Do you want to accomplish something for the first time? Contact Bicycling Magazine.

[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.

[chickwhorips]

It seems that so much of the time women's only issues are focused around coordinating nail polish with your jersey color.

you mean there are other issues besides that.

[7rider]

Didn't Bicycling Mag used to have a "regular" article on women's issues? Beyond "Fit Chick" or whatever? It's been a while since I've been a regular reader that I forget.
Perhaps their known demographic does not justify their including women's issues in ALL editions and it is more cost effective for them to just cover women's issues every so often (from the start of this thread - it sounds like a "Women's article" and NOT an edition.
Squeaky wheel gets the oil - if they don't see women's names on their subscription list....if they don't get letters and emails from women, they'll be content with status quo.

[kelownagirl]

Whoo hoo, I'm gonna be in the July issue! I had a phone interview a month ago but didn't hear anything back and then this morning, she emailed with another question and said I'd be in the special issue! I know there are others here who sent in their "story" - did anyone else get interviewed?