The local women's cycling league that I had been involved in came to an end last week. It was a bit of damp squib, but I'm glad that it's over. I shouldn't say this, I suppose. But really, I'd been wanting to get out of it for a while. It could have been a case of a fond farewell, with a speech about how I've enjoyed it and am passing the reigns on to someone else. But I can't be bothered with all that sentimentality.
In truth I should have stepped down at the end of last year, after the inaugural league and prize giving. But I thought I should do just one more year to bed things in. This proved not to be the best move because I got tired of it fairly near the start and no longer felt commited, but didn't know how to step down at that stage.
The fact of the matter is that even the first year the league had been hard work for me. To get these things rolling you need a lot of energy, commitment, dynamism and willingness to motivate others and get them on board. I had done all that, and that's why it proved to be successful. The fear of failure and the wish to prove myself kept me going. Everything went well in 2010. However, once I'd proven to myself and to others that I was capable I wanted out. I sweated and grafted hard to achieve this and it had made me tired in the process. I was like a swan. Wherever I went I seemed to manage it all rather gracefully, sometimes even seamlessly. But people had just not been aware of the endless emails, telephone calls, running around, social networking (both on and off line) as well as making sure the whole show was coordinated.
It had tired me out, cost me my racing season, I had sacrificed other projects. It had literally cost me. There were occasions when I hired a car using my own money to drive to a race that I wasn't even racing in - just because it was a league race and I had felt an obligation to be there.
Sure, people appreciated my efforts and had really enjoyed the league. But I received nothing for it. No payment, no perks, no recognition, no job. And that was the snag. At the time when the 2011 league should have been getting underway I found myself out of work. I was busy running around trying to find work, and struggling to put food on the table. With my CV in my bag, detailing my achievements, including those with the league I knocked at many doors and was turned away. I was rejected even without interview from jobs where they were looking for women's cycling development officers. I felt I ticked the boxes, but I didn't get a look in. At quite a few jobs my women's league activities had just been seen as extra curricular activities that were largely ignored. Recruiters wanted to see what I had done at a professional level in sports promotion and development. The answer was a big fat zero. So, I'd spent a large amount of time running around co-ordinating a significant project but in the grand scheme of things it counted for nothing. People were very happy for me to run these types of projects for nothing. But when it came to payment, I was apparently not good enough or experienced enough to be paid for my efforts. Couple that with the fact that a few sponsors of the league had let us down and I had to run around finding others, as well as the fact that about half the women who had said they would help with the league suddenly disappeared.
I concluded that this was a project that had no mileage for me, so I resolved to do just the bare minimum. It made me feel sick when people and women were asking me to do things. They asked me because they knew I was capable of organising things and getting things off the ground. But it still made me sick because no one knew how much work it was for me, and they assumed that these were effortless tasks. Somehow they could get away with not helping on the grounds that they had work, training and other things that kept them busy. They seemed not to realise that I was in the same boat but still had to carry this enormous baby.
Luckily I had help from a couple of girls - one who took care of admin duties, and another one who updated the website and did the rankings. We had a woman who put herself forward as a press/publicity officer but then she suddenly went AWOL a couple of months into the project. I did what was necessary, and that was it. At one of the local races the women from our league, like other local clubs had to provide marshals on one particular week for a local race. We needed 10 women, but yet we struggled to get the numbers. Many women turned up at the race, but they came over to race. They had no intention of helping out. In the end we had to make up the numbers by getting some of the men to be marshals. It was truly disappointing, and it made my blood boil the way that some of the women, at the end of the race were bragging on about how well they raced blah blah blah - but yet they showed no gratitude for the volunteers who had given up their time on the umpteenth occasion to stage this race. These women couldn't even marshal just once. I made a decision not to do the prize giving. But one of the girls helping me felt that it was our duty to run it and we should honour our commitment to doing so. It could also be a time to let people know about the need for folks to get involved and help. Overall, people had noticed that the league was not the same as last year. It did not have the same buzz. I know that. It was because I hadn't put in the enthusiasm, and I had no reason or incentive to spearhead this project so avidly, like I had done last year.
Our prize giving this year was a downer. Where last year we had a packed cafe with standing room only - around 80 people, this time we had just 15 people turn up. It was slightly embarrassing as I was MC for the night and I was talking to the women cyclists sat at two of the tables in the cafe. The rest of the folks at the other six tables in the cafe were there for a social night out that had nothing to do with cycling!
