some questions for a school project on women who bike

hello all,

i'm sam. and i'm not actually very slick, more awkward than anything. anyway, i'm doing a short presentation in a class at the new school about women who bike. i'm focusing on a few female-oriented cycling communities, a little bit of history, recent fetishism (girlsonbikes blog,etc.), me, my friends, messengers, commuters, etc.

i'd really appreciate it if anyone had some time to answer a few short questions in any amount of detail (or lack there of) you'd like. i'd also appreciate any ideas or suggestions. thanks so much for your time!!

also, ladies who race--i would love to hear a little bit about it.

sam

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where do you live?:
how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):
how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?:
what type of bike(s) do you have?:
do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?:
do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:
do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety):
general comments and ideas:

Sounds like a great project, Sam!

where do you live?: - Outside of Washington DC

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): - Commuting, leisurely, recreational, touring

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding? - a year. Yes, I picked it up again after childhood.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: - two road bikes that I believe are tourers

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before? - I'm probably not a good person to answer this question since I only picked it up after a year and hadn't paid attention before.

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: - No, not really

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): - Since cycling has been a male-dominated sport a lot of equipment bikes and the components of a bike have been geared more towards males. Thankfully, many bike makers now are taking into account the needs of women when it comes to bike such as the physiology and geometry of our bodies and the fact that women are a lot of times smaller than men in many regards. I also think that women may have more concerns about safety especially at night or in riding alone. I would love to ride at night alone but fear for my safety as a woman.

here's my survey results, in red

Quote:

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Originally Posted by samisslick

where do you live?:
pacific NW

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):
commuting and leisure

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now?
about 5 years
did you pick it up again after years of not riding?:
yes. and the first couple years were tough
what type of bike(s) do you have?:
one road bike, one hybrid one mixte and a tandem.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?:
no - I have seen more cyclists in general though
do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:
no
do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling?
yes
what would they be?
saddles, bike sizes- it's tough for many women to find bikes that fit properly.



general comments and ideas:
good luck

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where do you live?:
upstate New York.

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):
leisure, health, and errand/practical.

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?:
2 years. Yes, I went 37 years between riding as a kid and riding now.

what type of bike(s) do you have?:
2 steel road/touring bikes.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?:
yes.

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:
No.

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety):
Yes. Bike fit, equipment.

general comments and ideas:
Our country needs to get on the bike bandwagon and encourage more bike use as opposed to car use.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by samisslick

where do you live?:
how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):
how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?:
what type of bike(s) do you have?:
do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?:
do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:
do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety):
general comments and ideas:

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Southwestern Massachusetts

Utility cycling - I use my bike for all my transportation needs, insofar as that's possible. I do it for ethical reasons, but it's nice to save the gas money too.

Since the bad news about the impending climate disaster became known. Before that I rode mostly for convenience.

I have a frankenbike based on a '95 Mongoose ATB frame, and an '85 Miyata mixte-frame light tourer.

No, mostly I see men on bikes. But really not many of them, either. The number of women I encounter is almost zero, but we few wave and cheer at one another as we pass by.

I'm a retired nerd and not at all popular-culture oriented, so I really don't know what's going on in mass media unless someone feels the need to tell me.

I think it's a pain in the bumbaleerie that the target market for bikes is defined to be 20yo boys on fantasy trips, and that if women -especially middle-agers- want a good quality bike that fits but don't want to or can't afford made-to-measure, we have to start with one made for said 20yo male fantasy-trippers and kludge it into a frankenbike. The only reason my mixte isn't built of gas pipe is because Miyata made their own tubing. But of the three quality points in their touring line (2xx, 6xx, 1000) , the mixte frame was only made in the lowest (210). It's still quite good compared to the competition of the time, but the 2xx bikes never got the rave reviews the 6xx and 1000 still get. Grrrrr.

