Where Have all The Women Gone?
How often do you see a group of cyclists pedaling at 20-30 MPH on the side of the road and the group is usually 100% male. Am I saying that women aren’t good at cycling? No but I am saying that most women don’t like the activity of cycling and results of a study out of the UK may hold the answer why.
According to the study, over a quarter of the women were concerned with helmet hair which is a distant cousin of hathead and bedhead. In fact, 2/3 of all women never cycle. Besides helmet head, women were concerned with sweat and impairment of makeup as additional reasons why they ditched the sport of cycling.
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October 1st, 2008 at 1:32 am
I am an avid cyclist in southern CA. Granted, I don’t race, but I know many women who ride and some who do race. I ride upwards of 100 miles regularly and have the pics to prove it (helmet head and all). I’ve yet to hear from another woman that she fears helmet head, sweat and/or impairment of makeup as a reason for not cycling (please, give me a break!). Worry over getting hit by a car or crashing and being injured as reasons for not buying a bike, perhaps, but not vanity. I think the women polled for the study out of the UK must have been the non-athletic model types. This being presented as fact seems dubious to me…a woman cyclist.
October 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
I think women’s cycling has never been huge. Other reasons I know of are discomfort (try and find a perfect fitting saddle as a woman - it’s almost mission impossible) and fear of cycling on the road and being hit by a car due to rude or careless drivers. Agree, these reasons are not as serious as helmet hair and messed up make-up but still a concern. And you forgot to mention tan lines - aargh
October 25th, 2008 at 2:09 am
I think we need more women in cycling. I’m kinda tired most gatherings are sausage parties!