Women and mountain biking

[limewave]

Just an article about how few women mountain bike . . .
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Why-No-...cott-2012.html

[lph]

I liked it. (But how did he manage to find so many photos of really hot girls biking? )

We've discussed many reasons why here elsewhere, but there's one more thing, and it's just the feedback effect. There aren't many women (I refuse to say girls unless we're actually talking about under 25 here) in the sport because there aren't many women in the sport. Many women are put off from a heavily male-dominated sport precisely because it is male-dominated. I like riding with guys, but I don't like riding with only guys, all the time. But at some point there will be enough women involved to defuse that "dude-sport" image. It certainly happened to climbing.

[limewave]

I think women are generally community based. Just as you mentioned, more women aren't in the sport because there aren't more women in the sport. . . . I have always been interested in mountain biking. If there would have been a club, a clinic, a camp, something, I would have signed up for it in a heartbeat. But there are very few opportunities (especially where I live) like that. I wasn't about to blindly buy a bike and head out into the woods alone with no knowledge of what to do.

[SadieKate]

One of our local shops has a diva night once(?) a month and sponsors a regular women's only clinic. The last diva night had around 50 women show up. The clinics fill up in no time. I've seen the pictures. These are women of all shapes, sizes and ages. Very cool.

This shop is also the only one in town that truly takes the inclusive approach instead of wondering why the women don't show up for the races. Crap, when you have a huge contingent of world-class athletes who use the races for "training" why should anyone else show up? The non-race rides are organized by groups of testosterone-driven wannabe elites who piss off the drivers - and scare everyone else off from forming a real community bike club.

I hope the shop is bringing in scads of sales.

[indysteel]

We have a local MTB clinic every year that is expressly for women and girls. As awesome as that is, there's little else that's geared toward women in the area No weekly diva ride or, as far as I can tell, any formal or semi-formal group that brings women MTBers together to ride. I really wish it were otherwise. The clinic's great, but it's hard to take the next few steps afterwards. I had my husband for help, but I sure would have preferred a female mentor of sorts in some ways.

[Catrin]

We have a local MTB clinic every year that is expressly for women and girls. As awesome as that is, there's little else that's geared toward women in the area No weekly diva ride or, as far as I can tell, any formal or semi-formal group that brings women MTBers together to ride. I really wish it were otherwise. The clinic's great, but it's hard to take the next few steps afterwards. I had my husband for help, but I sure would have preferred a female mentor of sorts in some ways.

It is going to take a few women willing to start something - perhaps be willing to start a monthly excursion to BCSP? The nice thing about BCSP is the range of trails from beginner to super advanced. I think part of the issue is so many are either busy with a race schedule, children, or both that it makes it difficult to do something more formal.

It would be great to have a female mentor that I could hook up with on the trails from time to time, but everyone is just so very busy. The formal women instructors I do know of in the area are so busy that they just don't have any more time (and I can't afford them right now). I think I would be much further along than I am if I did have someone to work with, but things are the way they are. I still have fun and that is what counts. I will get there.

[limewave]

I have this dream of becoming a certified instructor and leading clinics for women and youth in our region. I am taking a baby step in that direction by starting a family xc group. I thought about talking to our local LBS to see if they would sponsor part of the certification and in return I would host regular clinics for them. Right now we can't afford to pay for that ourselves. DH really does not want me to do that--he's friends with the owner. Anyways, I just think there are a number of women really interested in trying mtbing but are too intimidated. If they had a clinic or group environment specifically for beginners they would be willing to try.

[Irulan]

Really? And why is that? Is it the bears or is it the perverts that hang out at trailheads?

[limewave]

Really? And why is that? Is it the bears or is it the perverts that hang out at trailheads?

lol.

[zoom-zoom]

This is the same guy (who appears to be preparing to spam) in another thread on the mtn. bike boards who recommended all the proper safety gear -- including air bags!

[Catrin]

This is the same guy (who appears to be preparing to spam) in another thread on the mtn. bike boards who recommended all the proper safety gear -- including air bags!

Yep, the only reason I didn't report it then is that it wasn't a spam email - but he is obviously trying to get past the post limit.

[SpinDiva]

A friend and I just started a weekly women's group ride a couple of weeks ago. We have both been mountain biking a year or so and wanted to find other beginners. It has been so fun, and we have already met some really cool women.

We posted our ride time on the local mountain biking association Facebook page and web page. Some women heard about it from their husbands or boyfriends who ride. We live in a fairly rural area, but 9 women showed upon week one, and 7 on week two.

If you want a local women's ride, start one! Even if you are the only one who shows up, you are committed and ready to ride, so it's all good.