Women's Cycling magazine

[Geonz]

Actually it looked to me like she's displaying an ice pack. There's certainly no skin in evidence! I thought it was cool (no pun intended). Maybe just because it's only been a year and a half ago that I was jamming an ice pack down my shorts just like that (and I still have the scar left by the hematoma ).

LOL! You might just be right ... and her expression would sorta fit... in that "grinning with teeth gritted" way. So, is it ice or is it lace, and what are the words on it? (I've never put an ice pack anywhere... would totally make sense that I just don't 'get it' )

[Eden]

I thought it was an ice pack when I first looked - she'd be breaking the commando rule if it was lace...

now that I look at it better I think she's showing off a new tattoo and that's an occlusive dressing over it - can't tell exactly what it is - ironman maybe?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I thought it was an ice pack when I first looked - she'd be breaking the commando rule if it was lace...

now that I look at it better I think she's showing off a new tattoo and that's an occlusive dressing over it - can't tell exactly what it is - ironman maybe?

Looks like Saran Wrap over a USDA stamp to me.

[grey]

I thought it was saran wrap over a tattoo, or over the racing number (but then, why would the racing number be on her butt and not on her arm or leg where it would be easily seen? Or, oh wait.. there IS the commando rule -- doesn't one of the competitive sports like tri tend to not have riders in bike shorts?) - but I like the USDA stamp thought!

I'm with Sundial (seconding the love for the spring avatar) and hope this does spawn other magazines. Road Warrior Woman, or Mountain Bike Woman sounds good to me - lots of us are weekend riders. I admire the folks here who so dedicated as to race or ride several styles competitively, but lots of us just like to escape the kids, or the messy house, or the stress of work and just pedal away for several hours. We come back happier, better adjusted people - who don't care about the house being a mess (too tired) have worked out the frustrations over the temper-tantrum child and are patient mothers again, and have the endorphins in plenty to deal with the office stress.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I admire the folks here who so dedicated as to race or ride several styles competitively, but lots of us just like to escape the kids, or the messy house, or the stress of work and just pedal away for several hours. We come back happier, better adjusted people - who don't care about the house being a mess (too tired) have worked out the frustrations over the temper-tantrum child and are patient mothers again, and have the endorphins in plenty to deal with the office stress.

I think Momentum biking magazine sort of fills that slot- the allover biking lifestyle...biking for fun, for health, for commuting and shopping (working bikes), kids and family biking, touring, students, mental sanity, etc.

[Aggie_Ama]

I personally am the total weirdo who casually mountain and road bikes but enjoys reading about any discipline. I have no desire to do any cyclocross but will read about it. Loaded touring sounds like the pits but I can be very interested in an article on it and even the gear for it. I don't road race but I know the ins and outs of crits. So broad sweeping is just fine for me.

[Andrea]

The gal w/her drawers down is Rachel Lloyd. That is a tattoo that she's showing. It was the prize for winning the Singlespeed CX Championships.

She's a really, really awesome rider for the Proman team and podiums regularly in national level MTB, CX, and Road races.

3rd place @ the Tour of Cali Crit:


She's 2008 Super D Champ and placed 2nd at the US CX nationals

[circlegirl]

There is another Women's cycling magazine coming out in September.
She Pedals: The Journal of Women in Cycling

The editor is a 20 year veteran to competitive cycling looking to create a quarterly journal (sans race results) that features articles that inspire ALL women to ride. It will not be a "ROAD", "Bicycling" or "VeloNews" as that market is fairly well covered.

The only way to grow women's cycling is for women to support all women in the sport not just focus on the only thousand or so (literally) who race.

Postcards went out at Sea Otter that offer a FREE debut issue for registering as well as email newsletters and gear give-a-ways coming soon.

The website is: http://www.shepedalsmagazine.com

If you do not have flash you can access the registration at:
http://www.shepedalsmagazine.com/She...istration.html

[Resi]

If we all put our head in the sand because of our world economy, nothing would move anymore. I support people which don't let all this negative hupla stop them from starting theyr own business, whatever it is. I know print media, worked for 15 years in one of the biggest newspaper in Germany, and we had a couple of recessions...yes the printmedia business is changing, but not yet...it will take some more time to go away...
To the Womenscyclingmag. I like that sombody is finaly getting this started. To cover the stories, well, look at the bicycle mag., they cover a lot, but I never see them going to much into details. Also one thing I would love to see, it shouldn't only cater to racers, I am a hard core biker but I just don't want to race, done that been there... I just love to bike...

