Cycle Show is usually about 98% male, so it’s not very surprising that this year they’re aiming to be ‘female-friendly’. I got quite excited about this prospect, thinking big focus on women specific bikes (which would be great seeing as no shops ever seem to have high end WSD bikes in store for you to try out), women-specific cycling gear, etc. Great!
But apparently their idea of being female-friendly differs slightly to mine, and actually equates to focusing on how to look good on a bike. Because, you know, women are only going to ride their bikes if they can wear a lovely feminine outfit and some chainring earrings. So, we have a lovely celebrity panel who will be providing advice on fashion, hair, and make-up. Yes, make-up.
Maybe I’m missing something and there is a particular type of lipstick that improves your performance on a bike, or Cycle Show has taken a drastic change of direction and all the stalls aimed at men will be focusing on how they can look good on their bikes, but I suspect that’s not the case. I acknowledge that looking good on a bike is important to some women, but focusing on that aspect of women’s cycling at a show which has historically appealed to club riders and competitive racers just reinforces the stereotype that men value performance, women value appearance.
Anyway. It looks like there will be some good stuff: on Saturday 10th there are two presentations on ‘Competitive Women’ which will feature interviews with (at 12.30-1pm) Shanaze Reade, Victoria Pendleton, Nicole Cooke, Rachel Atherton, Lizzie Armitstead (or ‘Armistead’ as they’ve spelt her name on the programme…), Jamie Mert and Hollie Avil. So that should be good.
There’s also a presentation on Commuting for Women which includes an interview with Koy Thompson, CEO of LCC (not quite sure why they’re interviewing him and not one of the women at LCC, but there you go) and Kate Spicer, and one on family cycling including Josie Dew. They’re also doing women’s maintenance classses which is pretty cool.
All the info’s on the Cycle Show website.
Tags: Cycle Show, Hollie Avil, lizzie armitstead, London, Nicole Cooke, Rachel Atherton, Shanaze Reade, Victoria Pendleton
