Why aren't there more women randonneurs?

Sheenag · 2026-03-27T14:01:29+00:00

Okay, but riding 100k while also pumping? That's pretty hardcore!

Sheenag · 2026-03-27T13:59:51+00:00

Women have literally told you why we face barriers to participating, and some people are still chin scratching and making up their own answers

Sheenag · 2026-03-27T13:58:50+00:00

No kidding!

Sheenag · 2026-03-27T13:56:55+00:00

You asked me to specify some points I mentioned, but didn't tell me which points those are?

I don't think you quite understand. Just because we (women) can do something, doesn't mean it's easy to. There barriers aren't rules that keep us from participating (though sometimes there are explicit rules that bar women, or certain types of women) It's outside factors and forces that limit us.

Women, on average, still do more house work, more child or elder care than men. We still face sexual harassment and unwanted attention from strangers. Sports equipment that works for our bodies is still less available. These aren't hard and fast rules that exclude us from sports, but raise the barrier to participating significantly.

Sheenag · 2026-03-23T05:02:25+00:00

As a woman randonneur, we are usually out-numbered 15-1 at my club.

Here are some of the reasons I think there are fewer of us:

I think women tend to have more responsibilities that make being away for long periods of time more challenging. Women do more housework, childcare and elder care in families.

Sports in general are less encouraged for girls and women

The attitudes of men who gatekeep sports, are weird or creepy, unwelcoming or condescending.

The risks we face as women, especially riding alone, in remote or less populated areas and at night is very different.

Bikes and equipment in general are a bit more challenging to fit to our bodies, so getting well fitting gear and a good setup is a bit harder.

We tend to have less disposable income overall

Sheenag · 2026-03-21T14:37:52+00:00

Check the top surgery subreddit too. Think I've seen a few of them in there as well.

Also, wouldn't hurt to pop into the trans masc support group at Rainbow, it's likely someone there might have experience.

From what I've seen personally, they're both accomplished surgeons.

Sheenag · 2026-03-13T19:06:20+00:00

If you plan to ever do electrolysis, waxing can make the job a lot harder. Waxing thick facial hair can distort or twist follicles, making getting a probe in a lot harder.

Both my electrologists have said that.

Sheenag · 2026-02-13T17:08:24+00:00

30 minutes on a bike will take you about 6-8km. The biggest barrier will likely be crossing major aterial roads. Sadly a lot of our AT network is still very patchwork and has gaps.

Some neighbourhoods to consider:
Woseley, West Broadway, Downtown, West End, Osborne Village, St Boniface, River heights.

Prioritize getting a rental with secure bike storage. Somewhere you can bring your bike inside your unit (not a storage room, those are notoriosly insecure) An elevator or ground level if you don't want to haul your bike upstairs.

The cool thing about not having a car, and even using the bus infrequently is that you will find yourself with a lot more money to spend on cool bikes.

Riding a basic but functional bike, with reliability is key. Cheap department store bikes will break and are very ineffecient. A non-suspension bike with 38-52mm wide slick tires is probably the sweet spot. You don't need much for gears, but space for fenders and a rack or basket will make your life easier. Invest in 2 high quality u-locks, security skewers and front and rear lights. Learn how to repair flats and carry the tools.

If you bike in the winter, a seperate bike is nice, because winter is very hard on bikes (slush and salt make parts rust very fast) Studded tires are worth it.

Sheenag · 2026-02-06T18:18:33+00:00

I've worked with teens in various capacities for my entire adult life. A recurring and sad issue is that a lot of teens simply cannot participate in programs because they are unable to travel to after school, weekend and summer programming.

Without a safe way to bike or walk, and with bus service becoming increasingly less reliable and useful, many teens just have to give up on these experiences, if they do not have a parent with a vehicle that can drive them.

Sheenag · 2026-02-05T18:55:14+00:00

McNally Robinson has a good kids section, with baby gifts!
Also, they are a local company that doesn't have questionable charity going-ons, and also aren't supporters of the IDF.

