Trek Women's Dirt Series Review - Loooooooong

[Artista]

Loraura and Wahine, how did each of you feel about learning from men vs. women and vice versa? I find that I usually learn athletic skills from women more easily than I do from men.

[Wahine]

In general, I would say that is true for me as well. If you gave me 10 female coaches, I'd learn well from 8/10, men it would be much lower, maybe 3/10. I say it this way because I have had some amazing male coaches that I wouldn't have traded for a woman anyday. I just think the hit rate is lower.

Women definitely think differently than men do and I feel like a female coach can tap into that and use it to help teach more easily than men can in general.

[gnat23]

I'm not even sure it's a male/female thing so much as a "do you know how to talk to students" issue. The Dirt Series folks have a paid job to explain concepts to beginners -- explaining where your center of gravity should be, where your pedals should be, explaining how friction and momentum work with our against you, where to look and how that helps, common mistakes, etc etc.

My husband, when I asked how he got around a switchback, sort of blinked at me and said "I don't know, I just.. ride it." I doubt it was because he was male, I just don't think he's ever had to break it down into the minutia and try to explain it to someone else. It'd be like asking the average person on the street about what is it that makes a poem the best in the world.

-- gnat!

[Wahine]

I agree completely with Gnat. But I'd also add that I think that women tend to break things down into steps/details more automatically. There's actually some research out there to support this, maybe not in coaching specifically but definitely in spatial cognition and navigation.

So can anyone learn to coach in that manner, absolutely. I just think it comes more naturally to women. Realizing of course that there is a very large spectrum of thought patterns/styles within either gender.

[Artista]

I agree completely with Gnat. But I'd also add that I think that women tend to break things down into steps/details more automatically. There's actually some research out there to support this, maybe not in coaching specifically but definitely in spatial cognition and navigation.

So can anyone learn to coach in that manner, absolutely. I just think it comes more naturally to women. Realizing of course that there is a very large spectrum of thought patterns/styles within either gender.

You just said in a few sentences what I've thinking all day.

I should add that another reason I learn better from women has to do with my own personality. I'm more self conscious about trying new skills around men that I don't know well than I am around any woman. This is true even if the man happens to be the instructor.

I'm also more likely to try a new skill if I've seen other women do it. In fact, I experienced this on a recent ride with Jessmarimba. She rode 2 steep downhill switchbacks that I had been walking. Seeing Jess ride those switchbacks was more confidence inspiring than watching my hubby ace them time and time again. I aced both of the switchbacks, too, but may not have even attempted them yet if not for seeing Jess doing it.

[Wahine]

I'm also more likely to try a new skill if I've seen other women do it. In fact, I experienced this on a recent ride with Jessmarimba. She rode 2 steep downhill switchbacks that I had been walking. Seeing Jess ride those switchbacks was more confidence inspiring than watching my hubby ace them time and time again. I aced both of the switchbacks, too, but may not have even attempted them yet if not for seeing Jess doing it.

I totally get this. If I don't ride some of the stuff the boys do, I'm totally OK with that. If I see another woman do it, suddenly I want to be able to do it too.

If I get passed by a woman, watch out. BF says that I hate getting chicked more than most guys.

[Artista]

I forgot to say that I think that experienced coaches, both male and female, usually do a pretty good job of teaching the basics to beginners. But I'm looking to improve my intermediate skills like jumping my bike. I'll do best with explanations, demonstrations, and critique. I think the explanations are where female coaches typically excel.