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[han-grrl]

I have an issue of Bicycling from years ago that was a women's only issues. they bascially collected a bunch of their articles related to women's issues and put it in one place. i thought it was great, which is why i still have that copy.

i also sent Christine an email, with my elite by forty goal and racing expert this year...not sure if that is the type of thing she would want...but heck, its worth a shot, right?

[missymaya]

I had been tempted to get a subsricption to Bicycle mag but have been very put off by this reason, not enough female input. I'm glad they're finally considering our point of view because men aren't the only ones who love to ride Hopefully, bicycle mag will have more female input in their magazine.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Personally, I'm not a big fan of a special "women's issue" of magazines about activities or interest that both men and women do. I think there should be women-focused articles just naturally incorporated into EVERY issue.

[jobob]

While I agree with your sentiment in general, Lisa, I think this could be be a good thing.

Whenever the topic of an all-woman's ride (such as either the Cinderella or LRRH) comes up on one of the other cycling boards, there is often an outcry mostly (but not exclusively) from men saying that it's discriminatory to have an all women's ride.

Yet, the Cinderella was the impetus for me to graduate from plotzing around on the bike path on my hybrid bike to getting into road cycling. And once I did the Cindy training rides and finished the Cinderella, there was no looking back!

And I think the Cinderella has been a similar motivator for other women cyclists in the Bay Area and beyond. Heck, a few weeks ago Lee and I were riding out on Canada Road (a very popular bike road up around Woodside) and we both noticed that at least half of the road cyclists out on that day were women - now how cool is that? And it makes me wonder, how many of those women we saw that day started road cycling after they came across a poster for the Cinderella and thought "gee, I wonder if I could do that?".

So, what's my point?

Just that I think an all-women's issue might pique the interest of women who otherwise might not think that bicycling is for them.

And once more women get into cycling, then perhaps we'll see more articles about women in cycling.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Just that I think an all-women's issue might pique the interest of women who otherwise might not think that bicycling is for them.

And once more women get into cycling, then perhaps we'll see more articles about women in cycling.

I do see your point! But then again- if there is some article about women's cycling subjects in EVERY issue, whatever woman who picks up the magazine for a casual look will see it and get her interest piqued. If there is only one women's issue, that casual magazine browser might think from most issues they glance over that the sport is for men only ---unless she's lucky enough to see that special women's issue.

[Grog]

I do see your point! But then again- if there is some article about women's cycling subjects in EVERY issue, whatever woman who picks up the magazine for a casual look will see it and get her interest piqued. If there is only one women's issue, that casual magazine browser might think from most issues they glance over that the sport is for men only ---unless she's lucky enough to see that special women's issue.

I think you're both right:

There is a point in getting a women issue once in a while.

But every issue should be more women-friendly. And there is a long way to go for cycling magazines in that respect...

[SadieKate]

I'm with Grog. It seems that so much of the time women's only issues are focused around coordinating nail polish with your jersey color. If the issue would be a bit more hardcore PLUS incorporating women into the monthly issue it would be great. I don't even need women-focused articles; I just want to see women in the pictures, articles, etc. Frankly, I feel like Bicycling is doing a pretty good job of this with the Fit Chick, the Wrench Chick, whatever they're called. When they do that short article on the "right bike for so-and-so" they use women sometimes. I'm definitely seeing improvement.

I just wish Cannondale would bring back the Lefty fork advertisement.