With distracted and aggressive driving becoming commonplace, many cyclists in the Chicagoland area have shifted from road riding to gravel. However, there is a noticeable gender disparity, with significantly more men than women participating in gravel racing. This was evident at the recent Rough Road 100 (RR100) gravel race in Morris, Illinois. The event offered two course options: a 100k or 64k route consisting of 60% paved roads, 40% gravel, and scenic rural farm roads, with a few punchy hills thrown in as you crisscross the Illinois River a couple of times.
Since its inception in 2015, the RR100 has gained popularity yearly, attracting nearly 800 riders in 2024. It was my first year participating, and I signed up for the 100k. It was on my calendar last year, but the horizontal winds, sleet, and frigid temps had me heading to the basement for a trainer ride instead. Mother Nature was kind this year, taking a break from a week of rain, granting us a sunny, mild April day.
As I lined up for the race start, it was hard to ignore that most participants were male, making up 80% of the field. However, credit goes to race director Craig Patnode, who is actively working to encourage more women to take part in his event. According to Craig, “I saw a dip in female participation post-pandemic and started to build a plan to increase those numbers by asking a LOT of questions. It will be a slow build, but my race is truly a good entry event into racing and gravel. And from day one, I’ve had equal payouts on the USAC side of things.”
The start line made it obvious the race was male-dominated.
Craig even reached out to RR100 sponsor BMC to request their help. Joan Hanscom, Marketing Manager for BMC, answered that call by providing 120 free entries exclusively for women. When the news hit Instagram, a post went up on the Trek Highland Park Women’s Facebook group, and no less than ten women, who were first-timers, signed up. This year’s support that BMC provided moved the needle to the right, with the field comprising just over 20% of women.
In addition to the entries, Craig is making a concerted effort to make RR100 a welcoming atmosphere for not only women but all riders. “I’m trying to build a place where women feel comfortable riding/racing,” stated Craig. From the RR100 website to their IG post to pre-race announcements, there’s a plea for people to be welcoming, say hello to riders out on the course, and be encouraging to others. Their requests are precisely what makes gravel racing/riding so much fun. It’s a different vibe than you experience at a road race or crit. Riders are even dressed more relaxed.
I perceive gravel races like the RR100 as a mullet race, where it’s all business in the front with the pros and CAT riders forming large packs, while the back is all about having a good time for those who simply want to enjoy the ride. For this race, I fit into the latter category. While my friend and I rode hard, we stopped for a bathroom break, took in the view, and snapped pictures. Essentially, I’ve reached a stage where I enjoy endurance rides but have no interest in “mixing it up” in a huge pack.
What’s the secret sauce to increasing female participation
Any race director wanting to grow their registration numbers needs to attract women to their event. Looking closer at the RR100 numbers, women tend to gravitate towards the shorter distance, with just under 30% of the entries in the 64K, but only around 12.5% of the 100K field were women. Race organizers should consider offering a shorter route to attract first-time racers/riders of either gender.
Rebecca’s Private Idaho, hosted by Rebecca Rosch, even offers riders an 18.7 mile course. Rebecca was part of a panel this past week at Sea Otter, where she mentioned that only 30% of her event attendees were women. While it is 10% more than RR100, we all agree this number needs to grow. Maybe this makes a valid case to offer shorter route options so first-time riders/racers aren’t as intimidated.
It’s not that women can’t do the distances, but someone looking to race for the first time probably wants to ride shorter. Thinking back when I started racing triathlons, it was terrifying for me even to consider racing any long distance. Having a shorter option gave me the courage to sign up and get to the start line. My first few races were sprint distance, then increasing to Olympic, then half, and finally a full-distance aqua bike.
BMC handed out bandanas to every female rider.
Building a more inclusive gravel community
In conclusion, while the gender disparity in gravel racing is evident, events like the Rough Road 100 are taking proactive steps to bridge the gap. Race director Craig Patnode’s efforts, along with the support of sponsors like BMC, have helped increase female participation and create a welcoming atmosphere for all riders. By offering shorter route options and fostering a sense of community, race organizers can continue to attract more women to the sport. As gravel racing/riding continues to grow in popularity, it is crucial to ensure that women have equal opportunities and feel empowered to take on new challenges. Together, we can create a more inclusive and diverse gravel community.
Sheri Rosenbaum regularly contributes articles and reviews products for RBR. She’s an avid recreational roadie who lives in the Chicago area and a major advocate for women’s cycling, serving on the board of directors and volunteering with the Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club. Click to read Sheri’s full bio or visit her web site sunflowersandpedals.com.
Not every cyclist is a racer. How about encouraging women to just ride. Who cares if they ever enter race?
I wonder how much of this is that women’s events are almost always shorter, watered down versions of the men’s events at the top level, with notable exceptions (such as the lifetime grand prix). It makes their event seem like an afterthought……which probably doesn’t help participation. Although…I might be wrong about this.
Joe