Adventure quote:
What was once frowned down upon as unladylike, trivial, and shocking, is now done openly and with the approval of the beholders. Perhaps nothing illustrates this so much as the riding of the bicycle."
~ Dr. Gracie Ritchie
Egad - a woman on a bike!
Would you believe it - a woman with a bike!! And she's not even wearing a proper dress, she's not...
Thank goodness times have changed, and adventurous wenches can now ride bicycles, tromp about in hiking boots, or go white-water rafting (our next escapade), without endangering the safety of male onlookers. 
We certainly owe a debt of gratitude to all those women who came before who pushed the envelope, and broke the rules, and step by step gained more freedoms and rights for women.
We take this almost for granted now, and it's shocking to read of countries where women aren't allowed to drive, or have to get permission from their father or husband to travel, or get stoned to death for adultery.
Even in the US, it wasn't that long ago that women had no right to vote, and the suffragettes had to fight and suffer so that we now have our voice in politics too.
It's hard to imagine living under the restrictions that women faced in the past, or face today in other countries. I'm SO happy to be living in a time and place where women have more opportunities than ever before -- in work, in lifestyle, in politics, and (of course) in bicycling!
Wonder what this guy would have thought of bike shorts? 
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I'm in New Mexico now, with our women's trip to Santa Fe & Taos. This morning we're going whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande. If I get any decent photos I'll post them later. I bet this guy would think it's a decidedly unladylike thing to do. Hah!
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4 responses so far ↓
1 Kim // Sep 23, 2008 at 4:18 am
I am extremely glad that we now live in a time where women have the same rights and opportunities as men. Reading your post really highlights some of the major differences between the two times in our history. I must also say that I whole heartedly agree that those who fought for the rights that we now have really truly do deserve our thanks and appreciation.
2 Carl // Sep 23, 2008 at 6:44 am
For many reasons I am glad things have changed too. Many things never made much sense to me as a man and I believe women in many ways are stronger than man. Equality is something God gave us, not man. So run with it.
3 SallyAnn // Sep 23, 2008 at 8:32 am
Elliman's Embrocation is a liniment that is still made today by Beechams. My great grandmother still uses it! But alas, she no longer cycles. But it's good for hher arthrisis he says. I'm always thanking Granny for paving the way for the rest of us women! I can't imagine living in a country that is so biased against women as to stop them from doing the most basic things! The horror!
4 Deanna Keahey // Sep 23, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Wow - Elliman's Embrocation is still around? That's amazing! I don't think I'd even heard the word "embrocation" before finding this picture.
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