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OPINION

How not to be a knob to female cyclists

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Top tips on how not to discourage even more women off the road and out of the sport

This week a BT Sport survey found that 80 per cent of women athletes polled felt pressure to conform to a certain look and body type.

Hold that thought for a second - the vast majority of athletes, women at the top of their game physically, are facing pressure from the media, social media, coaches, sports officials and other athletes to look a certain way - as Rebecca Adlington put it on that jungle programme through a curtain of tears: ‘stick thin, big boobs and a pretty face.’

76 of the athletes said their behaviour had been influenced - so they might change their diet (87 per cent), or their training (58 per cent). One athlete said she developed an eating disorder, while another said: “Sometimes it has meant my diet no longer is optimum for performance but becomes optimum for looking slimmer/thinner....which isn't my body type.”

Perhaps some of the pressure comes from the way women athletes are constantly being pursued to pose naked - although perhaps the highest profile British woman pro cyclist, Victoria Pendleton, didn’t seem too concerned about going nude in GQ magazine before the Olympics.

“I don’t suppose it does bother me really,” she said. “I have done a few sexy photoshoots, I’ve been told I’ve got a nice bum, plus when I compete I am wearing a skin suit, so really, what’s the difference?”

Having said that, she’s also said that she was ‘saddened’ to have her muscles airbrushed out of media images, to make her look ‘more feminine’, and told BT Sport this week: “I think that it would be really valuable if women were celebrated for their achievements more.”

It’s easy to think these superstars should get over it - stop looking at the abuse on Twitter, ignore the insecurity and think of the pound signs - but there’s a more insidious side to all of this.

Women already battle a number of reasons not to get on a bike every day. From bike shop assistants who don’t understand women’s cycling needs or patronise them, to employers who don’t provide showers or decent changing facilities, to clubs that don’t know how to cater to women, to traffic fears when cycling with children - the list of reasons not to get onto a saddle can seem endless.

The Australian Heart Foundation’s report into women and cycling last year found the need to transport children and cycling clothes being unfashionable were the reasons a third of women gave for men cycling more than them.

Whether or not you think these are valid excuses to choose a car over a bike, it’s hard to argue it’s a good thing these women aren’t cycling.

So let’s not give women any more reasons to leave the bike at home.

 

Here’s how not to be a dick to a female cyclist in six simple steps*

 

1. Do not fetishise her

Women on bikes don’t want your pervy comments any more than they want your rude ones. Victoria Pendleton probably gets a tiny bit of sick in her mouth every time some guy tells her how much he likes to look at her in cycling shorts.

Many women already feel self-conscious putting it all on show, so make like you haven’t noticed it, okay?

If you have some creepy thing about tight Lycra, keep it to yourself, or look online for some like-minded weirdos to share it with instead.

2. Do not harass her

I know you might not be one of them, but those guys exist. The ones who shout things out of car windows, or worse, film your arse as you ride along (yep, it happens). Don’t do it - it’s probably illegal and it’s never ended well for any guy who’s tried it with me.

3. Don’t put mean comments under reviews of women’s clothing

When we review women’s clothing at road.cc, we do it so women know whether a bit of gear is worth forking out for. When we photograph a woman wearing it, we do it so she gets a vague idea of whether she likes the look of it.

What we don’t do is photograph it so you get to leer all over that woman in tight clothing, comment on whether or not she is ‘really’ a cyclist or suggest some super-helpful diet or exercise tips for her to look more like a ‘real’ cyclist.

Besides being unpleasant for the woman in the picture, take a second to think about how an 'ordianary' woman thinking about taking up riding is going to feel about the reception she might get.

4. Don’t put mean comments under reviews of men’s clothing, either

One of our male reviewers often gets mocked for being too skinny, and some bloke last week decided to point out that he doesn’t have 'proper cyclists legs' - which was quite funny as he's just got a semi-pro contract with a Belgian team for the season.

Just don’t body snark - it just makes you look like a dick.

5. Do speak out

If you see a woman (or a man) getting abused for any reason, do speak out. Tell that person their Tweet wasn’t cool. Call out the pervy guy on the club run. The person on the receiving end will be grateful and if 0.00001% of knobs change their attitude because of what you said, that’s still progress.