A girl from a clothing company had made a unilateral decision to sponsor us late in the summer. For me, she was one big bugbear. She had unilaterally decided that what our league needed was sponsorship and that she would be our guardian angel turning up with her expensive brand of women's cycle clothing to give out as prizes. Fair enough. But what really galled me was that she had no interest in knowing how the league was working, or helping us with our infrastructure. Her words were that she could tell us what to do, but she wouldn't be doing it. So she had assumed that I didn't have a clue what to do!!?? Fine. What she didn't seem to understand is that it's people like myself who make sure that there is any league at all for her brand to sponsor. I have become sceptical of sponsors in recent months. They prey on voluntary not-for-profit outfits like the league because its free advertising. Even if they gave away 10 jerseys that are valued at £100 each that still represents good value for a season long campaign for them. Cyclists would be wearing their jerseys at races and they'd be getting press and photographic coverage. And what would unpaid people like myself get?
On the night of the prize giving the prize winners were very happy with their stylish jerseys and this marketing manager became their new best friend. Me and the other two who had worked hard to keep this league running got absolutely zilch - not even a pair of socks or a water bottle.
People were naturally surprised and disappointed at the low turnout. Some people even wrote to me saying we could have done such and such to generate more publicity and get more people to attend. The fact is, I know exactly what we could have done to get the turnout. Of course I know, I did it last year. It's a question of whether it's worth my while doing it. And what people don't realise is that I had concluded that it wasn't.
I wasn't surprised or disappointed at the low turnout. Sure, it would have been nicer to have had a packed room. And it would have made for a better farewell to the league. But frankly, my emotions wouldn't have been any different. I was tired of people taking advantage of my talent without me getting any proper reward for it, and I was sick of corporate organisations using us as free publicity. Anything that made me feel like I wasn't being exploited was the most favourable feeling for me!
Some people later emailed me saying they would like to be involved in the plans for next year. Well, they are talking to the wrong person. I will be having no hand in it at all. I'd better draft a resignation letter.
Sunday 30 October 2011
Friday 26 August 2011
You are doing a great job....
...How about doing the same for us, for nothing! People don't actually say that, but that's what it all smacks of. A couple of years ago I and a few other women set up a mini local bike racing series to encourage more women to get into cycling. We had no idea how successful it would be, but fortunately it went well - better than expected. The series became well known in the cycling community and we had various sponsors wanting to get involved. More importantly many women were happy with their season and said that the series had really motivated them to go out and race. For me, at a personal level it was a real coup as I was able to prove to myself that I could successfully organise such a scheme, and associated events from nothing.
The problem I am having now is that everyone is automatically asking me to do various things for women's cycling. Last autumn I coordinated 3 London women's cycling teams for a national cyclocross competition. It was a good day out and we even got silverware. The cyclocross coordinator declared in his annual report that I would be the women's coordinator the following year. Not only had he not bothered to ask me if I would be able to do the job, he actually wrote in the report that although he had not asked me about doing the role he was sure I wouldn't mind being volunteered into the role. What a cheek!
I have since had even more people writing to me asking me to promote their event through my "networks."
As for the series people automatically think that it will continue on like last year. Women are emailing me asking about their prizes, complaining that their ranking being wrong etc., and expecting things to be sorted out at the drop of a hat. The thing is I am not paid to do this and folks are suddenly asking me to do stuff as though it were my main function in life!! It wouldn't be so bad if I were being paid!
The latest now is a branding consultant who wants to hook up with this women's series as a way of promoting the brand she represents as being commited to women's cycling. It's great when a company wants to provide prizes but why on earth should I do their work for them? Why should they be telling us what types of activities and initiatives we could be doing? It's all very well that this is her day job she has been retained to the clothing company as their branding consultant. However, I am a volunteer - doing this in between juggling with my day job amongst many other things.
People need to realise that that even the most simple activities done in aid of this women's series are time consuming. For example, for women to get their prizes it involves me emailing/phoning sponsors, travelling across London to pick up the prizes and spending time in discussions and presenting the league. I have even turned up at races that I am was not capable of racing in. I was there simply because I had a responsibility to get the series to work. I could have been home doing other things, notably writing articles for which I get paid!
