I am gathering research to prove if there is a need or not to encourage women to bike off road. I know there are many great women bikers out there but there is an even larger proportion of women out there who would like to do it but are not so sure.

I would like to know if you think there is a need to encourage women and what do you think would encourage them to get on their bikes.For instance

More Organised womens rides
Trails put together and graded from a womens perspective
Easier access to training and bike info
Womens specific biking website
National network to promote and link local womens bike groups

etc etc etc

How twee. Maybe the trails could be graded Pink, Fushcia and Lavender?

nice idea…are women intimidated or is just a male oriented sport?

you do see more women roadies as a proportion so I am unsure why there seems to be less MTBers?

aw – Member

you do see more women roadies as a proportion so I am unsure why there seems to be less MTBers?

That’ll be because they cry at the slightest fall, demand attention from passing male riders and haven’t worked out how to pass/be passed by other riders yet… 🙄

Because the vast majority of Mountain Bikers are infantile men who go ga-ga everytime they see a woman with a bike?

I’ve not once come across a Roadie who would offer the line (and I heard this delivered to a young woman at CyB not so long ago) “I’m a better ride than your bike, love”.

I ride with a group of women once a month and this has increased my confidence and put me in touch with other female mountain bikers. I have a better awareness of my local trails now and am happy to pop out on my own when ever I get the chance too!
I have also done a womens only mtb skills day which was also great, and I learnt a few maintanance things to, so I can fix my chain or repair a puncture etc without having to flutter my eyelashes at passers by. 8) Not sure about trails needing to be put together and graded from a womens point of view though, surely thats more about skill than gender?!

fair point, 😯 😀

perhaps if better facilities were provided at trail centres, women might be more comfortable and feel like they belong:

kitchens, laundry and ironing facilities, nail bars, salons, Marks & Spencers, cafes streaming Jeremy Kyle – that kind of thing

It is because of comments like druidh’s and the reason IWH mentions women are not so keen on moutain biking. In our club there are only 3 women amongst lots more men who come out regularly, whereas there are many more women in the club. The 3 of us (all tomboys I might add) had suspicions that women are intimidated by the blokes and organised a women’s only outing, 18 replies of interest with 10 of them taking part in the end, the others had other appointments already.
The outing was a total success and the atmosphere on the ride was completely different, less competitive and more helpful to each other. The women only day is now a regular monthly feature in the club.
So, as an answer to your question, more women only rides will do, I have not heard from any girl a requirement for any of your other suggestions.

I have met some really nice guys out who were encourging. But do you think more women would MTB if they felt it was not such a male orinetated sport and more was offered to them. I think the women on wheels is a great idea (news).

Off topic I know, but it was nice to see a couple of ladies ride down some descents past some mincing blokes walking yesterday on the Merida. 🙂

Thanks orangina that was a really helpful reply.

I would imagine that a major obstacle is that men and women are socialised differently and that there are still activities and behaviors that are more socially acceptable for men that are less acceptable for women and vice versa. In my experience, a lot of women don’t like getting dirty and getting legs and other body parts covered in bruises and cuts. It’s never bothered me, but then I was brought up at an outdoor centre and I’ve never questioned all that’s entailed in doing ‘outdoor’ sports.

When I was less fit I used to worry that I was ‘holding the blokes back’, but I now figure that that was a personal insecurity as there are many new and less fit riders who are men. I think this fear of looking silly, weak and holding people back is very common in women when they start out and often riding with your partner is the worst way to start as constructive criticism can be taken as negative criticism and start arguments. How you combat that, I’m not sure.

There may be the impression that ‘all female’ groups are less threatening/competetive, however I’ve found that ‘the boys’ I’ve ridden with have all been courteus, helpful and understanding. I’ve never felt excluded or mocked, unless it’s been banter.

I also don’t think you can/should lump ‘women’ and ‘men’ together with generalisations though as I’ve met fluffy male riders who don’t like falling off or getting wet and rad gung-ho female riders who do jumps and drops with the best of them. It’s down to personality, if you ask me.

Just my thoughts, don’t know if that’s much help…

chappy1, your welcome.
I have to say I have met really encouraging guys too (my other half Rickmeister is one of them, and man is he patient also !!), but still, on a group ride it is so much about who’s fastest/most technical/has the best bike though they would never admit it of course. And on the girsl ride it’s just about having fun. And a chocolate cake at the end of it!

Oh, and Druidh is being sarcastic btw, he’s very much a womans’ man. I’ve ridden with him a few times and he helped me tear up my petticoats to make bandages and everything!!

Trails put together and graded from a womens perspective

THAT is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever read! Women can and do ride anything men can. By all means encourage and support women riders but don’t patronise them!

and he helped me tear up my petticoats to make bandages

were a LOT of bandages required ??

