What would you like to know?

[velogirl]

Hi everybody! I've been asked to present at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs later this month as part of a conference dedicated to leadership in women's cycling. The topic that was given to me (which I could change if I want) is "Creating a Meaningful Women's Cycling Program" and I've got about 90 minutes to entertain and enlighten the conference attendees (most of whom will be coaches or women racers).

I've been asked this question (how to start a women's program) a million times via email and phone. In addition to Velo Girls, which I founded in 2002, I've helped lots of other folks start women's programs all over the world.

So, let me throw this question out there. Many of you have said "gee I wish we had a program like there where I live." What, specifically, would you like to know?

All input would be appreciated. I'm developing my presentation later this week and next and since I can't contact participants directly, I thought the lovely ladies of TE could provide some meaningful feedback.

Let's hear it!

Lorri

[Eden]

How to best encourage promotors to offer a good range of women's fields. I think its a build it and they will come type of situation. The participation of women in racing has gone up a lot around here and I don't think that we have a women's 4 field in most of our races is an inconsequential part of that. We are now working on getting more 3's fields so that we can *keep* women participating and so far a few promotors have really stepped up. I think it will make a big difference in keeping women interested (rather than frustrated with) in racing.

[velogirl]

dang! Eden, if I could convince promoters to do that here I'd be happy......we're still fighting with some folks for separate W4 fields and we fill them up all the time! but you did get me thinking.....thank you!

[SheFly]

I second Eden's comment about the promoters!

The other challenge is to teach new women skills, and to maintain contact with them through the season to ensure they have picked those up, and are progressing. Kind of like a mentorship program. One of the things our club realized last year is that learning from an experienced FEMALE racer/rider builds more confidence and self-esteem.

The skills are importatnt though - those squirrelly women who come out to race because their BF or DH is racing are dangerous!

SheFly

[velogirl]

Thanks, Cathy!

Okay, Eden and SheFly are both from very successful women's programs.

How about some of you who would like to have a women's program in your region but there isn't one? Have you wished there was a women's cycling club, race series, or other programs or clinics just for women? Would you like to start a program of your own but don't know where to begin? Have you tried to start a program but couldn't sustain it? What kind of information would be useful to you? What would inspire you to jump in and make something happen?

[smilingcat]

I would like to comment but I 'm out of the scene altogether. I know Helen's Cyclery have a women's squad. so does Paramount Racing down in Orange County and there is South Bay Wheelmen. Oh and Tailwind up in SB area. Maybe you can talk to some of th women there??

Smilingcat

[GLC1968]

The other challenge is to teach new women skills, and to maintain contact with them through the season to ensure they have picked those up, and are progressing. Kind of like a mentorship program. One of the things our club realized last year is that learning from an experienced FEMALE racer/rider builds more confidence and self-esteem.

Ok, how about from me? I'm not a racer, and I've only seen 1 women's race in real life (CAT4 crit - about 20 women raced that day). I'm one of those that would LOVE a women's group in my area for the above reason I quoted from SheFly. I know that I'd love racing. I can be fast, I'm strong, I'm very competitve...but I'm almost 40, generally shy and super intimidated by the crazy male cycling community around me (which is HUGE). If we had a women's group that had a program for riders who wanted to race, I'd be way less intimidated.

I think skills would absolutely help...and not just for racing. Skills for group riding, for general road and moutain riding, for climbing in the mountains an hour from here, etc.

To do that locally, like Salsa, I'd want to know how to start something like that in our local area and how to effectively get the word out. I think it would be also important to know how to keep all levels interested. I see it often here, but we have one women's group ride locally. In the spring, we have a mix of skills...but as the season wears on, only the slowest riders continue to show up for this ride. My guess is that the better riders split off to find their own groups to ride with, but that makes it really hard for a good rider to enjoy the group later in the season. Information on how to effectively keep all levels interested (and informed) would be helpful.

And then, from someone who has NO experience with racing, I'd need to know how do you secure sponsors, how to you drum up interest from non-riders, how to do put an effective 'season' together (scheduling tips) and lastly, probably how to throw/host an event?

Did I ramble on too much?

[velogirl]

GLC, that's perfect! I'm a big rambler. Rambling is highly encouraged.

