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.