6. Don’t give unsolicited ‘advice’

The girls you know who cycle might really want your advice on what protein shakes to have for breakfast, or how sprint intervals will make them leaner, or whatever. If they want it, they’ll ask.

If they don’t, they’ll just carry on riding whatever bike they chose, wearing whatever they picked out for the purpose, eating whatever tastes good. But thanks for your concern.

 

*There are probably loads more ways not to be a knob to women on bikes. Feel free to add your own in the comments below.

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105 comments

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chrisp1973 | 9 years ago
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The eyes see what the eyes see and the brain thinks what the brain thinks - it's whether you then vocalise what the brain is thinking that determines how you are perceived and how the subject (male or female) is made to feel.

Some people look great in Lycra, some people don't* it's not anyone's place to pass judgement on anothers body shape.

Cycling is about that - cycling, it's there for all to enjoy regardless of gender, ability or aesthetics.

*I don't.

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nwardill | 10 years ago
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Couldn't care who passes me as i just like to ride, always say good morning or afternoon whoever they are

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rix | 10 years ago
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How about road.cc showing an example and create more women specific content (reviews, forum, news, advice etc.). Put those articles in a separate tab on your site, so that it is easy to find. Attract more female readers.

For blokes road.cc is very helpful, for women... probably not so much.

For example, I'd like to encourage my girlfriend to ride a bike, but I wouldn't know what would be the best women specific bike to get her. If you had separate forum for women I could ask them where to look for best closing for her etc.

P.S. Let me guess, less than 10% of road.cc active users are women.

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pdows47 | 10 years ago
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It's sad that such an article need exist, but I can understand why. I've seen some guys be horrid to lady cyclists. On the point of unsolicited advice, I've only given it a handful of times, to anyone I've seen with rocking hips due to a saddle height that is too high, but that's the only case in which I've done that. I have a female cyclist in my club who asks me for advice about anything and everything cycling, from kit to maintenance, and I'm happy to help cos everyone is in the situation of knowing little at some point in their cycling career. That, and our best rider is a lady, she kicks everyone's ass, and frequently makes us want to die when she puts the hammer down.

I've never understood the sexist vitriol that exists in society, hopefully things like this make people realise when they're being a knob and thereby change their ways

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Mostyn | 10 years ago
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OK, I looked at the photo at the top of this page; and at first I thought it was my Daughter???? She is a cyclist! The bike is identical and that cheesy thumbs up - gritted teeth look are typical of my daughter. Both my wife and me thought it was her? Then we saw the pink water bottle; She uses the same colour bottles as the Blue on the Ladies Cube Agree GTC. Colour co,ordinated at all times for her beloved bike.

I agree with some of the comments on here? and some I don't agree with! Treat everyone with respect; male or female, Oh; and BTW. most genuine ladies appreciate a kindly comments on their appearence from time to time. No snyde ones or rude ones; just genuine comments, Lets appreciate everyone riding a bicycle and not let GENDER get in the way of it.

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sm | 10 years ago
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Do not bust your balls to overtake a female cyclist who has just overtaken you. This happens to men too I'm sure but way more often if the person who has just overtaken you is female. I mean seriously.

Pendleton's naked images probably did little for female respect on a bicycle as per your point about not fetishing female cyclists.

Anyhow, male or female, cycling is an ugly sport (minor plug of a blog post): Marginal gains and gross indecency – The ugly side of a beautiful sport

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Shades | 10 years ago
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Finally convinced my wife to expand her bike 'fleet' from a 10 year old 'do it all' Specialized Hardrock to include a road bike. On the second outing she was leaving me for dust and climbing in a lower gear!

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don simon fbpe | 10 years ago
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Perhaps someone should offer a bit of friendly advice to this bloke with regard to tightening helmet straps....
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/alberto-contador-probe/story-e6frg...
I'm sure he'd be grateful for a word from the wise.
 4

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msmtb | 10 years ago
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Just wondering...it's not just women who are riding around in lycra - do men feel pressure to conform to a certain look and body type as well? Surely guys feel a bit hurt every time they are referred to as the 'fat bloke at the back' etc ?

