Introduction to Cycling for Women

Introduction

During my dozen years as executive editor of Bicycling magazine, we occasionally annoyed some female readers despite our best intentions. Why? Because we wrote articles specifically for women. And now, looking back, I really can't blame those who became upset.

Here's what happened. We knew that half of all adult bike riders are women, even though there's no disputing that cycling is a male-dominated sport. Women simply weren't as visible because not a high percentage of them raced, trained rigorously, or rode the long-distance events that defined Bicycling's readership of "fast recreational cyclists." Okay, so how could the magazine welcome more women into the world of "serious" cycling? The answer seemed obvious: Create special sections and even entire issues just for women. Show them how to train, eat, ride with more skill, and graduate to challenging events. So that's what we did, and then were surprised that this seemed to bother about as many women as it pleased.

The backlash was usually expressed like this: "Don't make women seem like a separate group that needs special treatment. We're cyclists just like men." Had we made too much of the gender difference? After all, women and men are identical when it comes to almost every aspect of riding technique and training. On the other hand, there certainly are anatomical, physiological, and social differences. These are the real issues that set women cyclists apart.

Bicycling addressed them by instituting "Women's Cycling," a monthly column written by women, for women. While most of the magazine remained unisex and applied equally to all cyclists, this column explored subjects that women don't share with men. Included were discussions on female health issues, how women should respond to the sport's risks, and clothing and equipment designed specifically for the female body.

In this book, you'll find information on these topics plus other essential information. It's all geared to women who are relatively new to cycling and still learning the sport, helping smooth their way to many years of fun and fitness. For all of the unisex advice--expert information about how to train and ride more skillfully--we invite you to read Bicycling's monthly issues and the other books in this series.