some questions for a school project on women who bike

[tulip]

where do you live?: Richmond, Virginia

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): recreational club rides and utility. I don't commute because I work from home, but I would commute by bike if I worked in an office. I used to commute for 5 years.

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? 25 years recreational riding. I also raced for 4 years and commuted for 5 years.

did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: I never really gave it up.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: I have a road bike that I use for long rides, a folding bike for traveling and long rides, a flat-bar road bike that I use for errands and urban riding, and an old mountain bike that needs repair and rejeuvenation.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: When I lived in DC, yes. Here I see mainly women on bikes around the university.

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: Pictures, yes. Stories, no.

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? Yes

what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): Equipment and bike, clothing. Safety I see as the same for all riders--mainly safety in regards to car traffic.

general comments and ideas: I see riding bikes as an important part of transportation. I strive to promote my own cycling as transportation, not just recreation.

[Crankin]

where do you live?: Concord, MA

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):fitness, leisure, group rides, touring, a little commuting and errands

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: I've been riding almost eight years. First, it was just fitness, then I did some bike tours. The commuting and errands have been in the last 3 years. I rode a bit in grad school and when I was in my thirties; I considered 10 miles a long ride then! I rode a lot as a kid.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: I have a carbon road bike, a steel hybrid, and a full suspension mountain bike

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: Yes!!

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:maybe a little, particularly in the local press

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): Keep making more women specific bikes and components. More choice for smaller women. More clothing for a wide variety of sizes. Help with mechanics.

general comments and ideas: What kind of class is this for?

[samisslick]

where do you live?: Concord, MA

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive):fitness, leisure, group rides, touring, a little commuting and errands

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: I've been riding almost eight years. First, it was just fitness, then I did some bike tours. The commuting and errands have been in the last 3 years. I rode a bit in grad school and when I was in my thirties; I considered 10 miles a long ride then! I rode a lot as a kid.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: I have a carbon road bike, a steel hybrid, and a full suspension mountain bike

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: Yes!!

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?:maybe a little, particularly in the local press

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): Keep making more women specific bikes and components. More choice for smaller women. More clothing for a wide variety of sizes. Help with mechanics.

general comments and ideas: What kind of class is this for?

hey, sorry for the late response. it's for a feminist action class.

[motochick]

where do you live?:Clarkdale, AZ

how would you classify your riding (commuting, leisure, competitive): Leisure

how long have you been riding a bike in the way that you do now? I have been a cyclist for 21 years. Riding like I do now, 1 year.

did you pick it up again after years of not riding?: Yes, I have picked it up again several times. This time I am cycling in such a way that I will not burn out.

what type of bike(s) do you have?: I have an older ti road bike with older wheels and brakes but a new 10 speed drivetrain.

do you notice more females on bikes in recent years than before?: Yes, especially living in a small town in a rural area.

do you notice more focus on females who bike in the media recently?: I don't really pay attention to media.

do you think there are female specific concerns in cycling? Yes

what would they be? (buying appropriate bike/equipment, stigma, safety): It would be nice to have as many equipment choices that the men have.

general comments and ideas: It would be nice if the other female cyclists I come across would be nice and take an interest in meeting other women who cycle and not just blowing by as fast as they can. I find that most of the cyclists I see are rude and arrogant and don't want anything to do with you if you aren't in their little click. Some are too much into the racing thing and won't accept the recreational rider. I just like to ride.

Brenda