Where are all the good woman..at the TE Forum!

[snowtulip]

Hi Everyone,
This is actually a rant and a thank you at the same time. I went riding on a paved trail near the bosque by myself today. And discovered that the only people that didn't nod or say hi were women (unless they were with family). This then lead me to think how unfortunate it is and one of the reasons I usually ride by myself. I've tried some women mtb. rides and they are highly competitive and unenjoyable. I have a medical issue (epilepsy) that often causes me to be tired and therefore slower than most riders during heavy seizure times, but I'm not completely inept (just a little more sluggish than usual). Why don't the women say hi or nod and why are the group rides so competitive and nasty?

So after all that contemplating (such a beautiful day to contemplate), I smiled and said I am so lucky to have the few riding girlfriends I have (even if our schedules rarely work out) and I'm lucky to be a part of this forum and know that there are caring, understanding women that support bike riding no matter if you're slow, sick, etc. There are so many different people (personalities) and riding abilities on this board and it's great to embrace everyone! So thank you, when I'm on the trail tomorrow I'm going to try to break a 10% nod or hello from the women on the trail (it could be there wasn't a great statistical representation of women, so I admit I could have just run into a lot of sourpuses today).

Thanks for listening...I actually feel better and will now try to spread kindness to the non-nodders, non-hellos, overly competitive. And I know men are like this to, but I want to ride with women too!

[rocknrollgirl]

I get so excited when I see other women out on the trail, I usually chase them down in the parking lot and get their email!!

Now seriously, when I used to climb a lot, I ran in to this....cranky competative women. I think sometimes we are our own worst enemy...Just chalk it up to a day of bad Karma.....and keep on smiling at them...

[Trekhawk]

when I'm on the trail tomorrow I'm going to try to break a 10% nod or hello from the women on the trail (it could be there wasn't a great statistical representation of women, so I admit I could have just run into a lot of sourpuses today).

Thanks for listening...I actually feel better and will now try to spread kindness to the non-nodders, non-hellos, overly competitive. And I know men are like this to, but I want to ride with women too!

Good for you Snowtulip you keep up the nods and hellos because for all the sourpouses there are also lots of riders like me who love a friendly nod or wave of acknowledgment when on the trail or road.

[pkq]

I've seen this more with men on high end bikes. Usually the women are friendly with smiles and waves, even the ones I know are great riders.

Take heart! There are some really nice people out there and you've got most of them here.

[yellow]

Oh, it's universal. When I'm out skate skiing, the very serious folks on the longer loops barely smile at you but the folks on the shorter loops all smile and say g'day. As if smiling somehow will affect the serious folks' ability to continue moving forward. I say hello anyhow, even though they have that crab-grimace on!

[RoadRaven]

I say hello anyhow, even though they have that crab-grimace on!

Crab-grimace?
Love it...

Yes... thats me

[DeniseGoldberg]

I always smile or nod or acknowledge other riders with a (close to the handlebars) wave.

I can never understand people who not only don't smile or wave, they don't even seem to see me (or anyone else on the other side of the road). It's as if they are looking just in front of their wheel and no where else.

--- Denise

[RoadRaven]

I smile when I can (if I'm not concentrating too hard - but I always lift my hand "hello" to other riders as well as to runners, walkers and cars

(I only cycle on country roads, otherwise, if I biked in town, i might have to limit my "hellos" and other acknowledgements.

I have always had postive responses thus far (touch wood)