Put off biking.

in b4 the bandwagon arrives!

Plus, I have Farms to harvest, sheesh.

Thanks but the link is hanging, and I'm busy being self-congratulatory elsewhere at the moment.

re coolgirl thread:
Thanks, an interesting read :)

Several points...

#1 Do not confuse 'the internet' with 'the real world'. To be put off biking because some kids on a forum were slightly less than accommodating is idiocy of the highest order.

#2 You entered a debate about feminism on a male-dominated forum. What were you expecting would happen? "Vile torrent" my arse, by the way.

#3 Coming over here and baaawwwing about it? Really?

Here's a pro tip - you don't need to tell everyone you're a woman. It just doesn't have to come up. I've been on BCF for over ten years and there are plenty of folk who haven't worked that out yet. Why? Cos I don't go on about it. I've talked about riding, I've asked questions and I've never felt the need to quantify it by mentioning my gender. It's irrelevant unless you're looking for that "oh wow, a girl doing a bloke's thing, aren't you ace, would you like some hand-holding" thing that so many seem to.

Get some bleeding perspective!

I should post some touchy-feely 'oh don't be disheartened' stuff but I can't be bothered, cos if that's all it takes then you'll quit the first time the horrible sexist CBT instructor gives you the merest bit of feedback on your riding.

Time to be a grown up and stop making excuses.

I would avoid the forums but don't take that as the way all bikers or groups of bikers behave. My experience as a female biker has generally been positive and I would encourage you to go for it. Yes there are some misogynists, just as there are pretty much everywhere, but it was never a problem for me. Most are fine and respectful IME, I've made some great friends, male and female, through biking. It is a naturally competitive culture I find (at least in sports bikes) so there can be a fair few not wanting to be "beaten by a girl" which winds me up but that's about the worst I've experienced in RL from male bikers.

Grow some balls
Before you go may I recommend the thread on cool girl feminism?

You're not being too easily offended but this is not specific to biker culture: this is just male culture. This is rape culture. This is misogyny. This is, sad to say, normal.

Don't let it stop you doing what you want to do.

Sometimes you have to say bollocks to the trolls. Go and get your CBT and buy a 125. Then channel Jenny Tinmouth (fastest woman round the TT course, first woman in the BSB) and Ana Carrasco (only woman currently riding in MotoGP) and get out there. You can do it. :)

Fair enough, MrT. I think the name does reflect the historical sexism running through an activity like biking like the words through Blackpool rock. It's no different to lots of things however ("Mumsnet", anyone ?) but if it is a good and supportive place then that is great.

Why not suggest a rebranding of the site and see what people think ?

www.curvyriders.co.uk

Anyfucker I know, I know - but it is a women run, women only biker site that is actually busy and where people know what they are talking about and give good biking advice - so the name is un-PC, I have no idea what the thinking behind it was except to show in an internet address that it is a biking site for women bikers - others exist but many I tried were very quiet indeed, so not much actual use...

I suppose I really should just live my life for me and stop thinking how others will view me.

Yup.

"CurveyRiders" eh ?

Hmm

Avoid that forum rather than biking - I've had my bike licence for 13 years and currently have a BMW F650GS (lots of women ride them as you can get a low seat and the tank position makes them feel much lighter than they are, and thus easier to manage at low speed/ push/ move backwards, and they are a good first bigger bike). I used to use a very friendly small forum which was certainly no more sexist than any predominantly male gathering, and went to meets - "in the flesh" everyone was friendly, accepting and respectful.

There are also all female forums - I used Curveyriders for a while - women only - when I was getting back into biking after a long break during which I had my 3 children. I liked it and found it useful, but I am outside the UK and all the meet ups are in the UK, which is part of the reason I haven't bothered with any biking forum for a while.

Have I helped, or not ?

I hope you enjoy your biking and don't let a minority of twats put you off.

The second one is the one referred to ? Yep, looks like good ole fashioned common or garden sexism, to be found anywhere and everywhere.

The first one refers to a previous incident which I haven't read and is only the flounce post. Tbh (sorry) it reads like someone who comes on Mumsnet and tries to tell us all how we are doing it wrong. Yep, the people on that forum (and this one) possibly are doing it wrong, but I do sign up to "if you don't like, then you have an off button" in that respect.

OK, will have a look now you have posted clickable links