trend analysis
not wingeing, just commenting.
another one of the "great" local races has eliminated a category for CAT4 women this year.
how do we grow women's fields if we send a message that they're not important to us (especially when a club that touts itself as the best in the country does something like this)?
the growth of women's cycling starts at the bottom -- with new, beginner, and developing racers, and even non-racing recreational riders. that's why Velo Girls focuses in these areas.
oh well......another one bites the dust, I suppose.
Labels: ncnca, women's racing
posted by Lorri Lee Lown -- velogirl @ 3/08/2007 08:49:00 AM
16 Comments:
Hell no. I am up in arms about this, especially Mr. Jess who thinks the cycling world should revolve around him. I'm determined to be just as vocal about this as he is because I am PISSED! And now I'm going to go rant on my blog and leave your blog in peace :).
on a positive note, the Zamora RR eliminated the mens pro1/2 field to make room for the women's CAT 4 race...
Dumb move; even seems mean-spirited. A male cat 5 of any age would race at least once - and most shouldn't take on that course, frankly. The races are short, why not one more? A women 3/4 would draw more if they're concenred about the bottom line. I mean, do the pros even want to race that beast for 90 minutes?
Yay, Zamora and Sacramento Golden Wheelmen! We actually campaigned for a W4 race -- it's our first Tri-Flow development race of the season and the team is supporting it as well so we're bringing 10 women total! We'll reward the promoters who take care of us and ignore the ones who don't.
"We'll reward the promoters who take care of us and ignore the ones who don't."
Word, but not after a little bit of pissing and moaning...
support Zamora...
and I saw a lot of VeloGirls in the latest ROAD magazine buyers guide...you're in one of the full page ads
it seemed silly to have a bariani trophy for the women cat 4 and not have a separate race so i am glad they did that and i hope a lot of women show up
i think the winds should be lovely by 2pm....
Yeah. That is BS. There should be a full category of races either individually or combined for both men and women.
We'll reward the promoters who take care of us and ignore the ones who don't."
Word, but not after a little bit of pissing and moaning...
Our race is having a womens 3/4 crit on sunday before the Stage race crits and pre-reg was dismal.......
After as vocal as some were asking for changes at our race the women from the Bay area still seem to boycott it.
Maybe its a valley thing.
Seems like the biggest problem is the schedualing of competing races on the same weekend.
Not that any of it effects me, so I'll be quiet now.
MS
MS, I don't know that many women are aware of the W3/4 crit this weekend @ CVC.
BTW, we chose our categories at Menlo Park specifically not to conflict with your races -- that's why we aren't having E1/2 or W1/2 races. And I know Tom Simpson, who was supposed to promote McLaren Park this Sunday (as part of a two-day peninsula race weekend with us), moved his race date after the CVC folks complained at the race schedulling meeting last fall. I seem to recall at that meeting that the CVC folks felt Menlo Park wasn't a threat to their numbers, especially without the elite races.
My personal opinion. I'm not going to drive all the way to Fresno to race in a 3/4 race. I'm a CAT4 and I typically race CAT4-only races. I have very little interest in racing in combined fields, even if they're picked separately. It's just not fun for me.
VG
First let me say I think its very cool what you are doing in your series. More should do it.
I think there are enough options for the upper catagories around nor-cal not to be complaining.
I also think we live in a great district that we have to get heated discussions going about how to fit all our races into the season.
Often I wonder if people in nor-cal ever think about what its like in other states.....
Some dont have many options at all.
We on the other hand have to many choices, or should I say the P/1/2 fields do.
I have been on my promoter friends for a long time to bring back the Cat 4 challenge. I'm not sure how many remember that but it was so cool that guys would hold off upgrading just so they could do it.
Bob L does great with the Womens SR but we need more and maybe with that we need more women to speak up.
I love what Panda did, as a 2 to fight for the 4's thats very classy.
You know as well as I do as a promoter you will always have a few who wish to second guess you but at the end of the day you do what works for you the promoter.
What do you think about this lil idea........
Instead of a boycott of race xyz maybe the women of nor-cal could get together and pick a race to openly support and then do it.
Pre-reg, show up and race and then take all that info and use it in your quest to further womens 3/4 racing.
Damn I have alot to say, but I'll save it for my own post and quit my hi-jack.
Hope you have a great turnout.
McSassy
MS -- totally agree. boycotts do no good. I think being pro-active, as you suggest, and fully supporting the races who offer fields for the 4s and 3s is the way to go.
and at the end of the day, the promoters will still do what they believe in.
yes, it's great we have lots of options.
I'm not into the boycott either. But I am into voting with my money.
Just vote with money at races who show you love!!!!!
Gets both points made.
ms
It's hard to vote with your money when there are two good races the same weekend. For what it's worth, Sassy, when I was a 4, 3/4 races scared the hell out of me. I was really hesitant to try them at all because I was sure I'd get spit out the back and then spend the rest of the week feeling bad about myself. Traveling a long way to get to them was not high on my list of things I wanted to do...and unfortunately I think McLane/Merco gets a lot of the gung-ho brave cat 3/4s who then might not feel recovered enough to drive down and do another NRC field at CVC. Just my feelings from when I was a 4 (and a 3, for that matter), obviously I can't speak for the field this year.
I think it's great that there was a race this weekend that focused on the 3/4 women (separately!) at the same time that there was a big race focusing on the pros this weekend. Each serves its own purpose, & I hope both were really, really successful.
attention all cat 4 women--- race with the guys at cats hill to make a point. who cares if you get dropped... show them that you want to be there.
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