No doubt this has been suggested many times before......but after coming back from the Ripley meet, I cant stop thinking why there isnt an area on the HUBB which is dedicated to female specific queries.

I cannot stress enough thats not to say its "women only" by any stretch of the imagination, in fact quite the opposite; we (well I certainly do) rely on you guys to help me with all things bike and travel related....but there are lots of questions I have posted which I need an answer centered on being a woman; be that a male's reponse or another female. And of course other women users can go straight to that area to hand over expertise they may have.

The presentation/discussion held by Susan at the Ripley meet for women only, could have gone on and on and on. One hour was just not enough. And the topics covered anything from safety for women, the perfect bike for a small woman, whether to pass your test or be a pillion, and of course "girly" stuff.

I dont know if some women would get offended by the introduction of a woman's corner on HUBB on the basis that "anything they can do we can do" works fine.....I dont know. All I know is that it would be great to be able to post some threads and know that it is highlighted as a female tainted perspective. I sometimes get anxious to post threads because of my lack of knowledge or experience, and wonder how many other women, maybe partners of HUBBers, that dont for the same reason?

In the presentation with Susan one woman asked if anyone had done a solo trip, and I think one woman out of a room of maybe 30-40 women had. I dont think we can deny that it is still not a woman's world - adventure biking that is - and I wonder whether if there was more specific support that would change. I for one want to hear from other women that have had trouble with off-roading, but persisted and came out the other side, or from women that have had trouble changing tyres, or from men as to the best dual-sport bike for a 5ft 5 woman, or how much bike mechanics do we really need to know before setting off?!

Anyway, rant over! Cheers guys

Char

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Don't be scared your life may end,
Be scared that it may never begin.......

I suppose there is a danger that women may only ever post in this section and not converse with the rest of HUBB, but would that really happen - I wonder what other downsides there are?

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Don't be scared your life may end,
Be scared that it may never begin.......

it could be a good idea. The "women on the road" discussion, which I missed once again last weekend at Ripley is very popular.
And with a DVD specifically for women coming out, it would make sense to have a little forum for specific women questions!

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

I dont think a womans section is needed. I dont like it when women do things lik ethat - Men don't have a ' mans ' section.

I can't see the need for it to be honest.

But thats just my opinion.

A Man's perspective:

I always find it frustrating that women are treated differently in the motorcycle world. It's either assumed that a female is a pillon or some sort of 'superhuman' if they actually ride. I've never understood this and it aggravates me.

That said, I do understand that some women are going to feel more comfortable talking about gender specific topics with others who understand.

Let's face it, there's no 'Men only' section because we don't need to discuss the merits of menstrual sponges or 'she wee' nor are we treated as sex objects or as people who are required to cover our faces and arms in certain cultures. We basically have it easy.

I'm also not sure about having a 'women's section' but the 'women only' talks always seem to be well attended and well received. I think on balance that gender specific questions are just as valid as any other in the existing framework. I also think that some of us chaps stand to learn something and understand a bit more if the questions aren't hidden away in a separate section.

It's a difficult balance to strike but I think the culture on the HUBB is sufficiently open minded not to be intimidating to women who want to post - I certainly hope that is the case.


Just my 2p

Mmmmmm I think this is a tricky one!

The womens only meet at HU is always good to ask those particular questions without feeling intimidated but to be honest I never have felt like that on the HUBB. The guys can provide just as good insight into things and if they can't they usually can discuss what their partner did whilst travelling.

As others have mentioned previously, there is no man only section as on the HUBB everyones the same.

Besides when I have a womens question, I just put that in my heading.

There could be a Woman's section; let's call it ..................

The Kitchen

Only joking. I'm not nearly as sexist as I make out.

Having chatted to Patsy Quick and watched a fair few young girls on Moto-cross tracks (court-order stopped that though) I can confirm that women of the female variety are more than capable of riding a bike.

I think open discusion is the way forward. You might find a few blokes are embarrassed when you start discussing some female specific issues, but that's their problem.

Perhaps you are all worried that we might actually finally discover what make you tick.

I thought this might be the response I would get, and I hope I havent offended any women. I can see the point of view, but to be honest, at the end of the day, we women are different to men, and no matter how much riding on a bike, or time in the gym, or head in a bike mechanic book, will make us the same. There will always be differences albeit small things.

I appreciate that in theory there should be no difference between a man riding a bike and women riding a bike - just like driving hey?! I spoke to a lot of women at Ripley who still get butterflies in their stomach before getting on a bike, or who for them biking is something they have to work at. And lets not forget that this website is not all about bikes its about travel - its in the name.

I am fully aware that the there are women all over the biking world but I just felt after the women only meet at Ripley, that there should be more opportunities like that! But maybe a forum isnt the way to achieve it. I wasnt necessarily thinking about me but what about the women that dont post threads, or at the moment dont even use HUBB. I know that when I first started posting on the HUBB and askng female specific questions, I think, I only ever had one women respond (but dont quote me), the rest were male.

I certainly do not have a problem sharing thoughts info advice or secrets with men or women - whatever the topic. I guess I will just keep to the usual forums and play a little on the female aspect.

