Girls?

cyclist_chic

Is there a written rule saying no girls in the Tour de France? if not could ya'all tell me what i should do to train for it, im only 16 but my goal if able to is to win it.... thanks in advance

gntlmn

Do you race yet? How fast are you? Do you usually beat the guys?

mareblu

That is a good question cyclist_chic.
My guess is that there is a rule for it....however, I am glad to find a girl that thinks big! good luck! keep up the good training....

Tenderfoot

Even if there is currently such a rule, don't let that stop you. Times change and people change. If you can compete at that level, be a force for change (a tour de force!). If your abilities don't take you all the way to the Tour de France, do what you can at whatever level you reach.

Sincerely,
Catherine

cyclist_chic

Right now I average about a 23 MPH speed and can ride 4 hours a day comfortably 5 and still be alive, but the crazy thing is and my dad almost died is that i have only been training for three days, i mean i do pilates but i just started riding three days ago and i can beat the local guys in town that have been riding for weeks. the only thing i am having problems with right now are the climbs they just kill me

Tenderfoot

It sounds like you may have a natural talent for the sport. Perhaps you should talk to a local race club or cycling club about riding with them. See if you really enjoy riding and if you are willing to put in the time and effort to go as far as you can.

Catherine

WINGNUTT

Just being honest here, but no girl could ever possibly win the TDF - it's not a matter of training or will power, it's a matter of the physical attributes of women vs. men. Women simply don't have the same ability to produce power that men have, which is why there are so many sports where women cannot compete on a level playing field with men.

That being said, you sound as though you have a lot of natural talent and endurance, and you should continue to compete as much as you can and kick as many guys' asses as possible. You should not, however, make it your career goal to win the TDF because it's not possible if you are a natural born woman. This is meant with no disprespect to women's athletics - there are many talents and physical attributes that women have that make them better in some areas (endurance swimming, for example). When it comes to winning the TDF, however, it can't be done by a woman, even though it would be great to see a woman in the race.

mattv2099

There is a female tour de france. La Grande Boucle la femanin or something. European female races really aren't that popular. I follow women cycling, but a lot of people don't... In America there used to be the Hewlett packard challenge. It was a female stage race all over Idaho (I think it was 2 weeks long). IT was huge. The top females from all over the world raced it. Sadly it died due to lack of sponsorship.

So, what I am saying is that women have large stages races. It's just unfortunate that they are not as popular to spectators as the mens versions.

matt

mitosis

And to win it you need to have one ovary and lots of EPO.

babylou

Not true. It has been scientifically proven that women produce the same aerobic power per pound of lean body mass as men. They also produce the same anaerobic power per pound of lean body mass. The difference is that women carry more body fat than men. It's the boobs and booty.

Since power to weight ratio has a smaller impact on time trialing than climbing I think this is the first area that a woman could rival a man.

WINGNUTT

What do you mean not true? Everything you said just supports what I said, the only thing you forgot to leave out is that women have less lean body mass, and hence produce less power. If you are going to disagree with me, then you must be saying that women produce the same amount of power as men, but you can't say that because you would be wrong. A top woman cyclist would not win a time trial against the TDF men, even if she had no boobs and the most perfect ass you've ever seen - she just don't have the horsepower.

babylou

Earlier you said women cannot produce the same power as men. This is what I meant was incorrect. It has been proven in several scientic studies. Their engines are not biologically different versus men (cardiovascular and muscular systems). Everything else you said I believe to be true.

If a man and a woman each had 135 lbs lean body mass and 15 lbs of fat they would each have the same aerobic potential (discounting genetic differences amongst all of us like muscle fiber type, etc). Therefore they could perform the same. The rub here is the top male endurance athlete can get by with about 5-6% body fat whereas the top women carry a bit more.

The top women endurance athletes are better than the 95th percentile male athlete. I did a bit of research here to compare an endurance sport for men and women. Marathon running is much like climbing in cycling since each step while running is a tiny little jump. Aerobic power to weight ratio is paramount for both events. The womens marathon world record is within 8.4% of the mens. If there was a female Lance Armstrong and she time trialed up L'Alpe d'Huez within 8.4% of Armstrong she would have place 18th in this years field. I would say that is good enough that it is concievable that a women could compete in the TDF some day.

BTW: For me "the most perfect ass" is not defined by no body fat. I like some bubble.

mitosis

Jeez, wingnut, you must have realised you were going to open can of worms with this one.

At least its a change from the drug debate.

WINGNUTT

OK, I think we pretty much agree on almost everything, except I think that what appears to be an 8.4% biological gap is too much to make up in a competitive event like the TDF. Remember, she said that her goal was to WIN the TDF, not to COMPETE. If she said she just wanted to compete, then this would be a different discussion.

The only other point that we should probably hash out here is what is the "perfect ass". I'm not sure how much "bubble" you are talking about here, but any more than a very very small amount of bubble removes the ass from the "perfect" category, and I don't care what research you have the supports any contrary opinion.