I will support them

Resi

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The only way to grow women's cycling is for women to support all women in the sport not just focus on the only thousand or so (literally) who race.

I agree.....and I'll take it even one step further!- how about covering and problem-solving for women who use their bicycles as part of every day life- instead of bicycling always treated as a "sport". I'd love to see a practical magazine all about women riding bicycles for commuting to work, for good health and helping the planet, for shopping, for economizing, for hauling kids and dogs, for transportation and for transporting things. Fixing/adapting bikes, choosing a bike for the purpose, dealing with traffic, finding bike parts or helpful resources, organizing, practical issues when commuting/locking/traveling/parking....Must be enough wonderful material for years' worth of issues!

[Eden]

The only way to grow women's cycling is for women to support all women in the sport not just focus on the only thousand or so (literally) who race.

ummmmm while I'll admit that racing is not the biggest women's sport around I'd beg to differ on the "only a thousand or so" bit.... we have 80 -90 women just on our team in any given year. That's one team in one city. Yes, we are all amateurs and most of us probably are not going to be the subject of magazine articles, but since when has that been the point... because in any case, do you actually think that 99% of the guys who read Sports Illustrated (or any of a myriad sports magazines) even participate in any sport, much less do it professionally? Of course not, so who's to say there wouldn't be a large enough audience to support a magazine that reports on a women's sport just as thoroughly as others do for the guys. It's not like there's more than a thousand or so pro football players, baseball stars, etc, yet there are plenty of fans. Why not give people the opportunity to become fans of women's bicycle racing, by giving them the opportunity to actually follow it? I for one am interested in the high caliber women (and have actually been in races with some of them.... due to the way fields are sometimes combined it is possible even for us nobodies....) If I want to read about touring or get reviews of sports drinks I don't necessarily need a magazine all about women...

[circlegirl]

I'd beg to differ on the "only a thousand or so" bit.... we have 80 -90 women just on our team in any given year.

There are actually ONLY 5417 registered females with USA Cycling (our national governing body). In actuality only about 35% percent of those registered ever race. The number of women who are registered as UCI Elite cyclists in the US is only about 100. USA cycling covers all disciplines of cycling.

Most of the women are grouped together in several states: WA, CA, TX, AZ being some of the largest.

[Resi]

There are actually ONLY 5417 registered females with USA Cycling (our national governing body). In actuality only about 35% percent of those registered ever race. The number of women who are registered as UCI Elite cyclists in the US is only about 100. USA cycling covers all disciplines of cycling.

Most of the women are grouped together in several states: WA, CA, TX, AZ being some of the largest.

Thats well explained. I know some women which registered, but they don't race...so why pushing up the statistics and waist money... I don't understand that...

[circlegirl]

I think a lot of riders do it to support USA cycling.

And some riders race ITT's (time trials) but never do mass start races. There is a bit of crossover from the triathlon crowd.

Even for the few years I didn't race I always kept my license current...just in case.

[smurfalicious]

There are actually ONLY 5417 registered females with USA Cycling (our national governing body). In actuality only about 35% percent of those registered ever race. The number of women who are registered as UCI Elite cyclists in the US is only about 100. USA cycling covers all disciplines of cycling.

Okay so 5417 x .35 carry the two and cross multiply by the weight of their bikes and that gives us over 1800. Your original statement was only 1000. Keep in mind not every race is USA cycling sanctioned. In Colorado our governing body is the ACA. In my SW4 field this morning there were 35 of us. That's 3.5% percent of the ONLY 1000 women who race in my class alone this morning.

Of course this is Colorado, and Boulder no less so maybe that number is skewed, but I doubt it. I think there is a reader base out there, it's just a matter of getting it into their hands. I think they'll do themselves a huge favor following VeloNews' format and keeping race results online and doing the monthly mag.