All time high number of women in WA?

[Eden]

No one will give you dirty looks or treat you like a leper for being unattached here - well, not if you don't do anything really, really stupid at least.... then you'll likely get yelled at, but a person on a team would get the same treatment. The main difference would be that the team person would probably be yelled at by name and the unattached rider would get a hey [jersey color]

I just think that this year especially with the numbers of women we have out there that being unattached will be harder than ever. It can be pretty intimidating to ride in a pack of 50 people. Even if you have done some group rides, its different when people are 4 across the road and jostling for position. Even 4 years ago when I started it was a big turn out if 30 showed up and it was rare that the group didn't split right away, so it was unusual to really be racing with more than 10-12 other women- not any more. Plus there's been enough participation in the past few years that there is an experienced core of 4's out here and they are actually doing some team racing - and there are even enough teams now to make it interesting.

Pac Raceways is good for a few reasons - It's a closed course, with few places that are even a little dicey. It's always a possibility to touch someone's wheel, but the course doesn't have an tight turns or anything like that. It is very wide- there's always lots of room to spread out and no center line to have to worry about. It's easier for new people to move around and get used to riding close, but still allows them an out if they get uncomfortable. The groups tend to be smaller - lots of people just can't or don't want to go out on a weekday night to race. There are mentors - higher cat women volunteer to ride along and coach. The overall experience level is lower - so really new racers get to ride with other really new racers rather than being thrown right in with folks who've been at it for years.

[XMcShiftersonX]

Thanks to both of you for your input. That does sound nice Eden... I must admit that part of my apprehension is over the fear of riding in such close quarters with other people. I am afraid of crashing and getting hurt, which my husband says happens a lot at the beginner level. My husband also likes to tease me when we're out riding by getting really close to me. I freak out, and he laughs and says, I'm just preparing you for what it's going to be like at STP or any other big rides that you do. So, that would definitely have to be something to get over! Are there any long distance races around here?

[zatar]

Pac Raceways is good for a few reasons - It's a closed course, with few places that are even a little dicey. It's always a possibility to touch someone's wheel, but the course doesn't have an tight turns or anything like that. It is very wide- there's always lots of room to spread out and no center line to have to worry about. It's easier for new people to move around and get used to riding close, but still allows them an out if they get uncomfortable. The groups tend to be smaller - lots of people just can't or don't want to go out on a weekday night to race. There are mentors - higher cat women volunteer to ride along and coach. The overall experience level is lower - so really new racers get to ride with other really new racers rather than being thrown right in with folks who've been at it for years.

I'm interested in Pacific Raceways, Eden, but wondering if the higher cat women you mentioned are there every week, or just at the nights with women's clinics? I think it could be really helpful to me, as a relatively new racer.

[Eden]

Mentoring would only happen on nights with the women's races. There might be women who go out and race with the men on other nights, but they'd just be training on their own.

If it fits into your schedule go! It really is a low pressure place where you can learn tactics and pack handling. Usually there are 3 to 4 higher cat women who will ride along and give advice.

[zatar]

Awesome, thanks so much for the information, Eden. It sounds like a great opportunity and I'll definitely try to work it into my schedule!