as a bloke I'm appalled

[cooperplace]

recently I was riding through the suburbs about 30m behind my wife and a female friend of hers (they're both fitter than me), so I got a great view of the unwanted attentions they were getting from males. Pedestrians, in cars, wherever, blokes seemed to think that 2 women riding along was ideal opportunity to make innane and silly comments and gestures. It was a real eye-opener. I thought, guys, if only you knew how stupid you look.

[marinmomma]

I have had grief from male cyclists when riding on my own or with just female friends....on one occasion it was my mistake and I apologized but some bloke just went troppo at me and continued the abuse for a k or so as we kept riding.

I believe if my cycling partner was a male at the time it wouldn't have continued!

[brett.hooker]

With the apparent wide spread use of PED's in sport, just put it down to "'roid rage"... Leave it to imagination to decide if that is hema- or ste- ...

[cooperplace]

these weren't male cyclists, they were people on the street.

[Venus62]

these weren't male cyclists, they were people on the street.

You've had a small glimpse of life as a female...

[cooperplace]

these weren't male cyclists, they were people on the street.

You've had a small glimpse of life as a female...

yes, I realize that. I'm riding along, seeing these guys behave like d%^kh**ds, thinking, my god, women have to put up with this crap all the time.

[Howzat]

I hope you gave them a serve

[Comedian]

Disappointing.

[Mulger bill]

Disappointing.

But not surprising

[Apple]

I love it, that's why I ride

[Summernight]

I've had what I assume was a 'Cor blimey [she's hot]'. And I've also been called a" [unspeakable] mole". But the second one was a pushy car driver who didn't know the rules of the road (and yes, he probably wouldn't have said that if I wasn't by myself and if I hadn't been asserting my right to be on the road.)

I'm not that offended by someone looking and appreciating - it would be the comments and gestures that would be crossing the line for me. If they look but don't talk then I'm none the wiser that they're appreciating. It's not as if I'm not looking at an attractive male cyclist if one does roll past. I just won't be shouting out my appreciation of his fine physique.

My sister apparently was walking along a street years ago and a guy walked past in the opposite direction and did the usual turn the head to watch her walk away and while he was distracted he walked into a pole. That story always makes me smile.

[newie]

Having now entered the invisibility zone (aka the wrong side of 40 for a woman) I sometimes don't mind being noticed when I am out on the bike. But it is all in the manner of noticing, whether it feel respectful but appreciative, or somehow denigrating. It is hard to exactly say what makes the difference. And probably each woman will react differently. I usually don't mind when I see blokes sitting in their car, thinking they are getting away with a sneaky perve. But maybe they are looking at the bike, not the rider. I have wondered whether the boys on bikes would be disappointed if they realised I was checking out their bike, not them.

[RonK]

recently I was riding through the suburbs about 30m behind my wife and a female friend of hers (they're both fitter than me), so I got a great view of the unwanted attentions they were getting from males.

Nice neighborhood you ride around then?

[Apple]

. And I've also been called a" [unspeakable] mole". But the second one was a pushy car driver who didn't know the rules of the road (and yes, he probably wouldn't have said that if I wasn't by myself and if I hadn't been asserting my right to be on the road.)

That is amazing, if you read one of my earlier posts I had the same comment F****** Mole, Nice. What sort of language is this. Is it a certain age group that uses it? Or could it be the same driver

[clackers]

I had the same comment F****** Mole, Nice. What sort of language is this. Is it a certain age group that uses it? :

I can see the rat-tail, stretch jeans and packet of Winnie Blue from here, Apple.

[Summernight]

. And I've also been called a" [unspeakable] mole". But the second one was a pushy car driver who didn't know the rules of the road (and yes, he probably wouldn't have said that if I wasn't by myself and if I hadn't been asserting my right to be on the road.)