where do you live? Midwest

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): Commuting and leisure

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? 10

did you pick it up again after years of not riding? yes

what type of bike(s) do you have? 2 folding bikes, two road bikes and one hybrid

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before? yes

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently? no

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? yes

what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety) Bike fit is a big concern, bike choice (more bikes in more sizes and not just with patterns or colors to make them seem more feminine

where do you live?:
just moved to the Portland, OR area from Greensboro, NC
how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):
leisure/recreation, commuting/errands, and fitness (would like to compete and to tour, but haven't done either one yet)
how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now?
3 years
did you pick it up again after years of not riding?:
not exactly. I've had a mountain bike since college and would use it recreationally on occasion. Riding a road bike was brand new to me when I bought it 3 years ago, though. That's what I consider the start of my adult cycling career.
what type of bike(s) do you have?:
I have a road bike, a mountain bike, a touring/commuter bike and my commuter/errand bike which is an upright mixte frame.
do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?:
yes, but that's probably due to a move from NC to Portand where there are more cyclists in general. I do notice that a larger % of the cyclists I see here are women than was the case in NC. I have no basis for comparison to previous years though
do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:
not really
do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety):
I think that most of the bicycling companies are doing a good job of growing their selection of products to cover women. I notice this selection increases every year. What I don't think is happening is a similar change in cycling shops. So many of them just don't seem as educated on women's issues at all. Just the other day, I was waiting for my husband at a bike shop and I overheard the guy giving bad advice to a new woman rider. His advice was sooo geared towards men and seemed very uninformed about women and women specific merchandise. I think there needs to be more education at the human level on women and riding.

Based on my friends' comments, the biggest barriers to cycling for women appear to be fear of saddle pain, fear of lycra, and fear of traffic. I also think that a lot of women would probably ride if they had other women like them to ride with and to learn with...
general comments and ideas:

where do you live?: In New Mexico

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): All of the above. I race triathlons, I've done one local time trial race, and I love commuting/playing around on my bikes!

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: I never rode like I do now, I picked it up when I started with the UNM Triathlon team.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: 1 really old cruiser (it was my 77 yr old grandmother's first), 1 old mountain bike turned commuter (1998 Trek 800), 1 single-speed-turned-fixie, 1 road/triathlon bike, and one hand-me-down not currently in working order Specialized Carbon Fiber Allez.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: Yes, actually, of all shapes and genres of cyclists. Though they clearly don't always know the rules of the road :rolleyes:

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: No, it's still very male-dominated, but I think it's turning very slowly

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): yes, equipment definately is a big one, we're mostly not shaped like men(though my mother does better with male geometry than female) and I don't want to go out on a bike that has "man" written all over it. I always end up putting something girly on the bike (pink bar tape, bell, waterbottle cages, a nailpolish flower...you get the idea)

general comments and ideas: i would like to see more women-oriented designs in the industry, for sure, but it shouldn't get to the point of "dumbing down" the equipment just because it's made for a woman. I know what to do with bikes, and i expect the same level of respect that a man would get when buying/riding a bike.

good luck with your project! ;)

where do you live?:
Newport, RI

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):
commuting, fitness, and leisure

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?:
I started riding 4-5 years ago. I was never seriously into riding before. Owned a bike, but only rode during summer vacations.

what type of bike(s) do you have?:
I have 2 road bikes.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?:
Yes, I notice them more now that I am into riding, but I'm not sure whether there are more riding or not. Whenever any road bike goes by, I perk up.

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:
Yes, I notice there are a few tv commercials that show women on road bikes. There's a car ad (Volvo I think) that shows a woman tackling a huge climb, with her family cheering her on, and offering support when she flats. Haven't noticed much in print, like stories about women riders or such.

