Cycling UK seeing sense

[PauliesWalnuts]

I don't doubt there isn't a need for an inclusive awards, but given the number of women who don't ride due to women-specific obstacles (kit, bike frames, traffic, abuse, safety etc) it's good that we've got an awards to ourselves:

'Do we need to exclude people even more?' – Cycling UK's 100 Women in Cycling criticised for not accepting nominations for trans women | Cycling Weekly

@Brevet1000 and another of CW finest https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/trans-women-athletes-have-no-unfair-advantage-under-current-rules-study-finds
Also it seems that women are directly hurting themselves financially through this stance where they are rescinding Cycling UK membership and invalidating insurance cover they need for paid work

That article is absolute madness and goes against everything which knowledgeable people, such as Emma Hilton and Ross Tucker have said. Unfortunately, it doesn't surprise me, given that article was penned by the Dutch born, North American editor of Cycling Weekly who is probably 100% TWAW. She is probably fully supportive of transwomen cyclists like Natalie Van Gogh (now 51), who was competing against top European female tour pros at the age of 47.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/author/anne-marije-rook

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_van_Gogh

@oldtiredcyclist that article is a few years old and came out before the UCI ban (although not before the BC ban). I find it highly unlikely that the comic would run a similarly unquestioning article today.

Appalling article. But I tend to discount as not worth reading any piece that uses the term 'cisgender'.

Well, it is a tragedy if the Cool Kids shun you. That would be bad.

This year's list is out - 100 Women in Cycling 2025 | Cycling UK

🥳
Fabulous. Glad it got released before this has gone live to rain on the parade of the fabulous women who made the 2025 list

Ugh - who’s running that?

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/this-is-an-issue-for-everyone-cyclists-urged-to-take-part-in-solidarity-rides-with-trans-community-after-exclusion-from-cycling-uk-list
Cycling weekly still pushing this story.

Yet Cycling Weekly never once promoted Jean Hatchet's Ride For Murdered Women, according their site's search function.

Are those Rules Three and Five that I recognise? Yes, yes, they are.

Quite!
Also seems CW don’t know their audience too well judging by the mostly GC comments on FB and the article itself.

Clearly, a leopard doesn't change its spots, neither have Cycling Weekly. I wonder what the age demographic is of that publication. The CyclingNews forum is also very intolerant of gender critical posting, very pro trans.

I learned a new acronym: FLINTA (female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans, agender)

That seems like a rebranding of the Green’s “Non-men” label.

Apparently it's from Germany

Did anyone else here get the 100 Women in Cycling email earlier? Looks like it might have just been sent to past recipients, asking for feedback.

As I mentioned before, I think the awards have had their day regardless of this situation. I'm in two minds about whether I think Cycling UK should drop the 100 Women in Cycling. On the one hand, I really felt they were scraping the barrel when I ended up on the list. These things are always going to be finite. 100 is quite a lot to find year on year, it would be embarrassing to get less than 100 nominations. But on the other hand, it would be a shame to give up now! What do others here think?

Edited to add: omg, I didn't see that bit about "FLINTA" before. What is this rubbish? I hadn't heard of that before. Or was that introduced in the last TCR? I remember something making me cross but had pushed it out of my mind. Is there a risk that by keeping the awards we end up saddled with that tripe?

The Audax UK women's group is FLINTA 🙄 in a woman only safe space 🙄
" Woman only safe space This group is for women to discuss audax rides, ask questions and cheer each other on. If you are a man and have joined this group you will look very silly and be asked to leave. The admin reserve the right to ask members to leave or remove members if they feel an individual is breaching the 'safe space" of this group. We refer to the FLINTA gender classification system for other genders to be included."

Holy moly - really?! god I am SO CROSS. Is that from the Facebook page?

Flinta for anyone who hasn't come across it before is
Female
Lesbian
Inter(sex)
Non-binary
Trans
Agender

How the occasion of a man being asked to leave the group actually happen then?

Yeah, it's someone with an agenda all right.

It could be putting women off joining as it's the group rules to sign up to. It put me off!

Me too. Yuck, things like that just make me run away. No thank you.

And using the out-dated term intersex just because it makes your acronym work, that's gross. The only person I've known with a DSD would be mortified to be included in that list!

Hmm, maybe we do need to push for the 100 Women in Cycling to carry on - Cycling UK are clear now that is has to be for actual women. Step right up with your persuasive arguments and genius ideas please...

Any Cycling UK members here want the link for the consultation? It's only three questions; the third is a free text field for your brilliant ideas. I've said a few things, but mainly that I'd like 100 Women in Cycling to continue for one more year so that it's a nice round 10 years. 1000 Women in Cycling, ace! Deadline is Mon 2 March 9am.

The consultation says "we want to consult our members, supporters, past winners of 100 Women in Cycling, partners, Community Cycle Club reps and staff about the best format for any future awards".

So that's any Cycling UK member - presumably including affiliated groups, like local cycle campaign groups or small cycling clubs who are affiliated (ie., groups who get their insurance through Cycling UK). No idea who counts as a supporter - presumably anybody?! I don't think I am allowed to put links here? Do let me know if you'd like the link to the consultation form.