Chicago Bike Racing

Hump day links

Dec 19
2007

Filed in: Links, Links

Comments (6)

» Big congratulations to Devon Haskell (Team Get a Grip Cycles), who was the top local finisher at this weekend’s cyclocross national championships in Kansas City. She finished 4th in the collegiate women’s race. Ben Popper (Killjoy) was among the others who braved the remarkable snowstorm: ”I fell three times in the race, twice in this lap, once on a hairpin turn where I slid out sideways pretty dramatically.”
» Last week’s interview with Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson, in which we learned that there will be only one women’s race at the 2008 Tour of Elk Grove, sparked a good discussion at the St. Louis Revolution blog, online hub of the X Plane women’s team. I join them in hoping that the schedule, generous as it is for the dudes (and 32-year-old Cat 3 dudes in particular), can be tweaked to provide more opportunities for women. If it means taking races or prize money from the men, so be it.
» Speaking of gender equity, mountain biker Georgia Gould (Luna Bar) is petitioning the International Cycling Union to require equal payouts for the top finishers in both women’s and men’s races. Deeper men’s fields would pay deeper, but Gould wants equal purses for the top five.
» Pre-owned Discovery Channel bikes, only $10,200. Free shipping!
» I guess this explains why some of you haven’t bought my calendar yet. (WARNING: May not be safe for workplace viewing.)

Comments

1.

Dec 19
2007

11:05 am

Angelo

Damn that girl is fast - Congrats Devon!

2.

Dec 20
2007

2:15 pm

ScottV

Wow, those Discover Channel Trek bikes are flying off the shelves. ;-)

3.

Dec 20
2007

10:12 pm

Why you want to take away races from mens field (I do not care about those money) to make space for lady’s race??? I think, political correcnest, took common sense away from our life long time ago. Take a look at the size of ladys race field..this is why Mr. Johnson made his decision…

4.

Dec 21
2007

12:51 pm

Luke

Why you want to take away races from mens field?

I would hate to take anything away. But I look forward to a day when the women’s fields meet capacity. That day will never come if there aren’t entry-level fields now, no matter how spartanly they may draw.

And that day will never come if the way we schedule our races says, “This sport is for guys only. Go knit.”

Is three Cat 5 races (and a masters 5 race!) a wonderful thing? Yes, of course. It’s fantastic to support the entry-level men’s racing like that. I’m just sad it comes at the expense of entry-level women, who need more help and opportunities more than the dudes do.

5.

Dec 21
2007

10:50 pm

ScottV

Regarding women’s races, there are so many aspects as to why there weren’t more women last year. One thing was brought up before and that was eliminating a race discouraged many from attending. In 2006, Aaron’s was here in force, but when they eliminated one of the races, only 2 racers came in 2007.

Also, most women have other jobs that they have to structure around their racing. Why is this? Because they don’t draw the sponsors like the men. Is this unfortunate? Yes, but it is a fact. Also, women love to race just like the rest of us so if they can go somewhere else and race twice in a weekend, they will go there instead.

One very important point is that moving Elk Grove from the week before Downers to 2 weeks before Downers will lose many pro women. It was convenient to do both weekends in the same area, and now it is not. Also, there are NRC races on Saturday and Sunday of the weekend in NC so there won’t be any pro women teams here in 2008.

With that said, if either Grayslake and Elgin can put together decent purses for the pro women’s field, you may be able to draw a few pro women teams here early since there aren’t any NRC races that weekend.

6.

Dec 22
2007

11:36 am

When we are going every Tuesday evening for training ride in Long Grove, in the group of 40 there is ONE women(in main field) and she do not race. I don’t remember any of them in Turin, wendsday ride and , If I’am not mistaken lady’s do not participate in Pizza ride. Mayby this is much simpler, mayby women are much less competitiv by nature than we are(thank’s God) ??? There is only few of them(compare to man’s field) and this is nothing to be happy about or cry about. This is just the way it is (psychology and socilogy). Than stop this advocacy , this is...you find your word.
We are trying to organize lady’s team for last three years-no result. O yes, mayby we are to ugly…

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Angelo

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ScottV

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