Please do not think that I am trying to suggest that there should be some sort of elitist group formed, leaving the men out - nowhere even near!

Anyway, I think the masses have spoken. Cheers everyone!

Char

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Don't be scared your life may end,
Be scared that it may never begin.......

I am in favour of having a place on here for women.
We are not the same, women are different, and thank whoever that they are. From a women's point of view it is actually men that are different.

It's surely no more problematical to have a separate place than it is to have one for 4x4's or whatever.
So what if the more fragrant and aromatic of the species have their own section, it's not that their posts are hidden away as previously mentioned, it's easy to just open that section, and there's nothing to say that if they do have a question then it can always be posted in the general forum. It's not compulsory for them to post purely in their section.

As for us having a "Mens Room", why should we? This forum is dominated by men anyway, we can post anywhere and surely the "Bar", though open to all, could be the place if you really wanted it.
Just because women have a section it doesn't mean then that we've got to have one.
Let women have somewhere if the consensus is that they want it.

When I was in puberty and girls were a mystery (more so than now), I found the one way to understand them and the way they think was to read girls magazines, this was with the motivation that I'd get more girlfriends as I could talk to them better rather than being tongue tied.
I'm all for them having their own place that I can eavesdrop on.

I agree with bmw.bec - if you want to discuss something specifically to do with women or from a women's perspective, include it in the heading.

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Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.

Hey Folks,
Please don't take this wrong and I'm trying not to be sexist, racist or 'ist anything but I think one of the great things about this site is the openess of it all and everyone who takes part in the discussions etc. I'm all for 'women specific' threads and I congratulate CG for bringing this up but as long as it was open (as CG suggested) and as a thread otherwise I would dread for a female only section as where would it stop..? a LBGTV section? A Black section? a Disabled section? etc etc etc. I love this site being not as much being about 'who' you are but 'what', 'why' and 'how' your doing the travelling as in the website suggests.
Quote (I wasnt necessarily thinking about me but what about the women that dont post threads, or at the moment dont even use HUBB. I know that when I first started posting on the HUBB and askng female specific questions, I think, I only ever had one women respond (but dont quote me), the rest were male.) A question....? As I find no problems asking for advice etc, no matter how daft I look or sound, is that because I'm confident enough to ask or male? And again, offering an answer.... is it because I have an answer to offer or am a man?
Would a new catergory need to be opened? Were all adult here and look at what's already available... "Questions that don't fit anywhere else" I think covers what you may be looking for or even "Staying Healthy on the Road". If it's a specific 'sensitive' issue then would this really be the site or forum to be posting such questions? I know if I had a problem with 'The little General' you lot would be the LAST people I'd be asking, LOL!!
Again.. no offence meant to anyone, just an opinion.

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Geoffshing

'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'

Women almost certainly do not need a special area dealing with motorcycling matters; there is no reason why a woman should not be as skilled as a man on a bike (see Erin Bakers thread at telegraph.co.uk for more - sorry no link but I'm running out of lunchtime). They do however have different physical needs, especially on a long journey.

A while ago there was a thread running dealing with womens problems; menstruation, contraception, "she wees", comfortable underwear etc. I looked at it occasionally to see if there were any answers to questions I hadn't thought about when I travel with Mrs MarkE, and brought a couple of ideas to her attention, giving credit where it was due as she would have guessed it wasn't my idea anyway.

Even though I have been married for many years (shared between two wives) and I've raised two daughters, I don't fully understand women (can any man) , but I can see that such a forum would be useful. Just don't expect men to stay away because our curiosity will get the better of us.

If women want a 'female biased' forum you could do worse than The Pink Way Round - I'm sure there are others out there...

I started a thread about 2 years ago in the "questions that do not fit anywhere else"

The thread was entitled " Answers to questions that women dont dare to ask". all there was discussed through many many pages. From she-wee to mestruation and contraception etc... The problem is that I cannot find this thread anymore. Lost in the mass of other threads!

Having a sticky there or opening a "Kitchen forum" (obviously open to everyone!!) where these matters can be discussed could be useful. Most hubbers are men, but most have partners. If the wags refuse to go it can ruin a trip. Having their specific needs and questions answered could be a plus for you lguys to convince your missus!

After a year on the road I have answers to all my specific problems but such forum could be very useful for newbies for example! I remember that when preparing my trip I had lots of questions on these matters. Some suggestions on the thread I mentioned above came very handy! I even bought a she-wee, although in the end I never used it! When I was desperate for a pee but there was nowhere to hide, I would just walk enough away so that I am just too little to be seen too clearly. And in the end, if someone see my bottom while I have a pee... well.. they'll get over it! - you learn to be pragmatic on a long trip!

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Not sure how people have got the emancipation of women (and men!) confused with whether there is a need for a womans section, after all the questions are going to be asked surely it's just a case of which area it gets tidied away to.

From my two years of membership of the HUBB I would say there are many more questions about a grls needs than a blokes, ad hence yes have a nice tidy area to put them.

I would be of the same opinion if there were a lot of questions about how to store pasties on the road - make a section for it so we can find stuff easier.

Women and men, love them all!

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Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009