Why Aren’t There More Female MTB Cyclists?

As one of the UK’s most reliable suppliers of road, gravel and mtb components, we have a wide variety of different people taking advantage of our first-rate supply of high quality bike parts. While there are more subsets of society showing a specialised interest in cycling than you might think, there is still a distinct lack of women in the mountain biking world. Despite the perception of women in sport improving in recent times, there is still progress to be made in terms of women receiving equal treatment whilst out on the trails and roads. Many women have commented publicly to say that male mountain bike cyclists frequently make patronising remarks about their appearance and cycling style. Sometimes these comments are made in good faith, however a lot of the remarks are intentionally derogatory. There is still a lingering assumption made by male cyclists that presumes a female cyclist will know less about cycling techniques and the function of mtb components. At BETD, our team is well versed in treating all our customers fairly and without discrimination, and we hope to see this fairness extended in the wider world of cycling. In 2020 statistics for the Shred trail, researchers found that a huge 83.9% of mountain bikers were male. Linked to the common complaint of discrimination reported by female mountain biking enthusiasts, the male mtb cyclists surveyed rated themselves as higher in their cycling ability than women. Perhaps it would be helpful to a female cyclist’s self-confidence and rightful sense of belonging in the public sphere if participation was had in community cycling events. The general sense of comradery is high as the Let’s Ride website frequently invites adults of all ages to join in with the fun, and a higher presence of women serves to normalise the idea that women can be mtb enthusiasts too. Alternatively, a women’s only group might be a good place to start if you are a female cyclist who has faced off-putting discrimination due to your gender but still love all things cycling, from the endorphin rush of a downhill descent to the dopamine surge gleaned in fixing on some brand new mtb components. If you have any questions or want to enquire about any of our road, gravel or mtb components, please contact us via our website.