One more "why women don't cycle" article

[shootingstar]

I get the sense that a lot of women don't like to sweat, based on my own anecdotal evidence from my regular friends. So, they go to an air conditioned gym, where it's "OK" to exert one's self in that environment, shower, and get back to real life.
I had a funny experience that showed me some of those attitudes last summer. I rode my Jamis to Concord center, because I was bored. It was a very, very hot day, in the low nineties. This is only a 4 mile ride, but I was sweating like crazy when I arrived. A very nice boutique that has shops in 3-4 upscale towns was having a sale, and I thought I would go in to see if they had anything. I was wearing "fashionable" commuting clothes, that I love; a skort, a Terry Eurohalter, matching socks, and my Keen sandals (which match my blue Jamis). OK, I had some women actually look at me with fright, disdain, and back away, because I was sweaty. I saw a couple saying something about me, in my disheveled state.
I really wanted to try on a sundress there, but I was too sweaty, so I just bought it and stuck it in my pannier, and it did fit. The sales staff was nice, but I was kind of amazed that my sweaty presence caused such an uproar.

Crankin, I do notice women joggers and cyclists in stores who are sweating alot. But hey, it's great to pick up something from the store, if it fits their schedule. It's amazing how judgemental we can be...would we be like that to sweaty guys....quite a number of guys sweat in the face easily, just simply on a hot day without much exercise exertion.

It's great when a woman chooses to cycle in streetwear. Because it's funny that I'm the opposite of being overly fussy about ruining my dress clothing when I bike. It was a big deal for myself to cycle in black jeans from one building to headquarters building for work last week. I gave up the thought of wearing $100.00 dress pants (which took ages for me to find right fit, style) for cycling: I didn't want to rip anything and not having a sewing machine (in Calgary) to repair a tear/broken seam.

But it was a business meeting with 100 people I didn't know, where I cycle commuted there and changed into black jeans and semi dress jacket. But no make-up. Haven't gotten around to it for past 8 months.

Methinks for some folks being in an enclosed group of people doing yoga or whatever sport in the gymn, is "safe" for them to look lousy/messy for a confined group of people doing the same sport without many non-exercising strangers looking/noticing them. Yes, exercise as not part of "real" life. But if it works for them for many years, great.