winterfold - MemberAt the risk of sexism...
One thing that seems obviousn to me is that girls do not have cojones (at least so far in my experience) and therefore do not have their thinking clouded by 'grow a pair' and 'MTFU' type issues.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLxg0dbvokQ
lol - love how you come on this particular thread and use "like a 16 year old girl" as a measure of rubbishness. oops...
Rachel
If you've been on the darkside a roadie all your life, then I agree jumping on MTB and hitting the trails might have some nasty consequences.... "no fear and no idea"
... but from what I have read, most who go on these courses, seem to indicate they've been riding MTB's for years? So one would expect their level of confidence/common sense to be pretty seasoned?
Isn't learning to jump/ride off drops/ride down steps something you learn when you're a kid, and use throughout your riding life?
Not trollin'..... being serious. For once.
HA ha loving the You tube clip!!! PMSL
Isn't learning to jump/ride off drops/ride down steps something you learn when you're a kid, and use throughout your riding life?
Hopefully this may change.
It's funny though how people seems to perceive a right and wrong way to ride bikes.
I am lucky enough to live in a place where 4 DH/4X world-champs race at local enduros. You obviously get to speak with them from times to times and what appears to happen is that riding has evolved a lot and will probably evolve a lot more. Latest(ish) fashion seems to be to ride weight forward specially on the steeper sections of trails.Such thing would have been inconceivable a few years ago. Furthermore, if you look at them going through a section of trail, they will all ride it differently. They are a few key points, but they all ride pretty much each on their own way. And yet no one would dare to suggest that nicola has a bad technique because he doesn't ride the way fabien does ;-). I think one of the big misconception in the world of biking is that you must do things the 'correct way'. I concur that there are the basic skills, but then, everyone adapts said skills to its own riding. And girls are no stranger to that, if their riding is nowhere as rad to the power of sick as bloke so be it, as far as it get them at the bottom of the trail in one piece with a smile on their faces I can't see anything wrong with it 
Allthegear - obviously I didn't make myself clear ( and we agreed about stuff earlier in thread )
What I saw was a number of riders not taking on a drop while being more than adequately biked then while they were faffing a young lady rode it with style on an old hardtail . She wasn't rubbish - they were.
Xiphon - don't disagree with anything you've said, but I don't think many people did actually do much skills/trials/BMX when they were young, if you did good for you, if 'they' did then they seem to have forgotten.
Only guy I can remember doing that from my part of the world was Carlo Griggs. Fair enough - he didn't need a skills course and I doubt he does:)
EDIT That YouTube vid says it all - very funny
Like many other girls I came to the sport late and initially relied only upon guts and determination to try and keep up with the guys I rode with!However after some pretty epic stacks ( almost ruptured spleen, torn ACL,countless haematoma's etc) I had lost confidence and the ratio of fun/fear in riding had taken a turn. This is what i want other girls to avoid!! In Whistler the mountain runs women's evening groups which were amazing. Each week you chose what skill you wanted to learn and you went with a group who was at the same level of riding you were. Juan I totally agree that everyone has their own style and having fun is the most important part. But in the women's groups was where I really began to have fun on my bike. Sounds cheesy but it was a really supportive environment, but also competitive and made you want to improve. We were all pretty much the same level so you knew if one of you did something then the rest of you could. Sometimes riding with the guys I chicken out of stuff that if I see a girl do it I'm like shit...better give it a go! I am lucky that i get to ride a lot with both girls and guys and I love both, but if I want to ride and learn or session stuff I tend to go with the girls, it just works better for me.
Rachel- the women's week is £100 more because it includes transfers (£60 normally) goody bag, massage, t-shirt, photo shoot and smaller groups(which means more guides) and more structured skills session. There will be an option to not have that package which would be cheaper if you are interested.
We are currently in the process of designing a pump track and skills area for the sessions which will include some drops and jumps to learn on. Hope that explains things...if you would like to email me directly feel free lucy@themountianbikechalet.com
loving the discussion and views and that big balls vid is hilarious...and a little disturbing!
Lucy - you spelled your email wrong. Also, what about blokes coming out that week with their missus when both ride?
haha thanks.
lucy@themountainbikechalet.com
For the women's specific week we were hoping to have a women only rule...however if we have a lot of requests for couples to come out then its possible to change that. At the moment it will depend on bookings. There are still spaces on the other weeks where everyone is welcome and we will certainly still be able to cater for women who come on those weeks.
