Let's examine some of the supposed reasons that women might not be interested in bicycles to the degree men are. Some of these are clearly patronizing male views, others are actually expressed by many women. The generation that included Sally Ride can not have been as prone to gender-based career decisions as their parents. Alas, it seems that as long as the machinery is covered with sheet-metal even the most mechanically inept, whether male or female, consider themselves fully qualified to operate it. But the mere suggestion that you have to get your hands dirty and actually touch that oily chain is enough to turn off a lot of folks, more women than men it would seem.
Bicycles tend to be a high maintenance device.
Few people would put up with an automobile that required as much maintenance per hour of use as does your typical bicycle. Fortunately this maintenance is trivial, and easily mastered. Most of the women riders I know who ride more than just around the park on sunny weekends do most of the maintenance themselves. Unfortunately, that still leaves the vast majority of women, who will have nothing to do with bicycle maintenance, or maintenance of any other mechanical device. Fear of Attack Another occasionally expressed reason for bicycling attracting such a small percentage of females is fear of attack in remote places.