Women and Non-binary cycling

[ICouldHaveCheckedFirst]

My first thread on the Feminism boards, so I hope it's in the right place!

So, there's a festival of cycling in Glasgow for "all women and non-binary people". Apparently, "All of the events are inclusive of trans and intersex women, as well as non-binary and gender fluid people who are comfortable in a space that centres the experience of women." (my bold). If it centres the experience of women, why have men there too?

Further details here.

They have "spokes not blokes" maintenance evenings, where "women and non-binary mechanics" will help you. So, some men may be present.

They are launching a Women of Colour cycle group. Which appears to be women-only, but is clearly only for women of colour.

There's a session for discussing periods, pregnancy and menopause while cycling. It's not clear whether non-binary are allowed to attend, but I'm not sure I'd want to risk it.

I can see why some of the sessions could ne of interest to women, men and non-binary, but if it's meant to be for women, why invite some men??

Basically, it's for all women and some men then, not just women?

I'm confused.

You aren't confused. You just see it for what it is.

If they hold meetings or workshops about periods or menopause, I'd avoid them like the plague.

I find it incredibly insulting to define being a woman as an identity rather than bodily reality. Particularly in relation to anything physical where our actual bodies are what makes our experience different to that of a mans.

Its like we're some kind of woman hive mind that all have something in common that isn't just our bodies. And that something appears to be clothing, hair and makeup. Its backwards and everything women have been trying to step away from for decades.

I can fully understand how a young lesbian or neurodiverse girl who already feels out of step with other girls might start thinking they are actually a man.

We really need our language to start reflecting what is actually being talked about, its ridiculously confusing for everybody now.

Welcome to the upside down world. Women are not allowed to have anything that is focused on themselves anymore.

"Non-Binary Cycling"

That would be unicycles, tricycles, quadricycles, and any other number you like so long as it isn't two.

@Jaysmith71

"Non-Binary Cycling"

That would be unicycles, tricycles, quadricycles, and any other number you like so long as it isn't two.

😂😂😂

Is a tandem bicycle a doubly-binary bicycle?

Well I always thought that the boys bike didn’t make sense as the bar would hurt more if they slipped off the saddle.

What days we live in. I rarely see the opposite (a man’s group or activity +non binaries).

But what if you are Bi-Cycle Curious?

@Jaysmith71

"Non-Binary Cycling"

That would be unicycles, tricycles, quadricycles, and any other number you like so long as it isn't two.

Thank you for that!

The event is what it is - a mixed sex cycling festival. The only ways to deal with it are to ignore it or accept it for what it is. I’d go for the first option.

If there is a need for an actual women only cycling event someone has to organise it, and be clear about what ‘female only’ means.

There’s various parts of the cycling world that have been affected by ultrawokeness. There was a cycling club near me recently that was running bike maintenance courses for non-men.

There’s also these idiots people in London who also make me a bit cross mainly because women are so underrepresented in cycling and women-only clubs are a grey way to entice women in, but you’re not going to do it by allowing males in.
www.velociposse.cc/equality-policy

*great not grey

@Jaysmith71

"Non-Binary Cycling"

That would be unicycles, tricycles, quadricycles, and any other number you like so long as it isn't two.

But glad I'm not the only confused one.
Seems we're moving towards exclusively male spaces/events (not that these are needed!)

I find it incredibly insulting to define being a woman as an identity rather than bodily reality. Particularly in relation to anything physical where our actual bodies are what makes our experience different to that of a mans.

Its like we're some kind of woman hive mind that all have something in common that isn't just our bodies. And that something appears to be clothing, hair and makeup. Its backwards and everything women have been trying to step away from for decades

and this

There’s various parts of the cycling world that have been affected by ultrawokeness. There was a cycling club near me recently that was running bike maintenance courses for non-men.

It's that appalling 'non-men' idea again isn't it? The concept that women aren't a defined group with our own specific characteristics and needs, just part of a 'dumping ground' for anyone who isn't a man.

There’s also these idiots people in London who also make me a bit cross mainly because women are so underrepresented in cycling and women-only clubs are a grey way to entice women in, but you’re not going to do it by allowing males in.
www.velociposse.cc/equality-policy

This group were the authors of the open letter to British Cycling that claimed male and female testosterone levels were on average the same, which tells you how much they know about biological sex and it's importance.

From the Veloposse equality policy:

We want to make cycling accessible to all marginalised genders. We welcome all women; including transgender, intersex, and cis, as well as trans-men and non-binary people.

Fine. There is absolutely a place for all these people in sport and I’d argue if a club wanted to focus on recruiting these people, great!
But don’t call it a women’s cycling club.

Marginalised how?

It's that appalling 'non-men' idea again isn't it? The concept that women aren't a defined group with our own specific characteristics and needs, just part of a 'dumping ground' for anyone who isn't a man.

Not just anyone who isn't a man, but anyone who doesn't 'feel' like a man. It pisses me off that anything for women has become a dumping ground these days, while men's groups carry on not being inconvenienced in the slightest. 😠🤬

Shame I can’t just march into any ‘men’ only spaces because I want to (probably because of better facilities, more pay, more status etc). The men don’t want to share or ‘expand what it is to be a man’. Funny that.

The world seems to be being divided by men on entirely binary lines: men and everybody else.

This also brought to mind a visit to toilets in a car showroom Two toilets: one for men, one for women and disabled. Another men-only space!

It's not confusing, really, you're just looking at it wrongly.

Nothing is allowed to centre women any more - we must be inclusive.

Women are whatever men say they are.

Anything we thought was just for us is now for men unless they don't want it.

@aliasundercover

The event is what it is - a mixed sex cycling festival. The only ways to deal with it are to ignore it or accept it for what it is. I’d go for the first option.

If there is a need for an actual women only cycling event someone has to organise it, and be clear about what ‘female only’ means.

Good luck with that one!!

The moment anyone tries to set up something only for women of the biological female kind, they’ll get a message asking if it’s “inclusive of all women” ie does it include TW. If they say no, then a shit storm is rained down upon them until 9 times out of 10, they either capitulate or give up on the whole thing