[Closed] are women who ride bikes a bit different to those women who dont ride bikes....

Do you think, maybe, there are men that don't like biking, too?

I have 4 female friends who are mad into mountain biking and bikes...

yeah its not that men or women do or dont like it. Im trying to avoid sounding really sexist but, as a sweeping generalisation i would say from a group of 1000 men and 1000 women picked at random,more men would probably choose to arse about on bikes in a cold muddy wood on a march night that would women, so are the women that do chose to perhaps more man-like in there thinking???

You'll get a lot of women out running though, so I don't think it's cold wet exercise per se that is the issue.
But yes there are woman with more man like minds and men with more women like minds, I guess the problem stems from thinking of gender as discrete values.

My better half has a bike & enjoys riding it, just not on more technical stuff. She's not scared of it-she competes on her horse at Advanced eventing, jumping 4'-4'6 stuff to hidden landings & loves that. Just doesn't enjoy the mtb as much.
Different people enjoy different things, male or female.

You are assuming that arsing [i]about on bikes in a cold muddy wood on a march night[/i] is an activity of fixed attractiveness to either sex.

How about assuming that each sex has activities each finds attractive, and arsing [i]about on bikes in a cold muddy wood on a march night[/i] is just more appealing to men?

Mrs NBT was into mountain biking first, she got me into it when we met on a skiing holiday (which she also took up before I did)

much in the same way you wooed your wife to marry you, you must follow a similar process getting her into mountain biking. I mean she wouldn't have married you if on your first date you'd have admitted your feet smelt of cheese now would she?

So try easy, dry stuff first that has places of interest that she likes on it (I dunno breweries, steam engines - whatever girls like). Then once you've passed that hurdle try things a bit hillier and middier until she's kicking ass coming down the back of Snowdon.

Women are like horses, you have to break them in gently.

Make sure you get a nice bike that fits her properly and the the controls are right size and proportions. The SADDLE really is a sore point for new ladies so let her try a few and be patient. I know so many friends who's husbands have bought them crap bikes, even when they own high end stuff themselves. The result has been that they have had a couple of uncomfortable rides, out then the bike is left to rust in the garage.

My Wife who I've know 9 years is dead keen on keeping fit and has always enjoyed cycling (when I met her she'd just done the london brighton).

But no matter how hard I try I know she'll never love MTB in the same way I do.

She like off road riding, because it keeps her away from the cars. But she views the descents, especially anything difficult, as interruption from proper riding and hence exercise. Almost like they should not be on the ride, although she enjoys steady climbs as I think she feels like shes achieving something.

Which is quite difficult to understand as I think most of us look forward to the downs most (although I do like a good climb too).

scu98rkr:

(although I do like a good climb too).

Your feminine side???

'women are like horses you have to break them in gently'.....
thats not as standard is it samuri???? theres no two women alike... some are born Guru ! lol... i dont mind mud n rain..just a tad harder to do, i prefur cold weather to cycle in. as long as your all geared up and got yer cycling head on... yer on ya way... i started late in life at the mountain biking, my son bought a decent bike, then i bought me first 'Hardtail' and started going out on my own at first, then started riding with my son, i cant keep away from the fells and the odd trail centres now...im just luving it ! and right now ive just become a grandma.... lol. 'grandma' rides the fells.....

much in the same way you wooed your wife to marry you, you must follow a similar process getting her into mountain biking. I mean she wouldn't have married you if on your first date you'd have admitted your feet smelt of cheese now would she?

I agree with this and started my wife with the thames paths, then swinley + cannock chase (she really likes follow the dog). But I've never managed to get her to move past the surrey hills in terms of technical riding. She doesn't even like parts of summer lightening (in the dry/never mind wet) because its too rooty.

If I ever took her to do a real ride in wales/peaks/lakes it would be a nightmare. I'd imagine she'd get to the top of the ride fairly easily but then refuse to come back down ! (unless I carried both bikes and she walked)

Maybe if I was a better teacher shes have got a bit futher but I feel this real issue is she just doesnt get any buzz from technical riding.

She likes all the other parts of cycling because it makes her fit and being fit is good (ie keeps you slim + healthy + likely to live longer). But technical cycling might get you injured which seems silly to her.

