APPENDIX 4

Differences between Male and Female riders

This appendix presents results where responses from male and female riders differed. The main difference was in overall involvement, with only 15% of the sample collected being women. Identification of how women riders differed from the men may provide some insight into their relative lack of involvement in the activity. This is important as a large increase in overall rider numbers would occur if women became more actively involved.

A4.1 Descriptive Characteristics

Overall, there were no differences in the demographic characteristics of men and women. Both also had the same proportion involved in clubs (approximately 30%). However, some differences were apparent in rider experience characteristics. This was reflected in their sample group (Table A.4.1), and their experience characteristics (Table A.4.2).

Table A.4.1: Race Classes of Women in the Survey

Women were represented more amongst the shop sample, but were also included across all the race entry classes. The proportion of women in the expert class was almost equal to that of men. This suggests an equivalent group of `elite' riders exists for both men and women. Table A.4.2 provides more background on the actual experience levels of these riders.

Table A.4.2 : Experience characteristics by gender

Women rated their riding experience at lower levels than did the men, with a lower proportion rating themselves in the expert group than entered that race class. For men , these proportions were the same. This could suggest a possible reluctance amongst women to acknowledge their real ability in riding. In fact, their actual experience did not generally appear much lower than that of the men.

In terms of the number of years they had been riding, women had almost the same experience level as men. And although women had generally done fewer races, the difference here was not great. The main difference was in the numbers of days rides took place per year, where women indicated a less intense activity pattern. Even then, the difference was not great. What these results do indicate is that there is a broad range of experience levels amongst women riders in the sample.

A4.2 Features of Mountain Biking

There were differences in the features of mountain biking most favoured by men and women. This was apparent from the five most important features, and the top three of these. In the tables that show these responses, differences between the preferences of men and women are indicated by bold on the greater of the two responses.

Table A.4.3: Most Important Mountain Biking Features by Gender

The features included by these riders amongst their five most important suggested that men and women differed in their riding motivations. Men appeared to focus more upon features inherent in the activity of riding itself, while women gave greater emphasis to experiences associated with being on active outdoor trips. However, these results may not necessarily represent a gender-based difference. This pattern is similar to that noted across experience groups in Section 4.1. The features emphasised by women were more characteristic of the beginner and moderately experienced riders, while those emphasised by men were like the more experienced riders. It was apparent from Table A.4.2 that over 60% of women included themselves in these lower experience groups.

To assess the influence of experience on these results, riders of both gender were compared across two broad experience groups. Those of the `lower' group rated themselves as either beginners or as being moderately experienced. Those in the `higher' group rated themselves as very experienced or as expert riders. When the five most important riding features were compared for these two groups according to gender, differences were apparent (Table A.4.4).

A variety of changes in rider preferences for features were apparent. It is clear that increased experience has some effect. For example, the preference amongst all riders for racing increased in a uniform way here. Other changes occurred in a less uniform way. For example, womens preference for `skill/challenge' increased from 4% to 42%, while that of men increased from 39% to 59%. In this case, the change by women appeared more pronounced, indicating that with increased experience, the gender differences that did still occur were generally less substantial.

In general terms, with increased experience, women riders appeared to move more towards the preference characteristics of the men. However, differences between them were still apparent, indicating that basic gender differences were in effect, rather than being a reflection of the overall lower experience levels of the women riders sampled. Overall, men still demonstrated greater preferences for speed and the technical and physical challenges, although women increased their preference for all of these with experience. Women still demonstrated greater preferences for scenery/views/nature, exercise/fitness, and having relaxation/easy riding.

Table A.4.4: Most Important Mountain Biking Features at Higher Experience Levels (by gender)

Many of the differences identified between genders according to their five most important features (Table A.4.3) were also apparent amongst the features they included in their top three (Table A.4.5). Specifying their top three features required riders to prioritise from the five they considered most important. In this situation, it would be expected that if any predominant features of all riding did occur, these would receive proportionately greater percentage response given the reduced choices possible. However, comparison of the two tables showed that apart from the generally lower percentage figures overall, the pattern of top three responses was very similar to that for the five most important. This suggests that riders prefer a number of riding features, rather than being only interested in one or two central ones. Table A.4.5 and A.4.6 show the top three responses for all gender, and by the different experience levels.

Table A.4.5: Top Three Features of Mountain Biking by Gender

The overall differences for the top three features were similar to those for the five most important. The main change that did occur was the preference for racing and physical challenge being similar for both genders, although the preference for both was not high overall. To further assess any influence from experience on these results, riders were compared in Table A.4.6.

Table A.4.6: Top Three Features of Mountain Biking at Higher Experience Levels (by gender)

Despite some shift in women's preferences toward those of the men with an increase in experience, differences by gender were still apparent. For example, 67% of inexperienced women indicated appreciating scenery/views/nature as one of their top three features. Only 32% of inexperienced men did so. Amongst riders of higher experience, the proportion of men giving this remained constant (34%). The main change was that the response of women declined to 41%. While women began from a different point in their preference for this feature, with experience this preference became more similar to that of the men. This suggests that an underlying gender distinction in preferences does occur, although the mediating effect of increased experience is to reduce its degree.

