Spotted...

Yes, Mihara, not all women feel the same about getting attention based on their looks. I didn't say that men shouldn't talk to or think that women on bikes are pretty, that would be silly.

Likewise, I'm not saying that you shouldn't talk to people, regardless of their gender, while your out riding (having said that I would prefer not to be approached before I've had my coffee, unless you like to be answered in grunts and gestures).

I know that you are new to the forum and may not realize that, although you are completely comfortable with that kind of attention, many other female forumgers aren't impressed and some really don't like it.
It has been a repeated request by myself and other female riders to be treated more like riders than like females, a big part of this is by mentioning when you see female riders (just like when you see male riders) without making a big deal out of their appearence.

As myself and others have expressed before, even if you don't understand it, even if you do understand it but you personally feel differently, please respect the way that other people feel. It's great that you all are seeing so many women riding, let's focus on the amount of totally awesome women there are out there on bikes and not on how hot they are. We all know that they are, anyways :-)

Fine to be treated as a rider on the track or when competing, I whole heartedly agree. But this thread is ‘spotted’. It’s mostly identifying people/bikes that people have seen out and about. And unless you think it’s going to help some crazed cycling rapists pin point exactly where their next victim is I don’t see the problem. Opposites attract! (…but not in my case). Can I not say a lily is beautiful for fear of upsetting a dandelion?

I do respect other people’s view. I think people generally know when people don’t want to reciprocate in a conversation. Respect is about not crossing that boundary. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
Not all men are thigh hungry wolves that froth at the mouth when they see some woman’s bottom bouncing up and down on a saddle, some just like a chat. Seems like most of the guys on this forum would rather eye up the saddle!

‘’new to the forum’’
I was wondering when this would come up. Yes and maybe I don’t realise the hierarchy that’s in place here. Sorry to have dared to venture an option contrary to ‘most’ other women cyclists in the world.

anyway, sorry to all for having a debate in the middle of the thread. i'll keep quiet from now on!