http://www.cyclismas.com/biscuits/bridging-the-gap-from-the-bottom-up/ a fresh take on cycling news and commentary Fri, 29 May 2015 20:10:08 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.38 http://www.cyclismas.com/biscuits/bridging-the-gap-from-the-bottom-up/#comment-430 Mon, 06 Aug 2012 03:19:10 +0000 http://cyclismas.com/?p=9158#comment-430 […] I think that there are two aspects of professionalism that need to be (re)considered when it comes to women’s cycling. Firstly, I think we need to question what it is to be a professional cyclist. I won’t belabour this point too strongly as Stef Wyman has covered it brilliantly in his piece on this matter for Cyclismas. […]

]]> http://www.cyclismas.com/biscuits/bridging-the-gap-from-the-bottom-up/#comment-429 Thu, 28 Jun 2012 06:20:54 +0000 http://cyclismas.com/?p=9158#comment-429 The media exposure is changing with the features on LizzieA, VickiP and LauraT, but the challenge is to extend it beyond there and keep it after 2012.  Cycling still isn’t seen as an appealing sport (“sexy”) by most young females and if you visit a youth Cycling club vs Athletics or Triathlon or swimming, then its a struggle to keep a critical mass for cycling (I coach at such a club).  That is down to public perception of what is an appelaing sport to take up and can only be driven by oursleves in clubs, Team managers, BC.  Change the public image and appeal and thats a step towards changing some of the other important factors Stefan raises. We wouldn’t have TV coverage of women’s races in Halfords or Nat Champs a couple of years ago, so  I think its getting better, but only very slowly

]]> http://www.cyclismas.com/biscuits/bridging-the-gap-from-the-bottom-up/#comment-428 Wed, 27 Jun 2012 18:03:25 +0000 http://cyclismas.com/?p=9158#comment-428 Some interesting points raised. One thing I’ve always been interested in is the levels of doping (historic or recent) that are in women’s cycling. Can the perceived low level of doping be attributed to the low expectations of riders and the lower financial benefits of doping to win or is it a case of they really don’t earn enough to pay for the stuff! I don’t want to start rumours or bad feeling about female professionals, I fully support the efforts people are making in the struggle to raise the profile of the sport, but as any follower of modern cycling should know, doping is an issue that needs to be faced head on and openly discussed. I’d be interested to hear peoples thoughts on this.

]]> http://www.cyclismas.com/biscuits/bridging-the-gap-from-the-bottom-up/#comment-427 Wed, 27 Jun 2012 13:02:50 +0000 http://cyclismas.com/?p=9158#comment-427 […] by Stefan Wyman. First Published on cyclismas.com on 26 June […]

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