Mike Murray

This simplified version ignores the major criticisms of the initial

proposal. Namely:



-Time constraints.

For example, weekly track events can practically only run 4 categories. If

we are to follow the proposal #1 then we will have 2 women's categories and

2 men's categories rather than the current 3 men's categories and 1 women's

category. Currently we rarely have ANY women interested in riding the

women's category on Thursdays. They all opt to ride with the men. (It is a

separate point that this option is open only to women.) All events have a

similar constraints. There is ALWAYS a limited amount of available time.



-OBRA competes for the race organizer's participation.

If OBRA has a rule that race organizers feel is onerous then the race

organizer will either not put on his race or will sanction his race through

another organization. As a race organizer I would see this proposal as

unworkable at my venues and I would consider alternative sanctioning. The

race organizer needs to be able to choose the categories that meet his needs

in putting on the race.



-Women already have wider competition opportunities than men.

A 31 year old Category 3 women may ride in all of the following fields:

Women

Women Masters

Men Cat 3

Men Cat 4

Men masters

A 25 year old man Category 3 rider may ride in only Category 3.

Currently women represent about 10% of OBRA's membership. At my events 25%

of the categories are women's categories. Certainly there are never 9 men's

categories for a single women's category as would be suggested by the

available market of riders.



-OBRA governance.

OBRA rules or policies are not changed by petition. Changes may be made by

presenting them to the Board of Directors or to the membership where they

are voted on by the club representatives. Proposals to the membership are

usually done at the annual meeting but could be done at any time.



Candice you need to take a much wider view. Consider the impact that your

proposal will have on ALL events. Certainly it would be easy to follow the

proposed guidelines at a time trial. For a track event or a criterium it

would be nearly impossible. For road events it would be at very least

difficult. You have yet to organize a single bike race. If you feel that

there needs to be more events that give women racing opportunities then go

ahead and hold them. Feel free to have a women's only race or even a series

of women's races. This is available to you. You can take the financial

risk, do the footwork, etc. After you have done this then come back with

your suggestions and they may be taken more seriously.



Mike Murray



-----Original Message-----

From: Candace Bonner, M.D. 67 3158 [mailto:candace-@kp.org]

Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 1:06 PM

To: OBRA

Subject: [OBRA Chat] OBRA petition new version



   Below is a new and much simplified version of the OBRA petition to

   promote greater equality in bicycle racing opportunities for women and

   men. Since the last version, I have spoken to as many people as I could

   in other post collegiate competitive sports, to learn whether this

   male/female dichotomy is a problem other than in bicycle racing. So

   far, from this non-systematic informal survey, it appears bicycle racing

   is the only hold out. Anyway, the intention of this simplified version

   is to be cost neutral. I hope our promoters will give specific feedback

   as to whether, and if so, exactly how this will increase the expenses of

   race promotion given it does not require additional cash prizes and

   would allow for categories to be combined for road race starts when low

   numbers make that appropriate. If it is not cost neutral, then we

   should continue to work on a version that is, and still promotes equal

   opportunity. Printed copies of this version will be at the STT this

   weekend. Thank you to all the supportive women racers who keep asking me

   to please keep this issue alive!



   We the undersigned would like to encourage OBRA to continue to work

   towards equal opportunity for both men and women, both older and

   younger, in cycle racing in Oregon, by adopting the following

   guidelines:

   1) Equivalent racing categories should be offered to men and women for

   all OBRA sanctioned events.

   2) It will be at the discretion of the promoter whether cash prizes are

   offered in each category, or whether categories with low numbers are

   combined, with cash prizes offered to only to those who place in the

   combined category.

   3) Equivalent categories for men and women will be maintained for

   determination of ribbon awards and BAR points.



   All feedback welcome!



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Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics

Jon Walpole

Candace,



I have long supported women's racing, but I don't support

your petition (a) because I think it is based on some false

assumtions, and (b) because I think it imposes unnecessary

restrictions on race promoters. Regarding the false assumptions

part, the current situation is that all races are open to

women. Hence women already have an equal racing opportunity.

There are some races that are closed to men (women's races),

but none that are closed to women. Furthermore, women have the

option to ride their category or ride one category below in an

open race. These existing rules mean that women currently have

far greater racing opportunities than men.



It is true that prize money varies from one event to another

and from one category to another, but your current petition

doesn't require equal prize money, and in any case, I don't

think prize money is, or should be, a significant issue in any

of the racing at the OBRA level.



Regarding the restrictions on race promoters, this is a small

sport in grave danger of going extinct due to lack of race

promoters. These people are volunteers contributing their own

time and money to make our sport happen. If someone wants to

promote a race for a single category, whatever that might be,

we should encourage and thank them. If they want to expand the

number of categories thats all well and good, but please, lets

support the people who make the sport happen rather than subject

them to restrictive legislation.



Finally, the best thing for women to do if they want to encourage

race promoters to put on more women's only races with larger prize

lists etc, is to turn up at the races. There are a lot of women's

races on the calendar right now. If promoters saw large field sizes

I'm sure many would supply races to match the demand. There is no

barrier to this course of action, so lets see the big fields.



-- Jon

Candace Bonner, M.D. 67 3158

   Below is a new and much simplified version of the OBRA petition to

   promote greater equality in bicycle racing opportunities for women and

   men. Since the last version, I have spoken to as many people as I could

   in other post collegiate competitive sports, to learn whether this

   male/female dichotomy is a problem other than in bicycle racing. So

   far, from this non-systematic informal survey, it appears bicycle racing

   is the only hold out. Anyway, the intention of this simplified version

   is to be cost neutral. I hope our promoters will give specific feedback

   as to whether, and if so, exactly how this will increase the expenses of

   race promotion given it does not require additional cash prizes and

   would allow for categories to be combined for road race starts when low

   numbers make that appropriate. If it is not cost neutral, then we

   should continue to work on a version that is, and still promotes equal

   opportunity. Printed copies of this version will be at the STT this

   weekend. Thank you to all the supportive women racers who keep asking me

   to please keep this issue alive!

   

   We the undersigned would like to encourage OBRA to continue to work

   towards equal opportunity for both men and women, both older and

   younger, in cycle racing in Oregon, by adopting the following

   guidelines:

   1) Equivalent racing categories should be offered to men and women for

   all OBRA sanctioned events.

   2) It will be at the discretion of the promoter whether cash prizes are

   offered in each category, or whether categories with low numbers are

   combined, with cash prizes offered to only to those who place in the

   combined category.

   3) Equivalent categories for men and women will be maintained for

   determination of ribbon awards and BAR points.

   

   All feedback welcome!