People should not assume that this series runs effortlessly and they should think before they ask people to do such and such activity - especially when the person is not being paid. The thing that galls me the most is that I was out of work earlier this year and armed with my organisational skills as well as marketing experience and qualifications I applied for a few jobs around developing women's cycling. One job was actually with British Cycling. I didn't even get called in for an interview! So people are very happy for me to do the work I do in women's cycling. They tell me what a great job I'm doing, how amazing it is that I made something successful, even how inspirational I have been. But they have no intention of paying me to do the work.
Even worse was that last week at one of the local races, women were asked to marshal and help out at the event. It is customary for local riders to be encouraged to put something back into cyclesport by helping out once a year at least at a cycle race. Lots of women turned out at the event - to race. Many girls were not willing to marshal and gave various reasons as to why they had to race. It was very disappointing to see how few women were willing to give up just one race in the year to marshal at the race. We were short of marshals and we ended up asking a few men to help out. Some of the female regulars just didn't show up at all, probably to avoid having to marshal! Nevertheless these same people are still expecting to come to a gala presentation where they show off their racing prowess pictured with their trophies in the photo opportunities. They won't care to know how much work has gone into organising the event and ensuring that they have their prizes and ready for their moment of "glory" - work that has been done by unpaid volunteers. Well the news is that I will not be doing the gala dinner. People don't deserve my time. If they can't even turn up one evening per year to help out at an event why should I be working unpaid for them week in week out all season. No way. Now let them go and complain that no one does anything for women's racing. Sorry, but I am no skivvy!
The problem I am having now is that everyone is automatically asking me to do various things for women's cycling. Last autumn I coordinated 3 London women's cycling teams for a national cyclocross competition. It was a good day out and we even got silverware. The cyclocross coordinator declared in his annual report that I would be the women's coordinator the following year. Not only had he not bothered to ask me if I would be able to do the job, he actually wrote in the report that although he had not asked me about doing the role he was sure I wouldn't mind being volunteered into the role. What a cheek!
I have since had even more people writing to me asking me to promote their event through my "networks."
As for the series people automatically think that it will continue on like last year. Women are emailing me asking about their prizes, complaining that their ranking being wrong etc., and expecting things to be sorted out at the drop of a hat. The thing is I am not paid to do this and folks are suddenly asking me to do stuff as though it were my main function in life!! It wouldn't be so bad if I were being paid!
The latest now is a branding consultant who wants to hook up with this women's series as a way of promoting the brand she represents as being commited to women's cycling. It's great when a company wants to provide prizes but why on earth should I do their work for them? Why should they be telling us what types of activities and initiatives we could be doing? It's all very well that this is her day job she has been retained to the clothing company as their branding consultant. However, I am a volunteer - doing this in between juggling with my day job amongst many other things.
People need to realise that that even the most simple activities done in aid of this women's series are time consuming. For example, for women to get their prizes it involves me emailing/phoning sponsors, travelling across London to pick up the prizes and spending time in discussions and presenting the league. I have even turned up at races that I am was not capable of racing in. I was there simply because I had a responsibility to get the series to work. I could have been home doing other things, notably writing articles for which I get paid!
People should not assume that this series runs effortlessly and they should think before they ask people to do such and such activity - especially when the person is not being paid. The thing that galls me the most is that I was out of work earlier this year and armed with my organisational skills as well as marketing experience and qualifications I applied for a few jobs around developing women's cycling. One job was actually with British Cycling. I didn't even get called in for an interview! So people are very happy for me to do the work I do in women's cycling. They tell me what a great job I'm doing, how amazing it is that I made something successful, even how inspirational I have been. But they have no intention of paying me to do the work.
Even worse was that last week at one of the local races, women were asked to marshal and help out at the event. It is customary for local riders to be encouraged to put something back into cyclesport by helping out once a year at least at a cycle race. Lots of women turned out at the event - to race. Many girls were not willing to marshal and gave various reasons as to why they had to race. It was very disappointing to see how few women were willing to give up just one race in the year to marshal at the race. We were short of marshals and we ended up asking a few men to help out. Some of the female regulars just didn't show up at all, probably to avoid having to marshal! Nevertheless these same people are still expecting to come to a gala presentation where they show off their racing prowess pictured with their trophies in the photo opportunities. They won't care to know how much work has gone into organising the event and ensuring that they have their prizes and ready for their moment of "glory" - work that has been done by unpaid volunteers. Well the news is that I will not be doing the gala dinner. People don't deserve my time. If they can't even turn up one evening per year to help out at an event why should I be working unpaid for them week in week out all season. No way. Now let them go and complain that no one does anything for women's racing. Sorry, but I am no skivvy!