Too many dodgy middle-aged Lancastrians with cameras and bottom-fetishes, for ladies to feel safe and unmolested on the trails…

jojoA1, I knew that druidh will have been sarcastic (tho’ I don’t know him) but some women will still be so insecure that they take this serious, especially beginners. I personally like to answer comments like this, sarcastic or not, by poutdoing them on the trail. But then, I maybe think more like a guy ;-)!

When I was less fit I used to worry that I was ‘holding the blokes back’, but I now figure that that was a personal insecurity

this is one of the major factors, and it applies to both sexes. There are some riders who object to being held up (though many of these end up riding on their own) and can be arsey about it, but most people understand and/or are happy to take a rest. I agree it’s more of a mental barrier than a real problem.

Too many dodgy middle-aged Lancastrians with cameras and bottom-fetishes, for ladies to feel safe and unmolested on the trails…

thanks for ‘middle-aged’ RB 🙂
I have never molested anyone on the trails without their explicit invitation :o)

I think the only difference, in that respect, between me and most other men is that I am up front and unconcealed about my appreciation of women. All the others think the same stuff (or worse) but don’t let on…

orangina – Member

jojoA1, I knew that druidh will have been sarcastic (tho’ I don’t know him) but some women will still be so insecure that they take this serious, especially beginners. I personally like to answer comments like this, sarcastic or not, by poutdoing them on the trail. But then, I maybe think more like a guy ;-)!

You’d easily outdo me on the trail. Am I thinking like a girl?

There are some riders who object to being held up (though many of these end up riding on their own) and can be arsey about it, but most people understand and/or are happy to take a rest. I agree it’s more of a mental barrier than a real problem.

I have to be honest, I’ve never met any of these people who get arsey about being held up by slower riders, I agree though, the miserable buggers should go out riding by themselves, like me…. oh.

Oh – and I was referencing this thread

Boys are competitive and MTBing brings that out (except in the more jey ones). I’ve observed that girls socialise better with the jey boys. You could have a monthly “girls and jey-boys” ride.

Actually, of the ladies I know, what do sporty things, they all say what really puts them off, are pushy, impatient blokes. One lady I know went on one of they outdoors adventure thingies through he work, and there was some ex-army tosser shouting at them the whole time. She and the other women came back home after only 2 days of a week-long course, as they just coon’t stand his attitude. Had the instructor been female, or a bloke who was a lot less pushy, she said they wooduv enjoyed it.

Me and a couple of mates had a lass from work want to come riding with us, as she said that the womens’ group rides she’d been on just weren’t challenging, and that she wanted to learn how to improve her skills more. She fell off a few times, got a few scrapes, but loved it.

Most blokes graduate to mtbing from other bikes, like bmxes when they are young. Lots of women might learn to ride a bike when they are young, but don’t pursue it as an activity, into adulthood.

The issue is a lot more complex than I can be bothered to go into here, but i see it a bit like this:

You know when you’re out for a night, and you go to a club? How many of the blokes are dancing, compared to the women? For most women, it’s completely normal to get up and have a dance, yet most blokes have to be encouraged (or get drunk enough) to lose their inhibitions. Dancing is just not a ‘blokes’ thing, for a lot of men. Quite often, you see men having to be coaxed/dragged onto the dancefloor.

I think it stems from gender stereotyping and reinforcement from an ealy age. We have our clearly defined gender roles and activities, and it can be quite a challenge to overcome certain perceived ‘barriers’.

Cycling is still seen as a ‘male’ activity, sadly. Although I think the disparity is not as great as it was, which is encouraging. More women are taking the plunge, and getting into it. Take Aleigh off here, for example. She only started a year ago, and she loves it! It takes women like her, who are willing to give it a go, to show others that there’s little to be afraid of.

As for blokes being able to dance; sorry, ladies, but I don’t know how to address that one…

I was riding with some friends in Scotland over Easter. We did see one chap out with his lady friend and I doubt she’ll ever get back on a bike again. No sooner had she caught up with him than he’d shoot off again at warp speed. She really wasn’t a happy camper and asked us what the trail ahead was like and whether she’d be able to manage it. She was walking a lot of stuff.

I think a lot of what puts people off is experienced riders showing them stuff that’s way too technical.

I’m talentless, unfit and gutless now that I’m in my 30’s so I tend to go riding on my own so that others don’t have to wait for me….. I’m as slow on the downs as I am on the ups.

I have no idea about how to encourage more women on to the trails. More sexual discrimination (ladies only this, that or the other) is not the way though. I think a lot of it is to do with (and this is a generalisation based on my experiences in my shop) men being more willing to spend the cash on a better quality bike that is capable of more than they can do, whereas women tend to want to spend less on a bike and more on the accessories

men being more willing to spend the cash on a better quality bike that is capable of more than they can do

I suppose I used to think this too, but now I ride a 2nd hand hardtail that cost me very little, yet I rarely find the bike wanting. So long as it steers and stops when you need to, and the gears work, everything else is just blingy consumer-tat!

