Excellent article on gender stereotyping of children by Islabikes

[2rebecca]

www.islabikes.co.uk/knowledge/about-us/pink-is-not-the-problem/?dm_i=2QC2,O06B,8I0W5,2GRYG,1
Love this article. Sums up my views perfectly.

Yes, that is very simple and straightforward.

Interesting that 42% of their bike mechanics are women.

Awesome, thank you!

Excellent.

That's marvellous to read! Thanks for the link.

Great article, they always come across as a very interesting company.

Great article. That would really encourage me to buy their bikes (if they sold them here)

It is that simple isn't it. I can't understand why so many see it as different to that.

We chose islabikes because the bikes are fab and very light which made it easier for the children to learn, but also because I did NOT want pinkified or blueified bikes and wanted to pass bikes down as they grew. Some choices are so limited if you just want a "red unisex bike" that hasn't been coded as not-for-you.

(they are v expensive though)

Actually, cycling seems to be one of those sports where the women's competition has been massively infiltrated by TIMs.

I'm really glad to see these women doing this. And noted this: "The role of gender in society remains a complex one but we welcome the current debate on the subject."

So can anyone tell me why, traditionally, boys' bikes have a crossbar, and girls' bikes don't?

Dresses and it's not 'lady like' to swing your leg over the back.

Though that's how you get in a horse....
Though women used to to ride horses differently too.

Is it because girlies should never throw their legs over the saddle but coyly pass the leg between the saddle and the handlebars?

X post

Re horses - I've always found it odd that woman aka "the weaker sex" should have been expected to ride in such a way they are much more likely to be thrown to the ground going over jumps or if a horse rears.

So there is no physiological reason for the crossbar?

Nope. To avoid man-spreading. Afaik.

I will say it was easier when heavily pregnant with a lower bar to step through, but I can't imagine that's the reason.

Yes, regarding the side saddle riding - effing hard core!

The bike saddles are different for physical reasons.

But maybe I'm wrong? I had a male frame as a teen as I preferred the bike. I got a female frame a few years ago as again I preferred the bike, but I often get on as a bloke does.

Love the article, what a fab company. I will say one thing about the different. I had a boys bike as a teenager because it was black and looked really cool, but I braked too hard once going down a hill and slid off the saddle and banged my fanny so actually it would have been better to have a “ladies” frame

I had a ladies frame and skirt guard on my bike when I was a teen - but then I rode it as a form.of transport not for sport and a crossbar wouldn't have worked with my school skirt.

Also had dynamo lights that went out when you were stopped in the middle of the road waiting to turn right...

I have a friend who jumps side saddle - proper show jumping type jumps. Apparently she needed a new challenge

but I braked too hard once going down a hill and slid off the saddle and banged my fanny blush so actually it would have been better to have a “ladies” frame

and a boy doing the same would have crushed his testicles, so they would have been better with a ladies frame too!

I have a step through bike because I have short legs and a toddler seat on the back, but also because I have short legs and never learnt to swing my leg over the back, and I often wear a skirt on the bike.

Olga for some reason that never occurred to me!! It really hurt though, I had an actual bruise

I live on mainland Europe and in this country all bikes are “ladies bikes” with a lower crossbar. They found it really weird that in the uk where I’m from I grew up with different styles of bike to my brothers

Personally, I think a everybody should ride 'women's' bikes. Easier to get on and off them for everybody, rideable with dresses if for transport and not sport. What's not to like?

My dad rode one to work all his life. He had a limp and he felt much more confident when getting on and off it.

Women cyclists have long-resented the major manufacturers method for making women's bikes - 'shrink it and pink it'
It's only very recently that road bikes have had some care and attention put into the women's models rather than just being a smaller version of the mens with a pink colour scheme

Proper road bikes still have crossbars but the other geometry is tweaked. Eg I have my handlebars slightly higher because my pelvis and boobs don't allow me to lie forward as flat as a man