This is an interesting thread. There are definitely differences between men and women on the trails. I find my abilities vary with the, ahem, time of the month hugely, so I have to plan my riding around that - it's frustrating as hell to be limited physically and mentally in that way. Sometimes I'll be able to throw myself down/off pretty much anything, other times I can barely stay upright on a fire road.
But I need the drive I get from having to work really really hard to keep up with the guys, both technically and physically. I'm not sure I would put anywhere near the effort in if I was in a relaxed female only environment!
Oh - I don't know - a female-only ride doesn't have to be relaxed!
Riding in a male-only group is very different to riding in a female-only group. There is much more "ribbing" and generally knocking each other in the male-only group, when I've been out with only women there has been much less of that - almost none.
It might be that the ribbing leads to men generally taking greater risks and so on, to fit into the group. All that pack hierarchy nonsense. 
Fascinates me, TBH
Rachel
Allthegear I was just thinking the same thing it fascinates me. I love riding with the blokes as I'm not particularly "girlie" anyway however on occasions it would be nice to have someone slightly closer to my skill level. As there is a big void between me and the boys so when we start a DH they are gone before I even have a chance to start pumping and chasing them and pushing myself. So I end up riding DH shouting at myself in my head "Ride harder, take a better line woman, keep pumping, bend your arms more, get your ass back" etc. So I just think it would be fun for a day to do something with a bunch of similar like minded women of a similar level. Hey I don't it's ever going to happen so I'll carry on dreaming. Bring on this weekend's riding.
Well, I'm not exactly a "traditional" girl, either!!
I think I'm going to sign up for the Women's Week Lucy has mentioned - sounds like fun...
I must admit, I'm about to sell my DH bike. I had a back injury last year and it has brought it to my sharp attention that I'll never ride hard enough to warrant 8inches of travel on any bike. TBH, though, I've used my 5 inch FS bike out in Morzine and I don't think I was any slower. The only things holding me back are in my head, not on my bike...
If you ever ride up in the Dark Peak or the Dales, let me know - I may be around...
Rachel
Just saw this elsewhere and it just about sums up why guys seem to ride differently to girls...
Testosterone - making men do stupid things since 3,000,000BC...
Rachel
I got my girlfriend a course with Mike @
http://www.mountainbikeskills.co.uk/.
She said it was a wicked tailored course to suit her specific requirements, its brought her riding on so much.
not a plug, just some good feedback.
Just out of interest, do all the female riders on here experience any other differences between the two sexes?
For example, I'll ride at quite a slow consistant pace to the chaps but can go on and on and on riding.
Whereas they'll blast down trails and ride up quite quickly (even technical stuff) but then need a good rest inbetween.
HA ha Bunnyhop that is EXACTLY how a lot of the boys ride .. not all of them though. But usually I'm at the back on the ups with the boys get to the top and carry on, they are like "don't you need a rest"..mmm "no". Oh the testosterone on occasions (but not all the time) some boys really don't like it if you go in front of them on a DH AND are quicker than them
That's down to the different proportions of fast twitch* muscle and smooth muscle in male and female bodies. Women have more smooth muscle that isn't as powerful but lasts longer. It also doesn't look quite so 'blocky' on your arms etc.
*Sorry to the medics on here - I can't remember the proper names.
Rachel
So how was peoples riding? Survived a 45 miler off road it was awesome just shame sun wasn't shining and I actively thought about jumping as I approached stuff not sure I got any better mind shattered now mind!!!
29 miles tomorrow in The Dales with some big hills - I expect I will be chasing the boys for most of it but they don't mind and I'm perfectly okay with that too.
lifts are still open here ( apparently for skiing)until the weekend so feel a little lazy not doing crazy peddling routes yet. I have been out some epic rides though. Just been exploring and finding loads of new routes in the area. Found some pretty technical stuff but most trails have also got huge sections lovely flowing single track. Nice one on the rides ladies...post some pics if you have them!
This thread is in danger of stereotyping men. Physical timidity is not gender specific. There are more examples contradicting the male/female stereotypes than I care to mention.
Buzz I think you will find most people here are talking from experience and are not making sweeping generalizations that can't be backed up.
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