Out of the gym and onto the road - Ideas wanted.

[jetmommy]

Hi! One idea to find more women riders-- out on the road. I carry a few business cards in my jersey pocket to hand out to other women riders, since I found that in most instances when I did meet someone on the road, we never called each other because we didn't have pens and couldn't remember someone's last name/phone number until we got home. I also stop women riders I see when I'm in my car. I know it sounds crazy, but women riders seem to be few and far between so you have to jump at the chance when you get it. Also, consider participating in a large-scale organized ride in your area. I usually meet tons of women in such events. Sometimes you get lucky and they live nearby. The biggest problem is carving out a mutually agreeable time. Most women who ride either work or have kids, so they have this tiny window where they can get out on the road. Just tell everyone you know that you're looking for women to ride with. I met one of my best riding partners through my babysitter! She knew I rode, and when a new neighbor moved in next door to her, she noticed the road bike and Burley in her garage and hooked us up!

[MightyMitre]

Irulan - just read through my post from the other day and it does sound a bit whiney in parts. Blame it on a bad day at work!

What I meant when I said the instructor looked like he could loose weight was that he just generally looked out of condition. My previous instructor was very toned and energetic but I know everyone has a different style of teaching and as far as coaching goes, I'm in total agreement, weight has absolutley nothing to do with ability.

However, when it comes to classes like aerobics, where the teacher does and you follow, as a paying customer, I feel more confident in an instructor who looks like the classes actually work rather than someone who looks like they could do with a lie down. ( Poor guy - he'd probably had a tough day. )

[Terry]

Wow...
Two different threads going all at once; The female athletic personality v the girly persona, and, the rich girl next door v the girl-jock that could care less, but now, it's personal.

To me...
It's all how you see the game; the women here really like the game/the sport/the dirt. The "other women" seems very afraid of the unleashed power emanating from women who are not afraid that they are going to get hurt while playing the game.

Girls are supposed to be delicate and girls are not supposed to get "hurt" like boys...that's why most of the woman in spin will never get on a bike and ride the road/mountain. Education or no education. We are dealing with a belief system. If you intentionally, "illogically" purchase expensive shoes, your persona says, "it's all about me", no matter if it's your dime or someone elses.

A lot of the gym girls scream, "not fair" because female "jocks" aren't playing "the game" they way they think a woman should--hence the aerobic instructor with the tooth damage from her puke sonatas. The belief system, as many of us know too well, is girls are supposed to play nice with the other girls and if you're playing with/on the same field with "the boys", you're a threat to some other woman's security (mental/emotional/physical).

I see this belief system as a stinky cest pool; the keepers of the cest pool are "needy" people. Needy people are closet control freaks. These people appear to perpetuate a persona that we all should live by their rules and pour energy into them/their belief systems. Geez, what a waste.

In essence, they don't play "fair"! They hide behind a belief system and a persona that they are constantly trying to perpetuate as desireable. (Needy is desireable?) Anyone with their eye on the game knows that you don't get what you want or need by sitting around, wasting your time on persona/cest pool belief systems/being needy.

Whew! Did I just spew or what?? Well, I'm gonna let it stand as food for thought...hopefully, most of the women here will rise above the "ilk", the games, the persona and live by what YOU believe being female athletes. Don't snub/snob the needy, just let them be in their own world. (Well...sometimes, I wanna put my hands on my hips and stick my tongue out at them...)

Meanwhile, back at the trails, I'm having a blast! Let'm drink latte and get buzzed!
Terry

(BTW, which one of you ladies said that you've worn a tiara while riding? WOW! Did you find one that fit over your helmet? Hey! Maybe I'll paste some big gawdy rinstones on my helmet
...ummm...playing "girly" of my own terms works for me! Ya' think the guys will mind? Just joking.)

[goddess1222]

i think that was my girl MissLiz wearing the tiara on her Mardi Gras helmet. correct me if i am wrong Liz, my apologies.

i am going to attach one to my stem, right in front of the dog bones.

[missliz]

Closet control freaks! I like that. Sums up that whole business well. And the needy can have all the Sidis they want, I just don't want to have to listen to their deep seated inner fears and conflicts. It's a type of puritanism, like that fear that somebody, somwhere, might be having fun? Those same women called everybody a **** in high school, I bet. I know they sure called me that, and I couldn't get any to save my life.
And I'm the tiara girl, except that the actual collection lives in a glass case when I'm not wearing them around the house. I found the iridescent butterfly stickers I got off my neice work better on the skid lid, glue can mess up your helmets structural integrity. Except for the Mardi Gras Day helmet, which has ostrich plumes and rhinestones. I could never get the tiara to sit well and stay bonded.
A nice rhinestone necklace with riding clothes is always appropriate, and easier to fool with. Jaquie Phelan (personal idol) favors pearls herself.
Anyway, Irulan I do of know Cory Everson and Rachel Mclish. I'll admit I didn't know what to think at the time, till I met the American Gladiator chicks and found out how normal they were, even they joked about their TV roles. They worked 4 months and skiied all winter on it. They were very petite in person! and encouraged me to tackle the big plates, grunt, all that unladylike stuff. My weight training was to backup fencing, not straight bodybuilding, but I looked so great and I think those chicks were jealous'cause the big weights give such great results. And I got to eat. And I think it did scare them- strangely the men were really cool with me. And theres a long list of other women from the eighties who blazed the trail for Mia Hamm and the entire WNBA and soccer daughters who are going to totally freak out their "latte crazed soccer moms in Nordstoms workout wear" someday. (Yeah!)

missliz

Maybe I'm just dense? I thought of my self as human before female. Apparently thats really unladylike too.