Saturday 18 June 2011
So what's wrong with Cornrow?
A judge recently ruled that a school in Harrow was guilty of unlawful indirect racial discrimination when it operated a ban on cornrow hairstyle in its school. The case was brought by the family of an 11 year old boy who was banned from starting at their school because his hair was worn in a cornrow plaits. Apparently the school operated a "no cornrow" policy because it associated this hairstyle with gang culture and that by allowing pupils to wear their hair in this way it would encourage gang violence.
The boy's family argued that styling hair in cornrow is an African Carribean tradition, and the boy had plaited his hair into cornrows from birth. By sanctioning him because of his hair style was racial discrimination.
The parents were pleased with the verdict, though the school plan to appeal against the decision.
I think it is such a sad state of affairs that in the society we live in today, the way that a universal, traditional hairstyle worn by a culture of people can give negative connotations and trigger so much controversy.
As someone who has worn her hair in cornrow for the last 15 years I find it quite offensive that institutions should think to ban me from wearing my hair in a way which is not only part of my culture, but also a style which I happen to find very neat and practical!
Having my hair in corn row has saved me from hours of standing in front of the mirror trying to style my hair each morning. It gives me one less thing to think about, and the hairstyle makes me look prettier and younger!
If my employers decided to ban the wearing of hair in cornrow I would be in a quandry. Straightening my hair and all the maintenance required would be quite expensive, and in the long-run would damage my hair. Leaving it as an Afro would be a frightful mess, and would be frightening for those who would have to look at it!
So why would anyone think that plaiting my hair into corn row would be synonymous with some sort of gangland violence?
Furthermore, I hate the way that people say that I am making a statement about my ethnicity or my culture. Many white women who don't style their hair in any particular way will put it into a quick pony tail or maybe a French plait. Is that some sort of statement they are making? Is there some cultural message being communicated by tying your hair back?
Black afro hair can be quite unmanageable if left to just grow out. Tying it back in some way is much neater and more practical. Back in the days when I would go swimming alot, corn ow was also the style that caused the least damage to my hair. So no, there is no ethnic statement being made - unless you want to include the wish to keep my hair healthy and tidy!
One thing this court case has done is to highlight some of the wider issues regarding wearing hair in corn row. Some of my peers who apply for professional jobs say that black women are more likely to secure managerial roles if their hair is straightened or styled in a Caucasian hairstyle. A few women who did not want to subject their hair to the chemical damage from perming have had to resort to wearing straight-haired wigs while in the work place.
I have never thought to change my hair style when going for a job interview or when working in a professional capacity, but I must admit that I have seen very few black women in positions of influence wearing African braids.
Whether it's Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, 2012 Olympics Ambassador Denise Lewis, or the BBC's Brenda Emmanus, it seems as if they have had to style their hair in a Caucasian cut as their image profiles increased. Even Alicia Keys, who many years ago championed cornrow hair, now has a perfectly straight long mane.
So what's wrong with corn row. Is it the embarrassing cousin that you only want to be seen with in selected places, and gets marginalised most of the time? I think we should stand up for the cornrow and wear it with pride. That way, society will begin to see this hairstyle in all its positive highlights. And now, I'm off to the hairdressing salon!
The boy's family argued that styling hair in cornrow is an African Carribean tradition, and the boy had plaited his hair into cornrows from birth. By sanctioning him because of his hair style was racial discrimination.
The parents were pleased with the verdict, though the school plan to appeal against the decision.
I think it is such a sad state of affairs that in the society we live in today, the way that a universal, traditional hairstyle worn by a culture of people can give negative connotations and trigger so much controversy.
As someone who has worn her hair in cornrow for the last 15 years I find it quite offensive that institutions should think to ban me from wearing my hair in a way which is not only part of my culture, but also a style which I happen to find very neat and practical!
Having my hair in corn row has saved me from hours of standing in front of the mirror trying to style my hair each morning. It gives me one less thing to think about, and the hairstyle makes me look prettier and younger!
If my employers decided to ban the wearing of hair in cornrow I would be in a quandry. Straightening my hair and all the maintenance required would be quite expensive, and in the long-run would damage my hair. Leaving it as an Afro would be a frightful mess, and would be frightening for those who would have to look at it!
So why would anyone think that plaiting my hair into corn row would be synonymous with some sort of gangland violence?
