Cycling dismay as women's events frozen out for London 2012

Woudl someone who knows when womens events are on like to start a thread in the rides and races sections?

Just an idea?

I must admit, though, it would never occur to me either, and compared to a lot of women I cycle a lot – I love doing long rides, go to the track up here in Glasgow just to be able to go fast (there's never anyone else there, it's just a shit one in a park), and cycle in groups just for fun – but I would never dream of actually racing or going to anything organised. I mean...I smoke fags and shit.

Which park? I never knew about no park track in Glasgow!
I found it was something that just crept up on me, going from about the level you're at. I remember talking to the lovely Winston of Rollapaluza about 9 months ago and being me surprised that I was considering racing considering my smoking and drinking habits (former now gone, latter still going strong) and he just said go for it and see how it goes - what's the worst that can happen?

Now I'm looking at at the Derny National Champs next week which I've been persuaded to race and I'm thinking - the worst that can happen is a very public humiliation whilst riding behind a motorbike at 37mph. If I lose - well, at least I tried. And I'll still be in the top ten! ;) I've done this with the support of so many people, cheesy as it sounds - but everyone is so encouraging and keen to help. The fully-lycra-ed cyclists I know aren't laddish at all, and there's much less machisomo about than I see on my commute.

It's pretty much the only resource gone.

I have loads of people pestering me to set up a blog on feminism and cycling (I have this habit of having ideas, telling people about them, getting everyone all enthusiastic and then pretending not to exist when everyone looks to me to be Organiser) so maybe I should actually get off my arse and make that happen as a resource for women's racing as well. Once I've figured out how it works myself.

well, maybe we could give it a go. I'd be game for it, why not?

It's ridiculously cheesy but Scott made me watch it the other day but since then I've given up smoking and decided to become a pro cyclist. :D

just read the synopsis. Have goosebumps, might cry. Am such a girl!

There are still 2 Palace events before the season finishes, both will have seperate ladies events (weather permitted) . The organisers have previously stayed (with all marshalls) just to allow a ladies event when the mens event was cancelled due to weather.
TT's are pretty inclusive as they often don't have full fields. (Some even have a quota for female riders) There seemed to be a few ladies at the Richmond Park TT, another event coming soon. You can find a club TT to ride for £2 virtually every night of the week.
There ARE lots of racing oportunities, just too few ladies willing to make the effort.

yes, and for all my soap-boxing I haven't ridden Palace as fasteddy full well knows. I'm a bit sad about that but I only have so much time in my week! Next season...

Which park? I never knew about no park track in Glasgow!
I found it was something that just crept up on me, going from about the level you're at. I remember talking to the lovely Winston of Rollapaluza about 9 months ago and being me surprised that I was considering racing considering my smoking and drinking habits (former now gone, latter still going strong) and he just said go for it and see how it goes - what's the worst that can happen?

Now I'm looking at at the Derny National Champs next week which I've been persuaded to race and I'm thinking - the worst that can happen is a very public humiliation whilst riding behind a motorbike at 37mph. If I lose - well, at least I tried. And I'll still be in the top ten! ;) I've done this with the support of so many people, cheesy as it sounds - but everyone is so encouraging and keen to help. The fully-lycra-ed cyclists I know aren't laddish at all, and there's much less machisomo about than I see on my commute.

Bellahouston, amongst the bucky-swilling yout'. That sounds great; well done you. And good luck next week.

From the front page.

Click on Sport (below header image)
Click on any category of racing (LH side)
Click on the calendar option.

The default will select the sport category that you've come from. Deselect this if you have a broad interest. From here it's a matter of smart searching to find the events open to women. The discipline listing will list all the categories of riders who are catered for at any event. Pick your months, region and discipline (yes, I know this conflicts with the previous statement) carefully.

My advice - 1) check the series listing although much of that will be for team entrants so if you were eligible you would already know about it. 2) Check the Go Ride classification. Patronising but it gets you to the start line. 3) Max the results per page and prepare to use CTRL+F and speed up your searching times.

As you will need to have a license to race, get one and then write back to BC to tell them that they really should have a women's specific listing on the website so you can find the stuff and enter it without using a Kray to resolve the data for you.
Also, take up cyclocross. Almost every single league event will have a womens race at the same time as the mens race. As there will be any number of silver spinners out there you shouldn't be the last on the field in any race.

