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New Edinburgh bike club - for women

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Started 14 years ago by chdot
Latest reply from PS

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chdot
Admin

"
One of the monthly rides is for "rusties" - those new or returning to cycling. This ride will be on paths and not roads. If you meet any women who would be keen on this, or any of the other road or MTB rides we do, by all means pass on our email address.

kind regards

Julie Hutchison and Sandra Scally

for hervelo

Press release Launch of Hervélo

11 February 2010

A new cycling club has been launched aimed at encouraging women’s participation in cycling in the Edinburgh area. Hervélo (vélo is French for “bike”) will actively promote fitness in women by providing support, knowledge and confidence to participate in cycling at all levels.

Members currently range in age from 6 months to 60+, and a regular monthly programme of Sunday rides will comprise something to suit “mud honeys” (mountainbikers), “skinnies” (road bikers) and “rusties” (those new or returning to cycling).

The inaugural ride is on Saturday 6 March 2010, from 10 to 12 noon, meeting at Cargo, Fountainbridge, for a ride along the Union Canal towpath. The ride offers options for cyclists to go for a just few miles, or go out to Balerno, or for mountainbikers to then continue into the Pentlands. Details are on the club’s facebook page, or can be obtained by emailing hervelo@hotmail.co.uk

Commenting on the launch of hervélo, Sandra Scally, Club Secretary, said “hervélo is all about combining fun, fitness and fresh air for women of all ages and abilities who want to get out cycling. We have members who have not been on a bike for 20 years, members who get carried in a baby seat and members who have participated in triathlons, mountain bike races and road cycling in Scotland, Europe and Canada. We want to pass on our experience to encourage women to participate in the cycling community in Edinburgh, and remove the ‘fear factor’ for those returning to cycling after many years away.”

Notes

1 Hervélo is affiliated with Scottish Cycling.

2 Queries should be addressed via email to hervelo@hotmail.co.uk

3 Sandra Scally, Club Secretary, is available on 0770 88 111 58

4 Membership costs £10.

"

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

Cool. I was in a club like that in Glasgow. You soon met women of your own fitness level and interests and could go out with them or go on a group ride with kids in seats etc. I was wondering what happened to Team Caledonia as it doesn't seem to exist any more.

Posted 14 years ago #
Claggy Cog
Member

I am at a loss as to understand how you have members at all if your inaugural ride is 6th March. You cite that you have "members who have not been on a bike for 20 years, members who get carried in a baby seat and members who have participated in triathlons, mountain bike races and road cycling in Scotland, Europe and Canada". How do you have membership if you have only just started.

I may be being a party pooper here but why a women's only, exclusive, organisation, I think that there might be a problem if men set up "hevelo" for instance. Also having googled your organisation it seems that you have adverts for dating singles, well I think it is your organisation, it is all a little confusing, and advocate that you are seeking to get away from the "chain gang" mentality. I think a £10 membership fee for a couple of hours ride once a month is risible too. I for one will most definitely not be joining your organisation. No joined up thinking here, how you intend to cater for all beats me too. How many trainers do you have for instance to help the novices? Or are you expecting the experienced cyclists to do this for the others. What insurance do you have? I will stop there there but there are too many questions....

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

Why a women only cycling club? Because some women might feel intimidated by joining an open cycling club which is most likely dominated by men, whose backsides might only be seen briefly as they vanish off into the distance.

Posted 14 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

I can imagine that quite a lot of the women on this forum could (and would) do same to me (ie flash backsides), while some of the men might not. That said, I have no sense of the dynamics of a 'club' and no particular eagerness to join one, so this is obviously not aimed at me and/or at my particular stage in life. So, if it works for some, good for them, and I'll stick to my commute and occasional (usually unplanned) days out with family and friends.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"flash backsides"

?...

Posted 14 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

"backsides flashing" seemed a fair translation of "whose backsides might only be seen briefly", or at least that's the image I got...perhaps unfairly to both male and female speedy cyclists. Image I had in mind may have been influenced by watching too much speed skating last night....(or perhaps nightmares of Norwegian curlers' trousers....)

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"flash backsides" or "backsides flashing" or perhaps flashing backsides?

"Norwegian curlers' trousers" - perhaps I'm glad I missed them(?)

Posted 14 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

Anyone fancy going to the inaugural ride (I'm in London and, erm, not a girl) and having a chat with them for a citycycling article? Hmmm?

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"not a girl"

It's a club for women...

Posted 14 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

Sorry about all the backsides. So far no-one has ever flashed at me from a bike but I live in hope.

I am considering going along but it will depend on how many miles I am managing to get in on my road bike.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

Looks more like backrub than backside

Posted 14 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

well, the 'IMG' button cropped the photo a bit oddly. But try googling 'norwegian curlers trousers' and see what you get!

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"the 'IMG' button cropped the photo a bit oddly"

Yeah the 'image size widget' seems to have stopped working.

I gather the controversy is about garishness

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/newsid=41700.html

but maybe you're seeing something I'm not...

Is it similar to an (apparent) interest in that other Olympic sport beach volleyball?

If you're interested in 'colourful' and well fitting garb it's still hard to beat cycling.

Posted 14 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

I was intending more of a 'double entendre' on 'flashing' than any accusations of either cyclists or curlers _actually_ flashing their flesh. But, perhaps better not to start any more punning...

