Are women less into cycling than men?

[Asturiano]

I was trying to call the attention with the title of the post.

I love cycling but there is something about this sport I hate. I mean, nowadays you can see many women supporting and practising many sports but it's strange because looks like not many women love cycling like one of their favourites. They prefer other sports and I don't know why.

On a race, the porcentage of men you can see on both sides of the road is by far much more than women. It happens almost in all the sports but I think it's more visible on cycling.

What do you think?.

 

[RedheadDane]

You just got this* close to getting a very angry Ginger Viking on your tail!

I don't know why it's like that... Or maybe the reason why there are so many more guys at the roadsides is because we ladies are just more... sensible about things and actually realize that you in fact see more of the race by staying at home.
Or maybe we're just lazy...

*This of course being meassured in an as-of-yet unknown scale...

 

[Master50]

I see so many more women on bikes now then at any time before.

 

[Izzy eviel]

I do a lot of cycling around Richmond Park in London, it's sort of a mecca for London cyclists. I see about 200-300 different riders on a typical ride and half of them are female.

Sadly for me most of them are with their partners. - Maybe they see it as a more social thing whereas men see it more as a sport/hobby?

 

[LouieLouie]

I beg to differ. Cycling is for women.

Check here for proof.

 

[Asturiano]

I beg to differ. Cycling is for women.

Check here for proof.

It's not a bad post.

After watching that post, it gives me the idea of taking a ride with a ciclist woman, both (me and she) naked. The thing is no woman would accept a crazy thing like that.

 

[RedheadDane]

Eeeh... are we talking about being fans of cycling or riding yourself?
Because it is possible to ride bikes without actually being a cycling-fan. Bikes are, after all, mainly a method of transportation.

 

[Asturiano]

Eeeh... are we talking about being fans of cycling or riding yourself?
Because it is possible to ride bikes without actually being a cycling-fan. Bikes are, after all, mainly a method of transportation.

I'm talking about love cycling in both aspects like an sport and being a cycling fan.

 

[Scatto]

I once read a newspaper article stating that women don't bike because they don't like to sweat and their hairdo gets messed up. On a forum, some people suggested women are afraid of placing themselves in traffic. At university, all girls rode bikes, but they quickly switch over to cars. I would say they are lazy too.

When it comes down to sports, I have the impression that women are less often found in endurance sports and speed racing (with the exception of skating in Holland). For the former I have no clue why, the second may have to do with a lack of attention and spatial ability.

At least in Belgium, I think a lot of women like to watch cycling though. Football may be number one, but shaved legs come close. Motives generally have to do with travel ideas, social interest and looks.

All clichés confirmed. Do not forget women are on average smarter and always more beautiful than men, so cosmic balance is restored. Also, they have kids and control your life.

Disclaimer: exceptions always exist

 

[MarkvW]

I once read a newspaper article stating that women don't bike because they don't like to sweat and their hairdo gets messed up. On a forum, some people suggested women are afraid of placing themselves in traffic. At university, all girls rode bikes, but they quickly switch over to cars. I would say they are lazy too.

When it comes down to sports, I have the impression that women are less often found in endurance sports and speed racing (with the exception of skating in Holland). For the former I have no clue why, the second may have to do with a lack of attention and spatial ability.

At least in Belgium, I think a lot of women like to watch cycling though. Football may be number one, but shaved legs come close. Motives generally have to do with travel ideas, social interest and looks.

All clichés confirmed. Do not forget women are on average smarter and always more beautiful than men, so cosmic balance is restored. Also, they have kids and control your life.

Disclaimer: exceptions always exist

Not true at all in the USA. I suspect that a better explanation is that Belgian males disproportionately like cycling more than other males worldwide . . .

 

[slartiblartfast]

I once read a newspaper article stating that women don't bike because they don't like to sweat and their hairdo gets messed up. On a forum, some people suggested women are afraid of placing themselves in traffic. At university, all girls rode bikes, but they quickly switch over to cars. I would say they are lazy too.

When it comes down to sports, I have the impression that women are less often found in endurance sports and speed racing (with the exception of skating in Holland). For the former I have no clue why, the second may have to do with a lack of attention and spatial ability.

At least in Belgium, I think a lot of women like to watch cycling though. Football may be number one, but shaved legs come close. Motives generally have to do with travel ideas, social interest and looks.

All clichés confirmed. Do not forget women are on average smarter and always more beautiful than men, so cosmic balance is restored. Also, they have kids and control your life.

Disclaimer: exceptions always exist

Maybe you should speak to some women you know (if you are brave enough) and explain your ideas. You could then get back to the forum with what they said.

 

[Cycle Chic]

The LYCRA

I think its the dreaded LYCRA. Before I started road cycling I mountain biked. I was often asked why I didnt try road cycling and my response was 'in that Lycra, no way'. It was just so uncool.

When you see beginner cyclists you see them wearing baggy shorts, you try anything to avoid that Lycra. But after a few rides you realise why it has to be worn.

Women dont like wearing it because it shows every bulge and fat layer. Theres no hiding your body shape. Same for men.

