Ladies...

jonesy124

Any women out there?

I dont see many women on the road. I think this is probably because I only really cycle when I am on way to/from work and not many women choose to commute by bike (sweaty/messy hair at the office! eek), but instead save it for the weekend.

I was just wondering how many women cycle and how fast, far etc? I would like to know if Im any good compared to other women out there but as I am yet to meet a fellow female cyclist I cant really tell.

Anyone here a female cyclist or know any?

Elskippy

Hello, lady cyclist here!

There ain't many of us about are there? I know one other girl cyclist but she's one of those mountain bikers...

jonesy124

Ah yes, there seem to be a lot of female mountain bikers. Oh well, more road for us I guess.

How long have you been cycling for?

PrettyBoyTim

It may depend on where you live. On my commute in and out of central London I'd guess about a quarter to a third of the other cyclists I see are Women.

Yorkshireman

There's a few (ex C+) here:-
http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/
And probably more here:-
http://www.anothercyclingforum.com/home.php
Can't guarantee that they're all Ladies ... but they're all fun

Elskippy

jonesy124 wrote:

Ah yes, there seem to be a lot of female mountain bikers. Oh well, more road for us I guess.

How long have you been cycling for?

A couple of years on and off a broken collar bone kind of got in the way for a bit but getting back into it slowly but surely! Determined to start making more of an effort! What about you?

jonesy124

I only started a couple of months ago but am getting hooked already. I was doing 20 miles a day on a mountain bike (painful) until my LBS lent me an old road bike. I had to give it back the other day but am buying my very own Bianchi on sat morning.

I want to do a lot more cycling as I am only commuting at the moment. I would like to get into longer distances at the weekends - what kind of stuff do you do?

knedlicky

Don't be put off by not seeing many women on the road, they're out there.

I went out for 30-odd miles yesterday evening and saw 3 woman on MTBs, and two on racing bikes. I only saw two guys, both on racing bikes, so it's women who were more seriously out and about.
(I didn't count the few I saw on 'town' bikes but I'd guess there the split was about equal).

At events, the percentage of female participants seems to be about 10-20%, the lower value if it's an intimidating racing bike event with lowish entry numbers, the higher value if it's judged easier, the number of participants is high, or a MTB event, or duathlon/triathlon.

In the club, the female membership fluctuates around 25%, though only a couple join in events. But one of them knocks the spots off nearly all the males.

allaction

Cycling in general has historically been a male dominated sport. I think recently with the advent of female specific bikes the manufaturers are actively trying to attract women to cycling. My wife took up cycling about twelve months ago as she wanted to enter triathlons. She cycles once or twice a week with myself and some other male friends as there are no other female cyclists we know. I think this has probably made her a better cyclist as she has had to compete with us as opposed to other women. We did a 40 miler the other day which is pretty decent considering we live in a hilly area (Lake District).

jonesy124

i want to start doing longer rides. How long roughly did it take her to do the 40 miler?

Crapaud

PrettyBoyTim wote:
It may depend on where you live. On my commute in and out of central London I'd guess about a quarter to a third of the other cyclists I see are Women.

I would say that it's about the same up here. Mainly commuter/keisure types though.
The local campaigning group, "Go Bike!" has a similar proportion on their monthly rides.

Elskippy

Clubs are pretty intimidating as they do seem to be pretty much all guys. That's probably more to do with my fear of being rubbish than anything else of course! One of the major things that pisses me off is in magazines designed for us ladies (marie claire etc) they never ever even mention sport, any sport, and when they do it's purely on the weight loss/good arse/flat stomach angle rather than fitness and cos it's bloody fun.. It does my head in. As if you can't like frocks and sport at the same time. Guys magazines manage both lifestyle stuff and sport too I don't get why women's magazines can't as well.

Ooh, sorry, that turned into a rant. Oops!

jonesy124

i know exactly what you mean. I also think that a lot more women would be interested in sport if they knew more about it.

I didnt know anything about the world of cycling until recently, its a shame that it isnt promoted more.

On a completely different note, I am sitting at work putting off the ride home. This is only becaue I know I will have to get off my bike at some point and wade through water as I carry it on my shoulder! When will this shitty weather stop!!??

Elskippy

jonesy124 wrote:

On a completely different note, I am sitting at work putting off the ride home. This is only becaue I know I will have to get off my bike at some point and wade through water as I carry it on my shoulder! When will this shitty weather stop!!??

You should move to Scotland, it's lovely up here! well, at least, it's lovelier than down there!

purplemad

Hi, I'm a female cyclist, have just ordered a new bike , have been riding on the road with a MTB on slicks for the last few months, but I have bought a road bike now. Just debating on what shoes to go with my new bike.

purplemad

Oh I meant to put, I rarely see other cyclists, but then I live in the middle of no-where, saw a group last week when I was out, but that's about it. Hopefully there is going to be a new club starting near me, (20miles away) and they will do about 25miles, going to the slowest person, may go once and see how it goes.

Elskippy

purplemad wrote:

Hi, I'm a female cyclist, have just ordered a new bike , have been riding on the road with a MTB on slicks for the last few months, but I have bought a road bike now. Just debating on what shoes to go with my new bike.

