Why do I see fewer women cycling than men?

[Owlie]

I totally agree on the "deserving" a nice bike. And while I can understand the desire not to sink a lot of money into a new hobby immediately (because I did it too), and I do realize it's an expensive hobby, the fact that it isn't nice is probably going to hinder your enjoyment.*

And if I see couples together on the bike trail, if they're not riding comparable bikes, it's always the man that's riding the decent bike, while the woman's huffing and puffing away on a heavy mountain bike or something.



*Maybe I'm a masochist, because I rode for 3 years on a bike that didn't fit and I still like it...

[featuretile]

Where I live in California, there are almost as many women in the bike club as men. Most of the people are over 60. If you are younger than 60, you are a kid. Both men and women have pretty nice bikes. But, the faster riders are mostly men (but not all).

In fact, they are all great roll models for me of how to stay fit as you get older. We have 3 men who are over 80, and I think, 3 women who are over 70. Most members are very encouraging. There is some problem with different levels of speed in the group rides, and I have experienced being dropped. But they are trying to remedy that.

Since no women that age are dealing with raising children, that does not stop them from riding. And the weather is good all year. Everybody wears hi-vis jerseys or jackets and black biking shorts, and I have gotten used to that as working better and no longer feel self conscious about the clothes.

I feel lucky to be in this kind of environment.

I prefer a group ride to riding alone because there is someone there if something happens, and I get to learn new roads.