"Ride like a girl"... How do you feel about that?

[Blueberry]

Like my silver necklace pendant.

Where did you find that?? Sounds awesome!

CA

[maillotpois]

Where did you find that?? Sounds awesome!

CA

Terry.

They don't have it any more. It's like a big donut.

They do have this - very cool: http://www.terrybicycles.com/detail....&c=Accessories

[Irulan]

I have "ride like a girl" socks in multiple colors and love 'em. I wear them mountainbiking when I'm usually the only girl and frequently one of the faster climbers (cuz I ride with a lot of old farts) -- and do the least whining.

I'm never felt very feminine growing up even though others thought I was and I just didn't "get it", but as I've gotten older I'm really happy and content being feminine and doing the same tomboy-ish things. I was well into my 40s before the women on this board got me to try a pedicure and I've been hooked. Nothing like taking off your "ride like a girl" socks and having a huge bath rub ring on your ankles and grime ground into your sparkly toe nails.

It's just plain ol' fun.

BUT I wouldn't use a saddle or wear a jersey with the motto. It's has to be something small and inconspicuous to keep it a little personal joke.

My sentiments exactly. Perhaps as a mountain biker, many times the lone female or definately in the female minority at many events.... it's a fun little joke. I've had people offer to buy my socks off my feet. I have a pink Ride Like A Girl visor hat that is my trademark at trail work parties.

This makes me think of the Bianchi "your bike sucks" socks. It's humor, people...

[malkin]

In my most humorless early twenties, all females were "women," until I worked with some of women in their 70s and 80s and they called each other 'girls' if they were close and 'ladies' if they were social, but not so close. The crowd of them had been everywhere and done everything and worked for their rights and to correct society's wrongs, and best of all they got me through my humorless phase.

RLAG doesn't stike any nerve for me.

[shootingstar]

It never occurred to me that RLAG as a brand marketing phrase was insulting.

....BUT just last week, I commented to another woman at work, that where we work now, is the first time in many years, that men at our workplace refer to women as "girls". Not all guys, but enough. Other workplaces where I've been, less guys or hardly guys seem to use girls for "women" or ladies in the workplace.

Including my boss, who is senior manager. However ironically he has always treated me with respect, delegates management responsibities that is part of my job, has good supportive understanding of what I do.... everything one could want in a senior manager except for "girls" term. Ah well, things could a whole lot worse.

If I bought Terry apparel I probably wouldn't be wearing it at work anyway. ie. I don't wear T-shirts at work.

In all honesty, if others know you cycle alot and have for many years, to wear a LRAG item, would appear on you as a tongue in cheek statement or empowering..particularily if you know people already respect you for your long-term fitness decision.

I have 2-3 pink items...I even sewed a pink coral wrap dress that I work with black pumps and large black belt for a few years ..but always items in 1 solid colour and classic cut. I choose the colour because it can look well on those with black-hair.

[DDH]

Really it just goes along with the diversity of the world. I've been reading through these post and am amazed at how differently people take things.

So I guess I have to say it all just depends on each individual and how they take things. I don't take offense to it at all. I think it's rather cute myself and I have the Rosie saddle with it on there, and if my butt didn't hang over it would display it proudly. LOL

Of course I don't mind being called a girl either.

[Tuckervill]

"You throw like a girl" is one of my biggest pet peeves in youth baseball. I've been around youth baseball for 20 years, and now I'm president of the local league. More than once I've heard a coach say, "Don't throw like a girl!" and more than once I've said, "Hey! What's wrong with throwing like a girl?!"

I really didn't want my sons (with no sisters and therefore not as much exposure to girls as some other boys) to get the idea that being a girl was bad.

So for the last 4 years, my son has been on the all-star baseball team with a girl. When she was much younger she was really as good at baseball as almost any boy on the team, although some of the coaches didn't like to admit it. They still picked her every year, though, because she was that good.

At almost 15, though, the boys are starting to out grow her in a big way, so it won't be long until she can't hit their fast balls anymore or out run the throws to first. (That's okay becuase she still plays football and competitive fast pitch softball.) She gets comments sometimes from other teams. so this year at the state tournament, she smacked a ball way out in the outfield and burned the outfielder. Because I'd heard a comment from one of the boys on the other team, I stood up and yelled, "That's how to hit like a GIRL!"

It was such sweet revenge for having to listen to all those misogynist coaches all those years!

So yeah, take it back! Do it "like a girl."

Karen

[smilingcat]

At almost 15, though, the boys are starting to out grow her in a big way, so it won't be long until she can't hit their fast balls anymore or out run the throws to first. (That's okay becuase she still plays football and competitive fast pitch softball.) She gets comments sometimes from other teams. so this year at the state tournament, she smacked a ball way out in the outfield and burned the outfielder. Because I'd heard a comment from one of the boys on the other team, I stood up and yelled, "That's how to hit like a GIRL!"

It was such sweet revenge for having to listen to all those misogynist coaches all those years!

So yeah, take it back! Do it "like a girl."

Karen

I view the idea of RLAG in same vain. I've always wanted to put pink streamers on end of my handle bar, old fashioned bicyle bell... and wear a jersey prominently displaying "ride like a girl" and go chick lot of guys on hill climb. Well that's my dream. Misogynistic in reverse.


smilingcat

[bounceswoosh]

I intentionally put a "ski like a girl" sticker on my ski helmet, so I guess I like it =) When I'm having a bad day or thinking of wussing out on something, I remind myself that I want to ski so that if anyone's watching, they'll understand that skiing like a girl means skiing for guts and glory and fun =)

[LBTC]

I used to go to a ladies only kickboxing class. We were looking at getting "kick like a girl" shirts made.

As long as the imagery that goes along with the phrase is tough, the empowering aspect of taking the phrase back really works for me. But, hey, I know that I'm not like other girls.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[OakLeaf]

As long as the imagery that goes along with the phrase is tough, the empowering aspect of taking the phrase back really works for me.

That's the key, for me. It has to be an image of a girl completely owning and mastering (mistressing?) the physicality of the sport.

[salsabike]

As long as the imagery that goes along with the phrase is tough, the empowering aspect of taking the phrase back really works for me.

Yeah, well said.

[Wahine]

I like it. But then again I often ride with the boyz and when they can't take 120 miles and I can, I often tell them they should learn to ride like a girl.

LBTC said it best.

[Jiffer]

I have some Ride Like a Girl merchandise. The picture that goes with the slogan is a girl having a blast riding her bike with her legs outstretched on either side. To me, it keeps the "fun" in cycling and, in a way, proclaiming to guys that YES I'm a girl and YES I'm a cyclist, but I can have fun with it, too.

To be honest, though, sometimes I do have mixed feelings because I DON'T want to be viewed as "less than a guy" or someone who is just goofing off with a bike instead of a serious cyclist, but I do think it's all in fun.

[momof4greatkids]

I had someone railing about it today...
So out of curiousity, what do you think about the "ride like a girl" merchandise- and things like it??

It's just fine, I would buy it (at the right price) It pokes fun at what some have said is a thinly veiled insult. It's always helpful to not take ourselves too seriously.

When you wear "ride like a girl" gear, bring your "A" game and represent the feminine gender w/courage and pride!



Colleen