Are women less into cycling than men?

[Cycle Chic]

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 ???

 

[jamiephillips]

My wife hates cycling on the telly but she loves watching it by the roadside.

 

[trailrunner]

I think another aspect of it might be that bikes are viewed as mechanical devices, and that may scare some women away (I don't mean this to be a sexist comment, or a comment on what women can or should do -- it's just an observation). I've met more than a few women cyclists who did not know how to change a flat. Their attitude was that one of the guys riding with them would fix it for them.

Even for self-reliant women, another factor might be the remoteness. On weekends I ride out in the countryside. Some of the places and some of the people I've seen make me feel like I've travelled back in time 50 years. The great majority of people out there are reasonable and decent humans, but there are still some bubbas out there that make me feel uncomfortable. When I'm wearing my kit and a car drives by and someone calls me a f@ggot, half of me chuckles because it's so silly, but half of me prays that they just keep on driving and don't stop.

 

[9000ft]

I live in the Colorado high country and cycling, both on and off road is very popular with women. not only is it popular, but there are a whole lot of women who will kick your a$$.

 

[Asturiano]

Just an speculation I know but maybe another reason is women prefer team sports (where you socialize with other people) and cycling is a sport where you feel sometimes lonely. You and your bike racing many kilometres away from home. As trailrunner said the remoteness is another reason, many women feel unsafe on these circumstances.

 

[Jalina]

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.

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.

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. Cycling fails miserably at this. The interviews are in general boring as bat sh*t, just monotonous same old, same old questions. There seems to be very little room for cyclists to show their personalities and in doing so connect with an audience. There are great personalities in the peloton, but until you really get into cycling and go looking for them, how the hell would you know? The average person would have no idea how entertaining Jens is yet everyone knows how entertaining Usain Bolt is.

I will admit my bias here, I am a fangirl. But this is where someone like Sagan could be gold for the sport. He seems really likeable, he is a p*sser in interviews if given the opportunity, he shows his personality on the bike. In a word, he is not boring like so many cyclists seem to be. I enjoy Cadel Evans, but let's face it, he isn't exactly Mr Personality in interviews. I'm not suggesting all riders need to be like Sagan, they are all individual, but it would be nice to see a bit more of the riders away from the race. There's some great stuff on you tube of riders training, in camps, etc etc. Some more of that type of thing pre race telecasts would be good. We see this type of thing in other sports, during a tennis grand slam coverage we see plenty of off court action of the players and lots of fun at press conferences. It makes them more likeable, more interesting, more real. And you want to watch and support someone you like... or you want to watch and yell at someone you don't like. Either way, you become invested! I'm not talking about intruding into private lives, but just somethng apart from pure racing. I remember seeing the series of pics of Phil Gilbert with his little toddler on his bike. Rightly or wrongly, for some reason it made me like Phil a bit more. Silly I know, but something about him being a proud parent connected with me.
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!)

I think sometimes what keeps women away, is it's hard to "know" cyclists. So it's less likely you will want to watch them. Of course as with all sports, once you start watching the sport itself grabs you and that is what keeps you interested. But cycling can be somewhat complex, and until you learn exactly how it all works, having favourites to follow in the race is what will hook the interest initially.

 

[Jalina]

Its the Dreaded Lycra.

I agree with this, definitely a big factor as far as participation goes. I had a chronic illness that took ages to get over and I put on weight. Once I was fine I needed to get back in shape. Bike = lycra, no thanks. Swimming = bathers, no thanks. Walking then progressing to running = shorts and t-shirts. YES!

I wear running pants now that I'm fitter, but still with a t-shirt. Even if I was really skinny, I'm not sure I would be feeling great about the lycra on the bike. I know about my wobbly bits, not sure I want to advertise them to the world! I ride my bike for fun, but nothing serious.

 

[Sanitiser]

It's sort of weird bicycles surprisingly had a bit to do with the emancipation of women and the suffragette movement but that's pretty much disappeared.

If it's the sport I'd say on the whole cycling as a sport isn't well covered in general by msm so women, minorities etc aren't going to be really aware of it. If it's general use i.e commuting I'd say the traffic, clothing (lycra), showering, changing of clothes just stuff like that makes it more trouble than it's worth.

 

[auscyclefan94]

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.

Took the bait well! Oh, you mods are so precious.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I have never met a girl i like who is into cycling.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Personalites and Remoteness

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. .

Good post. That is so right ! I think thats why Jens Voigt is so popular because he has some personality and jokes around. HOWEVER, I often think- does cycling attract loners or do loners cycle ?? the cyclists I meet are not the most exciting / good company. The same with the peloton - every interview is boring, downbeat....i dont even bother listening now...same old monotone stuff. The Belgians are fun but the peloton are a boring lot.

The terrain and remoteness is also a good point - I cycle with 4 or 5 women in Europe and they never cycle alone. I thought nothing of heading into the mountains on my lonesome, until their attitude made me think about it. Now if I,m going into the wilderness, its no make-up, hair out of sight and pull the shorts down far as they go, and ride like Chris Froome

Important point on the women watching cycling angle - the LYCRA BULGE is a HUGE attraction - stood on that podium gives you a great view....Cav is well endowed and I cant recall which rider it was but he looked like he had a canoe down there

My observations-
Spanish - not much at all - in fact - zero
English - Good
French - not bad
Dutch and Scandinavians - Good
Italians - Good
Belgians - Good

 

[Asturiano]

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!)

