Wow. I'm puzzled.

[Trek420]

mickchick "The Bikejournal site is down, so I'll check back later and perhaps, post something."

uh oh, we broke it. Too much Estrogen for it. but me too.

crazycanuck "I find male roadies are the worst-they usually (not all i might add) have their heads up their behinds. Just because they're on a road bike doesn't mean **** all."

and yet, and yet some of them wonder why they are still single???? a simple call out while passing would do the trick. or, more to the point a subtle "nice bike" when we pass them. ;-)

[VenusdeVelo]

LOL Trek -- that's a good one. And Susan, your response was great, articulate, classy yet hopefully shut him up.

I guess I have no problem with womens only or mens only provided it's not exclusive, I believe if a woman or a man really wanted to ride in these events, they probably would have to be let in. Legal issues would probably prevail. Maybe we could try a wrapper skirts only ride...must wear skirt over shorts...or maybe must wear a bra and a heart rate monitor strap (god i hate the 2 straps together!) -- that'll keep 'em away!

I've seen men I ride with (HB for one) really change their style over the years, and I am glad as they've become better men for it. Men are used to being degraded and yelled at in the football locker rooms, and can't quite understand why women do not respond to that sort of infantile training. Sorry, not bitter, I just think we need to train our "boys" to become better men, and some of it starts there. Teach him aggression, and he'll be aggressive....isn't it about time we learn a lesson here?!

*Sigh*.

[Trek420]

VenusdeVelo "I believe if a woman or a man really wanted to ride in these events, they probably would have to be let in. Legal issues would probably prevail."

I'd hate to see it get embroiled in that because the cost of the legal battle would likely end the ride and even the club itself. Localy we've seen what happened here to Cherry City Cyclists when they were sued. Good to see them back with an event this year, took almost 10 years.

And we've seen that these events have value for women and girls and cycling in general and therefore are a benefit to male cyclists and guys and the planet in general.

Maybe when they let *us* in the TdF?

[VenusdeVelo]

I agree, it's always lose-lose when legal issues are tested, and it's never the same after. Maybe a span of 10 years has helped heal some wounds.

Well, there used to be a Tour de Feminin that has since been cancelled for a few years now I believe...but was the female version of TdF. Unfortunately I am sure it was cancelled due to lack of $$ and sponsorship. Women do not draw the $$ like men do (cycling, basketball, etc. etc.), but it's getting a little tiny bit better when you read pubs like Velonews where they actually mention women's results, publish (albeit very short) articles, and huuuuuh! god forbid, they even post pictures of the teams. Now when a woman gets on on the cover...

Although many hate to address the issue, women and girls do respond better to female only environments in sports like you mentioned. It's a different kind of pressure, a pressure to do your best and find out what you are made of, rather than a contest of "might".

Another *sigh*.

[maillotpois]

The BJ site is still down. I think we killed it. I feel kinda bad.

[VenusdeVelo]

...patronize the women's events -- cyclo-cross races, road races, mtb races, women's tri's like danskin, irongirl...it all helps!

[Trek420]

clarification~Cherry City Cyclists were sued over the right to organize a century. It went something like this: the club had organized rides for years in the Bay Area and I think it was '97 they organised a ride and had all the permits except for...one corner, approx a few hundred yards or less. Rather than re-route the whole dang thing they went ahead and did the ride. I was on it, it was great. My first metric century and I was so slow that I had my own personal sag wagon, last one in and the sweep vehicle just hung back kept me (and my ex DP) in view I think he even pulled over and read ;-)

They could not have been more supportive and friendly to newbie women. That experience helped get me hooked.

They got sued over that narrow bit of road and it kept them from doing more than training ride series till this year. I think their clup prez. even spent time in the pokey.

They have returned with a vengance with this:
http://www.cherrycitycyclists.org/Ce...oicesPage.html
84 miles with up to 10,000 feet of climbing. I don't thinks so, but you gals go ahead ;-)

There are seven major climbs and descents on this ride, plus an optional Cat. 1 rated eighth climb, including:

Wildcat Canyon - Grizzly Peak - Skyline Blvd - Pinehurst Rd - Redwood Rd - Palomares Rd - Calaveras Rd - Sierra Rd (optional CAT 1 climb)

These are the same roads traveled in Stage 2 of The 2006 Tour of California, clearly a world-class cycling route.

But back OT (on topic) what VdV sez, support women's sports.