Bluegrass Enduro Tour 2014 Calendar by bluegrass-eagle

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tsuful (Dec 19, 2013 at 4:42)

"Ireland ( ladies only event )"
Are you effin kidding me!!! :/

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sladevallydh (Dec 19, 2013 at 5:39)

what the absolute fk, can someone explain this ??

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humoroususername (Dec 19, 2013 at 5:58)

Maybe they want an event with only 19 entrants? Since that is the total number of women that were entered in the last round of the last gravity enduro race. Or they could have 350 entrants if they did the non idiotic thing and opened it to everyone.

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honourablegeorge (Dec 19, 2013 at 6:49)

Maybe they want an event with SIX female entrants. That's what they had last year.

Why organise a event like this, only to exclude people? Nobody would dream of organising an event and deliberately excluding women, would they?

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sherbet (Dec 19, 2013 at 9:03)

+1. Can't say I've ever seen a men's only race. Why not host a female category like normal, and let the boys romp on the course too? It's exclusion for the sake of exclusion, and sorry, but comes off as sexist.

By all means, give the ladies their race. Make it grand. Make them know that event is tailored to them. Have experts in female bike fit come up, have showcases of female specific parts and soft goods. Etc. Just don't block the men for the sake of blocking the men.

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sammybikes916 (Dec 19, 2013 at 9:06)

Any women's event I have dropped in on or heard/read about has been hugely successful. Across the board ladies say the things that keep then from racing are the fear they won't do well and the intimidation factor caused by all thebrahing testosterone dudes who have more balls than brains.

Ladies only events often focus on everyone ebeing supportive of each other from the first-timers up to the pros. They show women that racing doesn't have to be scary and bring more ladies into biking and more ladies into racing, which is something I think we all would love to see.

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honourablegeorge (Dec 19, 2013 at 9:31)

We'd all love to see more ladies involved, absolutely - but as it stands, with numbers so small, I don't think a ladies-only enduro in Ireland is a feasible proposition. Us Irish lads are all lovely too, none of us are even remotely intimidating. You'd happily take us home to meet your Mom, I guarantee it.

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unconvinced (Dec 19, 2013 at 10:48)

Time to dust off the old wig and fake bosoms, lads.

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bjorntsc (Dec 19, 2013 at 11:48)

If there was a all men's race... It would be ..... Anyways, not cool, but very stupid.

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Martin-McInerney FL (Dec 19, 2013 at 14:16)

@ honourablegeorge: We'd even make the tea sure!

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MendelMu (Dec 21, 2013 at 8:51)

Go girls! I dunno but its probably intimidating racing against guys when there are so few girls, not because of skills but attitude and confidence - dont be negative. I guess..

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kroky777 (Dec 19, 2013 at 9:29)

I raced the bluegrass enduro in ireland last year. O even got on this website thanks to Matt wragg. It was an amazing event having it spread over two locations and days. I am absolutely shocked and very disappointed by this decision by bluegrass. The whole idea of gravity enduro is "everyone can have a go". By making this decision you are alienating your core market. Enduro events are not for beginner bikers and as you should see there is only a very small female segment that competes in the Irish enduro series. I would love for more women to be taking part, but holding a women's only comp is not the answer

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honourablegeorge (Dec 19, 2013 at 9:12)

Find it very strange that you'd restrict a race to women only, when you had only 6 participants last year. You're expecting female participation to grow by 800% this year? If you're determined to hold a women-only even (and it's not an idea I agree with), there are probably places with far larger populations of female riders than there are here.

I think what you're going to end up with is an event where you disappoint lots of people because they can't enter, but you'll still manage to have an event that's undersubscribed.

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lukehawk22 (Dec 19, 2013 at 8:26)

I'm sure everyone here would agree that more grassroots (and women's and kids') races is a good thing. But this isn't a grassroots series, it's the premier Pan-European series and should be second only to the EWS in terms of prestige (for Europeans at least). You wouldn't expect to see an IXS Cup round closed to men, would you? Crazy descison.

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inchhighj (Dec 21, 2013 at 7:31)

Glencoe, ya dancer! Hope to get an entry in time. On the Irish stage, I can think of a dozen Scottish lassies who are on the fringe of the racing scene who'd give this a go if it was a women only event and will spread the word to try help you fill it up.

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scott2010 (Dec 19, 2013 at 10:22)

I raced Ballyhoura this year and won the Junior catagory. Personaly I was looking forward to racing it again. If its an opportunity for people to start Enduro why not include the Juniors as well as they are the future of the sport?
I was even thinking of travelling to another round this year.

If you look at last years Irish Enduro Series there were roughly 19 Women turning up to the races each time. Never any more than that.
Knowing most of the local clubs and the people in them this is probably as many as you are going to get from Ireland.

You would definitely fill out the 50 spots between Women and Juniors.

Scott...

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DS87 (Dec 19, 2013 at 11:09)

Raced the bluegrass this year and have to to say two great days of racing. I dont think they'd make up the numbers for the ladies. .as wasnt over 20 racing all year round at any of the enduros

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Jordan96Kelly (Dec 19, 2013 at 10:13)

After reading the comments from Bluegrass ( And having raced the Bluegrass race here this year ) this doesn't seem like too bad a decision. If they physically can't take and more than 50 riders, then hey ok fine make it women only. If you opened it up to only 50 riders from all categorys you would end up with a first come first served basis for entry and those who are just beginning In the sport , chances are wouldn't enter, the ones who we should be encouraging to enter! This way now a load of girls will join up into the sport seriously. If you want mountain biking to be a big sport in Ireland look at the positives from this and stop moaning! There's dozens of other enduro races this year that men can take part in!

