Without a doubt cycling is dominated by males. Stop for a second and make two lists. One list including all the male pro cyclists you can think of off the top of your head, male riding companions of yours, and other male Velominati. On the other list, jot down all the female pro cyclists you can, female riding companions of yours, and most importantly, female Velominati. Without a doubt, guaranteed, fo’ sho’ the first list you made is considerably longer than the second. Furthermore, I’m guessing your second list, the one with the names of women, has something like 5-10 names in the pro column, something less than that in the female cyclists you ride with column, and something smaller still in the female Velominati column. Far be it from me to pontificate on why this might be, although I do have my suspicions, so let’s just say it just is. But that doesn’t mean it can’t change.
That said, we’ve received some pointed feedback from the fairer sex that we’re a bit of an old boys club here at the site. Moreover, some of our female readership has taken umbrage with our use of the term Velomihottie. Upon further reflection, we can understand why. In its inception, Velomihottie was meant to convey a female Velominatus, a feminine derivation of the term which denotes a cycling disciple of the highest order. Seems simple enough, right? However, the misogynistic tone of the word “hottie” has been pointed out as something that is turning female readership and participation away. That is not something that we, the Keepers, ever intended.
Taking their feedback a step further and actually making it constructive, something women are much better at than men are, our female counterparts offered up a suggestion: Velominata. This makes perfect sense, no? It seems the correct feminine derivation of our hackneyed faux-latin masculine Velominatus. So with that we offer up an edit to the Lexicon:
Velominata: A female cycling disciple of the highest order.
So thank you to all of our female readers, no Velominata, who visit the site, lay down the V, and appreciate this place enough to actually offer up a great suggestion. You are correct, we can be a bit of an old boys club around here sometimes. But if you stick around, let your voices be heard, and tell us to HTFU often enough that can change. More importantly we want you to share your passion for cycling on these pages.
By the way, the Velominata pictured above is Katrien Van Looy. She’s Rik Van Looy’s grand daughter. If you don’t like this change to the Lexicon then talk to one of them. They’ll rip your spindly little legs off.
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View Comments
@Marko
"@ms30594 Stefanie? How did you find me here?"
++10^9
Interesting take on the post.
Seems like there are definite viewpoints being voiced here, all good and all have their own merit. I think that it is generally showing that most didn't really see VMH as being sexist, just how one viewed either themself or others within the peloton. With ( not wanting to at all) a risk of opening another can of worms here, we could all do with a little less of the PC world we have become to appease a select few and HTFU.
VMH and Velominata; both are valid terms and the latter is a worthy addition to the lexicon.
@ms30594
full marks to a Velominata that quotes from Conan the Barbarian!
Nice on @Marko. And as said I always thought the Velomihottie was for my significant other, not for anyone elses cycling significant other.
+1 on Emma "Lays down significant showings of The V " Pooley. Saw her at a Cyclo Sportif in Perth. 80km of hills and she had a team of 8 guys with her. I think she only came back with 4 in the hurt locker and none of them did any work on the Front.
@Pedale.Forchetta
Whomever that young Velominata is this pic makes it look like she's a budding young lioness. Eyes fixed down the road seemingly not caring what the dude is doing with her bike as long as it gets fixed so she can go lay down some pain. Cool shot.
@Pedale.Forchetta
That's a very cool photo BTW.
Love the black & white & the intensity & longing in her eyes. It's like she's thinking - "just hurry up with the back wheel so I can get back out there & dish out some more of the V."
@minion
hear, hear (or is that here, here as in I'm hear and agreeing with @minion?)
And IP legend Alison Shanks
@il ciclista medio
hear who? Horton?
Classic cycle courier question for noewbies over the RT, "you're what now where with who?"
May it beseech the Keepers: should we reconsider the term "Hardman?"
@Eightzero
There's something wrong with "Hardwoman"? (There certainly would be with "Flahutess", but I think we should proceed on the basis (linguistically correct or no) that "Flahute" is not gender-specific.)