Will we get a women's tour?

You have to admire Laura Trott's [et al] campaign to force the status of women's cycling onto the sport's agenda. For too long the professional end of the sport has done little to promote women's events.
For me, cycling should make a break from other sports and really show how equitable it can be - there I go again getting excited about how cycling is a democratising force!
The trite line which is used to explain the lack of pro events is that sponsors wont wear it. They do this as there is little TV interest. And there's little TV interest as there's not enough money in it to make it stack up. And so the vicious circle continues.
It wouldn't be as bad if there were no female cycling talent around. It's not like we're still waiting for the new Beryl Burton or Jeannie Longo - the talent is there, the racing is competitive but it comes well down the order.
I was fortunate enough to watch the women's Curlew Cup in the North East recently and watched Hannah Barnes sprint to victory.

The racing was hard fought, tight and very competitive - just as you like it.
So, if you have not already done so, join the other 86,500 and sign the petition here and support women's racing wherever you can.
Ride safe

Breeze: women-only cycling event in Manchester

A week next Sunday (23 September) the women only Breeze ride takes place including one in Greater Manchester at Phillips Park in Swinton.
The purpose of the Breeze series is encourage more women to take to two wheels.  It is an undeniable truism that more fellah's ride bikes than women do.
And this is a sad thing.

Pictures like this re-establish your belief in humanity

When I get a bit excited and carried away with bikes and their social / historical significance, I ponder on the simple invention of two circles and two triangles which has brought freedom and emancipation to millions of people all over the world for the last 150 years or so.
The bike should be embraced by all people in equal number: it does not distinguish between gender, race or age of its rider.  The bicycle does not discriminate.
So events like Breeze are a good thing in my book and I sincerely hope they lead to more and more women taking up cycling.