Amen, some more 'bro' action on the world cup. He made me uncomfortable.

I have missed your point, but I have never claimed to be intelligent. Perhaps I do not know what empowerment means? but I assume bringing my 7 year old daughter to an event with a group of women that have done great things in their lives, in their community and to others, will give my daughter even more tools in enriching her life as a woman, than what she is given in her own home and in our family. I don't think I am arrogant, I just don't know how to write well often times...and you clearly are a much better author, in addition to already having some bone to pick with me, so continue to hate-I can appreciate. Cheers

CFO; my daughter will be around empowering women, I know a few dozen of them in this club and proud to have my kid be around them. Business owners, cancer survivors, incredible mothers, incredible athletes, a project leader for a major software company, a global director of a beverage company and the list goes on of women who ride bikes in this community. I never said my daughters choices will empower her you fucking nitwit...I also am not looking for her to become the next Susan B Anthony or Rosa Luxembourg. P.S. I have not worked for a race team in a decade and stopped wrenching 5 years before that. Signed, Jesus Glaspell

Greatest in the fact he elevated the game of an entire field/sport, more than any rider before him. Greatness does not always come with results. Just like Leigh Donovan is the greatest female in the sport, but I am biased since she is my mrs, but she did not win as many titles as ACC and Missy, but I saw how many she cultivated in the sport and how many women she brought to the sport.

If there is a so called 'backroom' of the industry, its quite depressing to see how much shit I get for picking up some 'fast new chick'...but again, I come from a day when the girls made GOOD money, ive seen it first hand, ive been around when the high paid women of the sport were valuable to a brand, we used those women as tools to sell more product and get exposure for a brand. I think the last 10 years has breeded a culture with the pro racer guy that just has to not respect women racers or riders, this must change.

In the 90's, pro womens gravity riders were making BANK! so it attracted more and more of them to the sport. Then in about 2000, things started changing fast, it was the reason my wife (Leigh Donovan) retired in 2001, she went from a high six figure salary, to no more offers past her current contract, this was happening for all the top women...it was not worth it for her to risk her life every weekend for shit money, but she was involved at the right time, made a lot of money, got a lot of women into bikes, mission accomplished. So....do I think the racing was MORE exciting back then for the women? probably not, the field was deeper for sure, but the media/industry treated them as equals (to some extent) and the media made the women celebrities, this does not happen now, they have been downgraded to a side show and there was even secret talk from industry cool guys to eliminate women from the world cup. Guys are dumb.

I support a bunch of olympic bound BMX pro women/girls, not one has any interest in transitioning into MTB. For years I have wanted USA cycling to offer discount licenses to a BMXer to try MTB, or vice versa, still hasnt happened. Most BMX girls think MTB is too gnarly, the bikes are too expensive, bla bla bla, same ole crap, im trying to change that with my crew of girls.

Whitney, what womens apparel do you and your friends ride in? A lot of brands think globally, not just USA, I know more than half our bike business is outside the USA, so to cater to the 'average size' would not be wise. I do know some customers of ours that can not fit into our XL 'moto' DH shorts just run our mens shorts and are fine. Good input, look forward to more. Thanks

hilarious

Great post, love the insight from a lady. Keep on riding.

I work for Troy Lee Designs, I support more women in MTB than the brand has ever had and I am proud of this stat. My wife is a former world champion and our daughter who is 7 loves to ride her bike. It does suck that I get shit from friends and other industry buddies for being a proponent of women athletes, this mentality will change someday-I hope. Maybe it is easy for me to back women in the sport because I have been with my wife for 20 years and she has been a racer/industry person the entire time, I have seen her struggles, etc...Fact is, most guys are douches towards women, if they suck at riding, guys become super haters, with no encouragement. I am headed to a women's only event this weekend in irvine lake, I will show some product there, my daughter will be around empowering women who ride bikes, my wife is coaching there, it will be a killer weekend. Things must change. Nice article PB.