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

[AutumnBreez]

I was referring to the Tour de France when I was saying this. Why there is not a Tour de France Womens Race. But again, sponsorship. But the tips and references were appreciated...Thank you!

And again.....keep those dreams alive girls!

[latelatebloomer]

Originally Posted by AutumnBreez
Perhaps a Women's Cycling magazine is what we need?

I would give my eyeteeth for that right now, especially as I am parked on my butt recovering from a sinus infection (amazon turns to dishrag )

Maybe I could write the cycling equivalent of the John "The Penguin" Bingham's pieces for runners, perhaps under my retired Indian name of "Snail Woman." I was given a new one after dropping 50lbs.

Regarding sports coverage, I gave up my TV about 10 years ago, so I am removed from this issue, but am very aware that we cast votes with the money we spend, and some of us spend a lot. When we buy anything cycle-related, fire a message to the company that says, "love the * I just bought, support women's cycling! (tell 'em how, too.)"

[DeniseGoldberg]

I was referring to the Tour de France when I was saying this. Why there is not a Tour de France Womens Race.

Many years ago there was a Women's Tour de France. I can't remember when (and why) it was cancelled, but I just did some Google searches, and it looks like there is again a multi-stage women's tour in France called Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale. Based on the sites that I could find - if I'm reading them right, that is - it is a one-week race that finished on July 3rd. Better than nothing...

Here's the link to the web site in French: http://velo-feminin.com/. And here's the link to the web site as translated by Google into English. I have no way of knowing if the translated page will be updated, so it's probably best to get to that page the way I did - search on Google for "La Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale", then click on translate this page instead of clicking directly on the web site.

--- Denise