Some men have been supportive teachers in bike mechanics, but others make assumptions. The problem isn’t men being skilled with bikes. It’s assuming women can’t. Sexism in cycling 101.

People familiar with me are aware that I know a thing or two about bikes. I geek out about gear ratios. I’m a regular at bike shops as much as I am on FB Marketplace and Shopee looking for good deals on bike parts. I’m extremely meticulous about what goes on my cockpit and drivetrain, and specifically what shade of green goes on the frameset.

And yes, I’m a woman. A woman who happens to know a thing or two about bikes.

But ever since I (nearly) finished my mini velo, I’ve been getting some comments, coincidentally from men, that may sound condescending. “Babae ka’t marunong ka mag-ayos ng bike?” (“You’re a woman and you can fix a bike?”); “Kaya mo pala mag-assemble ng bike?” (“You actually know how to assemble a bike?”).

Some have even said, “Mainit sa mata” when talking about the newest addition to my stable. The first time someone said this, I was totally fine with it, and I even laughed at the comment. But then a few more people started saying the same thing.

Now, I don’t know what the idiom means exactly, because it has many connotations, but I know when it’s bordering on “Sarap nakawin” levels. I don’t mind people admiring my bikes; if anything, I take it as a compliment to my taste in design. But after being repeatedly reminded that I’m a woman with some knowledge of bikes, comments that might otherwise sound harmless start to feel different.

Leandro gets countless compliments for his Bridgestone Eurasia, but never have we both heard anyone comment “mainit sa mata” about his bike.

Why is the language different when the owner is a woman?

In isolation, mainit sa mata is just an observation. But after being asked whether I can assemble a bike and whether I know how to fix one, as though these are surprising accomplishments for a woman, the phrase takes on a different character.

Admittedly, many women would not bother tinkering with their bikes for so many reasons. That’s fine. And I’m probably privileged with time and energy to pay attention to mine. I don’t mind getting all greasy and grimy after fixing my chain, sweating up a storm from aligning my fenders all afternoon, or perpetually guessing the right angle of my handlebars. I’m cool with getting down and dirty like this because these are my bikes, and they deserve my care. If I want them to be useful for decades to come, I should learn how to fix them myself.

Gender shouldn’t matter when it comes to who can learn these skills.

My knowledge of bikes didn’t magically appear overnight, either. I learned through trial and error, expensive ones sometimes. I had to learn that “standards” in cycling are often anything but standard. I turn to Leandro and Tambay Cycling Hub’s Eugene and Rey for advice, and they are kind enough to teach and guide me once or twice, and then let me work on my own afterward. I watch Calvin Jones from Park Tool on YouTube when no one is available to help me. I read Reddit fora, cycling blogs, and even write about bikes so I can learn about how others use and tweak theirs. When I can’t work on something, such as installing shifter and brake cables, I leave it to the mechanic to do his magic, then take note of the steps for future reference.

All of this simply means that I am investing my resources into something I love, something that countless other female cyclists have done before me and are doing now.

When Will Sexism in Cycling End?

It’s fitting that I’m writing this during the week of World Bicycle Day. We celebrate bicycles for being democratizing machines. But some people are still trapped in their macho mindset and act surprised when a woman knows how to fix, build, or modify her own bikes.

Again, I just happen to be a woman who can do all of that, and there are many women out there who are much, much, much better than I am at what people think is a “man’s interest.”

The world of cycling really is still a man’s world. Like cars encroaching on the bike lane, leave enough space for us.