Its no problem if you are skinny or when you have shed the weight....lycra becomes your friend. But ask any woman to get in that Lycra and she will refuse.

Now go to Italy - where women are obsessed with their body shape - they see it as a fashion thing - they cant wait to get in that lycra and show off their body. I couldnt believe how many girls cycled in Italy - none are fat. Not ridden in France but I bet its the same there. But U.K. and U.S.A. - they just dont have that body obsession.

As for women watching cycling - it is boring these days...even as an avid fan...nothing happens until the last 20kms.

As for watching it for the men....yeh very nice - until you see their bodies. Ok the sprinters are the best of the peloton only because they look slightly normal....until you see their TOP HALF.....emaciated, their arms, chests,..they look like 12 yr old boys,...then the climbers - well forget it - eating disorder springs to mind. Super domestiques - yeh nice from the waist down.

You dont get many Boassen-Hagen bodies in the peloton - and again he has emaciated upper body.

 

[element]

I got my girlfriend a bike, but she won't cycle to work because she's scared of traffic and worried about getting sweaty.

I've also tried to a find a pro cyclist that she finds attractive, but it's almost impossible. It's just not a sexy sport!

 

[Cycle Chic]

I got my girlfriend a bike, but she won't cycle to work because she's scared of traffic and worried about getting sweaty.

I've also tried to a find a pro cyclist that she finds attractive, but it's almost impossible. It's just not a sexy sport!

Actually I find the exact opposite. When motorists see a female cyclist they give you a lot of respect. The men SLOW DOWN and have a good look (tell her to grow her hair long if its short The only time I have had a few close cars is when my hair was a bit shorter and on the road bike I could have looked like a young boy rider (I say that cause I,m quite skinny)

And women drivers are always courteous - I think they admire women who cycle, because that could be them 'a mother with 2 children at home'. Another reason could be that they also will one day get out on their bike and want the same respect on the road.

So tell the girlfriend she is quite safe. Be interesting to see stats on male and female casualties from road accidents.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

I'm talking about love cycling in both aspects like an sport and being a cycling fan.

Just a note: Cyclingnews has a large proportion of women writers/editors -- five of the ten on the news/production team, in fact.

Susan

 

[Froome19]

So tell the girlfriend she is quite safe. Be interesting to see stats on male and female casualties from road accidents.

From memory I believe it to be 79% men casulties
Of course there are more men cycling than women..

 

[Cycle Chic]

The Thread Title

Just a note: Cyclingnews has a large proportion of women writers/editors -- five of the ten on the news/production team, in fact.

Susan

The thread title is rather misleading....maybe you could alter it.

Why don't Women like Cycling or similar would be more appropriate.....good topic though.

 

[SacCylclist]

I see so many more women on bikes now then at any time before.

I agree. It's not uncommon anymore to see groups of only women riding the roads.

 

[Asturiano]

Do not forget women are on average smarter

There is not true.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Let's stay away from cliches and stereotypes, ok?

Susan

 

[trailrunner]

In the running world, there are pretty much as many women runners in a typical race as there are male runners. It's not uncommon for a race to have more women than men. On the masters swim teams I've been on, I think overall there have been more women than men - that's certainly true on my current team.

For cycling, that parity has not happened (unfortunately). When I was our club's RD, the most contentious issue we had was how many womens races we should have. One year I had only 2 or 3 women signed up for a race a couple of days before the race. It was hard to justify keeping that race, and the next year we dropped it. The women were outraged and said we weren't supporting them (and a lot of other nasty things).

 

[auscyclefan94]

Cooking the evening meal and doing the housework is not for men as well.

 

[180mmCrank]

There is an interesting debate to be had a about the difference between men and women's participation in competitive sport.

Sexist comments about ironing and making the dinner are a little less welcome. I know they seem funny at the time to a few but to many it gets tired very quickly.

Debate away.

Terry
Admin

 

[Cycle Chic]

Reasons women dont Cycle

Its the Dreaded Lycra.

Someone should do a survey and ask why women dont road bike. Look at mountain biking its extremely popular with women....even BMX.....Road Riding ??? they aint gettin in the Lycra - its just not seen as cool.

Bradley Wiggins ? looking like a stick insect ? nope !

Town riding is popular...the girls in London and York will ride around without a helmet (silly)...cause they can wear their normal clothes.

Liz hatch tried her hardest to make it Page 3...but even that didnt work

Lizzie Armstead - women look at her and think 'yeh but I havent got her body' - i,ll look terrible.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

The title of this thread, and ACF94's post is absurd. In today's age some of he worlds best chefs are men. We have professional women's cage fighting, and women's tackle football. So to think women belong in the kitchen like its 1912 is just stupid.

As to what fan percentage is female, and why that number may be low, is a worthy discussion. The NFL for example claims a female fan base of 50%. That number may be a bit high, but if you go into any Sunday sports bar you'll find it's not that far off (I'm guessing maybe 40%). Why cycling, a less physical sport, doesn't have that percentage of fans is a valid question.