I was coming out of the bathroom at work this morning and overheard the elevator repairman saying to his coworker, “go in that office and ask that sheila for the keys”. Apparently this is an Irish derivation of Celia, and a slang word for girlfriend or young woman. I have not heard this word in a long time.
I also toddled out to Fifth Battery/sex shoppe land/the Valley on Saturday to check out the second instalment of the River City Rollers.
Which, after a few moments contemplation I decided just wasn’t really for me. Not that I don’t want to have a bit of a shake about on a bike that is attached to a machine close to another person doing the same thing – I totally do. I just don’t know if I want to do it as the lone female entrant. I know there has to be one woman riding first for there to be some women riding eventually, but I just didn’t feel it was going to make me feel that “fun”. I guess I piked.
For some reason, I don’t feel that “disappointed” in myself. I really wanted to ride, and to have a go, but I just don’t know if I’m all that pioneering or adventurous. I need the bar quite low before I’ll hop over it for the first time. I’ve never ridden my bike fixed, barring only the shortest of rides, I don’t race track, I don’t have a road bike, I only own one pair of knicks and I don’t have cycling tan. I’m in love with my bike, but tis a very quiet, non-competitive type love.
I don’t believe that a large group of men are necessarily or intentionally setting out to make roller racing more/less interesting to women. I just prefer if there are a few, by which I mean five to ten, women at an event. It makes me more comfortable to be there. And it helps if the women are there in more than just girlfriend capacity. Actually participating. Now, I don’t believe this is the easiest of things to achieve, so no meanness directed towards the organising fellows.
Generally (and so this is a generalisation), the bike events I have attended in this vein are attended by more men than women. So, I’m not making any particular point about Saturday’s event (which for my mind seemed well run, attended and organised by really quite nice people). Lots of bike events are sausage fests.
It’s just been a long while since there was no women at a bike event in my life. Over the past few years in Melbourne, I’d be greatly encouraged by the increased numbers of women riding, the more friendly attitude of alley cats and events and the general welcoming feeling. That said, my comfort levels took time to get there myself.
Anyway, not all that long a time, and I’m sure that things can/will/do change so maybe at the next event there will be plenty of ladies. Maybe there will be a novelty category, or a pop your cherry category, or a race your friend category, or a ride for charity category, or best rider (any gender) in a dress category, or something else somewhere between silly and serious that makes for an easier entry point.
eleanor j jackson 