Victoria Pendleton launches Cycletta Series of all women challenge rides

I think the women-only events are a great idea. Look at the success of the Race for Life 5K events and the numbers of women that got out running? It got me out running, and after that I got into biking through a women-only group. Once I was fitter and more confident I was happy to ride in a mixed club also, but I really don't think I'd have got into cycling at all if my only option had been the local mixed club because they do tend to ride harder and faster than I could have coped with at first -- always waiting for the last person to catch up isn't the same as a gentle ride that makes beginners feel welcome.

Still, £45 is bit steep. Can I forfeit the free copy of Grazia for a £3 discount?

Anything that gets more people out on a bike has to be good in the long run. I think everyone should be required to ride a bike on a busy road as part of the driving test; so they know what it feels like when someone blasted past with inches to spare.

And yes, lady drivers are some of the worst culprits in my experience I'm sad to say. So getting them to go out on a bike is a really good idea.

You've got to watch out for the old fart flat cappers on Sunday afternoons, they're gormless buggers as well!

Ohhhhh!

@simonmb
Think you've missed the point of Rouleur's comment. Men Only rides would likely be extremely popular spectating events for a lot of men but not go down well with wimmin (unless they happened to be into the ladies, of course).

@G-bitch
"...this really is an unnecessarily male dominated past time despite the obvious female prowess at the highest sporting level". Got to point out to you that female prowess at the highest sporting level is against other females. And unnecessarily male dominated? It's basically a sport and pastime that requires aggression, assertion and risk taking, which is what men generally do better. But if women want to cycle, there's nothing stopping them, they don't have to cycle with men if they don't want to. My mother is in her mid 70s, has had both knees replaced and still rides. Without a helmet. It's all about attitude and taking responsibility really.

On the Cycletta itself, excellent initiative (and closed roads, the lucky ladies!) though 45 quid is disgusting. Either a nominal fee with under 16s free or Sky should cough up for them.

Sexual politics aside.
Anything with Vicky Pendleton pics, I'm interested.
She's a lovely looking gal.

Imagine if it was suggested that a series of Men Only rides be staged?

I wish her every success, getting women involved in my club is like riding with punctures in both wheels...

£45? What he said.. The AMR rides are £25 entry if i remember right. (Though there are a lot of men in lycra to contend with).

45 quid a head? No wonder women are not taking up cycling ..

I think 'women' only rides are a good thing, possibly because I've got the right bits to qualify but surely anything that encourages half the population to get out on bikes can only be a good thing?

The price however is a huge disincentive... Road is a fairly new to me but if Gorrick /Merida can provide upto 4hrs racing (off-road), free parking, loos & recovery drink on the finish line for £20 surely something as well sponsored, high profile can do a little better on the price front?

Essentials like parking may come under 'additional charge'. Massage, lovely oh look that's an 'additional' too.

Lovely as it sounds I've been priced out before I even think of the logistics / costs of getting to the start line.

Yep, can't be a bad thing. If these rides are a spectacular flop it will perhaps demonstrate that the existing format of vigourously macho pretend-racing on sportives caters adequately for women.

Couldn't agree more with simonmb - this really is an unnecessarily male dominated past time despite the obvious female prowess at the highest sporting level. Getting more women onto bikes both for utility and leisure purposes is a very difficult challenge and rides like this are sure to have positive impacts. I take it you all object to female only gyms too?! In a country where snooker and darts isn't even a mixed affair, I don't think there's really much to moan about here is there?

I'd just like to make it clear that I fully support these women-only rides. As I've written elsewhere on road.cc anything that encourages new riders to get out is a good thing. One woman is going to ride with her elderly mother for the first time. I can't see the two of them doing that together on a sportive. Can you?

So what about people who quite like the idea of a supervised gentle ride around Whipsnade but have a penis? I can understand racing being segregated for practical reasons, but shouldn't leisure rides be open to all? Whites-only rides next?

No one else want to comment for fear of being called sexist or perhaps TOO politically correct? Anyway, I just want to say I've looked at the photos and I could ride faster than any of them. Particularly the fat one and the broad on the bike