I think there maybe a slight difference here because especially as a younger bloke there was a certain attraction to doing stuff they may have lead me to be injured cos it sounded cool!

I always thought it would be nice to have a partner that was into cycling...
...but the women I've met that are REALLY into cycling are pretty much exclusively...how can I put it politely...oh aye!- raving, ****ing obsessive ultra-competitive psychos, and I dont totally mean that as a compliment like usual, either.
I think scientists call this 'Longo's syndrome' 😉

my wife could never really get interested in cycling - too hard, too steep a learning/ fitness curve for her. I think in order to make [i]any[/i] progress you have to accept that its going to hurt.

Now I'm single again I could quite happily ride with a partner who was already into biking before I met them - but the thought of trying to get a novice interested, no thanks. I'd rather spend my riding time riding than coaching someone else (this part always seems especially difficult with couples, many women seem to resent being told how to do things by their partners). You don't have to do everything together

I like riding my bike a lot, but I consider competition to be childish

But she views the descents, especially anything difficult, as interruption from proper riding and hence exercise.

I resemble that remark!

West kipper +1

[i]breweries, steam engines - whatever girls like[/i]

😀

'are women who ride bikes a bit different to those women who dont ride bikes....'

There's a going down joke in there somewhere.

are women who ride bikes a bit different to those women who dont ride bikes....

Hell yeah, they are when they are riding a mid-life crisis bike. 🙄

I'm definitely different to other women of my age but, at the end of the day, I might ride bikes but I'm still a woman and like to be treated as one.

I don't race, am not competitive, just like riding my bikes. Dunno whether this helps!

Should have said that it helps if you are used to being out in all weathers, ie owning a dog, running etc. At least that way you will probably have the clothing issue dialled.

Thinking in our ravel of riders is that "birds wot bike" are wired differently to "birds wot don't"

Simple, can't help wonder if they're equally immature and nerdy as we are.

My other half sees the bike very differently - she likes nice, flat easy road or trail rides with lots of sunshine and no wind that last up to ten minutes tops and thinks that's a great day out and time for tea and cakes thank you very much. No mud, hills, rain or other nasty stuff for her. Which of course is just weird.

simonfbarnes - Member
I consider competition to be childish

That's certainly one of your less intelligent comments, SFB. Not for you/not something you choose to be/pointless/etc you could argue but childish? eh?

I used to ride with men, they could get the testosterone going on steep, high drop-offs and psyche themselves into doing them, whereas I was just plain old frightened with no (male) hormonal help.

Having said that, I do like technical stuff, like to get both wheels in the air, like to race and ride long events. I am competitive, even now that I'm older.

I fix my own bikes, can build wheels, can fix cars (although I don't these days), am interested in computers and "man things". My bikes live in my lounge/kitchen, I have my own tools. In fact a couple of men have said to me that I should have been a man! I think that says more about them than me though.

To the OP: yes, I think there IS a difference between women who ride bikes and women who don't.

Wow Karinofnine- respect.

I like riding my bike a lot, but I consider competition to be childish

relevance to the thread being? just wondering 🙂

I think everyone is unique.

Must admit sitting in a Sports Physiology lecture and women well were like blokes and bit dumb compred to my biochem lectures of hot brains and bods.

So to your answer-everyone is different know matter what they do regardless of gender.

are men who ride bikes a bit different to those men who don't ride bikes??

I think it's a person thing rather than a gender thing. The OH and I got into biking together, and he's quicker on the descents (my excuse is that he's heavier) but other than that we're pretty well matched. Sometimes I get the impression tho that if I wasn't around he'd spend more time indoors on the xbox - whereas I'd go out on my bike all the time if I could.

According to the scientific research, yes!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC117232/

[i]Many chronic injuries related to athletic bicycling are now recognised: cyclist's nipples, neuropathic syndromes, and skin problems caused by the saddle. We have seen a new clinical problem in female high level cycling competitors: bicyclist's vulva (figure).[/i]

(caution, NSFW, medical photos)

That's certainly one of your less intelligent comments, SFB. Not for you/not something you choose to be/pointless/etc you could argue but childish? eh?

childish in the "Nyeh, nyeh, I'm the king of the castle" way! Who cares who's fastest? If you go faster it's over sooner and you have to wait longer for everyone else. I suspect turning sport into competition puts off more than it encourages 🙁 I favour cooperation instead.