A4.3 Setting and Experience Preferences

When the responses of male and female riders were compared for the importance they indicated for various setting and recreation experience attributes, some differences were apparent. The attributes in Table A.4.7 were all preferred at higher levels (or less negatively) by the women, while those in Table A.4.8 were preferred more by them. For all of the other attributes available for rider responses (Appendix 6), riders could not be distinguished on gender. In general, the gender preference patterns for these attributes reflected those of previous results presented in this appendix. For men these emphasised riding that included speed, and more physical and technical challenge. For women this emphasised attributes characteristic of easier riding.

Table A.4.7: Setting and experience attributes preferred more by women

Table A.4.8: Setting and experience attributes preferred more by men

As shown previously, some of these gender differences resulted from the higher experience levels of the men. However, when riders of different gender but same experience were compared, some differences were still apparent, suggesting that some gender effect remained. These different results are presented in Tables A.4.9 to A.4.13.

In most cases, attributes characteristic of more difficult and challenging riding were favoured less by the inexperienced women, who most favoured attributes characteristic of easier riding. However, with greater experience the changes in the preferences of women moved them more toward the preference patterns of the men. It is clear that for both genders, there are shifts in their preference patterns with greater experience. However, it is also apparent that the men and women are generally starting from different points in most of their attribute preferences, and that these differences are only partially mediated by increased experience levels.

Table A.4.9: Preferred Speed/Excitement attributes (by experience)

Table A.4.10: Preferred Track Type attributes (by experience)

Table A.4.11: Preferred Track Condition attributes (by experience)

Table A.4.12: Preferred Downhill attributes (by experience)

Table A.4.13: Preferred Uphill attributes (by experience)

A4.4 Favourite Riding Conditions

A further indication of the differences in the recreation experience and setting preferences of men and women was provided by the open-ended responses in which they specified their favourite riding conditions. The summary of these responses by gender alone is presented in Table A.4.14.

The top ten riding conditions specified by the men re-emphasised their greater desire for experiencing speed and excitement, and both physical and technical challenge. Preference for riding in forest settings was high (51%), comprising 30% specifically stating native forest, and a further 21% who did not state a forest-type preference.

Women riders re-emphasised their overall preference for easier riding conditions, although 31% still specified a desire for some technical difficulty/challenge. Preference for forest settings was also high (44% in total). The preferences emphasised by women reflected those generally associated with the lower experience levels.

Table A.4.14: Top Ten Riding Conditions of Men and Women Riders

To determine whether these gender differences result from the relatively lower experience of the women overall, comparisons across experience levels were made. A summary of these is presented in Table A.4.15, where close comparison does show differences between the men and women based upon both experience and gender. In the table, horizontal comparisons show differences between riders of lower and higher experience, while vertical comparisons show the differences according to gender.

When riders of lower experience were compared, the women again emphasised those riding conditions more characteristic of easier riding. These included gradual/gentle/easy uphills (50% vs 25% men); few obstructions on track/not too difficult (48% vs 31% men); and track surface which was smooth/easy/open (34% vs 21% men). For all of the other conditions listed by inexperienced men and women, there were few differences in response. Both gave the same level of response for some technical difficulty/challenge (27%), but in general terms, the women appeared less positive toward such challenges at this stage of their riding.

When comparing riders of higher experience, the range of conditions preferred by men and women was wider, and the degree to which some conditions were preferred also varied.

Women included some riding conditions not included by the men. These included preference for a variety of terrain/settings and track surfaces; good scenery and viewpoints, rides including single-track and other (farm track/4WD), and uphills which were gradual/gentle/easy. These suggested some differences in the basic riding motivations and desired outcomes of the women riders.

Other conditions that were specified equally by men and women included some technical difficulty/challenge, fast technical downhills, fast open downhills, and riding on undulating routes. These indicated many women shared the more challenge-orientated preferences of experienced men. However, overall they were clearly more inclined to include elements such as riding variety and scenery appreciation. The effect of the small sample size for experienced women may be an important factor here. This is especially so considering that these responses were to open-ended questions, which allow for much wider variety of responses.

Table A.4.15: Top Ten Riding Conditions of Men and Women Riders (by experience)

A4.5 Rider Attitudes to Opinion Statements

Rider responses to the opinion statements included in the questionnaire also showed some differences related to gender. The opinions on which these differences were apparent are listed in Table A.4.16.

Table A.4.16: Responses to different opinion statements (by gender)

In general, men tended to indicate more strongly that mountain bikes should be allowed on walking tracks, damage by biking was over-estimated, uninformed walkers imagined most problems, and that experiencing speed/action/excitement was essential to their riding enjoyment. The women tended to indicate more strongly that access will sometimes need to be limited, and that views/scenery/nature were essential for their riding enjoyment. In general, the degree to which these riders differed on these opinions was small.

To assess whether these differences were merely a reflection of the relative riding experience of the gender groups, they were compared on the basis of experience by gender group. All of the above did show some differences by gender across experience. Compared across experience levels, the opinion that responsible riding and attitude would reduce conflict also showed some gender difference (hence its inclusion above). The results of these comparisons are presented in Table A.4.17.

Gender differences in response to the management opinion statements were not great. Experience level appeared more important in any variation which did occur. To summarise the results above in general terms, women appeared more conciliatory in their attitudes to potential management controls, accorded greater preference to views/scenery/nature attributes, and less preference to speed/action/excitement attributes. In general, with an increase in experience levels, their preferences tended to shift toward those of the men.

Table A.4.17: Responses to different opinion statements (by gender)