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seanstdenis (Dec 20, 2013 at 14:00)

Can we call it Enduro anymore? Specialized might sue... everyone that rides a bike!

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aljoburr FL (Dec 19, 2013 at 5:28)

Good to see Bluegrass Enduro comming back to Scotland again & glen coe epic

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endurocat (Dec 19, 2013 at 5:45)

Great article.

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olishit (Dec 19, 2013 at 2:39)

Pour la beauté on repassera

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EnduroManiac (Dec 19, 2013 at 3:14)

C'est les vainqueurs d'une série de courses, pas d'un concours de models...

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timdgoodwin (Dec 19, 2013 at 3:37)

LOL

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clownwheel (Dec 21, 2013 at 8:50)

Is that Geddy Lee on the left?

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sfrucian (Dec 19, 2013 at 6:25)

blind?

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stacykohut (Dec 19, 2013 at 7:24)

you should see their guide dogs shred. amazing.

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sammybikes916 (Dec 19, 2013 at 9:10)

As an advocate and promoter I have to say kudos to the bluegrass folks for doing a women's only race. It is nothing but good for the sport.

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bluegrass-eagle (Dec 19, 2013 at 6:23)

Yes we can explain everything. Did you guys take part last year in Ballyhoura?

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honourablegeorge (Dec 19, 2013 at 6:42)

Why would you exclude 90% of your local participants from the race? Baffling decision.

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honourablegeorge (Dec 19, 2013 at 6:52)

113 finishers last year. Six women. Encourage more women to participate in the sport can only be good.- but excluding others to do so is just wrong.

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bluegrass-eagle (Dec 19, 2013 at 7:00)

Did you guys take part last year in Ballyhoura?

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honourablegeorge (Dec 19, 2013 at 7:25)

Why not just give your explanation?

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marcusbarry42 FL (Dec 19, 2013 at 7:59)

I took part in ballyhoura! Now why is it a ladies only?

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bluegrass-eagle (Dec 19, 2013 at 7:00)

Did you guys take part last year in Ballyhoura?

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solsticebikeworks (Dec 19, 2013 at 7:09)

No, and probably never will, but I'm very curious as to why a decision like this was made?

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bluegrass-eagle (Dec 19, 2013 at 7:27)

If you read the article you'll see we've made many decision when putting together our 2014 program, not just that one. Races for kids, mass start, multiple day event, ride with the pros, etc. The event in Ireland will have a different format, that will limit the total number of riders to 50 for logistic reasons. So if the potential of riders willing to attend is 350 as someone wrote earlier, we would make 300 riders unhappy anyway. There are many great enduro races in Ireland with the Irish Gravity Enduro series. The only thing we are trying to do is offer an opportunity for more women to join the sport. Sorry if someone has a problem with that. Let's see what women will say about it and if they are not interested we'll have to rethink.

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Deuce-DeuceAndAHalf (Dec 19, 2013 at 7:48)

I think it's bad form to shut the discussion down by asking whether a person actually raced in Ballyhoura. I didn't race last year but I was damn well going to this year after the reports I heard back. My 2cents would be that a ladies-only event is a novel idea but it's also extremely niche and a bit gimmicky. Why not just organise another stonker of an enduro and let everyone have a chance to get on the good times bandwagon, instead of actively excluding the largest competetitor segment? How does excluding anyone grow the sport? Instead, why don't you reserve 50 places for women only, would that not be better for everyone?

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bluegrass-eagle (Dec 19, 2013 at 8:02)

Certainly did not mean to shut the discussion, what would be the point of taking part in a forum then? Just was curious to have comments on last year event from someone who's raced it. Again, the event in Ireland will be limited to 50 riders for logistic reasons, something different. So yes I agree, let's reserve 50 places for women ;-)
You know we are trying new things on all our 6 events, it's nice to see there is a lot of interest around what we do. If some riders are disappointed that is disappointing for us too and we'll definitely take their feedback into account for our future plans.

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DMCM (Dec 19, 2013 at 8:38)

Crazy decision! And you won't need to limit it to 50 ladies. I raced most of the Irish enduro series this year and every event sold out, but I don't think any of them had much more than 20 ladies overall between F and FPRO categories.
And no I didn't race the ballyhoura bluegrass enduro, but that was for "logistical" reasons, I couldn't travel down for the whole weekend. If it is being run in Dublin this year I would have definately signed up. And yes, there are a number of great events in Ireland, primarily the Irish Gravity Enduro series, but with more popping up each year. But it is still a very young, extremely popular, discipline in Ireland and I can only see it growing. Why exclude the majority of enduro riders from an international event?

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DMCM (Dec 19, 2013 at 9:16)

One more question for you, will "ladies" be turned away if we have big hands, deep voices, adams apples, hairy legs and bad wigs?

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sladevallydh (Dec 19, 2013 at 11:26)

@bluegrss
as you know or will find out, there's no way you'll fill 50th places with just women, and i appreciate that you plan to keep it at 50 places, so why not under 18's or younger compete, to fill numbers up.