Scantily clad?, I don't think so. They are selling a good looking product, not sex.

 

[Jalina]

Scantily clad?, I don't think so. They are selling a good looking product, not sex.

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....

 

[trailrunner]

We must have different definitions of scantily clad.

I wouldn't call that scantily clad, either. Scantily clad is what you see in a Victorias Secret catalog or on a beach. In the top picture, they're wearing cocktail party or prom dresses; bottom picture is what you see on college campuses when the weather is nice. What they're wearing in those photos is pretty tasteful.

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?

 

[Jalina]

So you believe that fashion model podium girls turn women away from cycling, or at least, do nothing to draw women in to cycling?

Yes to the bolded. I don't think they necessarily turn women off, they don't bother me as such and don't turn me off the sport. But they definitely add to the overall image that cycling is blokey, maybe a bit stuck in the past and possibly not particularly welcoming to women as spectators? Similar to motor sport I guess. Although in saying that, I do understand it is tradition. The other thing is, (if memory serves... it was a while ago!), the research shows, if you get the female to the sport, you generally get her male partner as well and in the future, her kids. It's smart sports marketing to court women.

I wonder how many male members on CN would be more likely to watch more races on TV and physically get to more races if their female partners were more interested and likey to join them?

I'm not naive, I do realise sex sells and sells big time. Just give us girls a bit more rider porn and we'll forgive the podium girls! LOL!

On the scantily clad... the general fashion rule is, show all your arms or all your legs or your cleavage, but don't show it all unless you're at the beach. Check the best dressed women... you'll see what I mean.

 

[RedheadDane]

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.

I wouldn't consider myself a complete novice, and I'm still WTF about the majority of the technical terms. Probably always will be, because honestly; it doesn't matter to me. It doesn't matter what kind of gearing they're using on the 25% climbs, I can see that it's a tough climb.

I've watched a few races where they started going into 'techno-babble-mode'. I just sorta... zone out and watch the race.

 

[Jalina]

Me too RedheadDane!

Just on the issue of podium girls and if they are or are not outdated and sexist. I guess they could be brought into this century a bit. Rather than them being models, they could be juniors from cycling clubs local to the area where the stage finishes and they could use both males and females? This would serve a couple of purposes. Obviously, it would make the whole thing a little less 1960's, a bit less blokey and sexist. But it would also serve to promote local juniors and their clubs and give locals another reason to get out and support races if their local kids are involved. Just a thought.

 

[Asturiano]

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....

In summer time (the three GT are not in winter), to wear short throusers or mini skirts is something very usual. The thing is these women are very good looking and pretty.

 

[Asturiano]

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?

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.

And I think "the culote" (I don't know how to say that in English) is very sexy for women, so the cyclist himself can be appreciated by women viewers like something as sexy as podium girls are for men viewers.

 

[Jalina]

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.

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!!

 

[hiero2]

Well, we've hit like 3 different areas and kinds of participation!

Participants: fewer women than men. Why? Any tri-geeks care to comment? Running does pretty well, like 50-50?. Martial arts gets great coverage for women, but there ARE fewer women participating, garonteed. Tri's? IDK. I think that a) fewer women are sports-minded, b)the sports chosen by women are in part chosen for the same reason men choose theirs - what their friends are doing. This means sports already popular with women continue to do well, and sports with few female participants continue to have few female participants. Part of the attraction of a sport, admitted or not, is the social standing amongst a peer group.

FANS: I garontee NFL and NBL, if they say 50%, they are prob right-on. Why? Because the social standing of these sports is high. Outside the US, you should find women fans of soccer (football). Pick the most popular sports. You will find women fans there. It is a combination of social and the human characteristic of cheering winners.

As - what do you call podium girls? Adverts? IDK. But they are a different category from fans and participants! Sexist? Yes. Is that old-fashioned? NO. Is sexism always bad? Now we get into semantics, maybe, but I say no. I say the difference is victimization. Sexism does not automatically = victimization, although some ppl will argue it does. But the real question focuses on that word - victimization. Does the action victimize someone?

Look at this. Who looks at women? Men look at women. But guess what? Women look at women! Men and women are inherently different. They are also inherently the same, being human, but with differences, being male and female. Women, by and large, are less interested in the visual aspects of men, than men are of women. Not ALL - but as a broad brush paints, GENERALLY. But for some reason, for BOTH sexes, the visual appearance of women is more important than the same for men.

I could go on - but I won't. I'd bore y'all. I will say I find no obnoxious victimization of one segment of society (women) in the use of podium girls. I disagree with the poster who said it is not selling sex, but using sex to sell. I think that is sophistry. But, I think that sex is a natural and acceptable thing. And I don't think that using podium girls makes us abusive or controlling or victimizing.

So - my opinion. Worth what it cost, that much is sure!

 

[jflemaire]

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!!

I won't be part of it I'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.

 

[Sanitiser]

I don't think podium girls are going to go from the established races but I (as a male) would be happy to see them go from the newer races.
It makes cyclists and cycling fans seem more sexually frustrated than we are.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I won't be part of it I'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.

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?

 

[Jalina]

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?

I think you've completely missed the point.