Cycling with young children

[OakLeaf]

Really good discussion springing out of the Women's Cycling Forum at the summit this week. Be sure to read the comments.

http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/03/21...he-street-men/

[PamNY]

Interesting discussion about cycling with children -- not something I know much about. I do see a lot of people with children on Extracycles or in cargo bikes, but they are mostly on the greenway.

I honestly do not understand why bike shops and bike repairs are supposedly such a huge problem for women. How is repairing my bike different from repairing a man's bike?

[OakLeaf]

Maybe women are just more sensitive to condescension, but I don't think so. I think we're the object of it on account of being women, in addition to whatever other reasons shops may mistreat their customers.

[Owlie]

Maybe women are just more sensitive to condescension, but I don't think so. I think we're the object of it on account of being women, in addition to whatever other reasons shops may mistreat their customers.

Agreed. One of the shop guys was surprised that I changed my own tire. I somehow doubt that he'd have been impressed if it were my boyfriend who came in and asked for a top-up.

[PamNY]

Agreed. One of the shop guys was surprised that I changed my own tire. I somehow doubt that he'd have been impressed if it were my boyfriend who came in and asked for a top-up.

That could happen in any number of stores. What I have trouble accepting is that women let this kind of thing stop them cycling. Are people seriously that controlled by retailers?

If someone is rude or thoughtless at the hardware store, I don't abandon my home improvement project.

[Antaresia]

That could happen in any number of stores. What I have trouble accepting is that women let this kind of thing stop them cycling. Are people seriously that controlled by retailers?

If someone is rude or thoughtless at the hardware store, I don't abandon my home improvement project.

I think the problem is that if you hear it enough, it's easy to believe. And it isn't just the bike-shop guys. My god some of the "why women don't bike" threads in other forms are depressing. One guy said something like "all the women I know would be psychologically and physically destroyed by aggressive car encounters" gahhhhhhh I can just imagine some little girl having him as a role model.

[hebe]

That was an interesting read, thank you.

I wouldn't be cycling if it weren't for being made redundant whilst on maternity leave, so I've only ever cycled within the constraints of parenting. It is wonderful as she gets older and I get more opportunities to cycle on my own and also that she's starting to get into her own little bike too.

The retail thing is interesting. Bikes are a fairly significant investment, even at the entry level, and I can see that women would be put off if they were sold an inappropriate bike for their needs, or if they encountered a sales environment that was intimidating in one way or another. When I took my first bike in for something or other the bike shop owner said "ooh, you've been riding this!" He couldn't sell me a plain and simple water bottle either, just an over-logo'd sports drink mixer thing. He still looks stunned every time I go into the shop with my helmet. I go somewhere else now, that is far more supportive and helpful.

[Reesha]

This was an interesting read, although a lot of the 'reasons' are infuriating, having dealt with condescension in bike shops, and women who are stunned that I'll commute and get ready for my workday in the locker room at school, etc. My take on bike shops is always just that a lot of male athletes have mega egos and they all think they are the ultimate experts and nobody else can be, because if they were they'd be working in bike shops. :megaeyeroll: Still, this isn't enough of a reason to me. I think the reason more women don't ride is deeper and more cultural. I hear the 'hurt butt' excuse a lot and I let them know that a solid week or riding and some ibuprofen takes care of that usually if you have a saddle that is good. I hear the 'uncomfortable in traffic' reason a lot, and that does take practice admittedly and if you're not in a good location for practicing, you might just be stuck.

I came back to my homeland for spring break and was delighted to discover that both of my best friends bought road bikes. I knew that one was going to do a triathlon on Cape Cod, but this just thrilled me. It means that they will have something new to do with each other... I will have something to do with them when I come home. They are excited about it, the best part of all. Seriously, if one of them wanted to ride across the country in a few years, I would do it again with them. I also like to remind them that there are a lot of nice, gentlemanly, and attractive men in the sport of cycling/triathlon and to nevermind the egofests they might run into. You'll have those anywhere.

[Susan]

I'd say I see as many women cycling on the streets as men, but when it comes to mountainbiking, I tend to be the only woman in a group. Or, as in my recent holiday, I tend to be the only one among some other women who ends up cycling with a bunch of men, because the others find things "too hard" or "scary".

In my experience a lot of women like this position of "not being able to do something", being "too fragile", "too weak" etc. - a mindset that every woman can easily change on her own.

What I find interesting is that I often see men in nice cycling gear with top-end bikes, accompanied by women on heavy bikes towing a trailer or having a childseat on the rack. I remember that it was just this way when I was a kid - dad cycling off on his nice roadbike, mom following with us kids on the back of her bike or our little bikes. I can imagine that this can't be fun...

[lph]

One guy said something like "all the women I know would be psychologically and physically destroyed by aggressive car encounters" gahhhhhhh I can just imagine some little girl having him as a role model.

I would be psychologically and physically infuriated if someone had dared say something like that to my face.

But in a way it's all the same thing. And though I find the whole "chic" part of it a bit silly, I like that the cycle-chic movement is helping to downplay the image that commuting by bike has to be hard-core or macho or frightening or whatever. It can be, it doesn't have to be, it all depends.

On the other hand, many women do get away with being a bit wimpy, IMHO. It's normal for a beginner to be nervous, but I think it's much more culturally acceptable for a woman to give in to her fears or misgivings (or a hurt butt), than for a man to do the same. And it doesn't help not having lots of role models. That's what rocks about TE, you can be sure that someone else has done it before you, and will give you friendly advice about it.

ps. I added a post about our cycling with a small child, btw, hvik is me.

[PamNY]

I'm seeing more and more of these with children riding along. They are pricey bikes, they would take up a lot of space in an apartment, and I've never seen one in traffic.

It does look like fun, though!

[Catrin]

I'm seeing more and more of these with children riding along. They are pricey bikes, they would take up a lot of space in an apartment, and I've never seen one in traffic.

It does look like fun, though!

How would something like that handle? It makes more sense to me to have all of that in the back, but in the front?

[Crankin]

While I started riding on the road right from the start, it took me a long time to do certain things/ go in certain areas. I won't ride in the city; it just scares me to death. On the other hand, I don't drive in the city, either. Am I a wimp? Maybe. I just don't feel skillful enough to deal with the crazy city drivers and I guess I am not willing to risk life and limb to practice. I can deal with all of the suburban/rural drivers, but there are intersections, etc I avoid.
Now for mountain biking, yeah I fully own up to wimping out and selling my mountain bike. I was at the scared beginner level for 5 yrs. and that was enough.
As far as shops go, well they don't intimidate me at all... now.

[PamNY]

How would something like that handle? It makes more sense to me to have all of that in the back, but in the front?

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