Hey Ladies! What are your biggest pet peeves as a woman cyclist?

Specifically what behaviors do you feel subjected to, especially those of other cyclists, that annoy/irritate/frighten you that you feel you disproportionately experience as a direct result of your gender identity.

I am exploring this as a possible topic for an upcoming video education piece. So hit me.

Feel free to send me your thoughts in an email (jason@activetrans.org) if you don't feel like sharing with the group.

Thanks all!

Jason Jenkins

Education Specialist

Active Trans

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jenny on September 24, 2013 at 4:29pm

I hate getting passed (read: shoaled) at red lights by guys who think they're faster than me.  I'm sure it's not always just because I'm female, but I think some make the assumption that female = slow.  Obviously they do not see my calves of steel.

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on September 24, 2013 at 5:05pm

+1

And cat calls. You know what bro, I've been waiting for someone to yell something inappropriate about my body while i'm trying to get home - you must be "the one".


Jenny T said:

I hate getting passed (read: shoaled) at red lights by guys who think they're faster than me.  I'm sure it's not always just because I'm female, but I think some make the assumption that female = slow.  Obviously they do not see my calves of steel.

Permalink Reply by Michelle on September 24, 2013 at 5:07pm
Jenny T : yep.

I have to say I've felt in various bike shops (not naming names) that questions I've had as I've tried to learn from the (mostly) guys who work in them have been brushed off. I asked how to maintain a $700 bike I was purchasing and was told "eh just bring it in once a year." At a different shop with my old (heavy!) bike i asked about weight, with the intention of asking about lighter bikes and maybe buying one, and got a shoulder shrug. I would like to talk shop (or at least learn to!) so that I can be part of bike culture- so far it hasn't been particularly welcoming to me.
Permalink Reply by Julia 3.5/7.5 mi on September 24, 2013 at 5:32pm

Ugh. This is rampant. 

Jenny T said:

I hate getting passed (read: shoaled) at red lights by guys who think they're faster than me.  I'm sure it's not always just because I'm female, but I think some make the assumption that female = slow.  Obviously they do not see my calves of steel.

Permalink Reply by Dovah Cat on September 24, 2013 at 5:37pm

Immediately hearing the kissing noises and nasty comments as soon as I'm riding home alone after a group ride. Funny, I don't have to deal with that crap when I'm surrounded by a bunch of muscular male cyclists in lycra... 

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on September 24, 2013 at 10:35pm



Michelle said:

I would like to talk shop (or at least learn to!) so that I can be part of bike culture- so far it hasn't been particularly welcoming to me.
Maybe a "talk shop to me" thread would be useful. That's an obvious rehash of a phrase that in its original form probably would get me drummed out of this thread. Still, maybe a thread on bicycle terminology and maintenance would be useful? Clearly, not limited to women. Lots of men have no clue about this sort of stuff. It's just that when a man goes into a bike shop the (usually male) mechanics assume he's knows all about it.
OTOH, maybe a list of shops with female mechanics would be worthwhile?
I'll shut up now, stop trying to solve the problem, and just listen. :-)
Permalink Reply by pat 5.5mi on September 25, 2013 at 2:19am

rapid transit on halsted (as of last year at least)

peter moormann said:

List of shops with Female Mechanics:

Comrade Cycles

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on September 25, 2013 at 2:22am

There are other shops with female mechanics.

peter moormann said:

List of shops with Female Mechanics:

Comrade Cycles

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on September 25, 2013 at 2:35am

Dudes, shhhh! This is important. Let the ladies talk.

Permalink Reply by David P. on September 25, 2013 at 2:37am

Including, among others, Boulevard Bikes.

notoriousDUG said:

There are other shops with female mechanics.

peter moormann said:

List of shops with Female Mechanics:

Comrade Cycles

Permalink Reply by Mark on September 25, 2013 at 2:50am

and Uptown Bikes

David P. said:

Including, among others, Boulevard Bikes.

notoriousDUG said:

There are other shops with female mechanics.

peter moormann said:

List of shops with Female Mechanics:

Comrade Cycles

Permalink Reply by Michelle on September 25, 2013 at 3:23am
Well. IMO: 1) Yes a talk shop to me thread would be awesome. I've been wondering if there's a resource somewhere with basic bike information, so I dknt have I learn by gleaning whatever comes up and piecing the info together myself. I think the thread name is amusing, I wouldn't take it the wrong way so long as what it contained was not sexual etc...

2) thanks for trying to open the space to women!!!

3) while I will gladly support women who are mechanics and work at shops... I shouldn't have to go out of my way to only patronize female mechanics in order to be respected and have my questions answered and be taught something in the same way a guy might be. I should be able to walk into any shop and ask about basic bike maintenance and not get a patronizing "oh just let us do it" kind of answer.

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