CX Down Under - International Women’s Day Survey 2023: Your Feedback
One of the many great things about the sport of cyclocross is its gender diversity - as the State of Australian Cyclocross series showed that in 2019 women made up around 25% of participants in cyclocross around Australia.
While this is a higher rate of female participation than other cycling disciplines such as mountain biking or road cycling, there’s still work to be done to strive for gender equality in the sport of cyclocross, especially as it pertains to racing in Australia and New Zealand.
With that in mind, we created a survey to gain feedback on the current state of gender equality in the state of cyclocross, just in time for International Women’s Day 2023. Thanks to all those who responded. Please note that there are different levels of privacy for different respondents, each according to their wishes.
The answers are below - we hope you find them insightful.
What obstacles (if any) have you encountered that prevented/delayed your entry into the sport of cyclocross?
Not enough women's categories. I am a C grade rider and it is incredibly intimidating having to ride B or A if there isn't enough women for all categories, and them even if there is separate categories there is sometimes such a small number of entrants that you [don’t] get the competition you'd normally get which isn’t as fun.
L.M.
Equipment, costs, travel.
Anonymous
Not seeing clear advertising of when events are on - I can search for cyclocross events of CX events and all I find advertised are old events and nothing in the future.
N.S.
Not having a CX bike for a while and not having and friends that race CX.
Anonymous
The thought of not being skilled enough.
L.D.
Cost of travelling out of town for events. Accomodation, petrol. Ability to get time off work. But mainly it’s the lack of races in Melbourne itself.
Anonymous
I wasn't sure I'd enjoy racing with so many spectators.
Ari Yates
Work/life commitments.
Anonymous
Tilly Field grinds through the mud at round 8 of the 2022 Australian National CX Series in Ballarat.
Photo: @thatbikenerd
What's the best thing you've seen an organiser or fellow racer do to promote gender equality in cyclocross Down Under? How did that make you feel?
The first time I tried it, and it was amazing to race and have people like [former Australian champion] Peta Mullens being supportive for first timers. Was also lovely vibe with fires, food, drinks and great fun with the kids events and the dogs events. so inclusive and fun.
N.S.
Create a women's (and other marginalised genders) cx collective, provide skills sessioms for free to build confidence and inspire more ladies to join. This was done by another woman.
L.M.
Having a variety of grades to suit all levels for women. So it feels a lot less daunting.
Anonymous
From my limited race experience I would say cyclocross feels quite equal compared to other disciplines I’ve raced. Racing on same course for equal prizes seems to be fair. I can’t say whether or be noticed the men or women’s field receiving different amounts of attention leading into a race either.
Anonymous
The women's day at the start of the season that DDCX [Dirty Deeds Cyclocross] used to run were amazingly successful. I felt surprised that do many women in Melbourne owned CX bikes.
Ari Yates
Mr Pink [David Morgan, a Victorian commissaire known for his colourful pink outfits]! He’s so supportive of women’s CX racing and we feel so seen and celebrated when he is the commissaire!
L.D.
I can’t think of anything sorry. New to the community. But watching my friends race at Dirty Deeds in Brunswick is what got me really keen. So access and visibility!
Anonymous
Spectators of all genders being encouraging and heckling women’s races.
Anonymous
More grades and equal opportunity.
Anonymous
Sarah Turnbull negotiates a corner at dusk in round 3 of the 2022 Victorian State CX Series.
Photo: @thatbikenerd
What's the biggest setback or worst piece of behaviour (related to gender) you've encountered in your time riding or racing cyclocross? How did that make you feel?
Elite Men warming up on course while women are still racing. Disappointing and also warrants disqualification.
Anonymous
Comentators making sexist remarks. Occasionally it can be incredibly overt but more often than not it's the subtle sexism that implies that women's racers aren't racing and its more "giving it a go" which isn’t true for most people there and makes it feel like the women's grade equivalents of the men’s are "less than" and not "real” cyclocross riders. Definitely made me frustrated and sucked the fun out of those races.
L.M.
Not personally but being made to move up a grade but then getting smashed. They just wanted to have fun.
Anonymous
The worst I have experienced was in Cross Country MTB racing in Women’s D or C grade, I had an older non-elite man who yelled gender-specific related abuse at me me when they wanted me to move off the trail despite me being in a section of the trail where I wasn't comfortable to move the the side (no room, it was narrow with a steep embankment going down on either side) and when I said that "I can't! I'll fall" they abused me some more and then knocked me off my bike and pushed past.
When I went to complain to the race director, the older guy [who] had finished before me had made a complaint about me not moving over fast enough and I copped an earful for not moving over, despite having 2 other women there who witnessed the entire altercation from the rear. Then I was told afterwards that to have had the complaint handled seriously I had needed to pay $50 to the race director, within 2 hours of the older guy finishing. I left it thinking why did I even bother trying this sport when I can ride on my own and not have to deal with as many abusive people on the trails.
I've never seen anything like that in cyclocross, because there is no mixing of categories. But this experience has put me off racing cross country.
N.S.
Assuming women's grades will be small, especially elite grades.
An official aggressively telling a female participant off for supposedly riding an illegal bike because the official assumed she raced in graded races rather than Open. Repeating their admonishment multiple times while talking over said female participant, who was repeatedly saying ‘I RACED OPEN’.
Anonymous
When they combine all of the women’s grades, because the fields are small. Actually combining the grades isn’t so bad - and I believe the outcome is always okay because the women are so respectful of each other and their capabilities. But I think the way they go about it sometimes can make women feel like they have no option, but to agree to that, and act like they are okay with it.
At one of the [Victorian State CX Series] races in Warragul, the commissare was very new to cyclocross. He didn’t grid the women riders, made us start in an unsafe area, and when we all pulled him up on it, he just showed a lack of respect for how serious the women were wanting to take the race.
