Women Mean Business
This week was the National Women’s Bicycling Forum held by the League of American Bicyclists. While I wasn’t able to make it to Washington, DC, I tried to follow as much as I could online. The theme was “Woman Mean Business” and there’s a pretty serious video presentation of just how much business.
But it doesn’t take statistics to tell us women there is some serious untapped market potential out there.
But beyond simple market potential, we’re a force to be reckoned with. And I reckon there’s going to be some change coming.
I wish I could have been at the Women’s Bike Forum. I’m part of a group putting on an upcoming event that will offer presentations, discussion and demos aimed at encouraging hesitant women to ride for transportation. Would you be okay with us printing a copy of this cartoon to show participants at a presentation on getting the most out of a bike shop visit?
Wish I could fix this. My shop is 44 years old, one man bike shop, don’t make much money or have much room. I was accused in the Internet of ignoring a guy and he was wrong. Just a real hurry up type. Sometimes people come by that I have not seen for a decade or more and we chat and I need to break away faster, but I don’t want them to think that they are a burden. They will think that if they are the sensible type, so it is a juggling act. But 99% of the time I at least greet anyone as soon as they enter the shop. Many women say that they have encountered discrimination and that they like my shop, but some people like big shops and they deserve to have good service at the big shops. I have found that it has always been the burden of the little shop to be a pioneer in a new thing [as though womens market is new, but it is just being re-discovered by the industry], such as recumbents, touring, fun bikes, fixies, tandems, commuting. Then the biggies catch on and we have to find a new niche.
So. Much. Yes.
We are needy for shops that cater to women…commuter, cruiser or racer. Variety is the spice of life!
Sorry guys, but unless you dress up as a woman (convincingly) and go to some bike shops you have no idea how bad the sexism is. I’ve been riding for transport/fun, everything for almost 20 years, and things have not improved that much. It is very upsetting actually. I go into a bike shop with my husband and the staff talk to him, not to me, even if am the one shopping for something and have researched everything and have questions. i get talked down to, made to feel small, child like even in some cases. The bike shop guys assume I know nothing about bikes or am new to cycling. Not all women want cute dutch bikes either. they are only good for commuting relatively short distances. If you commute long distances or want to get into road riding, you need a better kind of bike. Also women do think differently(neurological studies show how differently brains work). Women may be more safety orientated and concerned about things that guys are not or would even consider.
I would say things are improving in the downhill /cross country mountain bike of things, but only just…
When you don’t match the LBS’s concept you also get ignored when you are male…
As I knew what kind of bike I wanted I had to let it make at a shop 50km away since the ~8 LBS in this and the next town don’t have such a thing nor couldn’t / wouldn’t order one.
Some even said: steel frames? without suspensions forks?? Such a thing doesn’t exist!
A LBS even told my brother they wouldn’t serve him anymore after two years during which he spent ~1700 EUR for a bicycle, accessories and tools. They said he was using his stuff too much (I don’t make that up!) thus breaking and reclaiming warranty for it.
But for the shiny new bicycle whose dynohub powered lights stopped to work after three months all they could offer was a free cable. (Not even the cabling).