I don't think it's the pink. I have the pinkest bike set up you will probably ever see. Right down to the pink anodized rims. Ride PG help me set her up as not only a "girl" bike but also as a reminder for some very special dirt bike riders that we have lost over the years; Ed Larosche, Taylor Reynolds and Edmund Herrington.
I race in two regional series and I have never had anything but encouragement from all of the guys. On the track, riders are often surprised when they see us out there but are always nice and even helpful if I end up being upside down pinned between a tree & my bike or something of that nature. The support that I have received from male riders of all ages has been amazing.
The off-road racing world has no doubt seen a large increase in female riders over the last few years. Major companies and many off-road racing series have realized this and are strongly catering to us with more Women's and Girl's Classes and more riding apparel options than ever before. The riders know we are there as well.
There is an extreme amount of respect that we ladies should have for the male riders who are obviously more aggressive and faster while racing. Staying out of their way and being a courteous sportsWOMAN is absolutely necessary. In turn, I do believe that the male riders will respect us just as much.
It's a tough sport, and undeniably a man's sport. It's hard, bruising, dirty, exhausting, the bikes are heavy and they often hurt. But having to prove that we can hold our own is now a thing of the past.
We race within a competition of our own, some of us fast and some of us learning. I consider myself a beginner rider still and although the times that I have actually passed a male rider in the woods have been quite few, I'm glad I was wearing pink when it happened!
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