Put off biking.

[wizzzadora]

Hello all, long time reader first time poster.

I've recently been toying with the idea of fulfilling a lifes ambition of mine and that is to learn to ride a motorcycle. I have looked into all the laws and requirements and have even put a deposit down on a little 125.

While searching for more information on riding I came across a bikers website that was both busy and had loads of information I could use.

Now the problem is I am absolutely appalled by the level of misogyny that appears to run through the biking community. One post really brought that home to me....

www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=3853062&highlight=#3853062
(I hope it's ok to link it here).

This quickly led to what can only be described as a vile torrent of abuse aimed at a woman that did nothing more than make a sensible comment. Suffice to say she was driven off the site quite quickly....

www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=287211
I know it sounds weak but I'm now very much put off going to bike meets or runs because of the obvious hatred so many seem to harbour be it overtly or secretly.

I'm still confused as to why Wizzadora felt it necessary to come and post about this on a forum she has never used before.

I too ride a bike, am female and have been a long-term member of BCF. I'm also (not that it really matters) a mum and grandma and lets not say old lets just say "life-experienced".

I find I encounter idiots in all walks of my life, and to be honest I try not to let them get to me. Life is too short to let people you have never met and whose opinions you don't share (or sometimes who are deliberately winding you up) stress you out.

If you want to ride, ride. If you don't, don't. If someone upsets you deal with it, there is no need to run off and bleat about it all over the internet.

And ^^ this is why I never post on FWR.

OP if you'd like some sensible input in to your biking journey, feel free to PM me. Female, been riding everyday for more years than I care to mention, longstanding WIMA member and work in the trade. The only advice I'd give you now is to steer clear of so called biking forums and the FB ones as well, unlike biking they're populated by people who say, rather than bikers that do. Best of luck in fulfilling your ambitions though as unlinked said, why haven't you done it already?

Yy Pantah I imagine a load of wannabe bikers on that forum, a bit like trying to find a soldier on ar rse

You are wrong GirlFromIpanema, it's a forum that is not representative of bikers in general. A lot of the posters are young (late teens, early 20s) men.

Sticking around and educating them would probably be more productive in the long run than flouncing and wailing to strangers. It's remarkable how quiet some of the more idiot element can become when faced with an intelligent, assertive woman who ignores their cheap jibes and shoots them down in (verbal) flames...... time after time.....

Perhaps I should have added that since been riddled with arthritis, I haven't ridden my bike for yonks plus I moved up to the Shetland Isles. Yes, we do have bikers up here but honestly, I'm not seeing misogyny ... but then I must be doing it wrong, given I've got a PG Dip. in Women's Studies.

The OP went onto a forum and was all butthurt. It wasn't rape culture. It was good old give it to me straight comments. The OP didn't like it.

OP, get out there and take ya test. As I said earlier, forget about purchasing a 125, do a short course, pass your test and get a bigger bike with larger wheels (and that usually means better brakes, excluding, of course, a Kawasaki Purple People Eater ;-) ).

And once out on the roads, remember the golden rule: If an Ovlov is indicating left, they gonna turn right.

And wimmin don't see big hairy bikers as a shag machine? Crikey, how things have changed over the decades. (:

Wrong about what yambabe?

YY to everything you have said Buffy. Draining would be the word.

Also, they came here to goad and make fun of OP. That is just plain nasty/trolly. I haven't posted on their site or gone on there to tell them they are wrong.

They are though. Wrong. Very Very wrong

Unlinked I only went on that forum following OP's links and within five minutes could see misogyny and nastiness all over the place. Are you not seeing what you don't want to see perhaps?

"wimmin don't see big hairy bikers as a shag machine

Did they ever?"

Hell yes! I blame David Essex

I clicked one of the links, not them both. If it's on the other link, then I'll happily hold my hand up and say if I think there's misogynistic comments.