One event where there's explicitly a women's only race in the south east in the next ever... hmm

One event where there's explicitly a women's only race in the south east in the next ever... hmm

Can't you make either Palace event? What about a free night for a TT?

ah ok found the Palace events.

What does C+ mean? You can race those if you've just got a BC licence right?

That unfortunately is where you need perseverance and savvy.

Mildenhall Cycling Rally will give you a chance at grass track cycling on the August Bank Holiday Weekend.

About the only one I know of. I would still encourage cyclocross though. The number of women racing, particularly in the SE are pretty good. On top of that the cyclocross community has always been a bit different to the rest of the racing types (ask someone who knows better than I about the history of it being subsumed by BC). Unless you screw up the competition between race leaders chauvanism rarely shows it's face and is far less tolerated. The high majority of male riders will be encouraging and supportive and generally consider you a far better rider than some of the men they're competing against. The down sides are riding cold conditions, getting wet and muddy and the risk of a bit of damage in wooded sections can make a crit look tame. Also there is sometimes a dearth of changing facilities which means trying to preserve your modesty in the back of someones car. The gf has been doing this since she was 14 and has mostly stopped caring.

@tricity: there is also a Facebook group - London Women's Cycle Racing I think it's called which is a good resource by and for women.

@TSK - tell me more about cyclocross?! where do you go & what's the most basic kit I could start with? have been thinking about it for a winter activity.

Interesting debate you guys are having. I agree with Estelle that even though there are high profile women achieving great things in cycling the actual turn out at our level is very poor

I often get to road race with the future champions, which is totally cool. However it does show that there are so few girls we all get lumped into one race.

I am seeing young girls coming into the sport but it’s a slow process. If we lose a lot of the races on the calendar in the next few years it could ruin these young girls chances.
My fear is not that women wont race because I think VP and the like have very much set those wheels in motion, but that in the time it will take to bring enough girls on board we will lose the dedication of those who are fighting the losing battle of organising women’s races right now.

Local clubs have a big part to play and they need to actively recruit more women of all ages and levels. I know money and time are an issue. In all honestly I think that it's a lack of community spirit that makes it impossible for some clubs to survive or grow

How many of us can honestly say that we give up our time, for no financial reward in order to see cycling races thrive. I always email the organisers to tell them what I felt about the race, the course and most of all to thank them for their dedication.
I don't have a lot of time to organise races or get involved with running a club but I do spend time recruiting more girls into the sport. The surrey League has allowed girls to race for free at the team series all season as they do every season.

Next season I want to get my own team together and when I’m old and grey I hope I am organising races and watching women racing in much larger numbers.

If we want Women’s races to grow then we are the generation of racing women who can make that happen.

See you all soon

I am now full of enthusiasm but I think I need to do a bit of training before I do any racing (which is a shame, I'd be up for the Crystal Palace races but they're a bit too soon for me to do it without dying of lack of fitness).

What kind of times do you guys aim for, say for a 40k race for example? I've been trying to find results but can only find ranking rather than timings... think you need to be a BC member to access those. Would be good to know how much I'm going to embarrass myself before I do this...

Cyclocross, described as mountain biking on a road bike, was invented in the early part of the century to help keep racers fit in the off season. The roads at that time, having become untenable in winter for racing (ice, poor maintenance etc), were abandoned in favour of riding off road in land unused for tradition summer parks use or left to fallow by landowners.

Races traditionally last that eclectic time of 1hour+1lap or thereabouts. Courses will be about 1.5 miles long and you'll do eight to ten circuits.

What you will need. 1 cyclocross bike. At entry level this is essentially a racing bike with plenty of clearance front and back. It will preferably be steel or alu with canti brakes (essential because of the build up of mud) and no bottle cage. Cyclocross wheels should be used as they are nice and tough and can soak up the punishment they receive. Put cyclocross tires on them. Ride on SPDs because you will have to get off and run sooner or later. You can get away with doing this on a MTB but get the skinniest tires you can and keep the handlebars as narrow as your shoulders.

As for where to go, check the BC calendar for the London League events. I'd advise the London League site but it hasn't been updated since February, even though the calendar has been entered. If you are serious, join an affiliated club and enter the league as soon as possible.

It's pretty much the only resource gone.

It's ridiculously cheesy but Scott made me watch it the other day but since then I've given up smoking and decided to become a pro cyclist. :D

Me and Lucy will hold you to that!

ah ok found the Palace events.