Thank you!

[vmax]

I am in complete agreement with Salsabike and GLC1968. I'm competitive but will probably not race (never say never), am a bit intimated by the large biking clubs in town as I know many of them race and so I ride on my own. On the other hand, I like long rides at a fast pace and my girlfriends think that 5 miles is a work out . . . so what's a girl to do? While I enjoy solo rides since I can go at my own pace, I'd enjoy riding with other similar-minded women.

I'd love to join a group that motivates, instructs, trains and works with women who are not just casual riders but don't race either. I hope that my comments make sense. I'm also 54, work out on a regular basis, am in decent shape but don't have the need (or desire) to compete.

General skills for biking, encourage (aka motivation) as well as bike maintenance, etc. would be wonderful. I did attend 2 maintenance classes at REI which were helpful but could certainly use more info.

Like others, I'd certainly be willing to help organize and support such a group. In my opinion, I think that there is an age group that could be "tapped" for such bike organizations. Being 54, I am absolutely the only person in my group of friends/siblings, who is so active with biking. If such organizations are put together in various locations/states, I hope that some of the marketing per se would also focus on women in their 50's+ and beyond. Biking is an activity that is good exercise and something that many of us did as kids so it isn't intimidating to resume as an adult. Yet, enouragement, education and a support mechanism would be helpful for many women to begin or resume regular exercise, such as biking. I used to work with a couple of men who are avid bikers and so I learned a lot from them about bikes, maintenance, riding, etc.

Whew, didn't mean to ramble so much but I hope that the information has been helpful. Best of Luck! Now I'll have to check back here more often for updates on this idea . . .

- Vivian

[velogirl]

Vivian! Thank you so much for your passionate response.

BTW, 54 is not old. On our very first race team, one of the racers (who had never raced before) was 52 years old. She is still racing 6 years later.

In our organization, I've found the demographic pretty representative of the women's demographic in the bike industry in general. There's a pretty distinct bell curve, with the critical mass falling in the 35-50 range with a smattering above and below. I think our youngest member this year is 10 and our oldest is 73.

[sundial]

I'd like to hear from the women who don't have a women's program available. What would you like to know about developing a woman's program?

OK, there just aren't many women in my area who are interested in cycling--particularly if they live in the small rural towns. Our state doesn't offer much for cyclists either because of lack of cyclist friendly parks or decent shoulders on the roads. We do have some clubs, but the majority of these members are competitive men. I would like to have an experienced gal to ride with, but they are few and far between and I end up in a testosterone pack.

I think before we can have a club in my area, we need a decent place to ride. I guess I don't really have any questions for you, just a vent.

[velogirl]

Sundial, vents are fine.

Do you think the safety issue/lack of good places to ride is more of an issue for the women than the men?

[sundial]

Sundial, vents are fine.

Do you think the safety issue/lack of good places to ride is more of an issue for the women than the men?

Yes. The shoulders that I have ridden on are sometimes a foot or less. I have to ride during low traffic periods and I ride defensively as well.

We have a great state park, Old Davidsonville, that won state park of the year. There is not one mtb trail in the whole park. I use the hiking trails to ride on.

Also, there are those idiots that might take advantage of grabbing a female cyclist and heading for the hills to do who knows what. It almost happened to a cyclist friend of mine--in front of her male cyclists.

[sundial]

You know what? I'd like to attend a girls only workshop offered by a women's cyclist program. Maybe something that could tour the rural towns of Arkansas.

Little Rock is the hub of activity but is 2 1/2 hrs away. I've been in all but one bike shop and it essentially caters to men in terms of garments, gadgets, and bikes. I have heard fewer women shop the stores compared to men. If these bike shops hosted a girls only clinic, I wonder if that would help ladies feel empowered and ride more.

[velogirl]

Absolutely! Women don't like bike shops (sweeping generalization). I've found that if I can bring a group of women into a shop for an hour or two (clinic, shopping party, etc), they become familiar with the shop and will feel more comfortable coming back. If all bike shops did something like that, they'd likely see an increase in their female customer base.

It's too bad Little Rock is so far away. Are there any shops a bit closer to you?