Ten Women's Bike Mechanic Scholarships up for Grabs by pinkbikeaudience

15 Comments

krashDH85 (Oct 22, 2014 at 11:44)

I attended UBI a few years back for their frame welding classes and I can say that the school is top notch. The instructors are great, classes have good learning environments, not to mention Ashland is a pretty awesome place. I would encourage all the ladies interested in pursuing this as a career to go and get these scholarships because they are seriously worth it.

bikebasher FL (Oct 22, 2014 at 13:42)

Damn, two weeks of shredding in Ashland for free!

Might be worth the tuck and a padded bra....no offense to the "hella industry chicks" of course.

bike4christ (Oct 23, 2014 at 19:04)

Went to UBI back in 2007, awesome experience and even though I had been wrenching since '99, I still learned quite a bit and most of it I still use today. We had 3 or 4 girls in our class including an older woman who was a doctor that wanted to learn mechanics because she lead a group of women on weekly rides from her hospital, really cool. Best to you lady mechanics out there, make it happen!

jkoch (Oct 23, 2014 at 17:06)

About time. The lack of vaginas in shops is really holding this sport back.

gollub01 (Oct 22, 2014 at 15:02)

More ladies in bike shops.....sounds like a noble cause!!

Lastpikd (Oct 23, 2014 at 8:48)

Don't be fooled dreamers! Not gonna be this. 33.media.tumblr.com/afdcaa89608ca9878a8048049e9666d2/tumblr_n9zhalwfem1rt1cddo1_500.jpg

It's gonna be this... mingle2.com/images/users/68/73/2438466_2728.jpg

AlexCrandles (Oct 24, 2014 at 16:28)

Is that Mike Levy in a Wig?

Expresssss (Oct 22, 2014 at 10:44)

Yay for only being open to US residents... Come on seriously!

TheOriginalTwoTone (Oct 23, 2014 at 3:49)

Why is there always that comment about US only? It a simple fact that all the different laws governing contests in all the different countries makes it a nightmare legally to run a contest in multiple countries.

Even in the US, there is a website I frequent that excludes 2 states because of their state laws.

Expresssss (Oct 23, 2014 at 10:24)

I know I knowwww. It's just unfortunate that Canadians don't get a lot of what US residents get

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meathooker (Oct 22, 2014 at 9:44)

yay for inverted sexism.

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hellabikesbrah (Oct 22, 2014 at 10:58)

No. This is NOT close reverse sexism. Opening up more opportunities for women in an industry that is predominantly male, via scholarships is simply; getting more women in the field. As a chick working in the cycling industry for 10 years (as primarily a mechanic, shop manager, and doing sales for commerce websites like competitive cyclist.com) I can't tell you how absolutely degrading it is to be on the phone with someone or in person in the shop and have them tell you you couldn't possible know what you are talking about because you are a woman, despite having more combined experience in the industry than half the guys you work with. So no, this isn't reverse sexism. Women are just as knowledgeable as dudes, when armed with the same skills and information. As long as women are told to 'stay out' the few of us who remain in the industry will continue to be told "you aren't good enough because you don't have a penis." Try again, meathooker.

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ambatt (Oct 22, 2014 at 11:18)

@hellabikesbrah -- you nailed it.

@meathooker, you have NO idea how frustrating it is to be asked by someone if you're qualified to be talking about bikes, or to be asked immediately if you'll transfer them to someone who knows about bikes. Getting more women involved in the mechanical and service side of the industry will only push for more knowledgeable, informed female riders and sport participants. How is this reverse sexism?! There are so many scholarships out there for mechanics already, but men often get them as they're socially assumed to have more mechanical knowledge than women, thanks to society's bullshit traditional gender role patterns. Sexism is alive and well in the hiring process as well as in educational promotions, so BRAVO, guys... This scholarship is AWESOME.

meathooker (Oct 22, 2014 at 13:55)

@hellabikesbrah - no one ever said anything about women not being good enough - try again

the definition of sexism is: prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination on the basis of sex. how is offering a scholarship to a single sex NOT sexism? i have 2 little girls, 10 and 3. anytime im out in the shop working on car, bikes, or sleds they're out there with me wrenching away. my 3yr old was riding pump tracks on her kick bike at 2yrs old. nothing makes me happier than seeing my 10yr old climb a hill on her dirt bike that her 11yr old male cousin couldnt. it is very evident that i dont have the mindset that ""you aren't good enough because you don't have a penis."

@ambatt - you have no idea how frustrating it is (just being a smart a$$ maybe you do) to be a healthy white male with married parents. i was in all AP classes in hs, honor role etc, yet i couldn't get a fraction of the scholarships women do. dont get me wrong, when my 2 little girls are applying for school i'll be glad they're around but it is frustrating to not be eligible for "women only" things. this is "women only" and it gets applauded; if it were male only it would get booed.

FYI - i own a side business making parts for snowmobiles. i have sponsored a professional female rider and a large annual womens only ride for the last 3 years. im all about getting more girls out riding all sports - but offering a program like this is, by definition, sexism.

Snfoilhat (Oct 23, 2014 at 0:19)

Pretending to be unaware of or refusing to acknowledge the impact of institutionalized prejudice is total bullshyt, condescending whiteguy. Women's only programs arise from a f-ing context of fewer opportunities and higher barriers. They address a legacy of prejudices. There is no 'hey we're cool now, everyone's equal' except in the minds of tacit sexixts, racists, classists, the whole gang, who just wish everyone would chill out and stop talking about it, preferably while the while males with married parents still posses the greater privilege. 'B-b-but now you're being prejucided against me, waaah it's not fair, hypocrites!' Grow up.