What does C+ mean? You can race those if you've just got a BC licence right?

the BC website is like a black hole, information goes in and is lost for ever. i think you can ride a C+ with a provisional racing license (free with bronze or higher BC membership) but if I am wrong you will undoubtedly be able to buy a day licence on the line for a tenner.

used to ride with loads of girls at Edinburgh Uni (but mostly triathletes i wish i knew why tri is apparantly more appealing than cycling) i found that it takes a lot of effort and a critical mass of girls in the club so that the lads were not intimidating. Edinburgh RC were pretty good at prioritising womens racing and advertising it. that made a big difference.

Tricity - its a shame because the best womens only (3rd/4th cat) races have been mostly cancelled this season due to one of the popular locations being unavailable (political reasons!)
I hope it will run again next year.
Check out www.surreyleague.co.uk The calendar states which races are Womens.

Tricity - In all honestly racing makes you good at racing. I got dropped and lapped for a few weeks at Palace. Its more technique and confidence than speed.

Do a good winter of training with interval sessions and then get out there early season and take part in the 3rd/4th cat races.

You should come to palace anyway. There are often girls there that have no idea if they are fit enough. The ride round the circuit and finishing is an experience worth having!

maybe I'll do the one on the 25th then... at least if it's the last one I have a good excuse not to show my face for a while :D

Also thanks everyone who's said helpful stuff on this thread. I have done barely any work today but it's been incredibly useful.

At the very least you should go and watch, cheer, geek at bikes etc. There's nothing like watching a live race.

oh, and back on topic - the WSFF have a meeting with the IOC next week and are going to let me know after that whether people should be lobbying them or the International Cycling Federation re women's races.

@ Stelle: I plan to attend the HH league next year when I get a bit faster. I would love to go to HH on Sundays but I am afraid that you guys will be too fast for me.

when I first started going to HH was really frustrating as i was always two laps after everyone in the slow group. things get better if you train.

and to add to what Rachel says - there's no real way of working out what time you race a certain distance in. It's wierd to get your head round but often you turn up at a race having no idea how long it is. It doesn't matter how fast you go or how far as long as you go as fast and as far as everyone else! it's more about tactics, riding with a bunch and getting over the line. If you have base fitness you'll be ok. The surrey league crits are a good place to start, and start at the beginning of the season when there will be other people starting too. As soon as you do it you get it, and the mystery and confusion goes. The internet will only fuel your fears, and I speak as someone who spent hours googling a competitor and getting stressed about how amazing she must be - met her and because she seems lovely I don't mind how awesome she is because all my fears have evaporated.

I also hear talk that it takes 3 seasons of racing to get your race legs, so I'm looking forward to 2011!

Circuit races are a great place to try out bunch racing. In some respects it is a baptism of fire because they tend to be fast from the start (the first laps are always the hardest) but they offer great advantages to newcomers...

Firstly you always get mixed abilities. I know your quick (london tri was blistering) and you would be far from last.

Because its short laps you get to know the ropes really quickly and will be able to settle in.

it is likely that some riders wont keep up with the scratch group, they will be dropped and form smaller groups who race amongst themselves. That way even if you have a bad race there will be others at your level to race with. being dropped or lapped is no problem.

if worst come to worst you just bail out (cite your pre-rehursed excuse about a bad knee or mechanical) I did this once 10 minutes into a race, i had just got back from a trip to Jamaica and was feelign a little worse for wear. I just rode back to the start and watched.

The sooner you try it the better!

Oooh, this all sounds really interesting.

And guys keeping an eye on this thread, go out and watch the ladyengers race every now and again. They deserve your support and having someone cheer from the sides is always good for a sprint finish.

You should come to palace anyway. There are often girls there that have no idea if they are fit enough. The ride round the circuit and finishing is an experience worth having!

I met Charlotte Blackman on the 50 fixed women ride, and she was really encouraging about coming to Palace too, I'd not really though about it before then. Was pretty reassuring that depsite the potential intimidation of her being an elite rider she was so friendly and encouraging about it. Unfortunately there's no doubt at all that I'm not fit enough to race at the moment (HH on a Saturday is hard enough), and bimbly commuting is no kind of training. But proper club lever stuff and track are something I'd really like to do next year, so I'm planning to write off the summer, blitz the winter training and go from there.