Women on cycling, give me your views....

[Wheeledweenie]

A friend and I are thinking of starting of a website aimed at female cyclists, theoretically it could include, news, reviews and features as well as blogs and a forum.

We'd be looking to attract as wide a spectrum as possible from beginners looking to get their first bike and equipment, women who use their Pashleys on the weekend and those of us in lycra who commute every day.

Please could you answer the following questions and give me your thoughts. Thanks so much for helping us out.

1. What do you rate most highly:
News
product reviews
features
peer support

2. Why do you cycle:
Commuting
Leisure
Shopping
For everything

3. As a beginner who did you go to for help and advice?

4. Do you feel that more women are cycling now than were last year?

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this?

 

[Spinney]

I'm not sure how much I would use a women's focussed website, but it could be useful to try to encourage more of us into cycling.

1 All of them - but women focussed (there are plenty of features, product reviews out there aimed at a general audience, no need to reinvent the wheel)

2 Leisure

3 Just bought a bike and got on with it, originally. More recently (for bike upgrade etc), other half and LBS, and CycleChat!

4 Don't know. I was surprised at how few women there were on my first attempt at a Sportive, last weekend. It would be nice to see more.

5 No, but then I haven't been looking.

Other things:
I've been contemplating joining a local cycle club, but looking on the internet the nearest one to me seems to be all about time trials etc. One with rides at a more moderate speed, for more social reasons, would be nice.

As I said above, it would also be nice to see more women at sportives, etc (chatting to others there, I think the numbers of women were fairly typical for this type of event).

 

[trio25]

1. What do you rate most highly:
peer support

2. Why do you cycle:
For everything

3. As a beginner who did you go to for help and advice?
Shecycles.com

4. Do you feel that more women are cycling now than were last year?
Not sure year on year but has been a growth since I started riding, it is even more noticeable to friends who have been riding longer. The bike industry is definetly targeting us as well.

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this?
Yes, its noticeable how much more womens specific kit there is from when I started riding 3 years ago.

 

[Arch]

Just a quick reply before I have to head off...

1. What do you rate most highly:
News
product reviews
features
peer support

All of that, I think. As someone with little disposable income, reviews are probably not of so much interest, since my purchases are minimal and limited to essentials.

2. Why do you cycle:
Commuting
Leisure
Shopping
For everything

For everything, I don't have a car (although I can drive).

3. As a beginner who did you go to for help and advice?

Probably my boyfriend at the time, although it was more that he got me into it and told me what I needed to know, than me taking it up and asking him. Now, I ask friends, or ask on cyclechat.

4. Do you feel that more women are cycling now than were last year?
Probably, since more people are cycling now overall. I'm not sure women will be 50% of the new cyclists though.

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this?

Vaguely - I'm not much of a consumer, and not especially bothered about looking 'girly' so I'm probably not the most aware person in those terms. I know there are certain women specific issues in terms of geometry and clothing fit though.

I'll drop in and catch up tomorrow!

 

[Wheeledweenie]

Just a quick reply before I have to head off...



I'll drop in and catch up tomorrow!

Thanks!

 

[trio25]

just to comment on a womens focused website, yes I used shecycles a lot and still use the new forum we set up. But I find that there is less knowledge than on general sites as there are less people on them. I wouldn't be going to a new site, I spend too much time on the internet as it is!

 

[SavageHoutkop]

1. What do you rate most highly:
(re-ordered to show my answer)
product reviews
peer support
news
features

2. Why do you cycle:
For everything - but only been at it 2.5 months...

3. As a beginner who did you go to for help and advice?
I think I am still a beginner... so the 'net, plus the LBS to a lesser extent, and also a friend who cycles.

4. Do you feel that more women are cycling now than were last year?
Absolutely no idea.

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this?
Nope...

 

[Wheeledweenie]

just to comment on a womens focused website, yes I used shecycles a lot and still use the new forum we set up. But I find that there is less knowledge than on general sites as there are less people on them. I wouldn't be going to a new site, I spend too much time on the internet as it is!

If not a new site, how about regular email newsletters on new products for women or features?

 

[Wheeledweenie]

2. Why do you cycle:
For everything - but only been at it 2.5 months...

Bloody hell, it took me a year to work up to everything!

 

[SavageHoutkop]

yes, but then I am a bit singleminded when I eventually do decide to do things

I was a bus commuter before, although like one of the previous posters I can drive.

Haven't yet cycled *far* mind.... managing my 5 mile each way commute daily just fine, with a detour about once a week to shop....

 

[scots_lass]

1. Peer Support and product reviews.

2. Leisure

3. Still a raw beginner but basically bought a bike and started pedalling. This forum has been a great intro into the world of cycling!

4. Don't know. Not taken much notice of cyclists up till now!

5. Too new to notice that women are being more catered for but have noticed it in the world of hillwalking gear in the last five years so guess it is just an extension of that.

Good luck with your new venture!

 

[summerdays]

My response to your questions without reading anyone elses... that's not to say I might not change my response after reading theirs

1. What do you rate most highly:
News
product reviews
features
peer support
Probably a mixture of the above apart from features. - Not much help there.

2. Why do you cycle:
Commuting
Leisure
Shopping
For everything

For me I like to cycle to the shops, work, visit friends etc, but fitting it in around kids isn't always easy - for example with the school holidays I get less time on the bike - one child in particular is anti bike because mum is pro bike - just to wind me up.

3. As a beginner who did you go to for help and advice?
Friends, internet

4. Do you feel that more women are cycling now than were last year?
Yes - a friend has taken it up but I also feel there are more men too.

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this?
I don't always like cycle clothing - its mainly too sporty for me, I have to wear it when I get off the bike if I visit friends, go out for the evening, shop etc so it needs to be multi-functional most of the time. In saying that I do own some cycle specific clothing

 

[Wheeledweenie]

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this?
I don't always like cycle clothing - its mainly too sporty for me, I have to wear it when I get off the bike if I visit friends, go out for the evening, shop etc so it needs to be multi-functional most of the time. In saying that I do own some cycle specific clothing

Do you find it difficult to find clothing that transfers from cycle to going out? So if there were say a regular feature on transferable outfits, would t be useful?

 

[badkitty]

_

1. What do you rate most highly:

Peer support

2. Why do you cycle:

For everything
(Off road muddy/woods school run (16 miles/day)

3. As a beginner who did you go to for help and advice?

Erm...trial and error mostly. Made lots of mistakes, then tried not to repeat them!

Then after a couple of years, discovered cycling forums, which would have been really useful 2 years previously.

4. Do you feel that more women are cycling now than were last year?

Not around here, they aren't. I'm sure many more women own bicycles, but they aren't riding them where I live.

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this?

No. But I'm not a massive consumer, (apart from one very pink jersey ), and don't spend much time looking at cycle clothing. I just go to Minx if I need something.

Hope this is of some use.

Good luck with the website.

 

[Wheeledweenie]

Good luck with the website.

It is indeed useful, many thanks.

If you were to hazard a guess, why doyu reckon the women near you own a bike but don't ride it?