But yeah, some of us women did hang out with bikers to improve our sex lives and, perish the thought, weren't interested in long term relationships/live happily evaaaaa after. Granted, it was a plus if they cooked you breakfast in the morning. :)

...and Hagrid

I'm a woman, who works in a male dominated industry, yet have rarely experienced the misogyny that I know abounds. Very rarely do I get this attitude, and to be brutally honest, when I do encounter it, it's from men, and women, that know nothing about bikes and are a world away from ever knowing. There are lots of women riding these days, it's no longer unusual, and dare I say it, the time for women's bike clubs is probably over. I'm still in WIMA as I enjoy the friends I've made, it's inclusive, my DH and DSs were welcomed as well. I've made friends for life, from all walks of life as well.

Whenever I read FWR, rarely now to be honest, it may have changed for the better and be full of daisies and ginger beer, it turned into a bunfight and not in a good way. Anyone who might not agree with misogyny in every corner was shot down. I hope that's changed but have chosen, as is my right as a woman, to steer well clear, I was pointed over here as there was a biking question. So, no, it wasn't a pop, just the responses to the invaders were so bad, I dread to think what the deleted comments said. I somehow doubt they're bikers, maybe hobbyist summer riders....the ones that are always in my way once the sun comes out

I've left more FB bike chat forums than I can remember, they always attract arseholes, like most internet,keyboard warrior, forums. Luckily MN isn't invaded quite so often these days but I'm embarrassed that some would do so in the name of bikers. I'm off back to Food&Recipes, where we occassionally fall out over ingredients.

Unlinked you called the OP a special snowflake when the rest of the BCR were still here

They seem to have fucked off now so its ok (whispers) for you to concede that there may be sexist shite on their forum that you haven't noticed before.

But then again

As others have said, many bikers they've met are friendly and welcoming. That said, the bikers I know are pretty outspoken and you know what? I'd rather be outspoken any day than be hypocritical and be two faced

maybe not

Must say that this handmaiden to a group of mutual masturbators is the best line I've read in a long time, though disturbing. I'm trying to think how I can work it in on F&R

Could you consider taking up knitting or jam making instead

As a theatre nurse I have had to remove a knitting needle from someone's thigh. They sat on the sofa and impaled themselves on it. It wasn't too near the femoral artery but was a bit concerning. Just to point out knitting had its risks. Also sewing needles and treading on them is not a good idea (you need a needle to sew knitted pieces together). I've helped surgically remove several.

Jam making. Do you have any idea how hot and dangerous boiling sugar is? It's 104 degrees in case you didn't and it doesn't run off if you get it on your skin. Again skin grafts are an operating theatre thing. Another dangerous past time dismissed.

I do both of these and now realise what a risk taker I am.

OP go ahead with the biking. Do a risk assessment, including the risk of running into misogynists.

Pillion riders see, not bikers

All I can say is I'm really glad to know it isn't just me that's shocked by the way they treat women. They make you think that it's your fault for overreacting and that you should take any vile comment on the chin to prove how liberated you are. If you dare to say that's out of order then you are nothing more than a weak willed woman.

An excerpt from the thread that we're meant to take as a joke:-

Are you that much of a faggot?

Shouldn't you be crying on tumblr right now?

Do you even know what sexism is?

Why are you such a faggot?

Did daddy never love you?

Are you "crying right now, please leave me alone"?

Do you enjoy living life on easy mode?

Why are you so delusional?

Seriously, why are you such a faggot?

You think we're sexist? Do you REALLY know what sexism is, or does it just mean "something I don't like"?

Why do you follow an ideology based on irrationality and emotions?

Why do you eschew all responsibility?

Why do you want to be able to do whatever you want without consequence?

Come on now, why are you such a faggot?

If I said I will rape you to death, would you be stupid enough to take it seriously and cry to the n00zpapers?

Do you think Anita Sarkeesian is the heroine of our time?

Do dongles make you afraid?

You must be a gigantic faggot.

Thank you all here at MN for at least offering some balance.

And I'd just like to add I booked my CBT today