Wow. I'm puzzled.

[Trekhawk]

OMG - Im mortified. Do guys like this really exist?
Im pleased to say the men I know would never begrudge women an event just for them in amongst a sea of male dominated sports.
To those men at BJ who feel slighted I say - GET A LIFE.
LOL - lets hope they mention it to their wives/girlfriends and maybe we will have a few more riders.

[DrBee]

Yeah - they definitely aren't getting any and I hope they don't for a very long time.


It's really disturbing to see that kind of attitude towards women cyclists. While we know it exists, it just horrible to see someone actually write it. Ugh! You ladies posted some great and well-thought out comments. You have represented us well! Thank you!

[SadieKate]

Right after I posted I left to go get lunch. Low blood sugar doesn't help, but I was a bit upset. Came back to find my computer had blown up and needed umpty-bizillion Miscrosoft updates. Finally get on and see what all my friends and compatriots posted. Thanks. My hats off to TsPoet for the bravery to start it. I forget now which one of you posted the bit about Title 9 but I edited it out of my initial posted on TE. Great minds.

I'm going to post a reply but I just need to compose it calmly. I do agree with the politically incorrect issues but we aren't raised in a fair world. When I hear what MP Jr. is still experiencing at school it makes me so sad. The same stuff I got at school and from my own parents and I'm 46, a heck of a lot older than MP Jr. Remember the old Virginia Slims ad "You've come A long way, baby!" I want to tell those guys that we're trying to drag them along with us, but we're tired of their kicking, screaming and whining.

[Deanna]

I'm amazed at the rudeness of the responses, but unfortunately not surprised to see them. There's a man up here suing the locally owned women's only gyms for not allowing men. I guess he's not quite man enough to go after a big gal chain like Curves yet so he keeps picking on these single gym, small business owners--even after he won the right to attend the gym he checks up on them and goes back to court if he finds little things that don't match the ruling to the letter.

[Susan Otcenas]

A couple of year's ago, we ran a contest. I can't recall all the details, but basically the contest was for an all-female trip with a bicycling touring company (they also did co-ed trips). A guy wrote in and asked:

"I'd like to know what your response would be if you encountered a Team Testosterone web site that was raffling off an all-male biking trip. Might I suggest you'd find the above highly offensive?"

My response was:

"Thank you for writing. While I can appreciate your opinion, I don't believe our contest is offensive.

Would you find women-only trips offered by companies such as Woman Tours or Luna Tours offensive? How about couples-only weeks at Club Med? How about singles-only or youth-only events offered by your local church group? My point is that while there are many many options available for all-inclusive trips, people of all stripes occasionally enjoy trips with people with whom they have an affinity.

Sometimes women enjoy the comaraderie of other women, without the testosterone-charged atmosphere that occasionally surfaces in male-dominated groups. To each her own, however. Some women enjoy co-ed groups, while the reality is that some women find those groups somewhat intimidating. Our goal as cyclists should be to promote cycling for everyone, in environments that are comfortable for everyone."

Given the other examples, he seemed to change his mind and decide it was OK after all (not like I "needed" his approval ). But sometimes I think people need to just look at things from another perspective.

Susan

[maillotpois]

Right after I posted I left to go get lunch. Low blood sugar doesn't help, but I was a bit upset. Came back to ding my computer had blown up and needed umpty-bizillion Miscrosoft updates. Finally get on and see what all my friends and compatriots posted. Thanks. My hats off to TsPoet for the bravery to start it. I forget now which one of you posted the bit about Title 9 but I edited it out of my initial posted on TE. Great minds.

I'm going to post a reply but I just need to compose it calmly. I do agree with the politically incorrect issues but we aren't raised in a fair world. When I hear what MP Jr. is still experiencing at school it makes me so sad. The same stuff I got at school and from my own parents and I'm 46, a heck of a lot older than MP Jr. Remember the old Virginia Slims ad "You've come A long way, baby!" I want to tell those guys that we're trying to drag them along with us, but we're tired of their kicking, screaming and whining.

I made the Title 9 comment - and I really am bitter because even though I am of an age where I supposedly benefitted (I'll be 40 this year), I feel like I never got any encouragement to do sports at all. It wasn't til I finally got a bike that I ever felt like an athlete.

"MP, Jr.!" Hee hee!!!

[tatormc]

I saw the thread on bj and was shocked by the comments. Had no idea this was a hot topic. If there was an all guys ride I could care less. I like the idea of an all girls ride and wish there was one closer to me.

[Trek420]

Dianyla "Loved your post, Veronica! "

me too. go get 'em ;-)

[snapdragen]

Added my three cents, for what it's worth.

If only there were more Thoms in the world

[SadieKate]

"MP, Jr.!" Hee hee!!!

PetitePois!

There are so many male-only opportunities it makes my head spin. Wasn't the history of the Cinderella that the men started it as payback for all the support from the women at all the other rides?

Title 9 - The girls' HS tennis team had to use used balls from the boys team. We only got new balls for matches, not for practice. The boys teams for all sports had priority use of the school van. In 1977, my college tennis team got its first shoe sponsor while the men, of course, had had one for years.

[SadieKate]

Susan, thanks for relating your letter. I may lift portions of it for my response. Hope that is OK.

I just have to post my own response so I can sleep tonight. I'm rather curious at the few men who have posted support, but then we know they are the cream of the crop. I'm wondering what the silent ones are thinking.

[Trek420]

SadieKate "I'm wondering what the silent ones are thinking."

probably something like (picture biker guy with thought bubble here)

"ok,so if I come out in support of the women the guys'll tease me. But on the other hand the gals will dig it. Hmmm, ribbing from the guys vs. chicks digging me....hmmmm"

But seriously I don't think of the Cindy as an easy century anymore, and it sounds like they think "womens ride = easy". I mean it's not my training goal of the year, more of an early season dust the cobwebs off thang, see where I am kinda thing. You gals know I'm not fast or good at climbing but I suppose I'm no newbie anymore. I don't get a real idea of where I am with a group of men riders. Sure they pass me, they all will. But with a group of gals I can see like last year, big improvement, could tell I was being "spit out the back of the fast pack" as opposed to just finishing, and felt good. This year, well showing up was good enough for me, I did not time it.

[Tater]

Wow. I too, was shocked at some of the posts on bj. It makes me sad just to read them. (As well as pi$$ed!) I don't see many female bikers in my neck of the woods, I don't see many female runners either, for that matter. I wish I did. So when I see an all female event, I am all for it. As for an all male event, meh, go ahead. But in that respect. I also agree with SadieKate, in that there are so many male-only oportunities, it isn't even funny.

[SadieKate]

Whew. I posted. Really long but I needed to get it off my chest. Someone needs to get TsPoet over here, or is she under another name? TsPoet, you lurking?

I give CrazyMike credit for re-thunking his comments.

[bikerz]

Hey SK - what a thoughtful and heartfelt post on BJ - nicely said.