Wow. I'm puzzled.

[SadieKate]

Thank you, BZ. That means a lot to me.

[SadieKate]

Hey, yellow and PZip. The guy in the middle of the picture in the yellow helmet is Guide Scott, soon to be met in person.

[Selkie]

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

As a female who rides alone, I've encountered a variety of different attitudes from male cyclists. I'm one of only a couple females who rides every day. There are men I pass regularly who are incredibly rude---one in particularly likes to try to intimidate me by drifting to the center of the trail when we are going past each other in opposite lanes. Gives me the stare, if you know what I mean. Another one actually harassed me about my bike light, rode along side me for about a mile, yelling at me. I reported that doofus, who had no bike light even though it was dark out, to the cops.

Have any of you ever had a guy tail behind you, refusing to pass, so he could watch your butt? That's happened a couple of times and I usually stop so they HAVE to go by. Sexual harassment on wheels.

Fortunately, there are nice guys, who help to compensate for the jerks. Ones who are encouraging, respectful, and kind.

[crazycanuck]

I ventured over to BJ & you ladies rock! What a bunch of whinging males.

I've never particpated in an all ladies road event but if I were in your neck of the woods i'd participate in the cindy one. If it gets more chickies on their bikes & spreading the word of the biking goddess, more power to us. Who cares if there are women only rides!

I've never been harassed by guys whilst on my bike. Most of the guys we ride with are more than happy to have a woman with the group. They like the fact i'm out there-trying every trail i can & aiming to get better. Who'd want to bother little me on the trail at 9pm???(kangaroos...)

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.

c

[Susan126]

I have been following this thread and I also checked out the thread at BJ. Amazing that there are still "neanderthals" alive and well in this day and age. I loved all your responses back to them. I guess I have been fortunate as I have not encountered harrassment by guys . . . could it be that my riding partner has something to do with that? When I ride with hubby (200 lbs and 6 feet tall) we get waves and nods. This summer though I will be riding during the weekdays without him. A first. I am off all summer long and I usually wait for him to come home to catch a late afternoon ride (usually after 6:00) but I want to try and get early morning rides in this summer. So I am looking for riding partners from June 15th through August 28th. It will be interesting to see how guys react to me minus hubby and with gals riding with me instead.

[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.

[bluerider]

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

As a female who rides alone, I've encountered a variety of different attitudes from male cyclists. I'm one of only a couple females who rides every day. There are men I pass regularly who are incredibly rude---one in particularly likes to try to intimidate me by drifting to the center of the trail when we are going past each other in opposite lanes. Gives me the stare, if you know what I mean. Another one actually harassed me about my bike light, rode along side me for about a mile, yelling at me. I reported that doofus, who had no bike light even though it was dark out, to the cops.

Have any of you ever had a guy tail behind you, refusing to pass, so he could watch your butt? That's happened a couple of times and I usually stop so they HAVE to go by. Sexual harassment on wheels.

Fortunately, there are nice guys, who help to compensate for the jerks. Ones who are encouraging, respectful, and kind.

That's insane mickchick. I haven't had guys tag my butt as I usually pass them. Hee Hee. But I did have this one old dood who rode on my tail for 15km and refused to take the lead. I was so annoyed because he neither announced himself or made an attempt to say hello.

I can relate. I ride alone all the time and encountered a total of 5 women last summer. Let's face it, it's a male-dominated sport where there is more smack talk than skills. 99% of the male roadies I encounter are very friendly and cool. But there will always be jerks.

But the one thing we as ladies shouldn't do is let a GUY make us feel inferior. We belong on the roads with guys and if they have a beef with having events that encourage female ridership, that is something they will have to get used to. I don't have stats but my LBS said they see women have contributed the biggest growth at their shop. So fellas, get used to it and be ready to meet us ladies on the road.

If you are nice to us, maybe we'll push you up the hill next time and fix your flat.

[pkq]

Having worked with men for 17 years, many resent the strides women have made. Sex discrimination knows no age boundaries either so young and old resent strides of women. Makes me glad I am single.

[snapdragen]

Makes me glad I am single.

Amen sister!