Daydreaming here...

[RoadRaven]

Thanks for the PDF link, Spazz

Gonna print it out and start badgering local and national newspapers, as well as hassling SKY TV and local TV stations !!!

We do have packaged highlights of some of these - but an insignificant amount compared to the mens... we do get some great packages of the loacl "fun" rides too - like K2, and Round Taupo

[spazzdog]

bounce, golf and formula 1 are great examples of women playing with the men, yes... and good for them. I think it's great. But as Raven says neither sport absolutely depends on strenge and endurance. Cycling does.

But lets look at women's pro sports:

Tennis, the women had to start their own association to start making progress and it still took years for the somewhat "equal" tournament time and prize money to come around.

Soccer - the women's pro league came and has already gone in the states.

Basketball - the WNBA has made it because they play a different season than the men, thus not taking away from the cash flow.

Football - still at a "semi-pro" level. These girls still have to work for a living and get very little publicity.

Need I go on...

Cycling is an exiting sport. Women CAN do very well in the amateur ranks, some can even go pro and enjoy success, but you will never see women racing against men in the TdF. Personally I don't want to. I don't feel it's necessary to compete against men. Instead, fuel the fire for women's events to become AS respected, AS exciting, AS profitable.

If there's a women's race in your area make sure you go. Find the organizers... tell them how much you want to see more. If you want to race, get going. Learn, race, race some more...WIN.

Push local clubs to include women's cat3/4 separate races when they hold events. Go to them. Watch them. Race in them. It's only through racing at the lower levels that women can move up the category ladder to reach pro status.

Write letters to the editors of the racing magazine demanding more coverage of the women's scene.

OK - I'm done. spazz

[han-grrl]

I had to post my personal experience here...

a couple of years back the World Road Champs were held in Hamilton, Ontario. My hubby and i went and watched the womens road race. An amazing event. The women pedalling, it was like watching a ballet, so smooth, and perfect. There were helicopters and cameras, and we thought it was quite the event..

The next day was the mens...WOAH! totally different event it seemed. MORE helicopters, support vehicle after support vehicle, cameras, journalists...i couldn't belive how much coverage for the mens event there was...

I guess a fact of life unfortunately right now, is that mens sports still gets more money and more visibility.

If you want a good read on women in sports, i recommend the book Black Tights. (T. Robinson). Its a real eye opener.

[spazzdog]

han-girl, what's the author's full name? I find no book called "Black Tights" on amazon. Can you check and post all the info? Thanks!

spazzdog

[bluerider]

Hey han, I agree with you on the coverage. Was at World's watching the women's and men's event as well. The size of the crowds and fervour at the women's races was not comparable to that of the men's.

That's a great book you recommened. I have it myself. Spazz, the full title is Black Tights: Women, Sport and Sexuality. It's by Laura Robinson.

[spazzdog]

Thanks blue & han. I'll look for it.

spazz