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety):
Saddles are a big concern. Comfort. We've had threads about feeling nervous about riding alone on some rodes, carrying weapons, so I'd say safety is an issue.

general comments and ideas:
I get the sense that there's a large group of us who are over 30 who have taken up the sport after years of never being on a bike. It will be interesting to see how we age on the bike. In senior years, what types of bikes will we be riding? Will I still be able to ride my road bike in 30 years? I hope so.

where do you live?: Richmond, Virginia

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): recreational club rides and utility. I don't commute because I work from home, but I would commute by bike if I worked in an office. I used to commute for 5 years.

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? 25 years recreational riding. I also raced for 4 years and commuted for 5 years.

did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: I never really gave it up.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: I have a road bike that I use for long rides, a folding bike for traveling and long rides, a flat-bar road bike that I use for errands and urban riding, and an old mountain bike that needs repair and rejeuvenation.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: When I lived in DC, yes. Here I see mainly women on bikes around the university.

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: Pictures, yes. Stories, no.

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? Yes

what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): Equipment and bike, clothing. Safety I see as the same for all riders--mainly safety in regards to car traffic.

general comments and ideas: I see riding bikes as an important part of transportation. I strive to promote my own cycling as transportation, not just recreation.

where do you live?: Concord, MA

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):fitness, leisure, group rides, touring, a little commuting and errands

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: I've been riding almost eight years. First, it was just fitness, then I did some bike tours. The commuting and errands have been in the last 3 years. I rode a bit in grad school and when I was in my thirties; I considered 10 miles a long ride then! I rode a lot as a kid.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: I have a carbon road bike, a steel hybrid, and a full suspension mountain bike

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: Yes!!

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:maybe a little, particularly in the local press

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): Keep making more women specific bikes and components. More choice for smaller women. More clothing for a wide variety of sizes. Help with mechanics.

general comments and ideas: What kind of class is this for?

where do you live?:Clarkdale, AZ

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): Leisure

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? I have been a cyclist for 21 years. Riding like I do now, 1 year.

did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: Yes, I have picked it up again several times. This time I am cycling in such a way that I will not burn out.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: I have an older ti road bike with older wheels and brakes but a new 10 speed drivetrain.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: Yes, especially living in a small town in a rural area.

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: I don't really pay attention to media.

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? Yes

what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): It would be nice to have as many equipment choices that the men have.

general comments and ideas: It would be nice if the other female cyclists I come across would be nice and take an interest in meeting other women who cycle and not just blowing by as fast as they can. I find that most of the cyclists I see are rude and arrogant and don't want anything to do with you if you aren't in their little click. Some are too much into the racing thing and won't accept the recreational rider. I just like to ride.

Brenda

where do you live?: New York State

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):
leisure and fitness

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: 4 or 5 years I've been riding, picked it up after at least 15 years of being idle

what type of bike(s) do you have?: Road bikes x2

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?:not really

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:not really, but wish they would, it's very male oriented

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety):finding clothes that fit, esp if you are not skinny minney. maybe when going into a bike shop, the staff talking down to you or not talking to you at all because you are a female in the "mans shop"

general comments and ideas:[/QUOTE]are you a male or female? Are you in high school or college as you said it was a school project? (just wondering) and Good luck on your project

where do you live?:
eastern Ohio/central Florida

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):
commuter, leisure & fitness

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?:
In the 70s and 80s I was a commuter, recreational rider and tourist (tourer?). In the late 80s and early 90s I raced. I burned out and did not ride again until 2003 when I bought a commuter bike. In 2006 I returned to road riding and have been steadily increasing my mileage since.

what type of bike(s) do you have?:
Carbon road bike, aluminum commuter (steel race bike - retired)

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?:
no

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:
no

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety):
bike fit. Clothing fit is much less of an issue now than it used to be, although I still do see some small men's gloves branded as "women's" by marketers who don't know women's thumbs have a different placement than men's :rolleyes:

general comments and ideas:
will you post a link to your results?