Furthermore, I hate the way that people say that I am making a statement about my ethnicity or my culture. Many white women who don't style their hair in any particular way will put it into a quick pony tail or maybe a French plait. Is that some sort of statement they are making? Is there some cultural message being communicated by tying your hair back?
Black afro hair can be quite unmanageable if left to just grow out. Tying it back in some way is much neater and more practical. Back in the days when I would go swimming alot, corn ow was also the style that caused the least damage to my hair. So no, there is no ethnic statement being made - unless you want to include the wish to keep my hair healthy and tidy!
One thing this court case has done is to highlight some of the wider issues regarding wearing hair in corn row. Some of my peers who apply for professional jobs say that black women are more likely to secure managerial roles if their hair is straightened or styled in a Caucasian hairstyle. A few women who did not want to subject their hair to the chemical damage from perming have had to resort to wearing straight-haired wigs while in the work place.
I have never thought to change my hair style when going for a job interview or when working in a professional capacity, but I must admit that I have seen very few black women in positions of influence wearing African braids.
Whether it's Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, 2012 Olympics Ambassador Denise Lewis, or the BBC's Brenda Emmanus, it seems as if they have had to style their hair in a Caucasian cut as their image profiles increased. Even Alicia Keys, who many years ago championed cornrow hair, now has a perfectly straight long mane.
So what's wrong with corn row. Is it the embarrassing cousin that you only want to be seen with in selected places, and gets marginalised most of the time? I think we should stand up for the cornrow and wear it with pride. That way, society will begin to see this hairstyle in all its positive highlights. And now, I'm off to the hairdressing salon!
Wednesday 1 June 2011
Cycling stuff gets all consuming
I enjoy cycling. I don't know how much I've been into it but it seems like it's been all my life. I only got into competitive cycling when I was well into my thirties - which is comparatively late.
But I remember as a teenager going to Doncaster, the nearest big town to where I lived, and looking at the club cyclists in admiration as they took their cafe stop. I really wished I could be able to ride a bike from our village in North Lincolnshire all the way to Doncaster, all dressed up lean and mean in brightly coloured Lycra on a racing bike.
I had no idea where people bought that type of clothing from. I didn't even have a racing bike. In fact I didn't have any bike. I had access to an old Raleigh 20 that I shared with my sister.
My parents didn't like me cycling. I remember the great disappointment and upset I felt when my parents refused to let me take part in an 11-mile sponsored bike ride. My dad claimed that I wouldn't be capable because I'd had knee problems. From then on I was even more determined to get out one day and ride 10 or 11 miles.
The first time I rode that distance was one Saturday afternoon, when I rode from Scunthorpe back home to Crowle. It was a very windy day but I was determined to keep going on my beloved steed, a brand new Falcon mountainbike.
I was so pleased to have made it. Of course, as a 19 year-old I was free to do what I wanted, but I still had to keep this adventure a secret from my parents.
Fast forward 20 years and I am very much within a cycling community. I have several bikes, have taken part in lots of bike races, I have been on cycle 100-mile bike rides around the UK and Europe, and yes I have lots of Lycra and I know where to find them.
The thing is, I am now wondering if you really can get too much of a good thing. I enjoy the racing and the camaraderie that goes with it, however I am so wrapped up in it that at times it is difficult to escape from it.
Racing regularly means you have to train more and more, to the point that it is the only thing you do outside of work, eat and slip. You can easily stop seeing your family, unless they are racing cyclists too. Your spare cash gets spent on bike bits, bike clothing and entering and travelling to races. You even lose out on social life. Suddenly it's no longer practical to have a night out with friends as you need to be up early the next morning to race. And forget about a leisurely Sunday afternoon in the summer. If you are not racing you are doing a 70-mile training ride!
Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed doing those things, but it has gotten to the point where I don't have a non-cycling social life. My holidays involve cycling. Even the new people I meet are cyclists or connected with cycling. What's more it is also the yardstick by which people judge you! How friendly someone gets with you, and how popular you are is dependent on how fast you can ride your bike!
Yes, this biking business can take over your life.
That's how it is feeling for me. And I'm beginning to not like it. As an avid twitterer I take a voyeuristic interest in what others are doing, thinking and feeling. I'm getting a bit fed up of seeing people tweeting the same old "I went on a bike ride" post, with details of their heart rate and power readings, their post ride meal or how they "wish they were out on their bike" instead of being in the office.
Some even talk about a void in their lives due to the Tour de France not being on, or injury keeping them from cycling. Cycling is fun but it should not be an emotional handrail. I don't want that to happen to me.
