Alpe d'Huez said:The title of this thread, and ACF94's post is absurd. .
He corrects the Thread title in a later post. It is a stupid title.
Susan can you change the thead title ???
Alpe d'Huez said:The title of this thread, and ACF94's post is absurd. .
Alpe d'Huez said: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.
Cycle Chic said:Its the Dreaded Lycra.
Took the bait well! Oh, you mods are so precious.Alpe d'Huez said: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.
Jalina said:But this is the big factor. Cycling doesn't seem to know how to use its stars particularly well. Most sports have personalities, people you see regularly, you feel connected to them, you feel invested in them and you want to tune in to see how they are doing. .
Jalina said:When is the primary time we see a cyclist showing some personality? On the podium with a couple of scantily clad women. Great for you guys, a bit "meh" for us women. It all seems very blokey and not particularly women friendly. (I can hear the gasps of men everywhere... to dare to question the podium girls!! LOL!)
Asturiano said:Scantily clad?, I don't think so. They are selling a good looking product, not sex.
Jalina said:We must have different definitions of scantily clad.
trailrunner said:So you believe that fashion model podium girls turn women away from cycling, or at least, do nothing to draw women in to cycling?
Jalina said:This is my perspective from here in Australia. It may well be very different in Europe. It took me a long time to get into cycling as a spectator. A long time. We are sports mad, and that's an understatement. Our TV is very rarely off sport channels unless it is to watch a specific program. If we have the telly on in the background it's on sport or music, but usually sport. But for some reason, cycling just didn't grab me. Part of it was the commentary, lots of technical terms and when you are a complete novice it can all be a bit WTF? But that is true of any sport and you learn quickly. Part of it was definitely the shady history... it seemed like a sport you didn't want to invest in because it would inevitably disappoint you.
Jalina said:LOL! You're right, they're not selling sex, they are using sex to sell a product. We must have different definitions of scantily clad. This isn't exactly what my Nana wears to the shops....
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trailrunner said:But to the main point - yes, the podium girls are a bit outdated and sexist. Tradition and history are important to cycling, and podium girls are holdovers from bygone eras. So you believe that fashion model podium girls turn women away from cycling, or at least, do nothing to draw women in to cycling?
Asturiano said:I'm not agree. After many hours of watching men, I think I want to watch some women on tv. Sometimes, podium girls are the only women you can watch in the whole race and I think cyclists appreciate that. If not, cycling will look like male world even more.
I won't be part of itJalina said:Or you could watch some women's cycling where the women are being celebrated for doing something, not just for being pretty.
I'm going to stop now, there's a lynch mob forming outside my house! LOL!!![]()
jflemaire said:I won't be part of itI'm a man and I agree that the podium girls should go. I can appreciate a pretty woman as much as the next guy but I'm getting tired of seeing them being used for any purpose in life. It's completely degrading; particularly the champagne shower.
auscyclefan94 said:So you think the women are slaves and do not get a choice? Do you think we should have a tokenistic homosexual male to satisfy the unknown gay cyclist?