For past few years I belong to a co-ed cycling Internet forum, which has multiple split interest groups (one for racers, another for people with techie questions, etc.) Would guess there are about 25% women cyclists, who regularily post. Women seem to range from 20's to 60's. And occasionally guys will mention about their marriages, or girlfriend, death of a loved one. Nothing to do about cycling at times.

I did belong to a women-only cycling forum..but found it the moderator was too heavy-handed and oversensitive. I mean we are adults, not babies made of glass. So I dropped out.

Other forums are related to my profession where a person tends to exercise restraint and care in self-expression. I seldom participate..more to learn from others and keep updated.

so it's fun and abit freer to be here...

Orchid, it's our benefit that you are here. You always bring up interesting topics. Your comparing this forum to others was interesting. I don't visit any other forums, although some writer forums would entice me. But instead, I use that time to write and find a publisher for my manuscript. Besides, I've found the friendships that I've been seeking right here at this place. Don't need more than that.

I visit a co-ed cooking forum and I do like it very much but I would consider the people there as acquaintances not really friends.
At BWS I don't consider the women here as friends either, I think of you all more as sisters.

It does require a strong sense of self if a woman wants to participate in some of the cycling forums that we belong to. Guys have a tendency to horse around more on the Internet. Like in real life, guys will poke fun at each other, insult abit more directly in fun at each other compared to women..