But I remember as a teenager going to Doncaster, the nearest big town to where I lived, and looking at the club cyclists in admiration as they took their cafe stop. I really wished I could be able to ride a bike from our village in North Lincolnshire all the way to Doncaster, all dressed up lean and mean in brightly coloured Lycra on a racing bike.
I had no idea where people bought that type of clothing from. I didn't even have a racing bike. In fact I didn't have any bike. I had access to an old Raleigh 20 that I shared with my sister.
My parents didn't like me cycling. I remember the great disappointment and upset I felt when my parents refused to let me take part in an 11-mile sponsored bike ride. My dad claimed that I wouldn't be capable because I'd had knee problems. From then on I was even more determined to get out one day and ride 10 or 11 miles.
The first time I rode that distance was one Saturday afternoon, when I rode from Scunthorpe back home to Crowle. It was a very windy day but I was determined to keep going on my beloved steed, a brand new Falcon mountainbike.
I was so pleased to have made it. Of course, as a 19 year-old I was free to do what I wanted, but I still had to keep this adventure a secret from my parents.
Fast forward 20 years and I am very much within a cycling community. I have several bikes, have taken part in lots of bike races, I have been on cycle 100-mile bike rides around the UK and Europe, and yes I have lots of Lycra and I know where to find them.
The thing is, I am now wondering if you really can get too much of a good thing. I enjoy the racing and the camaraderie that goes with it, however I am so wrapped up in it that at times it is difficult to escape from it.
Racing regularly means you have to train more and more, to the point that it is the only thing you do outside of work, eat and slip. You can easily stop seeing your family, unless they are racing cyclists too. Your spare cash gets spent on bike bits, bike clothing and entering and travelling to races. You even lose out on social life. Suddenly it's no longer practical to have a night out with friends as you need to be up early the next morning to race. And forget about a leisurely Sunday afternoon in the summer. If you are not racing you are doing a 70-mile training ride!
Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed doing those things, but it has gotten to the point where I don't have a non-cycling social life. My holidays involve cycling. Even the new people I meet are cyclists or connected with cycling. What's more it is also the yardstick by which people judge you! How friendly someone gets with you, and how popular you are is dependent on how fast you can ride your bike!
Yes, this biking business can take over your life.
That's how it is feeling for me. And I'm beginning to not like it. As an avid twitterer I take a voyeuristic interest in what others are doing, thinking and feeling. I'm getting a bit fed up of seeing people tweeting the same old "I went on a bike ride" post, with details of their heart rate and power readings, their post ride meal or how they "wish they were out on their bike" instead of being in the office.
Some even talk about a void in their lives due to the Tour de France not being on, or injury keeping them from cycling. Cycling is fun but it should not be an emotional handrail. I don't want that to happen to me.
Wednesday 23 February 2011
Developing Women's Club Cycling - It Aint Easy!
So there's a lot of talk at the moment of the development of women's cycling. Apparently it's the fastest growing side of the cycling market. Maybe it is, but I don't think it's a very easy sector of the market to grow. It may be fast growing, but it's growth rate probably only appears impressive because of its very small base. I mean, if a club starts off with one member, then increases to two members and then four members over a one month period, that looks good doesn't it - 200% growth rate, and during the winter months too!
But what is the proportion of women cyclists in the whole market compared with men? As a marketer wouldn't it make more sense just to keep on targeting men? Women are fickle!
As someone who is captain of the women's section in a cycling club I have found women to be very erratic and inconsistent in their ways. It has made planning for things very difficult.
When I first became captain we only had around 4 or 5 women who were active members. The membership has steadily grown, and we now have around 30. However, gettting them to take part in anything has been a real uphill struggle.
When there were just a few of us, most of use raced and wanted to do so. I remember a tough 3-way competition to get the highest number of British Cycling ranking points. In the end the girl who won, achieved 80 points. She beat the other girl by 5 points. Both made significant inroads towards moving up to 1st category level racer.
Now, despite the swell in numbers we just haven't had such competitions. Sadly, the zeal for racing has not matched the zeal for women wanting to wear the badge that says "I'm in a cycling club." This year our top cyclist, who was quite talented, got 39 points from not having done many races. This was one point away from her gaining a 2nd category licence. She could easily have moved up to 2nd category in the season but her lack of commitment failed her. Joint second place were two riders who obtained just 9 points.
