Erik Long
I love female cyclists and I wish like mad that there were more in the sport, but the problem isn't the money. As Evan pointed out, plenty of top-notch riders won't break even this year. There are more Pro/Elite men without any kind of paycheck than Pro/Elite women as a whole. They show up and race anyway.
It's not about money. I can recall certain races in obra's past where there was equal prize money. I recall one year at the old mayor's cup crit (I forget what year) when there was a few thousand $ for men (pro,1,2) and the same $ for women (Pro,1,2,3), 25 places deep for each. The men's race drew 50-60 riders. How many women show up? Not even enough to fill the field. The money was there. All you had to do was show up sans testicles and finish, and you'd collect a paycheck.
The cold hard truth is that the money isn't there because the riders aren't there. What sponsor wants to drop $10k on a 40-rider field if they can spend the same money on a 100 rider field that draws more spectators/press attention? Let's all put our business caps on and do a cost/benefit analysis: If you opt to dump equal funding on the two, you're fired.
I know it doesn't feel fair, but equal participation might warrant equal prize money. That's assuming everybody forgets the fact that the men's races push much higher speeds and thus draw far more spectators. That's not something I made up, and you were all thinking it, too. If you had the choice to see a hard stage of the Tour of CA or a stage of Eugene Celebration, which would you go for? California, all the way.
And ladies, don't act like you're really getting the short end, here. Fairness is an issue for Men, too. I've raced more than a few events where I went up against a 100-rider Men's Cat 2 field in a 31mph crit, and placed one spot out of the money (having paid my own entry fee on a bike that I had to buy). Then 50 Pro women race the same crit 4 mph SLOWER and are paid MORE money 5 places deeper.
That doesn't feel very fair as I sit, completely exhausted on the curb watching slower riders draw a paycheck while I quietly go broke, but that's how it is.
And I really do think that a bankrupt sport like domestic bike racing has enough problems without bitching about something as petty as this.
From: plewse@hotmail.com
To: daviddiviney@yahoo.com; jstewart@endurofit.com; obra@list.obra.org
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:52:40 +0000
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Equal Pay in Women's Cycling
Exactly! "A RIDER" isn't worth anything per say. However, a couple weeks ago there was quite a few people enjoying USGP in portland. How would that event ever taken place with out a bunch of "a riders"? How would velonews take pictures? How would manufacturers legitimize products? Why would you read about racing, talk about racing, or care how many grams a bolt weighs if there wasn't a high level of athletes and racing.
The sport wouldn't exist or be a sport. You would ride a comfort bike because that is all the industry made.
Not trying to start a big useless thread here. Jebs email is great cause, however, a greater cause is supporting the athletes that make cycling what it is for all of us. Without them there wouldn't be an OBRA.
Imagine: a world without pro cyclists, without doping scandals, without magazines and newspapers to follow athletes, movies about athletes, industry making product to meet the needs of pro cyclists, amatuer racers dreaming about being pros, etc, etc, etc.
I am not a big fan of unions but most other organized sports have associations that look out for the players. Maybe it is time for payback.
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:30:25 -0800
From: daviddiviney@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Equal Pay in Women's Cycling
To: plewse@hotmail.com; jstewart@endurofit.com; obra@list.obra.org
They'll get paid when someone with money thinks they are worth paying. Simply supply and demand. Who is going to determine a riders value/contribution to an industrry? Petitions can't force anyone to underwrite the sport.
Evan Plews wrote:
How about a petition to actually get paid to be a "pro" cyclist? Supposedly there are hundreds of pro cyclists in the country--most of them spend more than they make just to make the races, most of the rest make less than poverty wage. A few are lucky enough to make a living only equal median income levels.
I have signed these petitions, but the real question should be when will these fine athletes (men and women) actually start getting compensated relative to their performance level and contribution to the industry and sport?
> From: jstewart@endurofit.com
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:48:52 -0800
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Equal Pay in Women's Cycling
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> This was just sent to me and I though that it would be of interest to
> everyone on this list, so I am forwarding it on to you all. It was sent to
> me by friend and female cyclist on the US Women's Development and Kenda
> Women's Elite Team, Kristen Chime, who has recently moved to Boulder, CO to
> pursue her passion and live her dream.
>
> Please take a moment to read this and sign the petition if you feel called
> to do so.
>
> I have just read and signed the online petition:
>
> "Equal Prize Money for Female Cyclists"
>
> It is hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition
> service, at:
>
> http://www.PetitionOnline.com/equalpay/
>
> I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might
> agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider
> signing it yourself. I doing so, you are helping to bring further equality
> to women as a whole, but in particular, to women in the sport of cycling,
> where it is needs to be addressed in a big way.
>
> For more information, resources and a complete write us, please visit my
> blog at www.endurofit/blog.
>
> Thanks for your time and support,
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jeb Stewart MS, PES
> Endurofit, LLC
> www.endurofit.com
> jstewart@endurofit.com
> (503) 238-5408 p
> (706) 243-6105 f
>
> Sign up for your FREE training products at
> http://www.endurofit.com/free%20resources/free%20resources.html
>
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