Girls don't cycle?? What's up with that?

The thing with cycling that the OP brought up is that it isn't necessarily a sport. I don't intend taking it up as a sport (though I love sport) but as a mode of transport that is cheap and healthy. For our daughters, cycling can be part of an active lifestyle (which doesn't have to include sport at all) and independence. I think the independence issue is at least as big a deal. Having a way to get around that isn't tied to your parents, public transport routes and timetables, or a few miles radius is a big deal. Having cycling simply be a more common form of transport would probably help, but I wonder if the lack of girls on bikes might be more to do with the fact their activities are already more curtailed anyway, so there isn't really an increase in independence in the first place. - I don't know this, just positing it as a possibility. Would be sad but hardly surprising if true.

Hmm.

• colditz experience with a PE teacher - i had several barking male sports teachers, so you can't extrapolate this
• the fact that only 8% of sports media coverage is about female sport - can't argue it is lower, but the women's World Cup (footie) and Six Nations rugby is shown live now; athletics is equal; Olympics is equal. It is improving.
• the fact that women athletes are still judged by their looks and not just on what they have achieved in their sport - don't agree. Jess Ennis/Vicky Pendleton happen to be pretty, but also happen to be World Champions. Looks may increase earnings outside the sport, but they are judged by medals, not looks. To say otherwise insults their achievements and ability.
• the fact that women who are interested in / play sport are characterised as unfeminine, butch or even lesbians - sorry, but this attitude sounds 30 years out of date. See above, see my daughter, see my wife, my sister in law. You can't have your previous point and this one anyway, they contradict!
• the fact that (often male) coaches bully female athletes to keep their weight down, regardless of the health consequences - all coaches are bullies. I box and swim, I have male and female coaches. You cannot be nice and coach at the highest level. It is about being pushed to your limit. Read Chris Boardman's autobiography, and the consequences on health for top cyclists. In competition, only the most dedicated get to the top, so bullying as you describe it is gender-neutral.
• the fact that sports facilities prioritise male team bookings over female team bookings - I would be interested to hear more about this.
• the fact that women out cycling / running are subject to derogatory / sexual comments shouted at them - I agree this is awful. White van man is about a million years behind on the evolutionary scale.

Sorry to bang on, but sport is a passion of mine, and I think some people hide behind lazy excuses when they just really can't be arsed

It is a feminist issue, parental influence is important but there are other forces at work as well.

E.g.

• colditz experience with a PE teacher
• the fact that only 8% of sports media coverage is about female sport
• the fact that women athletes are still judged by their looks and not just on what they have achieved in their sport
• the fact that women who are interested in / play sport are characterised as unfeminine, butch or even lesbians
• the fact that (often male) coaches bully female athletes to keep their weight down, regardless of the health consequences
• the fact that sports facilities prioritise male team bookings over female team bookings
• the fact that women out cycling / running are subject to derogatory / sexual comments shouted at them

If it was just down to parental influence the gap between girls and boys playing sport would not be as big as it is.

Obesity is a red herring, girls can be non physically active but control their weight through eating (disorders).

Sanjeev, well done on your children, it sounds like your daughter has a healthy and positive attitude to sport.

From SmallClanger, 'The issue of teenage girls dropping out of physical pursuits is a feminist issue'.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4930264.stm

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7103587/Fat-parents-to-blame-for-childhood-obesity-epidemic-by-over-feeding-under-fives-study-finds.html

I think you are being too narrow in your outlook. The issue is with boys and girls, hence increasing obesity in youngsters. I don't believe that there is a difference in obesity levels between boys and girls, so why is it a feminist issue?

It is down to parental attitude. My kids have always played sport. My daughter ran cross country and played football for her school. She has tried hockey and dancing. She has now settled on what she calls cheerleading, but in fact it is group gymnastics and involves 6 hours training per week plus competitions. My wife and I have always taken part in sport ourselves. If you set a good example, your kids will follow.

The issue of teenage girls dropping out of physical pursuits is a feminist issue, although I can't get myself incensed about cycling. I am a non-cycling woman and this does not hold me back. DD is a non-cycling teen girl, and she does plenty of other active stuff.

I think a lot of teenagers, mostly girls but some boys, are really put off by traditional, hearty sporty activities like team games and cycling, and there's nothing wrong with that, but we have to make sure that the alternatives, like skating and dance remain open to as many as possible.

I know Oranges, sports facilities are woefully lacking in this country.

There are grants available to get community clubs going but it still takes a huge amount of volunteer effort.

Research shows that girls start to think of themselves as "not sporty" around the age of 7! I think I read on another thread that it's also the age that girls start to rule out science and maths, which excludes them from science / engineering careers.

(Obviously this is a generalisation, there will still be sporty / science-y girls out there).

I hope I am giving my DD a good role model by taking part in sport. She also helped me to do some bike maintenance the other day so she didn't just see my DH as the one who could use tools.

oh cambridge is like Holland, I love it - last time we went there we were chatting to a student who was out cycling with her pet rabbit in the basket!