I got a pair of specialized ones last year - functional but also very pretty!

purplemad

Were they road shoes? I'm not sure whether to go for the full on road shoe or more of a touring shoe. Big decisions. We also have another bike I may go on with toe clips, and so the touring shoe may be a better option for me as I can use them when I ride that one, but having said that I can always use trainers for the other bike!!!

Elskippy

I got road shoes. but then i don't cycle anything else and always use the same pedals!

Couldn't do without them now.

purplemad

Thanks for that, will have a debate over the next few days, and go from there.

gavintc

My wife is a keen roadie. She does not post on here. She started a couple of years ago, cycles with the local club, commutes most days and thoroughly enjoys being the sole female the male dominated club run. But, I do find it a little galling when she bursts past for the village sign group sprint having sucked my wheel for the previous couple of miles. There are women out there, but just get out there and do it, you do not need other women to ride with.

BeaconRuth

jonesy124 wrote:

Any women out there?

I dont see many women on the road. I think this is probably because I only really cycle when I am on way to/from work and not many women choose to commute by bike (sweaty/messy hair at the office! eek), but instead save it for the weekend.

I was just wondering how many women cycle and how fast, far etc? I would like to know if Im any good compared to other women out there but as I am yet to meet a fellow female cyclist I cant really tell.

Anyone here a female cyclist or know any?

Yup, I'm a female cyclist. There aren't as many of us about as male cyclists but I find that women who cycle and mix it with the guys are absolutely great. The guys treat us very well too - I've never come across any male cyclists who weren't glad to see women enjoying the sport alongside them.

We have about 15 active female cyclists in my club and this year we managed a record turnout at a local women's 10 mile race - here are the pictures to prove it: http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/gallery/pd_dcm/index.html . We do everything that the rest of the club does - club runs, races, social activities and some of us are just as fast as the guys.

My advice is - work progressively on your fitness, extending your rides and building up your speed and stamina and then get along to your local cycling club. Women get treated very well in cycling clubs, I find, as long as you don't mind a bit of male humour and mick-taking. You will earn respect from the guys if you work hard at your cycling - even if you're not quite as fast as them initially.

Cathryn

Hello...female cyclist checking in to add to the numbers!!! I'm more of a pootler than a speedster but don't think that matters. I use my bike for getting around and for day/weekend trips and touring...and because it makes me damn happy!!!!!

purplemad

BeaconRuth the pics are fantastic, looks like you all had a good time. Really getting excited bout my bike now having seen those pictures. If only I lived a bit closer I would come along to your club.

BeaconRuth

purplemad wrote:

BeaconRuth the pics are fantastic, looks like you all had a good time. Really getting excited bout my bike now having seen those pictures. If only I lived a bit closer I would come along to your club.

We did have a super day, Purplemad - and for most of the girls it was their first attempt at racing. The photos make it look as though there were no other women riding but there were about 15 women from other clubs taking part too. I'm really pleased you've enjoyed looking at them!

Where are you based? I might know some women or a good club near you. If you're within a reasonable distance of the Midlands, have a think about coming and doing the Coventry CC Diana Cooke Memorial 10 Mile TT next year - it's a great opportunity to have a go at racing against a good number of other women. It's in early May and the Coventry CC work hard to make it a really special event each year.

You might also be interested in the Women's Series of TTs I've organised this season, all details here: http://www.midlanddc.org.uk/index.php?q=node/74 . Again it's Midlands-based, I'm afraid, but at least you get to see there are women getting stuck in and enjoying one branch of cycling.

jonesy124

So many women have posted since I last checked - yey!

BeaconRuth - the pics are great, I wish there was something similar down south.

Purplemad - What bike are you getting? Im buying one this weekend The old shoe debate often gets me down. I am such a wimp, I bought clipless pedals and spd shoes but fell off a few times so have converted back to straps (which I LOVE)

I know that when I start racing I will have to get sorted with the clipless again, but as I mainly cycle to commute I have to stop and start all the time so I find straps the perfect compromise as I find it really easy to get in and out of them..

PeteinSQ

My girlfriend cycles lots, she even used to post on here but doesn't have the time any more. She has two bikes, a specialized sirrus for commuting and a cannondale CAAD road bike. She is now looking for a single speed so she can pretend to be a courier.

If you live in London I know a good club which even has some women that race.

domtyler

What a surprise, a "Women" thread and their all talking about shoes!
________
Toyota aygo

allaction

40 miler about 2 hours 45 mins but that included a cup of tea and peice of cake which lasted about twenty five mins. I normally do that route in about two hiurs ten if I don't stop. She has a Trek 5000 WSD (Women Specific Design) by the way which we got from http://www.devercycles.co.uk/ excellent service. List price for 2007 model £1300 which we got down to £1050 and a computer thrown in, delivery free also. The bike looks and rides very nicely, full carbon frame and a mix of 105 and ultegra parts make a really nice set up.

Melpro

Yep, I'm a female cyclist as well. Commute 20 miles a day and do weekend rides - road bike in summer, mountain bike in winter.

I don't race - don't really fancy it although if I do see a bike ahead of me I will always bust a gut to overtake it. The people I overtake (usually blokes) don't seem too pleased and there is one particularly grumpy bloke around here who always tries to catch me again.
Still it's all fun and games.

Good luck with the new bike.

Cesii

I am a female cyclist. I do want to commute but my speed is not well, up to speed yet.
Sweaty head? Head bands are a life saver