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.