I don't think they object to them skating at the park etc I am just commenting that the girls they hang out with and socialise with arent these type of sporty girls so thats why I haven't met any. Not that they don't exist. My ds and his mates would have no prob with them they just don't mix with them he is 18 though and skates in serious way and his girlfriends are separate from that whole scene.

Come to Cambridge, you will see hundreds of teenage girls on bikes, and indeed every other age/gender/social group on bikes!

DaisyAndConfused - that is a great idea but I suspect not an option round our way at the moment and certainly not where the skate park is. It probably took years of lobbying by someone or other just to get the facility that is there.

Noddyholder - the attitude of your DS and his friends, which is probably not theirs alone, no doubt has a lot to do with why girls don't skate and bike. It is so sad - boys and girls are getting these polarised images of what they should do and what they should be like. Why don't boys who skate/bike like girls who do the same? I suppose those girls are going to be a bit tougher and more confident then other girls just because they have had the nerve to get involved in a "boys'" activity - is that put boys off them? I suspect it is and again I just feel so sad for the girls.

Places like skate parks can get colonised by a particular group of children who then exclude (consciously or unconsciously) outsiders from that facility (both girls and boys, but in the case of skate parks more likely to be girls).

That's why whenever a new facility is opened, a skate park, BMX track etc there should be a community sports club attached to encourage everyone - boys and girls, beginner and experienced - to make use of it.

I must be really lucky where I live, you see quite a lot of teen girls cycling around in Ugg boots and fancy handbags slung over the handle bars.

Where we live there is a park with a sectioned off area with ramps etc for BMX-ing, skateboarding etc. It is by the children's playground so I am nearby quite often. It is always rammed when the schools are off but I have never once seen a girl in it. The teenage girls go into the playground and chat and swing standing up on the toddler swings (there are no older swings in the park).

To be honest, they are quite a hazard when you are in there with a toddler but that is not really the issue. It just makes me sad that there are so few sports facilities for girls or that in some way they are made to feel they can't join in with the stuff boys do. That includes cycling but plenty of other sports too. The sad thing is it reminds me of when I was a teenager in the 80s - I would no way have entered a skate park full of boys, for example, but you would have hoped things would have changed by now. But I think they have just got more polarised. I eventually found an Inner London scheme in the Docklands where I could learn sailing and canoeing for free and which was populated by boys and girls equally. But nothing like that exists any more.

Sorry I have gone a bit OT but I feel sad for my DD and worry about her opportunities for sport in the future.

woo, you go girl!

Then you can come down here and train meeee

ruby, I didn't know you were a cycle trainer!!

suchprospects, I think a ladies frame would def suit you better., and I would go for a hybrid. You really should find a nice big independant bike store where you can try some out.

I'm ~5' 1" and it would be city roads, bicycle paths etc. There are some steep hills near us, but also flatter ways around them if you don't mind doing a few more miles. Ideally I'd build up to the hills...

There is a long term fantasy thought to cycle longer distances in the countryside with our kids in 3-4 years ish, but I think I need to get a bike that will work for now, and I can change later once I'm more in to it, know more about how I ride, etc.

When I went in to look around I was a bit shocked to realize I've never bought a bike for myself. Had them bought for me when I was a kid and since have made do with rentals or whatever is available.

Thinking about it I don't know any which is odd compared to when we were teenagers. Ds and his skate mates say they don't like girls who skate/bike so thats probably why I have never met any!

this is my hybrid bike - I adore it here It's got nice big 700c wheels, and 24 speed which makes cycling up and down hills a breeze. Suspension forks, raised handlebars and a good ladies saddle for comfort. It can cope with dirt tracks and slightly bumpy terrain, but not offroading. I have a mountain bike for offroading, mainly do single track riding.

I really want one of those Basel bags too, my paniers went mouldy over winter, so perfect excuse.

such prospects, what sort of terrain, and how tall are you?

A lot of it is def to do with fashions. I have noticed quite a few girls around here riding BMX type bikes again.

My dd cycles a lot. When she was 9 or 10 we did our first 10 mile ride together, which is now a yearly thing. I'd like to build it up to longer rides, but she struggles with speed. I tried to convince her to get a hybrid but she was having none of it, so she has a mountain bike, and they really do make road work more difficult. It's no wonder kids get do put off cycling trying to ride bikes that aren't really fit for use. BMX bikes are practically impossible to ride for any distance.

I think she is the only one of her friends who do cycle. When I said to a mum that she will soon be able to cycle to school instead of getting the bus, the mother was horrified! It's 3.5 miles, and dd is nearly 12. By the time I was 13 I had two paperounds, and cycling to school, so doing up to 20 miles a day!

ruby. Would you mind going in to detail? I am about to get a bike - mainly for pootling around - and have been trying to work out the differences. Our local bike shop seemed great on the basics but were pretty dismissive (or possibly ignorant) about the difference between men's and women's bikes.