Comment by Annabel on January 31, 2009 at 11:20am

Hi All,
I’m a girl who loves cycling and would be interested in hearing from like minded types. I've tried to get my girl friends into riding, but many seemed intimidated by 1) the traffic and 2) the machismo of some bike cultures (and shops) in Sydney.
Ladies (and men), I’d love to hear your opinion.

Comment by Ma Dame Vélo on February 1, 2009 at 8:10am

Hi Annabel,
I don't know if your friends would be interested in going to the Cycle Skills for Women coaching day on the 22/3 at Meadowbank Park. It's run by female members of Bike North and after the day of learning about bike maintenance, riding skills such as stopping, cornering, slow riding, etc, they can do a couple of buddy rides with a coach at a mutually convenient time until they are confident enough to ride with you or other friends. If interested see:
http://www.bikenorth.org.au/bike4life/

Comment by Kim on February 1, 2009 at 9:10am

MadameBike, that looks a great course. It would be good if all bug groups had something similar.

Annabel, I have helped a few female friends ride in the city. The one thing that most people get wrong is their gears and their bike set up. I don't know where your friends live but BUG groups are a good way of learning to ride and they usually cater for beginner riders where you can ask all those sorts of questions. There are also bike buses that can help them ride into the city for work.

The other way of getting more females to ride is to ride yourself and show them that it's not as bad or as masculine as they think.

How long do you think it will take before Yogi joins this group? So many women on bikes!

Comment by Annabel on February 1, 2009 at 11:07am

Hi guys, Firstly, thanks for joining.
That's a good idea about the BUG. Also, other than the Cycle Skills for women coaching day, does anyone know of any good courses where you can learn basic bike mechanics. I'm touring for 3 months and will probably need to know some basic stuff.

How long have you girls been riding?

Comment by Carolyn on February 1, 2009 at 11:59am

Annabel

Best place for a bike maintenance course is a bike shop. Not all bike shops run them so you will need to check around. On the lower north shore there is Renegades at Lane Cove and King of the Mountain at Neutral Bay. In the city, I know at least Clarence St offers courses.

Last year Willoughby Council setup up additional maintenance courses with Renegades at a subsidised price for Willoughby residents - they were very popular but I haven't heard that they have managed to make further arrangements this year.

The bike shop courses take you beyond the very basic maintenance that the Bike for Life course offers, but is usually still beginner. The best courses are low student to instructore ratio, of course.

Start off by checking with your local bike shop - even if they dont do it yet, they may be encouraged to do so in the future if they see the demand.

Carolyn

Comment by Kim on February 1, 2009 at 12:05pm

Annabel, where and when are you going touring? When you say basic stuff what do you mean? Changing a tube? Putting your bike together? Or changing brakepads or gear cables? Changing a spoke?

I got an email from Critical Mass saying that someone was giving mechanics lessons under the harbour bridge. It's on 17th Feb at 5.45pm. Not sure what side of the harbour bridge but I am assuming the Rocks side. It's $5 or whatever you can afford. If you want more info call Garry on 0402 264 489.

The other option is that Sydney Community College has basic bike maintenence classes or you could turn up to the Nunnery and learn there.

Comment by Annabel on February 1, 2009 at 12:28pm

Hi Kim,
I'm going in Spain in June. I know how to change a tyre but that's about it . I'll figure I'll need to learn how to do basic mechanics in case something goes wrong on the road. ie: trueing a wheel so that I can get to the next town with a bike shop to get it properly done. The harbour bridge lessons sounds interesting. I'm also planning to swing by the nunnery on monday so I might ask Julian (is he still there?) then. Thanks for the all the info.

Comment by Bec on February 1, 2009 at 3:46pm

Hi Annabel
I am also keen to be in touch with other female bike riders. I had just made some contacts for getting started on my road bike and started riding with some girls. Now I have relocated I don't know any bike riders in my local area.
Finding this site is great and now I will follow up about the Bike North coaching day at Meadowbank.... it might be a start even if it's not so local.

Comment by Kim on February 1, 2009 at 9:16pm

Hi Annabel, I think that the most important things that you need to know mechanically for a tour is how to pack and unpack your bike, change a tube, adjust your gears and brakes and how to change a gear and brake cable and brake pads. Truing a wheel might be a bit ambitious but if you can learn to do it then that's a good skill but it's not something that is necessary. If there is something major wrong with your bike the locals can give you a lift to the next town.

Where in Spain are you going?

Comment by Susan on February 1, 2009 at 9:16pm

Hello Ladies!

Great to see us girls get in and get some riding done. I live in the east so if anyone wants to go for a ride let me know. We can meet up and cycle round centennial park if you like?

I try to ride at least once a day (not including commuting) so if anyone is free let me know.

Susan

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