Women ...

Did I get your attention?? Haha....unfortunately it's NOT that kind of post.

Yesterday evening I was on Facebook. I belong to the GGR (Girls Gone Riding) group. One of the members posted an article about riding in the rain that showed a muddy mess on a cassette.

One of the members commented: Who wants to clean up that mess since I'm the ONLY one cleaning my bike!

I reminded the girls that it was more of maintaining the integrity of the trails and not the mess it makes on your bike.

The "commenter" came back w: That's a given.

It took every ounce of strength not to respond in a negative manner. I did come back w: I was educating not attacking. She came back w: I know.

One of the LIV Ambassadors text me last night about her. We both concluded: it's just easier riding by yourself than having "women drama" on rides ...

 

Women,
Can't live with 'em,
Can't shoot 'em.

 

Not according to Neil Young ...

 

Down by the river,
I shot my baby...

How about?

A man needs a maid.

 

Righteous.

 

Girls - to do the dishes
Girls - to clean up my room
Girls - to do the laundry
Girls - and in the bathroom
Girls - that's all I really want is girls

Not that I subscribe to this misogynistic drivel!

 

How dare you question the queen of mountain biking! Going to go out on a limb and guess you are talking about WE. If so someone seriously needs to knock her off her high horse. Or at least put her on a horse as she does not deserve to be on a bike.

 

No but boy did she rail into the TA's when I had her out for a weekend.

Not good PR if you ask me.....

 

Thanks for letting me vent guys. Now maybe you understand why I seem to be the only "chick" on MTB rides - nothin but 's and giggles when you're riding w dudes.

 

I hate personal politics on mtb rides. Leave that at home!

There's a girl,
right next to you,
and she's just waiting
for something to do,

 

You're not alone Rox. Jennifer is in the same boat. She can't stand riding with the politics that go along with gender specific groups.

 

I recognize the lyrics and I remember the melody but who sings it?? It's Punk Rock, right?

 

Wish she and I lived closer to each other.....

 

Three bad brothers, you know so well...

 

YEAH........

 

Has there ever been a group of more than two women that hasn't had drama?

 

With all due respect, I can think of one male drama queen but Mikie's put me on time-out already, next is my arse is axed!!

 

I was speaking in general terms... You know, good old fashioned sexism.

There are certainly male drama queens... No argument there. I just don't think we have any on the forum.

 

My GF went to a couple GGR rides...she wasn't really into it. Majority of the girls seem pretty nice though.

 

So I've noticed, anecdotal of course, that women don't really mountain bike that much. Our local roadie group is probably 30-40% female, which is great! But on dirt, I rarely see a carrier of the XX, maybe 10%. And that bums me out.
I'm projecting of course, but I can't think anything more fun that riding on a trail somewhere. Riding on a road is cool and all, I like that also, but nothing makes my day better than be out on the trails. And I for one feel that the personalities drawn to mountain biking are probably a bit better than those drawn to the road side. Stereotypes of course, but the laid bake MTBer and the high-strung type-A roadie developed from some basis. It just seems like it's a more fun, social scene that would attract fun, social people. Many women are rumored to possess those characteristics.
So what factors are there that keep women away from mountain biking? And I suppose, how can those barriers be lowered to get more women (and people!) riding mountain bikes in you know, the mountains?

 

Bait Rox? Don't bite.

 

Yeah... She showed a lot of self control this time... I think she deserves a gold star.

 

My theory is fear. Fear is what makes most women not want to ride dirt. Fear of crashing, fear of getting dirty, fear of wild life, fear of mechanicals etc etc etc.

GGR is a huge group and keeps growing which I'm very happy about. However, that doesn't eliminate those characteristics that "most" women possess: Catty, bitchy, whiny, insecure etc.

I have less than a handful of women I ride with and it bums me out. The groups that have formed solely for women still seem to cater to women's dichotomy.

I want a badass group that pushes them and their limits and I'm not talking climbing speed.

Oh well...maybe I'll start that group.

 

Or another dollar in the G string!

 

Are you being a smartalec??

As long as this individual continues to take jabs at me, I will continue to be a troublemaker.

 

G-String?? A crack will do ...

 

I was being serious! I threw out bait and you ignored it completely. I'm quite impressed...

 

Thank you for noticing. I'm trying really hard to be good.

 

DO IT @ridinrox. Seriously. There is ample room for another powerful LA Women's MTB group.