What makes things look worse is that the winning woman has now gone to race for another club. We still have to award her the prize of top racing cyclist in our club though, because these points were achieved while she was a member of our club.
I find the whole thing galling on two fronts: firstly, this girl who has left to join another club had never really shown that much commitment to racing. She claimed this was her first year and she just wanted to take things easy and learn the ropes before taking the 2011 season more seriously. It was her natural racing ability which gained her quick success. The thing this, even though she was just trying things out, she was the only girl in our club who raced consistently. The girl turned up at a number of races alone. Sometimes I went with her, though my ability was pretty poor and we couldn't have developed any tactics together.
After having done an introductory year with our club, and particularly with me giving her advice and support she has now decided to go and race for another club - without so much as a word of thanks.
I think she could have stayed with us and helped to develop women's cycling by sharing her story with others and encouraging people to come with her to the races. We could have even tried to build a team around her.
But she has wasted no time with us, realising there's a lack of a team structure and she's gone.
Maybe I shouldn't blame her. Afterall, she can't have felt good turning up at races alone, as a beginner, doing well and having no team mates there to cheer her on.
The second reason why I find this all pretty galling is that we have experienced racers, but none of them bothered to get out and race much. Our experienced racers gave a whole gamut of reasons as to why they couldn't race - weddings, weekends away, they don't fancy that particular circuit, etc. Frankly I think they were being precious. They only wanted to race if they thought they could be in contention, and didn't want to have to face the new crop of women from other local clubs who have trained consistently and are doing well. When I asked the experienced girls about coming out to race, they always seemed to have a way of maintaining silence on the airwaves. Then suddenly, a week before the big race they would respond to me saying how they were apparently "gutted" to not be able to race due to some family gathering, work commitment, holiday etc. That was the sequence for the whole of the road racing season. Furthermore, the experienced racers were very reticent about coming to the social evenings, where they could have shared their experience with the many new members. This lack of support for racing/training among the women members in the club has really disappointed me.
At the same time, other new members who joined the club saying they wanted to race did not bother to turn up at the various training sessions organised for women. There were a number of beginner races put on as well. Again, same old story - I'm away that weekend, I'm busy, I'm not sure, sounds like something I might like to try some in the future....!
So, with such lethargic team mates is it worth anyone wanting to get involved in such a club? I should be more angry with them than the woman who has just left us.
So, after countless women's captain bulletins, email alerts, a number of socials and social bike rides I realise that this job is just not worth it. I was particularly pissed off by having our chairman and others getting on my case telling me I needed to "rally the troops."!! I was doing my level best! If the girls couldn't be bothered to get involved why should I be blamed?? The men's captain is getting so much praise. He has set up a racing egroup and has encouraged women to join. Needless to say none of them have. But then he has all the men within his remit though, and they have joined. They are turning up at races, organising training rides etc. Men are naturally competitive and like to race so the job isn't that difficult for him. Women aren't built that way, and it is unfair that a lack of activity on the women's side should be seen as a reflection on any ability on my part to carry out the role. It is more a reflection on women themselves.
Our club dinner and prizegiving is coming up, and I am damned if I'm going to it. The girl who thanked the club by jumping ship will be awarded a trophy. There will be trophies to some of the unsupportive experienced riders as well. Of course, it's the typical story. They didn't do much, but they did just enough to win a trophy! Meanwhile, the likes of myself who got so busy organising cycling stuff it became difficult to focus on being competitive - the ones who spent alot of time and effort working behind the scenes get nothing!
Well, the club don't realise how lucky they have been to have someone who had so much enthusiasm. The girls probably don't realise what a lucky position they are in to have someone to hand-hold them through the processes and keep them informed of all things in local women's cycling.
I am tired and I've have had enough. This activity is meant to be enjoyed. I am not enjoying it. I'm going. Good luck to the next person who thinks they have the magic solution for getting women in our club into cycle racing!
But what is the proportion of women cyclists in the whole market compared with men? As a marketer wouldn't it make more sense just to keep on targeting men? Women are fickle!
As someone who is captain of the women's section in a cycling club I have found women to be very erratic and inconsistent in their ways. It has made planning for things very difficult.
When I first became captain we only had around 4 or 5 women who were active members. The membership has steadily grown, and we now have around 30. However, gettting them to take part in anything has been a real uphill struggle.
When there were just a few of us, most of use raced and wanted to do so. I remember a tough 3-way competition to get the highest number of British Cycling ranking points. In the end the girl who won, achieved 80 points. She beat the other girl by 5 points. Both made significant inroads towards moving up to 1st category level racer.
