5 Ways to Get Women More Involved in Cycling

In a world where more and more women are participating in athletic competition, why does cycling remain such a male-dominated sport? Just go watch your local bike race and it is easy to see that significantly more men are taking the line than women. But it hasn't always been this way. The history of women and cycling is actually quite strong.

At the end of the 19th century, women were gaining more rights and viewed more as equals to their male counterparts than ever before. The bicycle turned out to be a big part of the movement towards equality by giving women the power to travel further distances alone without having to rely on their male counterparts. Susan B. Anthony, a woman's rights advocate, claimed that the bicycle had "done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world."

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If the bicycle did so much for women in the past, why is it that the modern sport of cycling struggles to recruit talented women? There must be a reason why there were over 100 male riders in the under 23 category at the recent U.S. National Championships and fewer than 15 women cyclists in the same category.

In order to fix this problem, there are simple solutions that all cyclists can take part in—and you don't have to be a woman to make a difference. Here are five ways you can help women get more involved and motivated about the sport of cycling.

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Create an Inviting Environment

The first step to increasing participation in women's cycling is to simply get more women on bikes! Creating a community for women to feel more comfortable and to participate together is crucial. Dedicated events like bike tours that benefit women-specific charities or all-female events are a way to draw more women to the bike. Building a feeling of community creates enthusiasm for the sport—exactly what women's cycling needs to increase involvement.

Another way to create an inviting environment is to organize a women-only group ride centered around teaching new cyclists about safety and the basic skills needed to ride alongside others on the road. There are also skills clinics for women who are new to the sport help to build confidence on the bike without making anyone feel intimidated. It also creates a relaxed environment where women can learn from other passionate female cyclists who are able to offer mentorship and encouragement.

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Provide a Reason to Ride

Once more women begin to ride, we need to give them more incentive to continue the activity. Making all of the health benefits associated with cycling such as reducing cholesterol, blood pressure and coronary heart disease more publicized is a good way to keep woman motivated and aware of the benefits.

Cycling also reduces the signs of aging by increasing blood circulation, which helps to flush-out toxins and bring more oxygen and nutrients to skin cells. What woman doesn't want to preserve her youth?

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And let's not forget one of the most motivating factors of all: weight loss. Though the amount of calories burned depends a lot on weight, speed and time riding, most cyclists burn anywhere from 400 to upwards of 1,000 calories per hour of cycling! This may be enough incentive for women to stay with the sport and to push themselves to either rider faster or longer in order to burn more calories and stay fit. It's up to other cyclists to provide the reasons to those who might be interested.

Convert Recreational Cyclists

Perhaps the more difficult part is turning interested recreational women cyclists into competitive cyclists. High levels of testosterone in men often instills a need to prove one's athletic prowess, while females are generally less motivated by the desire to beat the opposition.

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There are definitely women that will never be convinced to give racing or even riding faster a try. However, evidence from other sports show that there are plenty of competitive women that want to test their limits. So why not cycling? Many may not want to sign up for a local criterium or mass start event as their first race because it can be intimidating for any novice, men and women alike. Factor in the low number of women participating and you can see why it may not look all that fun to race.

Because of this, there is a definite need for more entry-level races that create a more relaxed environment that recreational cyclists can easily transition to. Creating simple, non-technical courses for beginners or a weeknight race in a laid back atmosphere that encourages anyone to participate is a good place to start.

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Occasional races with a good mix of experienced and novice racers will also help women to gain confidence in their abilities and encourage future participation. Once fitness and skill is gained on the bike, most will find that they aren't as slow or scared as they thought they were, and will be more likely to join races in the future.

Bond Passionate Women Together

There has recently been a lot of discussion concerning participation and equality in women's cycling among the professional peloton. In fact, the Women's Cycling Association (WCA) is a newly formed organization designed to address these exact matters. This group of professional women cyclists from different disciplines have planned several women-related initiatives to begin building the sport. A membership drive, a grassroots program for youth and a minimum-working wage for women professional cyclists are just a few of the topics on their agenda.

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National organizations such as the WCA are what is needed to attract more attention to women's cycling. Females have proven to be incredibly talented athletes in their own right and deserve more media coverage. Unfortunately, it works both ways. Women's cycling needs more well-known professional races (a women's Tour de France?) in order to increase the sports popularity among the female gender.

On the other hand, networks and organizers need a reason to build such a race. There has to be more interest and active participation among all levels of female cyclists to generate the kind of revenue necessary to make it work. In order for the sport to grow, you have to start from the ground up.

Change Local Communities

We can all do our part in our own communities. Local changes can have a huge national impact. This is where it starts. Make an effort in your own community. You may have a profound impact on a girl that has a lasting significance. Who knows, that little girl may just be the next Evelyn Stevens!

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