FEATURE
Hannah Dobson, Singletrack managing editor
concerning the number of women joining the industry. “When I started at Canyon, I was the only woman in the office,” continued Marks. “That is something that they have worked on and are continuing to work on changing too. And you saw that even in the time that I was there. We were up to four of us by the time I left, so I think that that shows it was just something that needed time to progress. “And I think that’s the main thing, people being aware of it and taking initiative with it. I feel like that is happening a lot more now, companies taking that initiative and taking an active step towards it rather than just kind of letting it be and not doing anything about it.”
Making the effort Another workplace that’s been progressive in terms of its female staff is Singletrack, the digital and print magazine. It has always had a lot of women involved in significant roles, and is supportive of other aspects of equality as well. Hannah Dobson is their managing editor, a role she took on in 2021, after being editorial manager for six years, and she has noticed a shift in attitudes from when she first started in the industry. “I think there’s more recognition that you need to make the effort”, said Dobson. “I haven’t been on a press trip for a while now, but I’ve certainly had experiences of being the only woman on one and being the only person there out of all the staff on the launch as well as all the media people. There are some experiences of kind of sexist jokes and stuff being made that I think have been left more or less behind.
12 | April 2023
I think that really people are a little bit more conscious that this isn’t an all-boys club anymore.” The all-boys club feeling may ring true for many women working in the cycling industry. There’s no denying that previously, cycling in one form or another has been seen as more of a male-dominated activity, and the repercussions of that remain when some feel like imposters. “There is still that element there, it does still feel like you need to prove yourself, in a way that I don’t think the guys do,” continued Dobson. “I think there is still that element of like presumption of novice-ness or that you won’t understand or whatever. “I think it’s the recognition that it needs to change, but it hasn’t yet changed. The men that are in the roles that a woman could be doing too haven’t moved on. I was at iceBike, and there were very few women there. And there are women in the industry, but proportionately, you don’t see as many in things like technical roles. The shift is happening, but it has to work through the system.” Companies like Parcours and Singletrack may be in the minority, although Issy Hobday, social media and content manager for Fully Charged is hopeful that the widespread growth of electric bikes means more women find cycling accessible: something that could transfer into more wanting to work in the cycling industry.
Tipping the balance Hobday graduated from Bristol University last year and was club captain in her final year, but she admitted they struggle
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