Guilliano – “I think a lot of it is to do with (and this is a generalisation based on my experiences in my shop) men being more willing to spend the cash on a better quality bike that is capable of more than they can do, whereas women tend to want to spend less on a bike and more on the accessories ” – what ? That’s why less women come out on the bike ?? Maybe they spend their money different yes, but it’s not the reson they don’t bike.
And the sexual discrimination thing is not the way ? I thought you’d said you have no idea how to encourage more women out so how do you know this is not the way ?
The idea of women only outings is to increase their confidence and hopefully they will be happy later to go in mixed groups.
And if guys feel discriminated I think they should organise men-only dancing evenings….

To be completely honest – i really don’t care if women ride mountain bikes, infact i don’t care if men do either. I care if women are riding to slowly and slowing a ride, but that applies to men also,

Riding alone is much better, no one else to be concerned about.

Orangina….. I was simply saying that from the experience I have in the shop I work in the women simply don’t want something for the trails…. the majority want a cheap hybrid for town use.

I wasn’t debating that women only rides give women confidence. I simply said that more discrimination (womens trails/grading etc) won’t really help.

I think a lot of what puts people off is experienced riders showing them stuff that’s way too technical.

I don’t think the terrain has much to do with it. I lead beginner rides over quite technical sections all the time, but no one criticises the beginners if they have to get off and push for a while. If I chose really anodyne places to ride everyone would be bored. I think it’s more about a welcoming, friendly atmosphere and an absence of pressure to perform.

Guilliano,
ok then, I let you off :D, though you didn’t say at first that women want a hybrid bike, and i do agree on your second point now in your second post apart from that women only rides are really useful.

I don’t realy think there’s an issue here.If women want to get into mtb’ing great.But whats all this encouraging buisiness? Just because you realy enjoy something it doesn’t mean someone else is going to feel the same about it.Leave the door open for people to come in,but you don’t have to push them.

Simon, my comment about show beginners stuff that’s too technical was more about people who lead a ride but just expect everyone to be able to ride it. The girl I saw in Scotland on Friday really wasn’t happy. All she needed was a little guidance and something to build her confidence. I think she was just thrown in at the deep end. That’s what I was refering to. On the flip side of that, if someone give a little advice (when it’s welcomed) and rides something that otherwise wouldn’t have thought they could do, I think that really makes their day. I helped a youth ride a black section drop at GT and he was made up. His mates were well impressed with him as well. You’re right though, it’s about a balance, entertaining people but not frightening them and I agree, there’s nothing wrong with walking sections. Again, the example played perfectly in my head but if you were not there, I guess it was missing something. The walked sections I was refering to were the sort of stuff that made up 50% of the trail. Walking a TTF is one thing but having to walk half a route because you’ve been overfaced is demoralising for anyone.

Leave the door open for people to come in,but you don’t have to push them.

to an extent yes. MTB is a demanding sport, in terms of consistent effort and offputting conditions, so you really have to want to do it, but once you make that choice, some sincere encouragement is helpful. I recall when I was a novice, how one of the experienced members of the club would be taking notice, and see when I’d done something better than usual and remark on it, and I try to do the same 🙂

Alot of Women have children and either don’t have the time or the money to mtb.
Most Women I know only considered going mtbing because a male friend, relative or partner introduced them to it. So maybe it’s upto the guys?
We think in different ways too e.g a man isn’t too bothered about how he looks after/during a ride but women have crushed hair, sweaty cloths, get covered in cow dung etc. it’s not appealing. Also some have a fear of the dark and wouldn’t like night riding. We can feel the cold more too.
There was the shecycles.com site which closed down recently. I made so many new friends and went on great rides with them. So I would say that is a way forward.

As for Women only trails, mmm it’s like saying women only pistes.

Somewhere inside a man is the desire to thrown themselves off and down things at speed, not many women have that. Women don’t always need to be an adrenalin junkie.
I personally have seen a huge rise in the amount of female mtbers in the last 10 years. The cloths/gear is better ( I remember having to wear mens shoes and gloves also their saddles – ouch.)
One other thing is the area that you live in plays a large part. If you live near a mtbing type place then you’ll see women riders around, but if you’re in the centre of a big city it may never have occured to you to try that type of sport.

Somewhere inside a man is the desire to thrown themselves off and down things at speed

I agree women in general have a lower tendency to recklessness, though I know one or two who have more nerve than I, and it’s an unfortunate fact that often you’re held back more by caution where just going for it shows you can do more than you think 🙁

I think the marketting approach is wrong.

If more women realised how much better their bottoms looked after a few months mountainbiking, there would be no room left on the trails for the admiring men.

Naturally single speed women are the most blessed in this department.