Here you go:
where do you live?: Texas.
how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): Fitness.
how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? about 30 years more or less.
did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: not really, I never gave it up - just slowed down with the training here and there when I was feeling more lazy... ;)
what type of bike(s) do you have?: road racing bikes x2.
do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: No, just more cyclists in general.
do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: Don't think so - at least for competitive cycling. We have about the same news coverage we have always had, and usually men's competitions have better media coverage than women's.
do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? yes.
what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): Equipment!!! It is harder for a woman to find a proper fit unless you go custom. This is especially true for shorter women, since many good bikes start at a size 49 or 50. Your choice of models in 44 or 46/47 is more limited, and same is for some of the accessories. For example if you want a 40 handlebar you have hundreds of choices, but if you want a 38 or a 36 then the list is a lot shorter. So unless your team gives you a custom bike, you are going to have a harder time finding the right bicycle.
general comments and ideas: good luck for your project, and let us know how you did!
:)

where do you live?: Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): all three

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? 3
did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: yes, but I never rode like this before

what type of bike(s) do you have?: 2 mountain bikes - both Trek Fuel EXs, one is a 2005 EX7, the other is a 2008 EX8; I also have a Kona Jake the Snake Cyclocross bike

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: I think I'm one of those "more females on bikes in recent years"

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: Yes. Trek has a whole campaign/line geared towards WSD (women's specific design)

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? absolutely
what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety):
many women need a WSD bike (different geometry), different saddles, and clothes. Clothes fit women so differently than men, so it's important to find clothes that fit a curvier body without riding up.

I race. I love it. I wasn't going to race because mountain biking was my way of simply enjoying life without pressure. However, I am very competitive person who also easily stresses. I like to ride very aggressively, and it makes me very happy and relaxes me. Cycling has made a huge, positive difference in my life. :)

where do you live?: MidMichigan
how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): Leisure
how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: I started riding last year after not riding since I was teen.
what type of bike(s) do you have?: I have a Diamondback Comfort bike
do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?:
do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:
do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety):
general comments and ideas:

where do you live?: Kentucky (between Louisville and Frankfort)

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): commute, leisure, fitness, club rides

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: four years; yes I returned to cycling after a 15 year absence

what type of bike(s) do you have?: Univega Grand Tursimo (a touring bike purchased in 1985) and a Lemond Buenos Aires WSD (road bike purchased in Nov. 2007)

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: no

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: no

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): equipment, clothing, acceptance into male dominated groups

Okay...in the interest of research:

where do you live?: Metro-D.C. area

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): Commuting and leisure/fitness

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: I started riding about 13 years ago after not riding since I was a kid. I've generally been riding the same - fitness rides - although in the past 4 years I've increased the mileage and added a more utilitarian function to my riding since commuting.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: I have five bikes. Two standard road bikes (one custom), a flat bar road bike for commuting, a dual suspension mountain bike, and a cruiser.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: Actually, yes. Not so much on the rides I do with my shop, but "out there" in general.

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: No.

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): Certainly safety is a big one. I think safety on a bike is a concern for everyone in a car-centered society, but women have an added risk that I think men don't really think about. Readily availabile apparel is an issue...I don't know if I'd call it a "concern" however.

general comments and ideas:

OK, I'll play.

where do you live?: Northwest Florida

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): fitness/leisure

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? I began adult cycling in the early 90s, stopped for a while due to a back injury, then picked it up again around the turn of the millennium.

did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: See above.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: A touring bike which I've fitted with flat bars for off-road riding and a dedicated road bike.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: Yes, but that may be because I'm now riding with a club that has lots of women in it.

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: Only when one of us gets injured or killed.