That is amazing, if you read one of my earlier posts I had the same comment F****** Mole, Nice. What sort of language is this. Is it a certain age group that uses it? Or could it be the same driver

He was a 20s-30s driving a white Subaru in a Richmond, VIC quiet side street cut through for those too impatient and aggressive to travel down Victoria Street or Bridge Road to the city. And before you attack all white Subarus I also drive one.
It is strange that some people's first reaction is to go straight to the gender specific abuse.

But maybe they are looking at the bike, not the rider. I have wondered whether the boys on bikes would be disappointed if they realised I was checking out their bike, not them.

I do that now too - checking out the bikes and gear and looking on with envy. Not just with guys though. There is a lady in my office building that I think has a stash of multiple Pinarellos and she commutes on the 'cheap' one to work - she doesn't lock it up downstairs with the other bikes but takes it into her office (as you should with such an expensive bike). I definitely look on in envy when I see her lovely bright pink Pinarello in the mornings.

Having now entered the invisibility zone (aka the wrong side of 40 for a woman) I sometimes don't mind being noticed when I am out on the bike.

Have you tried changing your hair colour? I only mention that because I have also heard of the invisibility zone from my mother and apparently it is particularly noticeable for blondes. When they are younger they get lots of attention and preferential treatment, then they hit 40 and BAM! Invisible!

My mother told me that although brunettes don't get the stunned mullet looks from males when they are younger they do start getting noticed as they age and don't have the same invisibility gene as the blondes do.

Although please ignore if you are a brunette already.

[outnabike]

This young bloke was just about to close the door of his car when a pretty girl walked past.He closed the door on his thumb and yelped. Certainly got a nice smile from the girl, and raucous laughter from a few blokes around him.Took me a week for that thumb to stop hurting....

[Summernight]

I saw the builders on a new housing site this morning staring very blatantly at the pretty girl in short shorts as she crossed the road (I was in my car waiting for her to cross so I could turn right). It was like three meerkats all sticking their heads out of their holes.
One of the builders noticed me watching him watching her. It was amusing.

[im_no_pro]

I've had what I assume was a 'Cor blimey [she's hot]'. And I've also been called a" [unspeakable] mole". But the second one was a pushy car driver who didn't know the rules of the road (and yes, he probably wouldn't have said that if I wasn't by myself and if I hadn't been asserting my right to be on the road.)

I'm not that offended by someone looking and appreciating - it would be the comments and gestures that would be crossing the line for me. If they look but don't talk then I'm none the wiser that they're appreciating. It's not as if I'm not looking at an attractive male cyclist if one does roll past. I just won't be shouting out my appreciation of his fine physique.

My sister apparently was walking along a street years ago and a guy walked past in the opposite direction and did the usual turn the head to watch her walk away and while he was distracted he walked into a pole. That story always makes me smile.

This post wins this thread IMO, in particular my highlight. Guys do it, girls do it. Hell, my wife does it. Even used to point out the occasional one to me until I started returning serve

Worry about your owns actions, no point in worrying about other peoples.

[newie]

My mother told me that although brunettes don't get the stunned mullet looks from males when they are younger they do start getting noticed as they age and don't have the same invisibility gene as the blondes do.

Although please ignore if you are a brunette already.

Already brunette. Luckily I am not too bothered at all about being even more invisible now.

[Apple]

My mother told me that although brunettes don't get the stunned mullet looks from males when they are younger they do start getting noticed as they age and don't have the same invisibility gene as the blondes do.

Although please ignore if you are a brunette already.

Already brunette. Luckily I am not too bothered at all about being even more invisible now.

I am a brunette as well, and a wog, I thought of colouring my hair blond but I would just look like Effie

[trailgumby]

And what's wrong with that?

[Mulger bill]

And what's wrong with that?

Plenty, too many bottle blondes out there already.

[Summernight]

And what's wrong with that?

Plenty, too many bottle blondes out there already.

And one Effie in this world is enough...

[Venus62]

And what's wrong with that?

Plenty, too many bottle blondes out there already.

Some of us are natural blondes. We do exist!