General Racing Discussion(ex-Norwood Paragon thread)

[Michelle]

No, not an extension of the Chaingang thread.

Just realised that I don't think I have every seen any NP Chicks racing or out in club kit. Do they exist? Why, if the Paragon is such a good racing team, don't they have a load of women out there?

Anyone shed any light on this?

Mulberry?

[Jon H]

Michelle, it's obvious. Why would any chicks join NP when the blokes are such a bunch of ugly mingers?

[Mulberry]

Michelle,

There are some girls in the Paragon but not loads and have been a few over the years. We currently have Kaye who was part of the winning mixed team at Mtn Mayhem 24 (AKA The Red Bull) last year came 2nd in the Gorrick Southern XC champs in 2008. She doesn't always train in club kit and rides off road a lot so you wouldn't see her so much. Kaye doesn't road race these days and is building up for the Transalp in 2009. She tends to do more miles on the bike per week than 99% of the guys in the club!

We've also got Alison who is former silver medallist in the National RR champs and divisional champ etc - daughter of Keith Butler. And Natalie although she's now based in Manchester, more of a social rider and was soigneur and pysio to the GB squad for quite a while. And Annett who has moved away now as well, but was a mean racer and runner up in the SE Divisional champs. Plus Sarah who only did a couple of RR's last year - one of which she won.

So we have had a few girls in the past and to be fair they have tended to out-shine the majority of the men in the last few years. We do get some girls on our steady Saturday rides, but they don't usually do the Sunday rides. As the Paragon is predominantly a racing club the girls do have to be of a certain standard to keep up and I concede this may have put some off in the past - likewise with some guys as well.

Have a good weekend and ride safely.

Regards Marcus

PS I will change my name - I'm sorry if you are not familiar with that nick-name ; - )

PPS By the way Marco - I can advise you that the Paragon doesn't read the forum, although I do browse it from time to time and mention some of the funny bits. Thanks for you kind offer, but I don't think you will need to set up a separate section.

[-Adam-]

The question should be, if Addiscombe is such a good club, why is there only one good female road racer?

And, why is Tamar unchallenged in the TTs?

[Paul H]

Isnt just the case that most women dont like cycling on roads so realisticly its going to be even harder to find any that will want to race.

[Sylv]

Michelle- as you are probably more aware than us, are there actually any (non-sponsored) clubs in the region that have more than a couple of competitive women racers?
There must be more reasons than just not liking the roads, but I don't have the answer.

[Antloony]

[quote="Paul H"]Isnt just the case that most women dont like cycling on roads.

[Sylv]

Hardly surprising with the commuting stories you must bring back home!

[Antloony]

[quote="Sylv"]Hardly surprising with the commuting stories you must bring back home!

[-Adam-]

[quote="Sylv"]Michelle- as you are probably more aware than us, are there actually any (non-sponsored) clubs in the region that have more than a couple of competitive women racers?
There must be more reasons than just not liking the roads, but I don't have the answer.

[Jon H]

[quote="Sylv"]Michelle- as you are probably more aware than us, are there actually any (non-sponsored) clubs in the region that have more than a couple of competitive women racers?

[Paul H]

I think it would have to be women cyclists who should do the encouragement. I would think most non cycling women would not go anywhere near a bunch of male roadies. Michelle - would you be riding at ACC (or at all) if Keith wasnt a cyclist?

[Keith]

Paul, you'll have to wait for an answer, Michelle's on the rollers whilst I'm sat on my ar$e in front of the computer.

Perhaps that's answered your question?

[Sylv]

tell her to rake it easy!

[Michelle]

Hey no worries Sylv, just an hours recovery with a few sprints thrown in. Now sprinting on the rollers....that is scary

Now I gotta try and do my hours worth of stretches whilst replying to this lot of info.

Thanks Marcus for all that info. It seems that your history underpins your membership at present. Having said that, your women have some great palmares. Our club is huge, but we have less honours amongst the women mainly because nobody seems to want to race.

Paul I reckon I would still cycle if Keith wasn't, mainly because I have problems with my right ankle which means I can't run anymore. Still, you are right, I would not have started it (probably) if he hadn't.

I have seen some Kingston Phoenix chicks around, but apart from me, Lisa S, Jo Munden and the odd one or two here or there, there only appears to be Dynamo who have a very strong and thriving team, driven mostly by Charlotte Blackman.

Thank you. I will cogitate....