I'm fairly sure there's many more women who ride a mountainbike than there are those who bikepack.
Yes I'd say so, based on bike shop sales and who I see out and about. It's a fair bit higher in road riding. But I expect it's higher again in traditional touring (more so among older riders) or at least similar to road riding. Maybe that's where something like the TCR or TNR could have appeal over a bikepacking event - the terrain, plus being open to riders using BnBs or hotels as well as bivis? Or the Jennride having 1 overnight vs than the WRT's 2?
I know the WRT is relaxed and 'make it what you will' though. It might just be a promotion thing. Get WRT on instagram
The having to choose your own route thing limits things somewhat. As an example look how many people went on John's LHC earlier this year
I think folks just want to turn up and ride, if you had a couple of preset routes that people could choose that might make it more welcoming, and then folks can ride as they like and know they might bump into people.
I know that's quite different to the spirit of the WRT previously or currently, and personally I like plotting a route. It's part of the fun for me.
EDIT - the LHC means someone has to lead. Following a route means folks just choose when and how they ride without needing to worry about the rest of the group
Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:58 am
Selling routes for charity had being mentioned ... but would anyone really trust me
In your defence you did me a route once and it was excellent. I rode it with Rich G and Blackhound, apart from the horrendous weather it was excellent and all rideable
You could do an 80 mile route with some lovely forest or open tracks picking up the odd cafe and pub. That would let folks add bits on if they want to but also make it very achievable
I'm fairly sure there's many more women who ride a mountainbike than there are those who bikepack.
It might just be a promotion thing. Get WRT on instagram
Promoting the rides - advertising them more widely I think would be the key but i’m not sure that’s what you’d want Stu is it?
It would seem the natural BB demographic is is older, balder men with a hint of cynicism
To get more women you probably need more people in total and to provide events that are maybe too far away from the current offerings - sparklier, more corporate etc
Careful TCR isn't any of that, as well as something you need to plan your own route for, and it's got a much more balanced entry list than most events. Some of it must be actively encouraging women to enter and some of the rest may be about the on/off road thing. I was kidding about instagram, though any event, product or brand etc has a certain aesthetic that might make a difference here.
Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:58 am
Selling routes for charity had being mentioned ... but would anyone really trust me
FWIW I reckon your BB200 rpute was rather lovely. Couldn't quite manage the whole of the dyfi forest nasty slippery world cup section though but the gravel backs around me seemed to manage it all just fine. Well done
Serious? Perish the thought! Curiously (some) people think I don't take things seriously enough either whereas in fact my burden is quite the opposite. It's a funny old business.
That typeface worries me a bit - very satanic. Or maybe it needs The Good The Bad And The Ugly (*) playing [in]discreetly in the background. Who are those people??! I loved your original response to the photo in Jan though Stu
(*) Borderer to the punctuation help desk please.
Last edited by RIP on Fri Oct 18, 2019 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP
"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - WW
Just struck me - we're probably getting close to reaching page 3 of this thread and have had no posts from any women. I'm going to assume that proves some kind of point?
Cue Monty Python now of course: "are there any women here today?".. <lots of shuffling and mumbling no, no, no and shaking of heads>. In fact all of us BBB chaps are probably wearing fake beards.
Last edited by RIP on Sat Oct 19, 2019 11:15 am, edited 2 times in total.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP
"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - WW
Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2019 9:11 am
Just struck me - we're probably getting close to reaching page 3 of this thread and have had no posts from any women. I'm going to assume that proves some kind of point?
If comparing to the female attendance at the Jennride is it not likely that she had a number of female followers on FB/Insta etc who would likely do so because they had a shared interest and would, therefore, be more motivated and informed about that particular event? Maybe you need to convince a Lee Craigie or a Jenny Graham etc to commit to the WRT and see if that garners some of the right publicity/profile.
