"Ride like a girl"... How do you feel about that?

[sfa]

My daughter had a shirt that said "dunk like a girl" that she wore to school when the second grade boys told her that girls couldn't play basketball. She showed them girls can.

I think that's the intention behind the "...like a girl" merchandise--it's taking a phrase that is meant traditionally as an insult and turning it into an asset. When you "ride like a girl" you aren't weak and powerless, but skilled and strong. Now, I might have a problem with it if it was put on wicker baskets with plastic daisies, but if it's put on quality performance products, it's all good.

Sarah

[Eden]

Intentionally girly things do not generally appeal to me. I would be highly unlikely to buy anything with the phrase on it in any case, insulting or not.

As I think about it more, I suppose I'd rather not be considered a "girl" for the rest of my life either.... I have grown up. I doubt you'd ever find things aimed at men that have the phrase "like a boy" associated with them. Men don't tend to find that cute at all - referring to a grown man as "boy" is usually a pretty bad insult.

[Zen]

I agree with Eden. I'm a woman and I'm not too fond of it either.
When someone says of a man "he (runs, swims, rides, whatever) like a girl, it's said as an insult. To perform a task "like a girl" insinuates the performance is sub-par.

[makbike]

I'm with Eden and Zen. If you were told you "throw like a girl" it would be an insult and leaves no doubt that you can't toss a ball. I personally would not purchase anything with this on it nor would I make a fuss about it. I simply would spend my money on other products.

[indysteel]

I have a couple of "ride like a girl" items so they must not bother me too much. I think it's intended to be a little tongue in cheek. If anyone else, however, says I ride "like a girl" I'd be mad. There's a thread on Roadbikereview's forums about whether women feel uncomfortable climbing out of the saddle. Some of the gender stereotyping in the discussion has me a little miffed. The most irritating comment came from a guy complaining that his GF "climbs like a girl.". What, exactly does that mean? If that were my BF I'd run him over with my bike!

[Flur]

I like it. I don't generally like "girly" stuff - flowers embroidered on my saddle, script lettering, etc, but if "ride like a girl" is done in a sporty manner, I'm down with it. I grew up as a tomboy, digging in the dirt, jumping off the top of the jungle gym with the boys, etc. People still gave me dolls and flowery dresses and that made me mad. My own aunt, who was a tomboy type herself, would ignore me b/c she thought I couldn't play catch with the boys, so she'd take my male cousins out to play instead. That made me mad too. But as I got older I made my peace with it and am proud to be a girl. I don't tend to think of myself as a woman even though I am one - to me it sounds too matronly to accurately describe me. So, yeah, I'm proud to throw like a girl, run like a girl and ride like a girl. After all, I'm a girl. And as anyone who's seen the Olympics knows, we girls can do all those things pretty well.

[sundial]

I grew up as a tomboy, digging in the dirt, jumping off the top of the jungle gym with the boys, etc.

I used to chuck dirt clods at my brother and his friends, play in the mud, jump of the roof with my parachute (an old sheet that was supposed to break my fall), climb trees, and I whined big time when my brother got a pocket knife and I didn't. Oh, and the chemistry set too. I don't care for the "ride like a girl" addage. It sounds too juvenile to me. I do like the Rosie the Riveter slogan, "We can do it." I guess it has to do with the iconography of the slogan and the context it's taken.

I don't know what the targeted market is with Terry, but I wonder how much of their merchandise is sold to ladies in their teens and 20's vs. 30+ or so. I think I remember Georgena's earlier motive was to get as many young people moving and if that encourages them to ride, then maybe they have accomplished their goal.

[singletrackmind]

Like I could ride any other way???


Could care less about the slogan, but I don't like traditionally 'girly' stuff. For awhile there I was known as the chick that rides like a guy, whatever that means, and that didn't bother me either. It's the context that counts.

[7rider]

There's a thread on Roadbikereview's forums about whether women feel uncomfortable climbing out of the saddle.

Huh? I don't understand that one at all.


Re: Ride Like a Girl.
I think folks over-think things sometimes.

There is a woman on my group ride who re-applies lipstick at ever rest/re-group spot. She's a national TT champ and she can whip just about anybody's butt - male or female - on a bike. She's got calves the size of Buicks.

There's another woman on the ride who was just showing off the ride color-coordinated toe nail polish she had done for a triathalon she just completed.

We tease them both that they are "Girly-girls" and slap each other on the back and call each other girlfriend ("Hey Girlfriend. Wassup??"). Our ages are in our 40's and 50's.

Our local mountainbike advocacy group has a women's ride program that's called "Ride Like a Girl". It's designed to get women (or girls) to learn skills and get out in the woods riding in a fun, supportive environment. The guys join sometimes for "Ride Like a Dude" rides. But not always.

The whole intent is to be light-hearted and fun. Because isn't that what it's all supposed to be about??? I do this stuff for FUN. If you don't find it fun, then move away from it and move on.

p.s. ETA - that said...I probably wouldn't buy anything with a RLAG label...but then, I'm just not fond of the pink that it usually comes in. But I don't find it insulting.

[emily_in_nc]

I kinda like "Ride Like a Girl". I always took it to mean "hey, girls CAN ride...we rock...get over it!"

[Zen]

... I don't find it insulting.

And that's why you're our Potomac Princess
and I'm the drill sergeant

[KnottedYet]

I can take it or leave it. Kinda find it amusing at first, but not something I'd want to buy 'cuz the amusement would (and already has) wear thin.

My tight sexy black "Surly" girly t-shirt, now THAT'S a bike-thingy that amuses me every time I wear it. http://surlybikes.com/clothes.html

[ilima]

I don't mind the 'ride like a girl' stuff, but I probably wouldn't buy it, either.

OT-I can't believe your website is still hijacked.

[SadieKate]

I have "ride like a girl" socks in multiple colors and love 'em. I wear them mountainbiking when I'm usually the only girl and frequently one of the faster climbers (cuz I ride with a lot of old farts) -- and do the least whining.

I'm never felt very feminine growing up even though others thought I was and I just didn't "get it", but as I've gotten older I'm really happy and content being feminine and doing the same tomboy-ish things. I was well into my 40s before the women on this board got me to try a pedicure and I've been hooked. Nothing like taking off your "ride like a girl" socks and having a huge bath rub ring on your ankles and grime ground into your sparkly toe nails.

It's just plain ol' fun.

BUT I wouldn't use a saddle or wear a jersey with the motto. It's has to be something small and inconspicuous to keep it a little personal joke.

[maillotpois]

BUT I wouldn't use a saddle or wear a jersey with the motto. It's has to be something small and inconspicuous to keep it a little personal joke.

Like my silver necklace pendant.

I keep it right next to the Tiffany & Co. pendant I got for the Nike Women's Marathon 2006. Run like a girl, too, I guess. Or hobble.