It's just how we roll - Regular Ladies Rides

Personally, I feel that the issue of men on ladies' rides will always be an issue - because of the name as much as anything else. "Issue" is not a euph for "problem" it just means a thing that raises thoughts and questions. I think it's actually healthy to thrash out what we feel constitutes ladies' rides and I think it's also quite okay for different rides to have different "definitions".

Communication is key. I don't think anyone should be afraid to say anything - whether to give an opinion of any shade, to offer advice, help, disagreement or whatever. So long as the conversation continues a consensus will be reached. It's obvious there will always be differing views, we're all individuals, after all.

^this.

I personally see women’s rides as giving women some space…. space to ride with other women (as a majority, not a minority which is so often the case), to organize rides, to lead rides and to learn to lead rides….. Offers to help are great and all that but if there is no space, then there are no opportunities to fill it.

I think this is the most important part of "ladies" rides. I would never lead a main forum ride yet, as but am totally willing to lead more ladies rides. (I think it also helps that most of our rides max out about 15 people too!)

The main issue I have with guys coming on ladies rides is the assumption it seems to be that they are they to "help" us. I find this idea somewhat patronizing and I feel this undermines the notion that ladies can organize and lead rides on their own.

That said, I can see the other side which says why does it matter what gender the person offering help is? But it does, when there is such a massive gender ratio imbalance on the forum and in cycling in general.

which is a good example of why women's rides are problematic from the off, because all women are different, and stuff like this (women = slow) makes me want to cry.

I am not super fast, but I'm not super slow either, and I'd like to get faster, but I hate being left in the dust (which had happened on a few main forum rides). I think having women's rides is really helpful in this respect in that slower riders can gain confidence and speed in an atmosphere that isn't intimidating.

So assuming that because it's a "ladies" ride, it will be slow isn't on. There is a wide range of abilities so as long as we manage it so everyone has a good ride I think we're doing well. Generally every ride I've been on has managed to make it work (to my knowledge!)

This is exactly the sort of thing I'd wanted to achieve with reviving the ladies rides. As other have said it's been a chance for 1st timers to have a go at group riding which can be intimidating as it is. Also hoped others would lead and plan rides, which has happened, all in a majority female space.

Forum rides are ace, but so are the ladies ones. I really want to see them going from strength to strength and people not get bogged down in politics.

^this

Unfortunately I can't make the 17th (out of town) and not sure about the 31st as I'm doing the London Classic the next day, but I am totally up for leading rides after that....mostly I just want to get back on my bike more often!