As a woman rider I have often noticed men riding super swanky, lightweight, expensive bikes while their womenfolk trail along behind on old, heavy bikes. These same men will later bemoan their slow women over beers with the boyz, while telling their ladies that their bikes are ‘just fine for the kind of riding you do’. So here’s my question…. Instead of complaining about your slow women why not encourage them to upgrade, either through nice pressies or through sound purchasing advice? You might be amazed at what your ladies can do if on proper kit.

I didn’t know so many women still regarded themselves as second class citizens, unable to choose or budget for themselves.

Often the lady folk aren’t as into it as the chaps they are with, so don’t want to spend £xxxx on a bike they will only use 3-4 times a year? /sweeping statement.

You might be amazed at what your ladies any given rider can do if on proper kit.

FTFY

why not encourage them to upgrade, either through nice pressies or through sound purchasing advice?

Perhaps gentle motivation with sound training advice and structure would be more suitable?

why not encourage them to upgrade, either through nice pressies or through sound purchasing advice?

Because the standard STW advice is “lose some weight and get a coach”.

Can you imagine the reaction if I (or anyone else) told their better halves to go see someone about loseing some weight?

I secretly upgrade my girlfriends bike while she isn’t looking. Her getting into biking about 5 years ago was a great excuse for me to buy a hardtail so that I wasn’t overbiked compared to her. She has much nicer bikes and kit than me, though mine get more abuse, more often.

Thanks all. I truly agree with all of you. The point is that many women are starting later, and there is nothing more discouraging than trailing behind and suffering, feeling that you will never be able to keep pace with the boys. And, at the risk of being lambasted, a lot of women find the technical aspects of buying kit off putting (as any inexperienced rider does). All I am saying is that some non-patronising recommendations might go a long way to transform a reluctant woman biker into a DH demon….

My Missus has a Transition Covert which is more pimped out than my bike that’s for sure. I figured that if you want your partner to get into the sport and enjoy it as much as you do then you need to make sure that they’re riding similar level kit to you guys. Which might explain why we honeymooned in the Alps, are heading to whistler next summer and ride nearly every weekend. Although it doesn’t explain why she’s faster than me on the climbs.

Tom KP

Because the standard STW advice is “lose some weight and get a coach”

Sounds quite logical advice to be fair. Only a complete PWB would think recommending that as daft or potentially relationship ending.

I got a telling off for buying the Mrs a meta 5.5 the other day. Something about bathrooms, decorating and a baby on the way.

She’s planning on riding it to the 20 week scan though so I should crack on and get it built up.

Because the standard STW advice is “lose some weight and get a coach get on a couch”.

FTFY!

Removed as it wasn’t that funny!

I agree with scotroutes. 🙂

I was a big enough girl to get into riding myself, not difficult to research nor ride on my own. Nobody persuaded me cos I didn’t know anyone that cycled.

…. something about bathrooms, decorating and a baby on the wayabout bathrooms, decorating and a baby on the way

Of course, some women can’t be helped….

while telling their ladies that their bikes are ‘just fine for the kind of riding you do’.

I have never known a women to be told anything.

😀

I bought my wife a titanium hard tail blinged out with Chris King does not fit her mind,did by a ladies specific saddle though as I,m not that cruel 🙂

OP maybe ‘the woman’ has better priorities than a **** bicycle?

Bikes are great but a nice car, going away, media tech is more her thing.

A mate who used to work in our LBS used to comment on the number of blokes who would come in spend 2 or 3k without batting an eyelid and as an after thought would say ‘oh I better tek one fer her, £300 ‘ll do it’! ( yes I am from Yorkshire )
I have given up upgrading my wife’s bike because she uses it as evidence I don’t need a new bike. The fact only the frame is the same doesn’t seem to count.

I bought Mrs Binners a Stumpjumper FSR to get Her out riding. Miles better spec and far lighter than mine. I figured she was hardly going to enjoy it if she was hauling some piece of scrap iron up the hills.

Perhaps bikes are shrouded in mystique? Discuss!

What if she’s a bit of a slag?

