General thread on UK Cycling's inclusion policy

[CaraDuneRedux]

Not mentioning specific cases because we're not allowed to, but MichaelMumsnet did say we could copy posts that weren't about specific individuals.

So here's what I think is the underlying motivation. Suppose hypothetically one were to find an athlete who wanted to transition who already had a slew of 1st places/ fastest times in men's cycling events in excess of 2 minutes faster than the best UK women. What might motivate UK Cycling's enthusiasm for inclusion? Here's what I wrote on the other thread:

British cycling are already counting up the medal tally in the 2024 Olympics.

What they don't realise is that the USA, Russia, China will all be busy finding their own outstanding trans cyclists even as I type.

In fact given how repressive Russia and China are about gay rights, I wouldn't be surprised if there were some up-and-coming gay cyclists getting heavily pressured...

All this sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole

If you haven’t already read some of the experiences of the East German women athletes who were doped, there are some powerful resonances

Also in female elite sport across the decades a terrible picture of exploitation, rape, forced abortion and being the unwitting subjects of experimentation.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/15/sports-cheats-greed-politics-athletics-iaaf

www.nytimes.com/2004/01/26/sports/drug-testing-east-german-steroids-toll-they-killed-heidi.html

www.dw.com/en/what-we-can-learn-from-east-german-doping-victim-andreas-krieger/a-19414125

This last one has a very powerful short video testimony from East German gold medallist Andreas Krieger, born female and now campaigning against doping.

Anyone see Countryfile last night? They had Joanna Rowsell (you know, world champ female cyclist who retired a couple of years ago) riding up Box Hill with the male presenter; he admitted he wasn't much of a cyclist at all. They chuffed it up the hill and he was only 35 seconds behind her. He looked fit but not previous Olympic champ fit.

Quadzilla - I just looked at the Board make-up, expecting it to be mainly men. What on Earth are all these women thinking to sign off on this? I’m actually shocked by that.

I’ve no idea. Our local women only club is also inclusive of males who identify as women. Some women just don’t get it until it affects them.

Here’s a current article on another fight for equality in women cycling.
www.cyclingnews.com/features/turning-a-moment-into-a-movement-gender-equality-and-the-campaign-for-women-at-the-national-hill-climb/?fbclid=IwAR22Yw_z_zZkDAsgt7O0eTum-gK19iJfL_AgniuzPmFRwLevCe_1-oM70JI

I'm making a documentary championing women in cycling - See www.facebook.com/OverTheHillDocumentary
I'm messaging a couple of people on here for some insight into this topic. I have a cycling daughter who is currently 7 years and races. I really want to learn more about this subject and share what is happening with the world.

Gemma to put it bluntly, there will be no point in your daughter racing as sge will never be able to win against men who claim they are women. Her sporting opportunities are being destroyed.

What is more, she will be expected to get changed in changing roons in front of men too and if she objects because she wants privacy, dignity or safety, then she will be condemned as transphobic. And if new hate crime changes go through, could be arrested for hate crime for this

Welsh Cycling: equality

We will endeavour to welcome all into our sport, not least the groups protected under the 2010 equality act (Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Pregnancy & Maternity, Ethnicity, Religion & Belief, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Marriage & Civil Partnership).

www.britishcycling.org.uk/wales/article/wcst20100421-Equality--Welsh-Cycling?c=WA

No mention of sex.

Gemma, you may wish to read up on Beryl Burton, a fantastic athlete who I regard as Britains greatest ever cyclist.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_Burton

I agree with Andy.

road.cc/content/news/228024-beryl-burtons-12-hour-time-trial-record-falls-after-half-century