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atlaz | 10 years ago
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Surely pretty much all of these are just real-life common sense and either you're one of those assholes or you're not; I doubt anyone needed them pointing out.

Except #6. Who knew women were more antagonised by getting advice than men? To be totally honest, I've only ever given unrequested advice to someone when they're doing something dangerous and I'll continue to do it (male or female). If they want to ignore me then fine, but I'd rather I tell someone that, say, they should really not be yanking on the brakes on a wet fast descent going round a corner than have to call an ambulance for them later.

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KiwiMike | 10 years ago
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There are loads of bike clothing brands who make lightweight, close-ish-fitting padded shorts suitable for long rides in, that 'aren't lycra'. The sort of thing you can actually kick about in all day on or off the bike. I don't think these are given nearly enough exposure in the road cycling world.

If you can do 150km all-day on a MTB, in baggies, with zero chafing/flapping etc, there's no reason you can't do 150k on the road.

Like the helmet 'debate', in saying there's an alternative to lycra I'm not saying lycra is bad. Just that there's a viable and comfortable alternative.

Maybe if cyclists - male and female - were made aware there'd be less of an issue.

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curdins | 10 years ago
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Clearly cycling draws participants from across social boundaries and with different behaviour and opinions. As much as we'd nod in misplaced smug self-satisfaction at that Facebook post that states (something like) 'cyclists are more intelligent than average', we're not a homogeneous group just because we ride: it appeals to all sorts, and just as in wider society there'll always be unpleasant 'knobs'. So it's not really a 'bike thing'. Treat women the way you'd want to see your mother/sister/wife/partner/daughter treated, and you're probably not far off, and challenge sexist behaviour where you find it. One last thing, without wanting to undermine the serious nature if this thread: I always thought it was 'nob', as in the sightly-more-amusing put-down 'nobber'?

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fancynancy | 10 years ago
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I don't agree with point 6. As a female cyclist (& I imagine I would be the same if I was a man) I always appreciate advise. To be honest I would rather someone told me something useful which I would never think to ask. Knowledge is key, & at the end of the day you can take it or leave it.

I do find this article a bit strange, in a way that it seems to have highlighted an issue, that to me, is not there. Yes, when I overtake some men, they do overtake me back, but I find it funny & its usually the same type of person. The type of person who would be the same in any walk of life, on a bike or not. Anyway, I find the more enthusiastic & addicted riders on a club run are actually pretty impressed that a young girl can hack it with the better riders, & I love that  4 (But maybe that’s the attitude this article is trying to put a stop to, who knows)  22

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Some Fella | 10 years ago
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I let on to all roadies (unless they are wearing full Assos kit and riding a £8k Pinarello) but do notice that young females tend not to reciprocate.
I dont have a problem with this i hasten to add because im sure it could be misconstrued as sleazy but its a sad indictment that they must feel that way.
Sadly i dont think the "You dont want to do it like that" type just direct their 'advice' only to females but they probably just find it easier to patronise women, so do it more.

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Jimmy Ray Will | 10 years ago
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Wow... I really will never offer advice ever again.

I think I may be a relic from the sports past... back in my day, the club scene was quite hierarchical, there were the 'special' ones that everyone wanted to become... anything thing that helped you get there was grabbed at, and should a 'special one' notice you and try and help... well hells bells, that must mean you had something.

In hindsight, this was all rather silly, but as a 17 year old, it gave direction, focus and purpose.

I think these days, people enter the sport at a later age (it is an adult discovery for many) and I'm guessing, the last thing grown adults want, is someone telling them what to do, to be applying some form of hierarchy upon them.

Interestingly insightful.

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ridein | 10 years ago
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The last time I gave some unsolicited advice it was to a triathlete newbie, 20+ years my junior, it was about her helmet. Her chin strap was so loose that she could have put both her forearms between her chin and the strap.

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Xrecymech | 10 years ago
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Don't really see the point of the article tbh, just sounds like someone having a whinge because someone hasn't been nice to them. If you think someone is being a knob because they offer you unsolicited advice, is it them genuinely trying to be helpful; if that causes you a problem, just say thanks but no thanks, no need to start getting excited and branding them as knobs. If someone is doing something that is offensive and illegal report them, if not ignore them they'll soon get bored, otherwise there are people who do unpopular things, you should just MTFU and get on with it. If you can't do that, ride with someone else, I'm sure it wouldn't bother them if you did.

