Why do I see fewer women cycling than men?

[jyyanks]

For me, it has everything to do with lack of time. I work full time with a 2 hour commute which leaves me no time to cycle during the week. During the weekends, the kids have activities and quite frankly, i feel guilty spending time away from them since I'm not around as much during the week so weekends are primarily devoted to family. I get about an hour or two each day during the weekend but thats not enough time to go on an extended group ride (which typically lasts longer and does not work with my schedule). Therefore, I end up riding alone on the bike trail a lot. When my kids are older, I hope I could devote more time to cycling and join more group rides but unfortunately, that isn't possible now.

[ivorygorgon]

My club is dominated by FAST men. When I talk to the guys about their wives, the inevitable reason their wives don't ride is that they are afraid to ride on the road.

[Eden]

I'm like Oak - I grew up riding on the road. I started cycle touring with my parents when I was about 10 or 11 I think - I was in middle school. I was riding all over by myself in city traffic by the time I was 14. I didn't even have a driver's license until I was 25. I don't have kids.

None of the worries other people have expressed have ever really affected me, I guess. I suppose a lot of it has to do with how I was raised. My parents were always quite active and I was allowed, perhaps even pushed to do things that other girls never were. Other kids thought I was weird, but I don't think that ever really bothered me. It certainly didn't change my behavior - nor has the fact that now other adults often think I'm weird bother me or change my behavior.

[Crankin]

Come to think of it, I rode all over, on the road starting at age 10, until I got my license. It wasn't city riding, but a very hilly, densely populated suburb. I rode at night, too. There are certain places I won't ride, but I started out right on the road.

[Reesha]

I'm like Oak - I grew up riding on the road. I started cycle touring with my parents when I was about 10 or 11 I think - I was in middle school. I was riding all over by myself in city traffic by the time I was 14. I didn't even have a driver's license until I was 25. I don't have kids.

None of the worries other people have expressed have ever really affected me, I guess. I suppose a lot of it has to do with how I was raised. My parents were always quite active and I was allowed, perhaps even pushed to do things that other girls never were. Other kids thought I was weird, but I don't think that ever really bothered me. It certainly didn't change my behavior - nor has the fact that now other adults often think I'm weird bother me or change my behavior.

This is pretty much me in a nutshell. I rode my bike everywhere as a kid for transportation... didn't get my license til my 20s and by then was fully adapted to road riding. Now I'm nearly 30, no kids yet... just a full time teaching job, domesticated DBF (who is afraid to ride on the roads go figure!), a dog, a cat, and some chickens. I'm not afraid to let my lawn go if it means I can have more time on the bike