Now, despite the swell in numbers we just haven't had such competitions. Sadly, the zeal for racing has not matched the zeal for women wanting to wear the badge that says "I'm in a cycling club." This year our top cyclist, who was quite talented, got 39 points from not having done many races. This was one point away from her gaining a 2nd category licence. She could easily have moved up to 2nd category in the season but her lack of commitment failed her. Joint second place were two riders who obtained just 9 points.
What makes things look worse is that the winning woman has now gone to race for another club. We still have to award her the prize of top racing cyclist in our club though, because these points were achieved while she was a member of our club.
I find the whole thing galling on two fronts: firstly, this girl who has left to join another club had never really shown that much commitment to racing. She claimed this was her first year and she just wanted to take things easy and learn the ropes before taking the 2011 season more seriously. It was her natural racing ability which gained her quick success. The thing this, even though she was just trying things out, she was the only girl in our club who raced consistently. The girl turned up at a number of races alone. Sometimes I went with her, though my ability was pretty poor and we couldn't have developed any tactics together.
After having done an introductory year with our club, and particularly with me giving her advice and support she has now decided to go and race for another club - without so much as a word of thanks.
I think she could have stayed with us and helped to develop women's cycling by sharing her story with others and encouraging people to come with her to the races. We could have even tried to build a team around her.
But she has wasted no time with us, realising there's a lack of a team structure and she's gone.
Maybe I shouldn't blame her. Afterall, she can't have felt good turning up at races alone, as a beginner, doing well and having no team mates there to cheer her on.
The second reason why I find this all pretty galling is that we have experienced racers, but none of them bothered to get out and race much. Our experienced racers gave a whole gamut of reasons as to why they couldn't race - weddings, weekends away, they don't fancy that particular circuit, etc. Frankly I think they were being precious. They only wanted to race if they thought they could be in contention, and didn't want to have to face the new crop of women from other local clubs who have trained consistently and are doing well. When I asked the experienced girls about coming out to race, they always seemed to have a way of maintaining silence on the airwaves. Then suddenly, a week before the big race they would respond to me saying how they were apparently "gutted" to not be able to race due to some family gathering, work commitment, holiday etc. That was the sequence for the whole of the road racing season. Furthermore, the experienced racers were very reticent about coming to the social evenings, where they could have shared their experience with the many new members. This lack of support for racing/training among the women members in the club has really disappointed me.
At the same time, other new members who joined the club saying they wanted to race did not bother to turn up at the various training sessions organised for women. There were a number of beginner races put on as well. Again, same old story - I'm away that weekend, I'm busy, I'm not sure, sounds like something I might like to try some in the future....!
So, with such lethargic team mates is it worth anyone wanting to get involved in such a club? I should be more angry with them than the woman who has just left us.
So, after countless women's captain bulletins, email alerts, a number of socials and social bike rides I realise that this job is just not worth it. I was particularly pissed off by having our chairman and others getting on my case telling me I needed to "rally the troops."!! I was doing my level best! If the girls couldn't be bothered to get involved why should I be blamed?? The men's captain is getting so much praise. He has set up a racing egroup and has encouraged women to join. Needless to say none of them have. But then he has all the men within his remit though, and they have joined. They are turning up at races, organising training rides etc. Men are naturally competitive and like to race so the job isn't that difficult for him. Women aren't built that way, and it is unfair that a lack of activity on the women's side should be seen as a reflection on any ability on my part to carry out the role. It is more a reflection on women themselves.
Our club dinner and prizegiving is coming up, and I am damned if I'm going to it. The girl who thanked the club by jumping ship will be awarded a trophy. There will be trophies to some of the unsupportive experienced riders as well. Of course, it's the typical story. They didn't do much, but they did just enough to win a trophy! Meanwhile, the likes of myself who got so busy organising cycling stuff it became difficult to focus on being competitive - the ones who spent alot of time and effort working behind the scenes get nothing!
Well, the club don't realise how lucky they have been to have someone who had so much enthusiasm. The girls probably don't realise what a lucky position they are in to have someone to hand-hold them through the processes and keep them informed of all things in local women's cycling.
I am tired and I've have had enough. This activity is meant to be enjoyed. I am not enjoying it. I'm going. Good luck to the next person who thinks they have the magic solution for getting women in our club into cycle racing!
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