ginger87

My stomach is in my throat right now. This could be any one of us. My immediate thought is "god I hope this isn't a friend" ... But this is such a small community. Even if I don't know this person, I am still hurting for his or her family and wish them peace... Whatever that means. Super shitty. No one wants to die, especially those of us who are luvky enough to do what we love. Holding my family close tonight.

Oh yeah... there was also a women's race. Jill crushed it by 2 seconds! Hell yeah! Wheel size? You are arguing about wheel size?

Why BMX is AMAZING! So many of those guys came out of the BMX world- seems like the plush bikes definitely allow them to go bigger, but lots of guys learned those tricks without suspension and where absolute precision is essential. I am just amazed by it all.

Man, haters gonna hate. CFO, go ride your bike and quit telling women what they should do and think. Courtney shreds because she loves to ride bikes, I've seen it! Stikman... thanks for the support! It makes me super happy to read that you are doing good things for women in this sport and that you support the women in your life. Keep it up!

Thanks for your reply, "bro". I am actually a woman, and I ride bikes (yes, seriously and for a decent length of time, and no, I'm not looking outside myself for a reason to ride) and I know what this scene is like. I'm glad you think you aren't sexist, but we still live in a world where women are still fighting for equal pay, the right to control our own bodies, and the right to be seen as something other than an object. I know there are many many really wonderful men who mountain bike (I have the pleasure of knowing many), but if those men don't speak up in defense of women, they are doing us all a disservice. Note that I used the word CONDONE. Men condone this behavior. I guess what I hear you saying is that you're not sexist and you don't appreciate being labeled as such. I am not labeling you, but your self-defense is a little like a white guy calling himself color blind and trying to suggest that we just drop the issue of racism. I am a white girl, and I recognize I am privileged because of the color of my skin and that it is my obligation to help reverse centuries of discrimination and disparities in income/health etc. that run along racial lines. Likewise, an enlightened man would recognize that he still lives in a man's world and that a passive approach won't reverse the sexism in our society. I don't buy mountain bike magazines, and this is the first time I've ever commented on Pink Bike. Why? Not for a lack of passion for mountain biking, but because there is no reason why I should buy a magazine only to realize that I am clearly NOT its intended audience. A stripper slung over a bike gives me a message that this ad is for men... this magazine is for men... this sport is for men.

I think the real issue (Mitch probably already knows my thoughts on this) is that the mountain biking community condones misogynist behavior in its many forms. Women are not objects. A female rider, who is obviously skilled and also happens to be beautiful, posing for a face shot is no different than a male rider posing for a face shot. Women don't want to be surrounded by ignorant "dudes" who see them or other women as sex toys... at least for me this is part of what DOES NOT appeal to me about mountain biking. It is the only sphere of my life in which well-educated adult men openly objectify women. I know that most guys that make inane comments on pinkbike are not bad people, but words form action/habits/character as the saying goes. There are tons of women out there who shred and who are also allowed to be attractive without being objectified. Let's get stoked for women and girls who ride bikes and encourage them as humans who are challenging themselves and having fun.