Bikes and Beats

rawrbikes:

by: 

Lauren

The first week of the 2013 Giro has passed. After heading into the race as a favorite, Bradley Wiggins hasn’t had the most stellar performance, sitting a little over a minute behind the leaders. He has had his share of difficulties this year, but that leaves no excuse for his comments after Friday’s rainy stage, where he crashed on the descent with about 7km to go.

“Let’s be honest,” he said, “I descended like bit of a girl really after the crash.” He quickly attempted to hide his faux pas, throwing in, “not to disrespect girls, I have one at home.”

That’s your excuse, Wiggo? You have a daughter, therefore… it’s ok. Whether or not his comments were genuinely intended as an insult (to be honest, I doubt that he was purposefully being demeaning… let’s not overlook that he is backing the Wiggle Honda women’s team), but that is far removed from the problem. It is the attitude towards women in sport that is the issue at hand here, and how female athletes are viewed. The view of women being the weaker, fairer sex is damaging to what women can achieve in sport, and to the further development of women’s cycling.  

Let’s face it, women have more obstacles than men to deal with if they want to be successful athletes in any sport. Why drag women into your lack of confidence, Wiggins? How is that anyone’s problem but your own? Five-time Giro winner Eddy Merckx puts it correctly, “He’s ridden the past few days like a novice on the downhills. I think there is something wrong with his material, he has no confidence.”  A novice, he says. Not a girl, not a woman. A novice. He leaves gender out of the equation.

Let me reiterate, I don’t believe that Wiggins necessarily meant to be insulting. The bigger issue is here the way in which we talk about women in sport, the comparisons drawn and the language used. It’s a shame that comments such as these are commonplace, however it has far more to do with male insecurity than female inability. Anyone can have an off period on the bike, or a time where they are lacking confidence, but please, leave gender out of it.

Sources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/10053670/Giro-dItal…

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-shorts-merckx-calls-wiggins…

So once again I have drifted off and neglected my blog, but it’s mostly due to the fact that I have been working with fellow female cyclists to create a new women’s cycling organization called RAWR Bikes (really awesome women riding bikes).  We’ve launched a website, for women, powered by women, based around the idea of connecting the different pockets and initiatives within the women’s cycling community and further educating and empowering the group.  

It has been a lot of hard work, but I have had the pleasure of working with some amazing, wonderful, and talented women.  Today, we launch the website, and celebrate with an event this evening at Headquarters Boston/Geekhouse Bikes.  I feel so lucky to be a part of what is going on in New England Women’s cycling, and couldn’t be happier about how this project has turned out.  I can’t wait to see what it develops into in the future.

So please, check out the site, come to the event if you’re in town.  And continue to support the progression of women in cycling!

rawrbikes:

About RAWR Bikes!

What is RAWR Bikes? Really Awesome Women Riding Bikes.

New England is a hub of cycling. Racers competing nationally and internationally call this area home. Boston is well on its way to becoming one of the premier cycling cities in the US, boasting improved cycling…

rawrbikes:

RAWRbikes (really awesome women riding bikes) is a new women’s cycling organization.  Our website will launch on April 5th in style, with a dance party/launch event at Headquarters Boston.  RAWR is going to serve as a central hub for women’s cycling, providing news and insight to female cyclists, as well as creating and support women’s cycling events.

In the mean time, like our facebook page, follow our twitter @rawrbikes and find out how you can get involved!

Great interview with Kristy Scrymgeour!  It’s so amazing to see strong women supporting women’s organizations and teams.  Go read this.

Nicole Cooke’s full retirement statement on her website is worth a read. After an 11 year pro career, she departs from the sport happy, but makes note of those who have robbed her and others of victories, prize money, and equal treatment. She blames the UCI for the crumbling of women’s pro cycling, citing them as too busy dealing with drugs and scandal to develop the women’s side of the sport.

It’s amazing to read accounts like this of strong women who have been in the sport over the years, and see them speak up at the problems and inequalities that exist, leaving the next generation of pro female cyclists hope for the future.