New Biker, Was recently shunned!

[mimitabby]

you did 6000 road miles in one year on an MTB! you rock girl!

[redrhodie]

Pink bikes are cool! Those chicks were just jealous!

Good luck with the clipless pedals! You'll love them in no time, I promise.

[Trek420]

I ended up passing him on a hill. I really wanted to say something but I didn't.

Life is too short not to have fun. Nothing wrong with pink bikes or streamers or ribbons. Go see an Aids Ride sometime if you want to see festive

A simple "on your left" would do at that point

His buddies will take care of the rest "dude, you got passed by a gal, on a mountain bike, with knobbies...on a hill...."

Trek-3 time California AIDS rider proud of my metalic pink bike-420

Good luck with the clipless pedals! You'll love them in no time, I promise.

And....you'll pass those gals in no time. Give them a cheery and very girly wave!!

[Zen]

I'm not a pink person but I'd NEVER say something like that and I don't know anyone who would. Everyone I've met so far has been nothing but welcoming and helpful. I'm sure they're out there but those nasty women are definitely a minority.
You don't even want to be associated with people like that. You'll meet so many more nice people you might even start to feel bad for that group.

[teigyr]

you did 6000 road miles in one year on an MTB! you rock girl!

That was before I knew better. I had more fun on that bike!!! Even toyed with the idea of putting aerobars on it. I loved the fact it (or I) didn't look fast but I could average 18-20 mph on 50 mile rides. Somehow can't seem to do that on the "fast" road bike. Go figure. I think I liked the challenge of surprising people.

[Deanna]

What a bunch of BEE-ITCHES. Everytime I hear of people making mean comments about pink bikes, or stereotyping them as girlie, I think of a good friend of my husbands. Though he doesn't compete he is one of the strongest riders we know and for years he rode a pink Ritchie and bike shorts with lace up the side. The first century my husband an I did on a tandem, his wife and him did it on a tandem as well. At about mile 40, he cut off back to the start to drop his wife off. Once there, he hopped on his pink bike, went back to the course where he turned off, then proceeded to catch and pass us at about mile 70.

[Zen]

I could average 18-20 mph on 50 mile rides. Somehow can't seem to do that on the "fast" road bike.

If I could do that I'd keep riding that bike!

[bicyclulz]

...drinking their hatorade?

But again, you guys have been nothing but amazing...and giving me great personal stories that only make me proud to 1) be out there riding 2) be out there riding in all my very girly glory.

Also, just wanted to share PINKZILLA will all you wonderful ppl!

[mimitabby]

ah very cool bike! and welcome to TE!

[northstar]

Ooh, beautiful bike. Enjoy it!

Stupid people are...well...just stupid. Unfortunately, they're everywhere. And many of them feel their commentary is valuable.

Try not to let it bother you...you've got a beautiful bike to ride!

[DarcyInOregon]

I ride the pink Pilot 5.2 WSD too. It is an awesome bike.

TE ladies do make rude comments about the color pink. There are other past threads and they use such terms as "girlie." It is very insulting and sexist. I always figure if someone has to denigrate another person, then the problem lies within that person.

Bicyclulz, your bike is quite pretty. I've ridden my pink bike all year and get mostly nice comments from other cyclists. When you need new tires, try the pink tires that TE sells. And try pink handlebar tape.

Darcy

[Ninabike]

Very nice bike. Did any of you see the pink, special edition Giro d' Italia jersey that Terry was carrying a few months ago? I bought one because it was so beautiful. They must have sold out because it is not on their site any longer.

[wannaduacentury]

Hello All! First time poster, almost a first time biker and just wanted to share my newbie story:


Some background...

So, its been YEARS since I have been on a bike. But my bf got into cycling and decided that it was time for me to get on a bike again (I have not been on one since my pink huffy ca. 1992). Well, this was almost 6 months ago. I was riding on a Raleigh steel frame bike with friction shifters (!!). I loved that bike....

Well, this past weekend my wonderful guy bought me a new FUJI Finest 2.0 as a present and as a reason to convince me to go out to see him ride in his first century. Since I have only been commuting to the office (7 miles one way---easiest commute on a bike!), I haven't had a chance to get on the road and really have a good long ride. I surely wasn't ready for a full century so I decided to just ride 25 miles.

Here's where the story really begins...

I loved how the new bike felt. it was light and fast and pink! Now, I have always considered myself athletic, but more in the soccer and lacrosse side rather than cycling, but nonetheless, I am by no means scared of a little sweat. There were a ton of women on this 25 and 50 mile route. We stopped at the first rest stop at this mill about 10 miles into the ride. I was feeling amazing and couldn't wait to get back on the road. I was chatting with a group of riders who were riding together as part of a weekend cycling club and they were super nice to me and very encouraging as far as me finishing the ride without wanting to give up biking forever.

I left this group, went to the restrooms and chatted with a few more people in line. there was a group of about 4 women, all about my age, who walked back over to where our bikes were and I smiled and tried to strike up a conversation when one of the women took a look at my bike, smirked, and said in a very catty way, "Cute bike...and look, its pink." Her pals laughed and the other one turned to her friends and fired off with this gem: "I hate girls sometimes...always out riding in flashy colors. Might as well have ribbons in their hair...," all while giving me this nasty look.

Now, my first instinct was to fire back with some rude comment right back... but I held off. THEN, when i was getting back on my bike they laughed and one girl roared with "I wonder if she can even make it back...."

I was so outraged that I think it just fueled my fire and instead of riding just 25, I worked off that anger and rode for another 15 miles before calling it quits.

I want to ride that century next summer and do the full ride....and I surely am not going to let a bunch of catty chicks make me feel lame just because i haven't been riding all my life! We all have to start somewhere right?

ok, that's all. Just wanted to vent about a negative almost-first time riding experience!

Someone needs to cinch their pigtails! How rude, I hope they got dropped. You did great to ride another 15 miles and the nice people you talked to were the ones that count. Keep riding, I like pink too. My road id is pink. Jenn

[VeloVT]

I'm so sorry... I can't believe adults said this to you, it seems so junior-high.

About the ribbons thing... I just absolutely abhor this argument. Like somehow you can't be strong AND feminine. It's actually insulting to women. Apparently the only good woman is a man, and in order to be taken seriously, women must be as man-like as possible.

People who know me consider me a feminist and apologize in advance before making certain jokes or comments... but I don't feel a bit guilty pulling out stilettos, red lipstick, anything pink, etc.

And I'm an athlete. I want to be as strong and fast as I can. I'm not afraid to sweat or hurt or get muddy. But when I run my outfits match (and sometimes involve pink), and I have pink all over my bike, and usually wear pink when on my pink bike. (I have three different shades of PINK armwarmers ...). I'm still secretly worried that my bike might be **ugly** (sometimes it's hard to be objective), but not worried a bit that it's pink.

So that's my rant.

But, at the same time, for the past year I've really wanted to try some local group rides and I've been afraid to do so because I'm still a relatively new rider and I don't want to have to deal with snotty attitudes...

[7rider]

Wow.
Meeeeee---yow!!!
Who spiked their waterbottles with nasty-juice??
Some people just have NO class.

As you can see, not all cyclists hold that attitude.
In fact, I think you may find that "cyclists" - and I really have to put that in quotes - such as you encountered on your ride, are truly a minority. This is particularly true on organized rides where FUN and comraderie are the order of the day.

You'll never get that kind of treatment from us D.C. area TE'ers!
Welcome to you and Pinkzilla.