[Irulan]

wow. Lots of good stuff here.

First how about a group hug? We all have our spew/rant/whiny/bratty/ whatever moments here...I suppose I'll get thumped on the head if I say blame it on PMS:devil: And then tiaras for everyone

missliz... good for you on the body building to back up your fencing., I was doing it out of boredom when my hubby was in the oilfields of Wyoming boom times. It wasn't until later that I realize how having strength affected my sports in a good way. (climbing, skiing, road riding)

now, regarding the instructor who could stand to lose a few...from where I sit, I see more whether they are qualified to teach and know what they are doing than whether the thighs or tummy is a little soft. I'm more relaxed about this as I age I think.
Granted I am almost the same size I was 20 years ago, but I'm so much more relaxed about many things. But I thinki'ts a good thing when less than perfect bodies are out there doing their thing.

I was thinking about the shoe thing today - I went to spin as we've had monsoon weather here and the trails won't be dry for a few says. Here's the one I didn't get: $200 bike shoes and yet not having good cylcing shorts.... whatever. The music was great today.

missliz, I sent you a PM

Irulan

[MightyMitre]

Well said Terry - I guess it's also a tribute to us as women that we can carry on about 20 different topics of conversation at the same time!!!

missliz - as you said ealier I guess it really was your generation that opened the way up for women today.

At school I wasn't really intersted in the sport on offer - it's very limited in the UK for girls to hockey, netball and tennis which I think schools like to considered as 'nice' ladylike sports for 'young ladies' to play. Not too physical or challenging and (in my school anyway) demanded we wore a little pleated PE skirts at all times. So i joined a rowing club out of school and had a great time.

( By the way, I know others who do some the above sports can be any thing but 'nice' when they really get going!! )

There were a couple of gilrs at school who were exceptionally good at sports - one of them went on to swim fo England but as far as I can remember she never had to put up with any comments about her sexuallity. As far as i can remember everyone was very proud of her achievements. So thanks to those of you who paved the way for the rest of us to enjoy our sports reletively hassel-free.

I guess at the end of the day it's got to be live and let live. I like riding my bike and to be honest, only go to the gym to compliment by riding and/ or if the weather makes it impossible to go out side.

Terry - I understand where you're coming from about the perpetutation of the idea of 'neediess. ' and I feel lucky it's not a concept I've ever bought into. I also feel lucky that I can be what I like. Some days I like to go out and get muddy and other days I like to get muddy while wearing a flowery jersey,nail varnish and jewlery, just to emphaise the fact that I'm having a great time and I'm also a girl and it is possible to do both things at once!!

[MightyMitre]

Yes - group hug ((((( ))))).

Irulan - just to reassure you I'm not as totally hung up on the condition of the instructor( unless they're male, tanned, with nice a nice firm bod.... perhaps I was wrong! LOL ) and I'd would ALWAYS rate qualifications and teaching style over the size of their waiste.

I 'm still pretty new to the whole spinning thing and until I feel a bit more experienced I suppose I just want an instructor I feel comfortable with and knows what they're talking about. For me the body of a well buffed instructor acts as something to encourage me, and at the moment I need all the encouragement I can get - especially after all those Easter Eggs!!!

[Irulan]

how'd you like this guy for your instructor.

mmm baby


Irulan

[goddess1222]

thanks irulan, I LIKE WHAT THAT HOTTY IS HAULIN'. UH,OH YEAH, UMMMM, I LIKE THE BIKE TOO.

he can group hug me anytime. LOOOOOOVE THOSE SHAVED LEGS.

[MightyMitre]

Oh yes ! Nice one Irulan! Let me know when the hugging begins. I wouldn't mind riding a trail behind him for a while.

Now if he was my spin teacher I don't think it would be the cycling that was raising my heart rate. Mmmmm...

goddess 1222 - the legs are mine , or maybe we could settle for one each!

[Irulan]

gotta be careful with those rear views. I amost wrecked a car looking a cyclist when I should have been watching the road...

I.

[goddess1222]

hey mighty, when i was a little girl, my mom taught me that sharing is good. i'll make an exception. you take one leg, i'll nibble on the other.

[MightyMitre]

That's funny! I have to admit, when I'm driving I do just the same thing! On a long car journey it's always nice to have a hobby - even if it is being on the look out for legs to nibble!!

[missliz]

Whoa! My god! I want to play, too, please!

missliz