Cycling non-sexism-maybe I hang out with different guys?

[OakLeaf]

I have to say I rarely experience this on the bici. Plenty on the moto.

Part of it may be that my DH doesn't bicycle, so when I go into a shop, either I'm alone, or it's obvious to the workers that I'm the only cyclist in the couple.

In my areas, there are actually more women in the fast/competitive groups than there are in the more recreational groups I ride with. So I really don't know what it's like for those women. Then the very slow groups have a pretty even mix of women and men, and I kind of know where they are - they're likely to experience snottiness based on their pace much more than their sex.



On the appearance thing, I don't know. I was raised not to care about my appearance at. all., which may sound like a positive thing to some people, but think about having to teach yourself to bathe, groom and dress yourself as a teenager through young adult, and getting to middle age without really knowing how to take care of your skin and nails. I know it *is* harder for women - when I'd take the moto to court, I had to bring along a butane curling iron so I could lose the helmet hair in a public restroom that might not have electric outlets. Never heard of a man having to do that. Men talk about putting on their Aerostich suits over business suits... can't do that when the bottom of your suit is a skirt. As far as whether it's okay to be an athlete and care about your appearance... FloJo completely changed my thinking about that. I'll never say or think it again.