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

[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

[Geonz]

I like the idea of owning hte phrase... but I also figure - hey, it's marketing.
And then I think... and marketing has a pretty profound effect.

I wouldn't buy it 'cause I don't ride "like" anything. I just ride. I like turning "ride like a girl" into something strong.

[Kalidurga]

I wouldn't buy it 'cause I don't ride "like" anything. I just ride.

Thank you! That's exactly how I feel, and you said it perfectly.

[NbyNW]

I got one of the beanies from Terry that fits under your helmet and is long enough to keep your ears warm. I didn't realize it had "ride like a girl" on it until it came in the mail.

I probably wouldn't have chosen it since I'm not really into things with slogans, but I figure it's barely visible under my helmet and gets the job done. Having "ride like a girl" on it was not enough of a reason to return a perfectly good beanie.

The way the phrase is used on Terry merchandise doesn't bother me. I agree that they're taking a traditionally derogatory phrase and trying to rework it into something empowering.

[Blueberry]

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

I'd really like a pink "ride like a girl" sticker for my Surly.....

I find it amusing. I don't tend to wear pink, but I do like the message. I see it as you don't have to be a guy to be a really awesome rider.

CA

[Zen]

My new saddle has CrMo written on it.
At least they got "Mo" right

Maybe I'll take a sharpie to the 'Cr' part

[mimitabby]

I personally would not like it and would be unhappy if my DH surprised me with an item bearing that slogan, but it wouldn't bother me at all if my LBS carried it because it takes all kinds, as you can see from the answers here.