I bought my wife a titanium hard tail blinged out with Chris King does not fit her mind

Sounds like that time Homer bought Marge a bowling ball 🙂

Tasha has to slum it on a Nicolai compared to my Liteville. 🙄

German pair ready for holiday by ritcheyp20, on Flickr

I am the only person in my social circle whose significant other rides bikes for sport. What is this complaining you speak of?

She is happy cleaning the bike and doing the pre-ride inspections. I keep an eye on the general maintenance and servicing. The only upgrades she has effected are a longer seatpost and wider bars.

I don’t understand how she manages to keep riding without being tempted to upgrade things.

Mrs. Esher shore rides a Specialised Ruby carbon fibre road bike with SRAM Apex, Fulcrum Racing 3 wheels, S-works finishing kit and Conti GP 4000 II tires, bike fully fitted to her.

She also has a very nice selection of Specialized, Mavic and Gore women’s clothing, gloves, shoes and helmets.

Makes me feel like a tramp sometimes….

Multiple helmets?

Now she’s just showing off.

My wife was more than happy to buy herself an expensive bike last year, not so happy when I did the same this year 🙄

She’s a pretty decent XC rider, but not so keen on the maintenance side of things – ‘That noise you asked me to check out, it’s your rear hub’.

‘Are you sure, I don’t think my bike has hubs?’

I’m not joking.

Kitted out my ex’s perfectly serviceable FS with better forks, lighter wheels, carbon bars etc and she still regarded the choice of a route involving hills (up or down), water, rocks or mud as a personal affront.

Some things are not solved with a better bike 😯

Have to say not once, ever, have I heard my mates complain about how slow their other haves are whilst drinking in the pub.

Sounds like it’s just a conversation that you have imagined in your head, OP?

Kitted out my ex’s perfectly serviceable FS with better forks, lighter wheels, carbon bars etc and she still regarded the choice of a route involving hills (up or down), water, rocks or mud as a personal affront.

Some things are not solved with a better bike

+1, shes got suspension and gears, ive neither! Yet anything more adventurous than a pavement, not a chance!

Have to say not once, ever, have I heard my mates complain about how slow their other haves are whilst drinking in the pub.

Sounds like it’s just a conversation that you have imagined in your head, OP?

+1 , other halves and their ‘riding style’ maybe, but nothing to do with bikes 😉

@curiousyellow

I had to get a second road helmet this year after she told me 1 helmet was not enough.

I did ask her why, and she said for the same reason women need several pairs of a similar shoe?

I guess its something, perhaps, us men may never understand?

as she is the same height as me she rides one of mine.

Great to hear about all the hardcore bike lasses out there, but just check out the relative standard of gear next time you see a mixed group.

I try to make sure my bikes are always nicer than my husbands, does not always work though.

As far as maintainance is concerned, I can do quite a bit of it. Managed to do a lowers service on my sons domains, only call the husband when I need a bit of brute force…

I get told off for putting bike parts on the dining room table ‘at least use a place mat’ I was told 😀

Simone

Before Mrs Esher shore got her road bike, she had an Identiti Dr Jekyll, then a specialized myka women’s MTB and a pashley Poppy, she hated each of those bikes. The road bike is the first one she felt comfortable riding.

I did ask her why, and she said for the same reason women need several pairs of a similar shoe?

What would the neighbours think if they saw her wearing the same helmet every time she rode her bike,
She should consider accessorising.

Great to hear about all the hardcore bike lasses out there, but just check out the relative standard of gear next time you see a mixed group.

Maybe they are not as daft as the men folk in realising that a £500 bike is more than capable of the riding they do, and anything more is willy waving.
But if a completely unnecessary 3k bike keeps hubby happy that’s fine.

My 14 year old daughter has xtr shifters & mech on her bike (that weighs about 24 pounds I’d guess) – still moans like **** every time we go out for a ride 😐
Mrs P has a million-year-old Marin FS that I bought off classifieds (with a RS Psylo on 😳 ) – she’s happy enough but we only pootle about the new forest as a family so it’s ideal. (actually, she got it round the Blencathra horseshoe as well)

I would say, admitedly controversially, that many men are unable to fit a bike to a woman’s needs. Just cos what works for you doesn’t mean that it will work for a woman.