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? Yes.

what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): Finding someone who can/will take the time to fit you properly.
Finding an LBS that will take a not-very-fit-looking, middle-aged woman cyclist seriously. It's getting better, but it's still true that in some shops, this kind of woman has to practically slit her wrists to get someone's attention.

general comments and ideas: We need to constantly talk to our legislators about getting on board with laws related to safe cycling. It's an activity that can take us anywhere, and that we can continue to enjoy as we get older, but we have to have safe roads to travel on.

where do you live?: Brooklyn, NY
how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): for fitness
how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: 1 year. Before that, hadn't ridden for years (since high school)
what type of bike(s) do you have?: a carbon-fiber racing road bike
do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: yes
do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: no
do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): appropriately sized equipment, respect (or lack thereof) from male cyclists and bike shop employees

where do you live?: NW of Austin, TX

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): just started commuting, mostly leisure/fitness

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: 4 years, I had a walmart special in college I would ride every once in a while but really got into cycling a year after I graduated. Before that I hadn't rode a bike since I biked to school in elementary school.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: a carbon fiber road bike (race style) and a hardtail mountain bike

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: I have seen a lot this spring, but we have the Danskin Tri coming up so maybe they have just amped up training.

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: no

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): Finding a selection of appropriate bikes, finding someone at a shop that understands women's needs (I am lucky my shop is about 30% women staffed), clothing options and definitely safety. I think the safety is for all cyclists, we hear a lot of negativity from non-cyclists on blogs, media and to our faces on the road. I am personally more intimidated by this than my husband but it may not be a woman vs. man thing.

general comments and ideas:

where do you live?: Germantown, TN (just outside of Memphis

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): Mostly competitive, with a sprinkling of the other two

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? About a year and ten months. Last summer was my first race season, and I'm officially addicted

did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: nope

what type of bike(s) do you have?: Blue Rc7 Road bike (Blue is the manufacturer, not the color!). I also have a homegrown hybrid that I use for commuting. It used to me a Univega mountain bike.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: I haven't been riding long enough to know!

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: No! There needs to be much, much more. A lot of cycling-related publications even seem to ignore women's cycling.

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? Yes!

what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): From a competitive cyclist's standpoint, the inequalities that exist between availability of big-ticket races like Tour of California and Tour of Georgia (we've got a few, but nothing like the men do), as well as disparities in prize money payouts, and, once again, lack of media coverage. All of these things are like a slap in the face to the women who train and race just as hard as the men at the same level

As far as equipment goes, there are some companies doing great things with women-specific frame designs and other equipment.

I think that (once again, from a competitive standpoint) there is a stigma that women's racing isn't as competitive. I even had someone at my last race tell me that normally watching a women's race is like "watching paint dry," but our race had *actually* been exciting to watch.

general comments and ideas:
Nah, I think I covered it all :)

where do you live?: Suburban Boston

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): Lots of racing, but I also do for the love of the ride, and as my main social activity. All of the activities at our house revolve around cycling.

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? About 11 years.

did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: nope

what type of bike(s) do you have?: UGH - too many bikes... Specialized StumpJumper (about to be replaced with a Marathon) MTB; SS MTB; 2 Specialized Cyclocross bikes; a Flyte cyclocross bike built up as my winter ride; a Mongoose Titanium road bike for training; a Kestrel Carbon road bike for racing; a Cannondale Ironman for time trials; and two Cannondale tandems - one for road riding and one specifically for time trials.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: yes

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: no

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? Yes!

what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety):
I agree with Andrea here. In racing, the disparity between men's and women's fields is incredible. Payouts are less, and options are fewer. In many cases here, beginning racers are forced to race in the same fields as P/1/2/3 racers, causing frustration for everyone. We have a race promoter in the area who balks at putting on a women's race, and when he does, doesn't provide the same level of support as the men's races...and tells us that we ride too slow (although our average is often over 20 mph on hilly courses).

For equipment - I don't buy into the whol WSD thing except as a marketing ploy, but I am bigger than a lot of women (5'10", and fit better on men's frames). I do agree with some others, however, that having some better selection available (colors, etc) WITHOUT sacrificing quality and performance would be ideal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Andrea

I think that (once again, from a competitive standpoint) there is a stigma that women's racing isn't as competitive. I even had someone at my last race tell me that normally watching a women's race is like "watching paint dry," but our race had *actually* been exciting to watch.

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And an AMEN to that!