(the problem stems from thinking of gender as discrete values.)+1 😀

[i]Bicyclist's vulva: observational study[/i]
I thought there were laws against that sort of thing.

Blimey Karin! That's seriously impressive. 😀

AS A WOMAN; AND TO ANSWER THE QUESTION:-

1) Look to what her pursuits are now? Would they transfer into MTBing?

2) Ask her, and find out whether she would like to have a go!

I naturally love riding, because I love being outdoors. Is it really a sex thing? Having a BF who loves to ride too really helps as neither of us feel like bike widow/ widower!

Yes, they are. Just like men who like riding are different to men who don't like riding.

If she generally hates the outdoors and does no exercise, then it's highly unlikely that you'll get her into riding.

What you generally find is that (cue sweeping generalisatons) women tend not to have hobbies like blokes do. Other than my mtbing female friends, and a couple of friends who horseride, most of the women I know don't really have hobbies, and a lot do no sport at all and haven't done since school.

[i]thats not as standard is it samuri???? theres no two women alike... [/i]

Woooah there bessie. Have a sugar cube.

😉

...are women who ride bikes a bit different to those women who dont ride bikes..

Yup, they have better figures.

massive differance in girls that bike and girls that dont do any other type outdoors activitys like walking,climbing,horse riding,kayaking,surfing..
my new girlfriend is dutch so grew up cycling-there national pastime...shes a NL bikepatrol officer (police woman) and blows me away on cycling fitness... drives a van converted to a camper,loves to winter bivvy,being outdoors whatever the weather,knows how to shoot a gun and is still a real woman with no butchness...though could proberly kick the shit out of most folk!!!before i met her i dated dozons of girls and a few long term but it never lasts past the period of a year or two because they didnt do outdoors hobbies and just didnt understand why...
it was only a matter of time before the relationships went south...
some people like that relationship where they do there own thing in hobbies, i want to share the views,trips,sunrises and sunsets...
i once thought id never meet a girl into the outdoors...
i advise all single guys/girls to hold out for that person the same as you...they do exist and are out there...

cyclists vulva?
is that like a charge spoon induced smashed pasty?

I enjoy riding on and off road. I quite like being wet and muddy if there's cake and a good hot shower at the end of it. I am not a competitive, sporty girl, never was. Neither am I interested in bike bits (am slightly ashamed of this...). Luckily I have Stue to maintain and fettle my bikes, so all I have to do is ride.

I'm wimpy enough to enjoy having both wheels firmly on the ground, and freely admit that one of the attractions of biking is you can get out in amazing countryside and cover a lot more ground than walking. Also it's the only way of keeping fit that I actually enjoy, and at 50 I am beginning to realise if I don't keep doing it, I might find I no longer can!

So... male or female there are as many different ways of enjoying riding as there are people. Can you help your wife to find what works for her?

There are women I don't understand at all who would rather be putting on make up and shopping for shoes (non-bike related) than being out in the open air. I can't answer for them.

think someone has said already but not all blokes would be in to mountain biking... alot of blokes prefer team sports... some blokes dont like sport at all... I really do think if truth be told that someone women don't like mountain biking because of social acceptance... for lots of reasons its seen as a masculine sport and so it may threaten some womens sense of femininity. I imagine those that do it are either more not as stereotypically feminine or are simply secure in their femininity and don't care because they enjoy it. I also bet if mountain biking developed a more mainstream aspirational appeal such as skiing, more mainstream (possibly superficial) women would do it. Not sure this would be a good thing. stereotyping again(but the question kind of leads any reply in to stereotyping) but... I think more men are probably in to the kit and adrenanline side of the sport, where as women may be more in to the social / fitness side of things. I'd finish by adding all of these ways of enjoying the sport are equally valid... skiing point is most contentious and willing to accept may be wrong... but think there is an element of truth...

Sharing the endorphin rush of mountainbiking with a beautiful female adds a unique dimension to a relationship. Plus if it's followed by a few ales whilst perving over bikes etc etc then it's unbeatable (in my humble opinion).