Masculinities and the Culture of Competitive Cycling

Drawing on extensive ethnographic, qualitative and quantitative research, this monograph provides a novel account of masculinities in an individual sport: competitive road cycling. Chapters present varied analyses on male cyclists��� relationship with masculinity, the culture of competitive road cycling, cyclists��� attitudes toward injury management, sexual minority and women���s experiences in the sport, and autoethnographic accounts of the author���s own experiences of being involved in the sport for over ten years. The author also examines how masculinity impacts male cyclists��� attitudes towards competition, risk taking and doping practices. This book will be of interest to scholars and researchers in sports sociology, gender studies, and masculinity studies. Jack Hardwicke is a Lecturer in Sport and Health Sciences in the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology at the University of Northampton. His research interests include the sociology of sporting subcultures, masculinities, socio-cultural approaches to understanding sporting injury and mixed-method social research. Contents List of Tables Chapter 1: Rolling Out: Introduction Overview Contextualising Competitive Cycling The Study Research Problems Chapter Outlines References Chapter 2: Theorising Sporting Masculinities Introduction Theoretical Overview of Masculinity Scholarship Theorising Masculinities in Sport Contentions and Different Approaches to Theorising and Understanding Masculinities Theoretical Framework of the Book Chapter Summary References Chapter 3: The Gentlemen’s Club: Cycling and Masculinity in Victorian Britain Introduction Masculinities in the Victorian Era Competitive Sport as a Political Project Cycling Practices and Masculinity in Victorian Britain The English Cycling Club and the Reproduction of Masculinity Chapter Summary References Chapter 4: ‘Don’t be soft’: Cycling and Masculinity in the Twenty-First Century Introduction The Macho Culture of Competitive Road Cycling Road Cycling in the Twentieth Century Male Cyclists and Their Masculinity in the Twenty-First Century Chapter Summary References Chapter 5: Joining the Peloton: The Cult(ure) of Competitive Road Cycling Introduction Understanding Subcultures Understanding Subcultures in Sport Membership and Identity in a Subculture Power Hierarchies Within a Subculture The Cult(ure) of Competitive Road Cycling Road Cycling as a ‘Culture of Risk’ The Acceptance and Normalisation of Risk in Road Cycling Chapter Summary References Chapter 6: Getting Back on the Bike: Debating Injury and Masculinity Introduction Understanding Pain and Injury in Sport The Intersection of Masculinity, Injury and Sport Injuries in Competitive Road Cycling Sport-Related Concussion in Competitive Cycling Dealing with Pain, Injury and Suffering in Road Cycling Masculinity, Cycling Subculture and Getting Back on the Bike Chapter Summary References Chapter 7: Winning at All Costs: The Intersects of Doping, Hypercompetition and Masculinity in Cycling Introduction Sport, Competition and Winning at All Costs Sport, Masculinity and Doping Understanding Doping in Professional Road Cycling Doping in Amateur Cycling Doping as Deviant Overconformity to the Cycling Subculture Chapter Summary References Chapter 8: Out in the Peloton: Sexual Minorities in Road Cycling Introduction The Relationship Between Masculinities, Sexualities and Sport A Background to Sexual Minorities in Competitive Road Cycling Out in the Peloton Study Experiences of Sexual Minorities in Cycling Attitudes Towards Sexual Minorities in Cycling Discussion of the Data Chapter Summary References Chapter 9: Women on Wheels: Orthodox Masculinity and the Marginalisation of Women in Competitive Cycling Introduction Orthodox Masculinity and Women in Sport Historical Overview of Women in Competitive Cycling Women in Contemporary Competitive Cycling Experiences of Women in Road Cycling Negotiating an Orthodox Masculine Culture Limitations and Considerations Chapter Summary References Chapter 10: Crossing the Finish Line: Conclusions Book Summary Future Directions for Cycling and Research Conclusion References References Index