Pendleton backs new women-only cycle rides

18 comments
By Richard Tyler, in London, UK | Tuesday, Feb 22, 2011 10.00am

World and Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton will act as the ambassador for a new series of women-only mass-participation cycle events to be held in Britain this year, which were officially launched in central London yesterday.

The Cycletta series will be made up of two 40km events held near Manchester and London this summer. They'll be run on closed roads and have been designed to encourage British women to learn about the fitness benefits of cycling in a safe environment.

Pendleton herself will take part in both rides. "I've been very lucky in my own career and had a lot of success," she said. "If I can encourage women of all ages to get involved in cycling it'll make all my achievements even more satisfying."

The first event takes place at North Tatton Park, near Manchester, on 26 June, with the second at Whipsnade Park, near London, on 11 September. Nick Rusling, CEO of organisers Participate, told BikeRadar that it's hoped 5,000-7,000 women will take to the roads.

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"Cycletta is about the events, but it's also about 12 months of cycling," Rusling said. "We hope to educate female cyclists about the benefits of riding a bike, whether it's women who already ride to become faster or novice women just getting into it. We hope to expand the event to five events in the future."

The 40km distance is designed to give new riders a challenging but achievable introduction to cycling. More experienced riders will start at the front. Events will be held outside city centres in order to facilitate the closed courses, details of which will be released in coming weeks.

"If it's more relaxed and comfortable I think it's going to encourage more women to get into cycling." said Pendelton. "Everybody out there wants to encourage women onto bikes. It's a male dominated sport, but we're looking to change the balance."

Entry will cost £45 per event. Participants will be encouraged to form teams to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. The series is endorsed by British Cycling and their sponsors Sky, and it's also being supported by personal training company Bodyism, who'll provide tips on their website to help participants prepare for the events. For more information about the Cycletta series, visit www.cycletta.co.uk.

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User Comments

There are 18 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 18 of 18 comments

  • £45 per event? No wonder women are not taking up cycling, good god .....

  • Why women only, I am really struggling to see the logic behind that, also if they doubled the numbers with men, they would halve the cost per head. Why would anyone not already into cycling pay £45 to find out the benefits, and if you are already a cyclist you don't need to go.

  • Sexist !

    What would be said if it was a 'men-only' ride or 'whites only' !

    Same as the uproar if a man wished to join the WI, (all are equal, but some are more equal than others)

  • How long have we cyclists of whatever gender deplored and fought against exclusionist attitudes and argued bikes are for all. Now you set up a system that excludes half on gender and many more on price £45!!! Jeez. Hiw can. Skyride manage free unisex rides. Well intentioned I'm sure but it goes against everything cycling should be about. 0/10

  • 45!

    Are they completely and utterly crackers!!!!

    Me thinks Vicky has lost the plot backing this one

  • it says theyre hoping for between 5000-7000 women to enter so lets say 6000 enter each ride, thats £540,000. where does all that money go ?

  • nice line up. the heels wont be much use.

  • You can see what you get for your money by looking at http://www.cycletta.co.uk/all-about-cycletta.aspx. Most interesting are those facilities included in the price which may come with an additional charge???

    Anyway isn't £45 the sort of price they charge for sportives (like BikeRadar Live)? I think they'll find it difficult to get non-cyclists to take part at those sort of prices and I imagine that most experienced cyclists will find 40km hardly worth the effort.

  • The lack of understanding illustrates the need for women only events: you guys do dominate the sport, no probs there, but there's room for us all and we girls would like to try out something more ambitious than a Skyride but less arduous than a 50-miler, and we'd like to do it among girls and we'd like there to be lots and lots of loos and quiet roads and no men in lycra whinging about how its not a proper sportive ... blah. You lot don't realise from inside the bubble that - you're in a bubble! Women only events in running & triathlon are a moster success, viva wonen's only events for cycling too - I am trying to get some girls cycling locally. And 40 KM distance is perfect for the newbie. I'd like to do sportives & join a club but am put off by all you "experienced" cyclists welcoming "beginners" - as long as they can stay in the saaddle for 4 hours at 15mph avg, not disgrace themselves in a group, do 100m and climb some fricking massive hill ... Room for us all in the sport, if this event isn't for you (and it isn't, by virtue of your soft dangly bits) then stay away!

  • I suppose they are looking at the success of those Race 4 Life (or whatever they are called) 5k running events. I know what people are saying about excluding men but a lot of women seem to go for events that do exclude men and the organisers are probably more concerned about making it a success than whether it's sexist. If it gets more women cycling then that's a good thing though I can see some think the means don't justify the ends.

  • haha @ jane. quite true.

  • Hang on... What was that?... FORTY FIVE FREAKING QUID?!? I'd rather MrsNapD put that towards a new shoe than that.

    Shame as I think it'd be quite a good idea otherwise.

  • •Training advice and support from Victoria Pendleton, Olympic Gold Medallist

    •Helmet Hair Remedy Centre*

    Two lines that made me smile.

    How much 'training advice' will each of the 6000 people get?

    Just because I have dangly bits doesn't mean I don't get helmet hair.

    I hope it is successful, as a single guy the more women cycling the better, but I'd prefer them muddy and throwing themselves off mountains.

  • ps I know some pervy crudcatcher types who would pay that to ride behind VP in lycra for 40km. You know who you are.

  • the 45 will go towards the cost of the road closure im sure.

  • Cooldad; do I know you? How did you know I use a crudcatcher?

  • Nowt wrong with this sort of thing.

    For the poor male riders who feel so terribly wronged and excluded from these events you could disguise yourself, no one would notice: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/7/6/1246899481571/Matt-Lucas-and-David-Wall-001.jpg

  • Makes me wonder what the uproar would have been by women groups if they had been a MALE ONLY ride with Chris Hoy giving advice to men new to cycling.

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