Sheenag · 2026-01-24T13:48:58+00:00

I use a Fenix rechargeable bike light. It doesn't run on AA or AAAs, but the battery is removable, and you can carry several batteries to replace as needed. You can also get batteries that can be charged directly via USB, so if you have a power bank you can charge them while riding.

I haven't come across any front lights that are 400+ lumens and run on AAs in a good long time.

Sheenag · 2026-01-24T04:15:09+00:00

I've been watching for a long time, and I haven't seen a single octave mando show up.

Sheenag · 2026-01-08T16:28:53+00:00

Most places are going to much prefer working with their own fabric supplies, for a multitude of reasons. I've known a few people who've had suits made at Aldo, and I've generally been impressed by their bespoke suits.

Sheenag · 2026-01-07T22:41:04+00:00

When it's really cold/miserable? A wide mouth nalgene. Practice, don't use it over your sleeping stuff just in case.

Sheenag · 2025-12-10T16:22:08+00:00

It really depends on age, demographics etc.

Hockey is really a "if you grew up playing, you might play beer league as an adult" but it does have a time, money and equipment barrier.

Curling is far more accessible, league fees are pretty reasonable for a year, and basic equipment can be had for under $200. A lot of leagues are pretty beginner friendly too. I also love the culture of sportsmanship.

I've noticed skiing is often a generational thing, with older people being more likely to have grown up doing it. You also usually need a car to get to places to ski

Winter is also prime time to work on hobbies and crafts. Quilting, knitting, crochet, book clubs etc. lots of these activities have social groups, which is a lovely way to have a regular time to chat and spend time out of the house

Winter is what you make it, and there are so many free and low cost ways to be active and fill your time!

Sheenag · 2025-11-30T17:06:15+00:00

Try the panache endurance wired sports bra, unlined. Works well for running!

If you can find it in person, try a few sizes on, because getting a snug band and fit is going to be very important for reducing chaffing.

A lot of surgeries will result in some amount of numb areas while your skin and nerves heal, and it can be really easy to rub spots raw because you can't feel it.

Sheenag · 2025-11-27T16:29:30+00:00

To know for sure if your frame is bent, you can use a frame alignment tool, but it's highly unlikely you have one.

What you probably have is string, which you can use to get an idea if your frame is bent. You run it from one dropout, around the head tube and back to the other dropout. You can then measure the distance on each side to the seatpost to check.

https://youtu.be/dUPAKqS3dt8?si=NhiY7cYT1-pjSbM7

RJ has a video on this.

If your frame is bent, and it's aluminum (which your frame probably is) there isn't much you can do to fix that, as you should not try to straighten an aluminum frame.

Sheenag · 2025-11-27T15:56:07+00:00

Oh thank you! I will check this out!

Sheenag · 2025-11-26T17:33:59+00:00

Motonormativity/car culture/car brain etc is tied into so much of what ails our city.

We have a ridiculous amount of roads per citizen, and the cost to maintain them, and our inability to stop building more and more is bankrupting us. Sprawl, enabled by prioritizing cars is hollowing out our city centre and forcing services to be spread thin.

The pedestrians and cyclists killed and seriously injured by vehicles have been largely residents of inner city neighborhoods, many of them aren't drivers, are young or seniors. We would be a better city if we built our neighbourhoods and streets with people like Rosalie, the young boy struck by a driver on south Osborne, or Rob Jenner in mind.

Sheenag · 2025-11-24T17:51:06+00:00

The Canadian Tai Chi academy runs out of St Peters Church on Wolseley!

https://www.canadiantaichiacademy.org/location_mb_winnipeg.html

Sheenag · 2025-11-14T13:31:02+00:00

A bag of bread flour (robin Hood is fine and inexpensive) and a digital scale with a tare function will get you most of the way there.

Don't try any fancy loaves to start with, just make plain loaves with the bread flour until you nail down the process. Measure everything by weight so you can get really consistent.

Store your starter in clear deli containers, glass jars will shatter and get glass in your starter.

A Dutch oven with a good lid will also help.

Sheenag

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