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Girls? You mean women?
Taking ownership of the term in a positive way, see also the run like a girl thing. Or the n word that gets you a ban.
I do a lot of fell-running and have noticed that there are a lot more women doing that than there are riding MTBs.They are fairly similar sports I guess, in terms of the environments in which they are conducted and the physical effort required to do them, so why are so many more women running than biking? Also, many more women doing marathons than road racing, more women doing Parkruns than local time trials, etc, etc. Is running doing something we aren't?
Massive generalisation coming up Talking to some of the girls I run with a lot just aren't interested in bikes. Not riding bikes, but the bikes themselves. Tinkering with machines is still a blokey thing and running has pretty much all the best bits of biking but without the tinkering bit. Obviously there are exceptions, some girls do enjoy it and are good at it. However, look at the relative numbers of men/women riding and racing and then look at the relative numbers working as mechanics. If riders are 70/30 I'll bet mechanics are 95/5.
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On a slightly related subject, 48 of the 50 fastest marathons ever run have been by Kenyans and Ethiopians. A marathon is quite similar to an XCO race in terms of physical effort, speed, stamina, etc. How many black guys (and girls) are there racing XCO world cups? I could count them on the fingers of one foot. There may be an economic arguement here, Ethiopia is not a rich country and MTBs are expensive for the general population there, whereas almost everyone can, and does, run, so the pool of people riding is likely to be quite small but there must be untapped potential, why have none of the big teams gone out there with some bikes and a coach and done a bit of talent spotting? Likewise carribeans, famous for sprinting. How quick could someone like Bolt be in the Kilo if he took up track racing? And yet how many carribeans do we see in riding the velodrome? And how many running on the track? In this country why are black British peole over-represented in boxing and under-repressented in cycling,or in snooker? .
Anyway, enough stereotying for one evening, I'm off to bed.
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So here's a thing, whilst I was browsing online sales (rather than going to bed) I wondered how many of the online bike shops in my bookmarks list had images of women on their homepage. Turns out many of the well known ones don't although they do have pictures of men (several in some cases). Some do (Pedalon, JE James, SJS (riding a Brompton), Fawkes, Wiggle (probably - lower body only), Ribble, BBB).
Almost all were exclusively white.
andrewh
...why have none of the big teams gone out there with some bikes and a coach and done a bit of talent spotting? Likewise carribeans, famous for sprinting. How quick could someone like Bolt be in the Kilo if he took up track racing? And yet how many carribeans do we see in riding the velodrome?...
That's a good question.
In Australia there are sizeable Melanesian populations in the North. By the time they hit 16 many of the young men are built like Chris Hoy. They look perfect for sprinting and track racing. However Rugby League hoovers up any of them with an interest in sport, but it seems like the national cycling bodies have never noticed the potential.
It's a great vid, I was going to say something like "Easy for them, as they have all that sponsorship and travel and what not" but I guess thay all had to work hard to get there.
I've had a mixed expirences on the MTB. I ride mostly with my Dad when I go out, and I reckon that stops most of the snarky comments, but I've had dirty looks as blokes over take me as I've "held them up" on a climb. I think a lot of girls are put off by themselves as it's dirty and mucky and they idea of having to dive into the bushes for a wee isn't something that a lot of my mates would be keen on, I think there's a lot of stuff that blokes take for granted that you don't even think about (and why should you, I guess)
Shops are the worst, if I'm having a moan, some one mansplaning to me about carbon handlebars or how to set up suspension or something is pretty annoying, or just plain being ignored if I want to buy something, as the bloke behind the till has a chat to his mate!! (last weekend)
or just plain being ignored if I want to buy something, as the bloke behind the till has a chat to his mate!!
Oh, I'll just wade right in there with a sturdy interruption across the conversation 😆 You want my money? You ****ing earn it, sunshine.
So here’s a thing, whilst I was browsing online sales (rather than going to bed) I wondered how many of the online bike shops in my bookmarks list had images of women on their homepage. Turns out many of the well known ones don’t although they do have pictures of men (several in some cases). Some do (Pedalon, JE James, SJS (riding a Brompton), Fawkes, Wiggle (probably – lower body only), Ribble, BBB).
Almost all were exclusively white.
TBF, at least we've moved on from the Assos model, Wades cycles and Mark Anthony. At least now the women actually look like they're riding a bike rather than working at Spearmint Rhino or Hooters.
It’s a great vid, I was going to say something like “Easy for them, as they have all that sponsorship and travel and what not” but I guess thay all had to work hard to get there.
I’ve had a mixed expirences on the MTB. I ride mostly with my Dad when I go out, and I reckon that stops most of the snarky comments, but I’ve had dirty looks as blokes over take me as I’ve “held them up” on a climb. I think a lot of girls are put off by themselves as it’s dirty and mucky and they idea of having to dive into the bushes for a wee isn’t something that a lot of my mates would be keen on, I think there’s a lot of stuff that blokes take for granted that you don’t even think about (and why should you, I guess)
Shops are the worst, if I’m having a moan, some one mansplaning to me about carbon handlebars or how to set up suspension or something is pretty annoying, or just plain being ignored if I want to buy something, as the bloke behind the till has a chat to his mate!! (last weekend)
Here's the thing.. that guy that gave you a dirty look - is it not possible that he'd have given another guy a dirty look if they were holding him up on the climb? How do you know he does it exclusively to women?
Again, in the shop - is that mansplaning or has he done it to everyone that's walked through the door because he likes to show off his perceived superior knowledge?
Sometimes, you just meet an asshole/know it all/or whatever and it has nothing to do with sexism.
I feel that's important as (potentially) conflating poor behaviour (from someone that happens to be male) necessarily with sexism does about as much good for gender relations as actual sexism itself.
Not looking to single out your post here (I like the insights about why it may not appeal to a lot of women), and of course those men you encountered could absolutely have been treating you as they did because you're a woman. My point is, if you've had no other interactions with them (or witnessed any), how can you really know?
Back to the vid, I think the two Kross ladies came up with the idea. Great stuff and great ambassadors for the sport.
Here’s the thing.. that guy that gave you a dirty look – is it not possible that he’d have given another guy a dirty look if they were holding him up on the climb? How do you know he does it exclusively to women?
Again, in the shop – is that mansplaning or has he done it to everyone that’s walked through the door because he likes to show off his perceived superior knowledge?
Sometimes, you just meet an asshole/know it all/or whatever and it has nothing to do with sexism.
Can't answer for who posted it but I've see it with my own eyes with guys on trail giving very different reactions to men and women out there, same in shops, same all over the place
At least now the women actually look like they’re riding a bike
That is true. I received a delivery today from one of the "offending" sites and to be fair their printed literature was much better, in terms of diversity, than their online presence.