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@ioreka
i've got lots of thoughts on this but as ever i think the best way to progress is just keeping talking about it (thanks @bothwell) and keep listening to women's opinions. like @ecunard i don't mind racing with vets, men, women, kids (even if the youths wipe the floor with me). i actually don't really enjoy racing (any discipline) but i give it a go and try and get involved and support women's cycling where i can.
to me, the issue revolves not just around women-only events, but about getting women engaged with cycling and as TSK mentioned particularly the socio constructs which are (i hope) lessening every day. i have a little group of female friends (not a CC) who train and race together - for fun, but working hard - because we knew we'd get more done, push each other, and that little unit is great for us. but it's not suitable for everyone, and some people want an organisation or a cycling club to do that for them anyway - so again it (to me) boils down to providing opportunities, creative ways to engage and welcome women (i'm an occupational therapist - it's my job to think about engagement). we got together because (taken from our site):
Sport England has published that 69% of women in the UK have stopped all sports by age 21. We think that's bogus and are setting out to change the statistic for the better – by creating an all-women, grassroots team of amateur track & fixed cyclists in London, who train, race and ride regularly.
like i said - it's not what everyone wants, but the evidence is showing more and more that there ISN'T just a one size fits all "solution" to the "problem" of unequal numbers of men and women in cycling, and in racing.
(also big lol at assuming that just providing the same opportunities for women as for men like levels the playing field somehow?!?!)
one thing i'd like to say is organisers: i'm aware that you sometimes (often, more like!) lose money and time putting on female-specific events that have a low turn out. please don't despair. it's so appreciated that you do it. but let's also go back a few steps and make sure there's enough women getting into cycling in the first place, and getting the training, the understanding of how races work, the time to get confident - it's getting there, slowly. please don't give up or stop putting them on, unless the women really dont want their own event, or you can't afford it. keep asking about where to promote your event where it will reach the highest number of interested parties.
massive hats off to Celeste and the team at HHV who now run a women's track league during the summer, have an absolutely blossoming women's group, and recently branched out to form London Women's Racing.
women's cycling and especially women's racing is gaining traction which is super positive. i'm not surprised it's slow, and i can't say i'm anywhere near satisfied, but it's better than it's ever been. that's great.