Anonymous
A grade women starting behind B grade men. I felt annoyed that the A grade women aren't respected in the same way the men are. I also had men chant about my short shorts one race which made me super uncomfortable.
Ari Yates
Can’t answer, haven’t raced yet!
Anonymous
As a lower grade rider, the warm up laps are often very intimidating. Many male participants don’t say ‘passing on your right/left’ or sit very closely on your wheel so you feel like you’re in their way. Even though we all have as much right to be there.
L.D.
Dr Kim Hurst is a proud Kiwi, a local GP, a race organiser and a pretty handy bike rider in her own right. Here she is leaning into the berm at the 2018 Melbourne Grand Prix of CX, with Nat Redmond close behind.
Photo: @thatbikenerd
What changes (if any) would you like to see event organisers make to improve gender equality in cyclocross Down Under?
I think the training and skills days are really important. Reaching out to companies like Rapha and MAAP and getting them involved to access their women’s rider communities. Education and support of new riders so they feel included and less daunted is everything. Perhaps a pride round like they have in football.
Anonymous
I would like to participate in events based on skill rather than gender. Race against people of a similar fitness and skill regardless of gender.
Ari Yates
Allow A grade / elite women's grades to race separately from C grade and Open. The A graders are lovely to us but it is unfair that their races are hindered by us, and that we mist have the stress of hindering them, simply because it is assumed they won't get entries.
Anonymous
20mins women’s only warm up when [there are] big entry numbers.
L.D.
More events, advertised well in advance so we can plan for it. Keeping events for women and men separate to reduce abuse is great and also allows for families to ensure there is always a caregiver looking after the kids/dogs. Keep doing what you're doing. Make sure there are facilities like toilets, places to sit eat and drink. Keep the music going and have a good vibe that isn't so much elite/ego/results based.
N.S.
For myself racing elite I feel the equality is good. To increase female participation I think more lower categories to remove the fear of ‘not being good enough to race’ but that’s not exactly an equality issue.
Anonymous
Having kid's races beforehand (which we do!) Is fantastic as we often need it to be family inclusive to make it more accessible for women, so maybe even providing shaded areas for kids after their race when the parents are racing. That and holding commentators accountable, and providing training in especially the subtle sexism to them. They're the big loud voice on the day representing the whole sport that can be heard all over course so they really are the face of what CX is.
L.M
[2022 Australian] Nationals course was not fair on masters women!
Anonymous
Tamaryn Stevens is a passionate C grade racer from Victoria, who also happens to be an age-group transplant national champion on the road. Here she’s negotiating the runup at round 7 of the AusCycling National CX Series in Creswick.
Photo: @thatbikenerd
What changes (if any) would you like to see men (male riders and racers specifically) make to improve gender equality in cyclocross Down Under?
Where I've raced the vast majority of the male racers have been fantastic. The only issue I have had is 1 father who is a coach to his children who was so over the top intense screaming at them on track that it made it horrible for everyone around. I don’t know if the kids found it encouraging or not but no one said anything and I am not sure if it is because he also did a great job supporting the kids races, but the screaming and "do better" attitude instead of encouraging them made it very intimidating and uninviting.
L.M.
Stay, watch, support the women’s races. If a women’s race is after the guys races don’t just disappear. Give them the support they give you.
Anonymous
More encouraging and kind [passing]! Instead of blasting past!
Anonymous
I think men that do cyclocross are generally much better than in some other sports. Continue to be woke, have fun and cheer everyone on!
N.S.
Be encouraging, don't assume, advocate for time for women's grades.
Anonymous
Expect that genders outside of your own might have expertise and skill. Know that this is normal.
Ari Yates
More engagement of fellow racers- staying to watch women race even when your own race is over, cheering on women during races.
Anonymous
Encourage appropriate communication when on the warm up laps passing other riders.
L.D.
Yeah the (tiny) girls!
Photo: @thatbikenerd
What's something small we can all do to improve gender equality in cyclocross Down Under?
Offer a discounted entry fee for excluded [genders] that represents the wage gap for an event.
Ari Yates
Same stuff you do for men, do for the female categories. Same kind of commentary, that sort of thing. Its not rocket science, you're already doing a great job of it - keep going.
N.S.
Be inviting and inclusive and the communities of gender marginalised people will spread the word that it’s a safe place :)
Anonymous
Comentator training.
L.M.
Encourage beginners, advertise open races and let riders know they can start without specific equipment
Anonymous
Sometimes have a women’s grade race first.
L.D.
I love what you’re all doing, providing a place for people to feel comfortable coming to try the sport, a place where they feel they don’t have to know everything and have everything they can they can come and have fun, they can come and race hard they can come for the vibes… It’s whatever they want it to be.
Anonymous
The combined women’s A, B and C grade fields gather for a post-race photo opportunity at a 2018 round of the Victorian cyclocross series at Mt Beauty.
Photo: @thatbikenerd
In your mind, what will be the biggest sign that cyclocross Down Under has achieved gender equality?
[When] the women's field is as big as the men's and we also have the ability for trans and non binary folk to race in whatever category they want with ease and without fear of discrimination.
L.M.
It's hard to know. I want to say equal participation but that relies on broader gender issues such as wage gap and carer/home responsibilities to also be resolved.
Ari Yates
When we are so near parity that the community no longer notices the disparity and the fields are full of riders!
Anonymous
Social statistics. People who have attended including supporters etc, and people who have raced or had a go.
N.S.
Individual Time slots for all women's grades- or, at least, for Women's Elite/A grades.
Anonymous
When women’s grades aren’t combined to ‘save time’.
L.D.
More participation.
Anonymous