Women's seminar topics

[bike4ever]

I know many women on this board have attended a women specific cycling seminar. I am currently planning our program for April and wanted to see what folks really liked about this seminars. What topics were covered? Wine & cheese? Special guest speakers? I'm up for all ideas.

Our first year, we had two local racers who started up a womens team. They were terrific since they spoke on training, racing, and exercising while raising children.

Our second year, we had a local team manager. She concentrated on proper nutrition and hygene.

This last year, we were visited by the Trek WSD demo. Since we only carry Lemond and Gary Fisher, the two Trek women spoke specifically on the importance of proper fit no matter the style of riding. We didn't have the Trek bikes to demo. I also did a brief maintenance talk for those wanting to hang around.

Each year we have always provided wine, healthy snacks, water, and soft drinks.

Thanks ahead of time for all of your imput.

[SouthernBelle]

Training to increase speed.

Training to improve climbing.

Training on a limited time schedule.

Touring: gear, routes, riding alone.

Crossing over from road to MTB, or vice versa. The differences between the 2 styles.

[sulis]

I would recommend hands on bike maintenance. I went to a clinic where we brought our own bikes and we did the "repairs" as the instructor talked us through them. The instructor also walked around and helped as individually based on the types of bikes we had. Actually doing a tire change rather than watching someone do it made the world of difference to me when I got my first flat while on a ride. I know this helped me tremendously in getting over my fear of riding long distances alone.

How about women's nutritional needs.

[SadieKate]

Who is your target audience other than a generic label of women? New to riding? Wanting to race? Wanting to ride a century? Want to mtb? Commuting? You could go crazy trying to be all things to women. Are you advertising anywhere and who reads it?

[Bad JuJu]

I'll second Sulis' idea of hands-on bike maintenance. Wish I could get one of the LBSs around here to do a class on that.

Also, this might be an opportunity to get more women riding. If you have clubs in the area--and I'm sure you must--do they have sub-groups for new or slower riders? Maybe that could be one thing you advertise or try to promote interest in at the seminar. Have women sign up for an introductory ride and see how they like it. Anyway, that's what I'd do. I ride with the slower women at the back of the pack in the club I ride with, and we're always on the lookout for more women who might want to come out and try it.

[han-grrl]

Mental training for athletes is always a good one, as many skills can be applied else where...

[liberty]

Bikemom - I'm a St Louis rider and would love to know more about your seminar. Is this a closed seminar, or open to the public? I'm fairly new to this and would welcome any available avenue of learning ... You can PM me if you need a mailing address or more info. Thanks!

Liberty

[bike4ever]

Great replies from everyone - please keep them coming.

SadieKate - terrific question on target audience. Our shop is generally frequented by the casual rider/beginning cyclist. We sell many hybrids along with the under $1500 road and mountain bike. The full suspension market in St. Louis was rather flat this year. In the past, our goals have been to get the newer cyclist - looking for women who were re-entering the exercise market - usually age 40 - 60. Our 1st seminar had 6 participants. The 2nd year was 20 women. This year we had 44 women!!

I'm just trying to find out what folks want in a women specific seminar. I regularly have women's maintenance classes - both fix a flat and basic maintenance. My last fix a flat had 15 women - it was terrific seeing them all change a tire on their own - often for the first time!!

[emily_in_nc]

Another idea for a seminar: clipless pedals
Why clipless?
Types of pedals and cleats, bolt patterns, etc.
Types of shoes for clipless - road vs. mountain
How to get started with them (on the trainer, on grass) as well as literally how to start riding (i.e., clip in on one side, rotate foot up, push off, clip in with second foot when you're able, that kind of thing). Little things that we clipless users take for granted that are so foreign to new clipless users...
How to stop and get out of your pedals before it's too late.
Clip in first and out first always on the same side or not...

Judging by the number of threads on this forum with clipless questions, I think this would be well attended!

Emily

[bike4ever]

emily - good idea!

[SouthernBelle]

I noted in your first post you mentioned training with children then you mention a target audience of 40-60 yo. I originally thought that I don't care about the kids' part but some do so I didn't mention it. But not very applicable to your target audience. Just thought I'd mention it.