Posted 14 years ago #
Claggy Cog
Member

Min "Why a women only cycling club? Because some women might feel intimidated by joining an open cycling club which is most likely dominated by men, whose backsides might only be seen briefly as they vanish off into the distance".

Most cycling clubs do not advocate leaving the slowest behind and cycling is viewed as a social activity as well as a means of exercising and getting out and about. None of the men who I go out cycling with regularly are seen at the start and never again, and we also help each other with roadside and running
repairs. What is there to feel intimidated about?

If you wish to road race that is another matter and it is all about time trials and the fastest. Many of the British road racing records were set by women in the 50's and 60's and there are some very famous women road racers, Eileen Sheridan, Beryl Burton being two of the best whose records stood for many years before being broken largely due to advances in bike technology rather than fitness or stamina. The same applies to mountainbiking, a field in which many women compete alongside men, with no problem.

I just thought I would stick my tuppence worth in as I am irritated by elitist groups who exclude others on the grounds of gender in particular as it is about the only area where they get away with being discriminatory. I personally feel it is not acceptable behaviour and as we have to adhere to equal opportunities in the workplace and the like, then it applies in life full stop.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

British Cycling asks: ‘why aren’t more women cycling?’

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/31797/British-Cycling-asks-why-arent-more-women-cycling

Posted 14 years ago #
gembo
Member

Quite interesting debate. Personally, I feel if women want to start up a women only cycling club then that is fine. I am pretty certain some of the women in the women only club would also cycle with men at other times. I note the EBC does women only bicycle maintenance classes.

Posted 14 years ago #
thebikechain
Member

With no offence intended Liz obviously - I think you may be looking for a negative aspect to this when there isn't one.

We know some of the ladies in the club/group and they are all quite 'normal' and seem just to have a desire to make more woman feel comfortable about cycling.

To me (us in the shop) we are all for this. Just cause some girls want to meet up for a few rides doesn't mean there is some sort of elitism being aimed for - it's just riding bikes. You would have to concede as well that there are just some people who do prefer riding with similar people be that of same sex or ability.

The more people out riding the better and it is true that some 'gggrrrrr i am MAN' groups put people off from going out.

Anyway. We have a mixed ride on Sunday - Road leaving from 30 Rodney Street 10am for a 54mile Cake Focussed spin out to East Lothian. All welcome but no heroes please, chatty and fun is the aim.

Posted 14 years ago #
Claggy Cog
Member

Whilst I appreciate what you are saying, and I am all for getting people out on bikes, no matter what gender or capability, and promote cycling at every opportunity. However, no cycle clubs for men (only) have, as far as I am aware, been highlighted on this forum.

I will concede that there are people (generally women) who prefer partaking in all sorts of leisure activities with those of the same gender or ability but it does not mean I agree with their view and it is in my opinion discriminatory, a view which I am entitled to, and which runs contrary to legislation about equal opportunities.

I personally have never encountered a "ggrrrr I am a man" mentality within any of the groups of cyclists or individuals that I have gone out cycling with from complete novices to road racers, and I have been cycling for years, and to promote such a view is contrary to the spirit of camaraderie that there is amongst the majority of cyclists.

Posted 14 years ago #
Arellcat
Moderator

"How many trainers do you have for instance to help the novices? Or are you expecting the experienced cyclists to do this for the others. What insurance do you have?"

That's a fair question. The TryCycling rides in Edinburgh cater for beginners and each ride involves at least two or three experienced ride leaders who I think also hold the necessary paperwork from Disclosure Scotland (chdot - is that right?), and are generally also qualified cycle instructors. TCIE itself would have to hold the necessary insurance, which is entirely required when you're dealing with 40-50 people who perhaps don't even have the experience to ride across a roundabout. If I were to help out at one of these events, I would be obliged to point out that while I'm a competent rider, and Disclosure Scotland clear for that matter, I'm not officially a cycle trainer or a ride leader.

If you're organising something like the Spokes monthly ride, there is an expectation that those attending are capable riders and do so at their at their own risk. I don't want to put words into Stuart's mouth, but being a ride leader perhaps requires certain items to be carried, such as a First Aid kit. There is a line to be drawn somewhere between supervised, organised events, and a bunch of people together for a day out riding.

I'm sure Jacquie Phelan is taking note here, in case WOMBATS has to start accepting more men into the fold.

It's not just cycling, remember. Take the Curvy Riders Motorcycle Club for example, which is advertised at women. There is nothing in there that says all members must have a bumpy chest; but it's implied, and by and large that's how it works; and there are plenty of other MCCs for men to join (or they can become a honorary Brolly Bloke alongside the Curvies). Perhaps there should be another club whose sole demographic is mild-mannered men who don't like Harleys and all that beards and tattoo stuff? What about car insurance that's advertised solely at women? Are Sheila's Wheels going to tell a prospective bloke to go away?

I don't see hervélo replacing any existing ride groups, or usurping their members. I think it would be laughably naïve to have a policy that specifically excluded men, but I also don't see that it could be prevented. However, targetted advertising -- the name for a start -- can attract women predominantly, and it builds from there. I can take it or leave it, personally. If I were to go to the inaugural ride, it'd be to be to meet new people. If my Mum were to go, it'd probably be to meet people with whom she has at least something in common.

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

I forgot about this, d'oh.

Posted 14 years ago #
PS
Member

Never fear - there'll be more rides:
Hervelo website
They've got a Facebook page as well, if you want to be kept informed:
Hervelo Facebook

Posted 14 years ago #

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