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ur_mum | 10 years ago
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How about female races in fantasy cycling???  4

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Skiptonrider | 10 years ago
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Not just women who are feeling the cycling confirming pressure. As a larger lad, I feel the stares. Some guys have decided to embrace it (call it largesse...) and cater for the bigger sizes: http://fatladattheback.com/. Maybe time for a female equivalent, as our favourite sport should not discriminate on any grounds (lard real red or otherwise).

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hairyairey | 10 years ago
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All very good - most of it is about not treating women as objects for your sexual gratification. However, that last one seems right out of order. I mean how unfriendly could a person possibly be? I offer advice on improving performance and diet to both genders and I've never had a complaint. The underwear issue is probably mentioned to avoid chafing but until now I hadn't figured that a woman might be wearing underwear because of her time of the month. Don't think I've ever looked long enough to notice anyway.

Anyway, put this in perspective - today I was shouted at for riding in the middle of the road (I was overtaking parked cars) and told I was a "f**king foreign c**t". That last one was quite loud have given a statement to the Police. Owner of the vehicle is to be questioned regarding a possible offence under the Public Order Act (I obviously can't go into more details)

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hairyairey | 10 years ago
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Hang on a second - is this meant to be an article telling men how to treat women on bicycles? Seems like people are treating as such even though it isn't said. If so, can we have an article about how women should treat men on bicycles? Let's start with not being unfriendly...

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don simon fbpe | 10 years ago
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Applauds Aweebear  41

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Daclu Trelub | 10 years ago
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Addressing #6... if you don't know you don't know and somebody comes up and enlightens you, then you know and now know you didn't know and what you know now might be handy.
Depends how it's done, is all.

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kie7077 | 10 years ago
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I reject no'6 because

a) people have dangerous cycling habits like cycling in the door zone, not shoulder-checking etc, and you could save their life by pointing this out.
b) so many cyclists cycle with their seat too low.

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dottigirl | 10 years ago
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It may just be my thick skin, but I can't recall having being personally treated negatively because I'm female.
I may have once or twice in two years had something shouted at me out of a vehicle window, but everyone gets nutters like that now and again.
Shops, fine.
Club runs, if I get dropped, that's due to a lack of fitness, not my sex. If anything, blokes seem to welcome having a woman along a lot of the time. Oh, apart from the lack of shelter I provide.
Last week on another forum, I pulled up a couple of blokes for taking the piss out of a photo of a rather large woman in bib tights, but a woman had also commented negatively, and they probably would've said similar had it been a man.

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StefanT | 10 years ago
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I often catch up with cyclists with screeching chains and have been on the verge of offering chain oil a number of times. I thought I'd say, your chain is dry, it is wearing fast and pedalling is harder, here is some oil. Never mustered the courage. I am glad to find out it would have been a mistake.

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notfastenough | 10 years ago
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Meanwhile, try searching twitter for the hashtag #sportswomen - some of the questions posted for a Q&A with gymnast Beth Tweddle will make your toes curl, and reminds me that ultimately, while some may disagree on the points above, we are all actually trying to be civilised human beings.

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hairyairey | 10 years ago
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I had a look at the Twitter posts about Beth Tweddle - it's enough to put any woman off competing in sport.

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notfastenough | 10 years ago
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Warriors behind keyboards, that's the thing. I'd say that I'd like to be in the room when they say it, but I reckon if they were confronted with an angry-looking (but let's be fair, not big & tough) Beth Tweddle, their insults would likely disappear up their own ar$es. It's no different to road-rage - people say stuff from inside a tin box that they wouldn't dare say up-close.

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mooleur | 10 years ago
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So, you're basically "arguing" the same point as me, whilst still attempting to somehow point out that my comments were in some way sexist against men when all I was attempting to point out is WHY the girl may have taken the comments in the wrong way and also point out the fact that men and women are in fact NOT equal.

You clearly want an argument, I do not.

My only debate is to clarify the reasoning behind articles such as this and to give a clearer view of how it is for female sportswomen at the moment, as it may not be obvious to people who want to understand better the reasoning behind these debates.

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