Comments for Bike Shop Girl » Empowering women within cycling

Comment on Fun Day February Friday by Rick Vosper

Rick Vosper — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:34:19 +0000

These things matter to you and not to me only because you have them and I don’t. :-Þ

Comment on Motivational Monday with Tianna Meilinger by vayabags

vayabags — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:58:30 +0000

Thanks Ginger! Let us know if we can help, shoot us an email!

Comment on Tech Tuesday: What the Heck is a Fat Bike by Chase

Chase — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:12:05 +0000

Come one, come all, to the
Big Fat Bike Festival! A low-pressure weekend in Homer, Alaska

Music
Beach Rides
Demos
Dinner
Raffle
Art Show
Auction

Comment on Niner EMD Super Small 29er by Carla

Carla — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:19:40 +0000

Hey, thanks for posting this – it is a bit of a passion project for me. I think your concerns about front end height are quite valid and we spend a lot of time talking about this at Niner.

We do ride test everything, including new sizes – our crew of small riders made sure it rode well and that folks in the right size range could get it set up properly.

- We see a lot of people trying to set up their 29ers with the same stem length and bar width as they do their 26″ bikes. But, for optimal performance, we suggest going with a shorter stem and wider bar on your 29er. This helps the rider take advantage of that “on-the-rails” feel that 29 provides. Long travel folks have been doing this for a long time with their tall front-ends and it carries over to 29, even in XC. Kind of a similar story to disc brakes – at first, everyone thought it was a DH only thing but eventually it carried over.

- The smallest riders are going to need a negative rise stem for optimal saddle to bar relationships. Cannondale has been doing this for a long time, because of the extra height of their Headshok system.

- you can reduce height with a flat bar, too. We also make a flat bar with a -5mm drop.

- saddle to bar relationships are changing, even in XC. As a road racer, I understand the desire for an extreme drop, but the majority of riders are riding in much more relaxed positions even for racing. What was considered efficient before is less common as we also address the advantages of longer travel.

In the end, it all comes down to personal preference and test rides, as you said in your post. I am hoping to get a lot of small riders out on the XS during our demo tour this season!

Happy to answer any questions,

Cheers,
Carla
Niner Bikes

Comment on iPhone Bicycle Ready Cases by Ray Garza

Ray Garza — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:29:56 +0000

For the otterbox and iPhone I use the SlipGrip 1.5″ bike mount. I don’t have to take the phone out of the case when I go cycling.

Comment on On the Road Balances by Scott McIntyre

Scott McIntyre — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:15:05 +0000

Well I’m lucky… my employer has allowed me to start my day at one of our facilities that has lockers and showers so I know bike commute. I’ve logged ~ 800 miles since October. Our state also has a program that pays me to do this! I’ve continued to re-fall-in-love with biking now over the past couple of years. At one point there were 8 bikes hanging in our garage! I’ve taken some trips with two of my three kids that we will always be able to talk about. I can’t boast that it’s my full blown “lifestyle” but I’m happy and working for more each time I ride. And making those two hills in my route easier, a thumbs up from someone in their car, amazing people that yes I bike to work and yes I did it in the rain and yes, I did it last week when it was 20 degrees. And yes I’m smiling right now. Thanks for YOUR encouragement.

Comment on On the Road Balances by trevor

trevor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:59:39 +0000

You are also a really great photographer. Love your pics. Have you been to the Light Factory?

Comment on The Bike Industry Needs More Women Like Liz Hatch by c

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:13:25 +0000

Not sure how videos like this promote a postive outlook towards women’s athletes.

http://www.theaustinfit.com/coverage/236873-US-Pro-XCT-3-Mellow-Johnnys/video/337592-Willow-Koerber-Ice-Bath-Post-MJC

Ofcourse as a man who enjoys both cycling and the female form…I watched. Hot women in cycling will not get me more interested in the sport. Just like the fact that when Lance was dating a rock star, it didn’t make him more interesting to watch race. If promoters would bring some extremely aggressive and close women’s road/cyclocross racing to cable or internet television…I would watch it.

If I want to see breasts…I can do that easy enough. Give me exciting racing!!

Comment on The Bike Industry Needs More Women Like Liz Hatch by Bethany Frerichs

Bethany Frerichs — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:54:00 +0000

Interesting topic especially since I just started cycling this summer. I have no clue who Liz Hatch is, but if she’s out there doing what she loves, more power to her.

I feel it will always be hard to attract women to cycling regardless of how many women are in the sport. I was in a LBS and talking to a woman that does race. As she told me how much she spends on supplements, her diet, going to the different parts of the US to race and how much she trains, I knew it wasn’t a lifestyle for me.

Cycling is also one of the most competitive sports I’ve seen. It’s not just about how good you are, it’s also about the look. Most of us don’t “look” good in cycling clothes. We don’t carry of the “look” of being athletic. It “looks” aggressive and intimidating when someone on a bike cycles by and you wonder if they are out to run you over.

There isn’t a “softness” or femininity in cycling for women. Manufacturers see “softness” as pink or pastel colors for a bike or a weakness in the sport. It’s hard to find a balance as women between aggressiveness and being feminine.

I have fallen in love with cycling but none of my friends show any interest because of the intimidation factor. I just cycle off by own and enjoy the ride.

Comment on Preview: 2011 Salsa Cycles Casseroll by Tyler

Tyler — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:42:13 +0000

Once we get rid of the snow I will get out and take some pictures of it. Might be a week or so. We are getting hit in the Northwest with lots of winter all at once!