SheFly

^ Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention how often they make all the women's categories race together! Sure, there may not be as as many women racing,, and in some races, they'll give bonuses to the top cat 4 women, but it's very common for a beginner in her first race to be lined up to race against seasoned butt-kickers. Not fair at all for the less experienced women!

where do you live?: British Columbia, Canada

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): all of these.

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: I've always ridden but took it up more seriously / started racing (at a recreational level) 6 years ago.


what type of bike(s) do you have?: Trek road bike, Vitali touring bike, Gary Fisher FS mountain bike, Gary Fisher hardtail commuter bike.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: not necessarily but more people in general.

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: No.

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): bike size and fit. As a particularly petite rider (4'11") with very small hands, I have a heck of a time finding bikes that fit and finding shops that are willing to spend the time helping me out. Have always had to order the bike on spec, hoping it fits - never have a floor model in my size to try out. I've lucked out, thankfully. Again, being treated appropriately at a bike shop by the usually all-male staff. When I find an LBS that treats me right, I'm 100% loyal. The same goes for an LBS that ignores me.


general comments and ideas: Good luck with your project.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

where do you live?: Concord, MA

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):fitness, leisure, group rides, touring, a little commuting and errands

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: I've been riding almost eight years. First, it was just fitness, then I did some bike tours. The commuting and errands have been in the last 3 years. I rode a bit in grad school and when I was in my thirties; I considered 10 miles a long ride then! I rode a lot as a kid.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: I have a carbon road bike, a steel hybrid, and a full suspension mountain bike

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: Yes!!

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:maybe a little, particularly in the local press

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): Keep making more women specific bikes and components. More choice for smaller women. More clothing for a wide variety of sizes. Help with mechanics.

general comments and ideas: What kind of class is this for?

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hey, sorry for the late response. it's for a feminist action class.

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Originally Posted by shellyj

are you a male or female? Are you in high school or college as you said it was a school project? (just wondering) and Good luck on your project[/B]

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hi, I'm a female (Samantha, I guess Sam is ambiguous) and I'm in college, at The New School in NY. I should have given myself an introduction before asking questions of you guys!

Thank you so much for your responses. I haven't finished the responses yet but it's nice to get a broader view of women who bike across the country.

where do you live?:Ft.Lauderdale,Fl

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):Competetive with some commuting sprinkled in.

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? about a year, but have been riding consistantly for 2 and a half years(started for fitness, this is my first serious year racing, got interested in racing last year but was not training specifically to race)

did you pick it up again after years of not riding?:umm rode for fun when I was younger, broke my collarbone on a bike when I was 13(got hit while on vacation) and I swore I would never ride again!! Yet now I can't imagine not having a bike in my life.
what type of bike(s) do you have?: I have a Specialized Tarmac Expert road bike and am in the process of figuring out which track bike to buy once I get my tax money back:-)
do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?:Yes I do! I work at an LBS and have noticed a signifigant increase in women who are cycling for fitness, many have come from spinning classes. We also have a beginners group ride every week and the amount of women on it is slowly increasing.
do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:no

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety):I feel that there isn't really, except for equality in racing as Andrea has already discussed.
general comments and ideas:

where do you live?: Suburb of Detroit, MI

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): all of these.

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: Racing for 2 years. Riding for 5 yrs.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: Voodoo rigid mountain bike for racing, Quiring hardtail mountain bike for training, BMC FS mountain bike for fun, BMC road bike for training/commuting, KHS Cyclocross bike for training/commuting.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: No

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: Maybe a little. More female oriented designs and such.

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): Not really. For really small females (not me, I'm 5'8) frame size could be a concern, but I would assume really tall men have a similar problem. Apparel selection isn't great at most LBS for men and women, women's selection is always smaller but we're a significantly smaller segment. My main concern is the lack of female cyclists in general. I like to race, and it's just disappointing to show up to a race and have only one girl to race against.

general comments and ideas: