[hawkinspeter]

Just read a nice BBC article about why women are less likely to cycle than men and thought it highlighted some good points. Some relate to men as well as women, but the women cyclists have to put up with sexist behaviour from male motorists/riders as well.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-41737483

I reckon the BBC might be trying to offset all their anti-cycling articles.

Topic

[Boatsie]

(No subject)
🙂

[peted76]

Aww, I love your moniker

Aww, I love your moniker Boatsie.. give us a hug…no tongues !

[Boatsie]

I love your photo peted76.
I love your photo peted76.
My work mate a keen cyclist; light weight composite bike, duro ace, etc and we were chatting.
I get dumber often, I ride an unrestricted Kwaka (top speed >320kmph) and tire wear on edge. He was saying he leans into the corners.
Huh, ain’t bicycles ridden vertical?
Took a while… I like your photo.

[srchar]

I read this article the other

I read this article the other day and all I could think was, “all of these things have happened to me and I’m a man.”

It’s either self-promotion or clickbait.

To be truthful, I think men have a harder time than women when riding. Society is much quicker to aggress on men than women. Look at the example of the female triathlete who was pulled from her bike. The assailant’s first words were, “sorry, I thought you was a bloke.”

[Grahamd]

fenix wrote:

fenix wrote:

Some people are too touchy.

Agreed, and some of them are on this forum.

 

[fenix]

Some people are too touchy.
Some people are too touchy.

[ktache]

There is never anything wrong

There is never anything wrong with a cheery good morning/afternoon/evening.

Unless you are at work and someone arrives a tad late, then a hello can never be taken as sarcasm.

[Goldfever4]

kitkat wrote:

I took exception to this bit. As far as I can see it’s looking for offence in anything. It’s just what ANY cyclist would say to another

”I’ve even had ‘keep pedalling, nearly there’ – from a male cyclist. They wouldn’t have said it to another man, it’s so patronising and uncalled for.

otherwise fair enough 

 

I also disagreed that the sentiment of that quote is specific to female cyclists – I have said this to male and female cyclists who were climbing a big hill before. And others have said it to me.

However, in the wider context of her experiences (and how unwelcoming cycling can be to female cyclists) I’m not shocked that the conclusion she reached was patronising sexism.

[allanj]

Hmm, an interesting one that

Hmm, an interesting one that certainly had me thinking.  I wonder if I, without thinking would give encouragement slightly differently to a man or a woman that I was passing?  I can see that I might, and while it clearly is not the end of the world, is the kind of everday sexism that can be pretty wearing I’m sure.

No need to stop speaking to people on this basis (plenty of other reasons to not speak to people though, I’m quite happy with that), just a reminder to not inadvertently patronise or belittle

 

[peted76]

Tosh, any endurance sport of

Tosh, any endurance sport of hobby suffers from the same dichotomy…. 

I do however wonder if it’s a particualry British thing to feel awkward dishing out encouragement whilst worrying about sounding patronising. I can imagine our North American brothers and sisters, feeling very satisfied with themselves by dishing out or recieving words of ‘help’ whilst struggling up a long mountain climb or similar… 

 

There’s a comedy sketch somewhere, on the side of the road, using ironic encouragment on people…  you can do it, if you really pedal hard you can catch that other slow kid.. 

 

[madcarew]

I’ve often said that, or the

I’ve often said that, or the like as I’ve passed (or been passed by) other competitors in sportives and challenges. It’s simply part of the mutual support offered around in these events, especially in the latter parts when some people are struggling. However, we weren’t there on this occasion and can’t really know the circumstances, but contrary to what she said, it has been said to male competitors countless times.

[brooksby]

kitkat wrote:

Best just not to say anything to anyone for fear of giving them PTSD

I try not to: I’m contractually obliged to speak to people and answer the phone during office hours. Outside of that? F*** ’em, I’m under no obligation to speak to anyone!

[kitkat]

captain_slog wrote:

Best to avoid any possibility of misinterpretation.

Is this the point in society we’ve reached? Anything said can be misconstrued,  branded insulting and people offended. 

Best just not to say anything to anyone for fear of giving them PTSD

[bigshape]

some ladies on horseback said
some ladies on horseback said it to me the other weekend so certainly not exclusive to female riders!

[captain_slog]

Quote:

’keep pedalling, nearly there'

I think it depends entirely on the tone. It could be said in a superior way or gasped out in the cause of mutual encouragement. From the rest of what she says, it sounds like the recipient inferred the former.

Best to avoid any possibility of misinterpretation.

[Author]

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