why?

Because I really believe some of those GF's, wives, friends, and assorted other women you'd get to turn out for a ride you organize, might well follow in your footsteps and want to have a go at racing. These boards are a good example of all the many ways, oftentimes totally unintended and innocent, that a woman really gets into cycling.

For a newbie to be with a group of supportive people like you, at least IMO, would make it much more likely! :D

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

I remember when lived where everyone spoke Spanish around me- I would stand in line in the supermarket and be absolutely certain the women in back of me were whispering unkind things about me. Then I learned Spanish and it turns out they were just whispering about which tampons they liked, their gall bladder problem, or what color hair dye hides grey the best, etc. :cool:

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OMG! I am SOOO paranoid that eveyone I can't understand or hear is talking about me. After all, I am so "coollllll" how could they not???:confused:

Yeh.. I'm sure the reality of it is that they are talking femine hygiene....