Short skirt cycling-have you/would you? [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

shootingstar

07-26-2009, 01:27 PM

Of course there's numerous examples. And am not referring to skorts. :rolleyes:
http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/2009/06/cycling-in-skirts-and-dresses-cycle.html

http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/ (meaning the photos for above knee dresses/skirts on bikes)

I've never cycled in a skirt, long or short. But for short, above knee, I probably would only do it on a shortish route that was flattish and not tons of cars or many pedestrians nearby.

Still, I'm the sort of cyclist, that doesn't want to think about my clothing fit while I'm breezing along.

papaver

07-26-2009, 01:33 PM

This is so common here... ;) People here just don't wear sportswear on a touring or city bike. Only on a MTB or on a racing bike.

shootingstar

07-26-2009, 01:41 PM

Do you cycle in dresses/skirts, papaver?

The short skirts I have, are lined, abit dressy and for business wear. I would be afraid the inner lining fabric would rip..since I know the lining fabric is cheaply made these days. (Well, actually the lining has ripped.:mad:)

I no longer wear sundresses ...and it's due to cycling. (I suppose I might be able to fit into them still..that was over 17 yrs. ago! :o) I sewed all my sundresses and have no interest in ruining/ripping the fabric with grease stains, etc. Buying skirt guards is ...just added weight to bike when I already am weighed down when cycling everywhere without having a car.

But if it works for others, great. Just curious for others if they have cycled in above knee dresses/skirts. I suppose wearing dark hose underneath, should solve revealing problems...in um, the autumn when one can have legs all covered up.

Tri Girl

07-26-2009, 01:53 PM

I've ridden in a skirt a few times. The skirt came to my knees and was kinda flowy. I wore cycling shorts underneath because even tho I could pull it down over my knees, the wind would catch it and even pedaling made it ride up.
When I start commuting when school starts up, I think I'll just wear my bike shorts and put my skirt in my pannier (will wear normal work clothes on top). Maybe I'm not gifted, but cycling in a skirt is hard. :p

tctrek

07-26-2009, 03:59 PM

I don't wear skirts off the bike... quite sure I would never wear a skirt on the bike!

Zen

07-26-2009, 04:41 PM

KnottedYet

07-26-2009, 05:36 PM

All the time. No problem.

Most of my riding is for real-world stuff and not playing-and-sports, so I wear real-world clothes most of the time on the bike.

shootingstar

07-26-2009, 08:34 PM

Or maybe I'm being way too logical about this, but perhaps the larger group of women who regularily cycle in skirts (not skorts) and dresses, are not on TE/would shun TE.

Great Knotted, that you can do it skirts, etc. I can imagine for myself, I would be thinking too much about my clothing during the ride, flapping open or stains.

I would also have to change my style back to what I used to wear..25 yrs., more long, flowing skirts, flower-child/bohemian like.

lauraelmore1033

07-27-2009, 07:30 AM

When in Rome, as they say...
It's fine if everyone's doin' it, but am I the only one who thinks it's a little creepy of this guy to spend so much time taking shots of women, skirts all askew on their bikes. Kinda pervy. Constantly referring to his wife as "wifealisciousness" seems odd too. Like her value to him is only determined by her um, 'lisciousness.

ginny

07-27-2009, 07:40 AM

I commute every day, and I ride in whatever I am wearing that day. I love skirts and skorts in the summer. If the skirt is short, i will wear biking shorts underneath. I have a patagonia skirt that comes down to mid calf and it's flowy... and i love it. Once I realized it wouldn't get caught in my spokes, it is one of my favorite things to ride in; I feel so ... European (?) :D

OakLeaf

07-27-2009, 08:20 AM

GLC1968

07-27-2009, 10:01 AM

When my commute was shorter (1.5 miles!), I biked in skirts all the time. I sometimes did this on my diamond frame, sometimes on my mixte. Wind was often an issue if my skirt was knee length & flowy (like most of my skirts), so I got smart and learned to carry a clothespin with me. I would pin the front of my skirt around my top tube or to my downtube water bottle cage (on the mixte) so that it couldn't fly up. Worked like a charm!

I have never biked in a real (non biking skort) miniskirt, but I'm also too old to be wearing them anyway. :p

shootingstar

07-27-2009, 10:14 AM

What's the difference, fashion-wise, between riding in a "street" skirt vs. riding in a skort or over-skirt that's designed for cycling? I don't see the objection. :confused:

The last time I looked good in very short skirts I was 14 years old and anorexic. :rolleyes: So besides cycling skorts, the only skirts/dresses I wear (ever, not just on the bike) are just below to just at the knee.

Beauty and vision of "youth" :p is in the eye of the beholder, ain't it, Oak and GLC? Alot of skorts are short..at least 6 inches above the knee. I like my black little lycra but in some social circles for those over 50, it's probably seen as not entirely tasteful as normal streetwear.

I recall I once forgot my dress pants at home when I cycled to work (or part of that way with transit). So I had not choice for the whole work day, but to wear my cycling jersey and short walking shorts which doubled as my cycling shorts. Shorts had a 3.5" in-seam (or 9" above my kneecap). Shorts were not tight just fitted in slightly relaxed manner. I wear my jerseys slightly loose, never tight against my body.

The other woman who worked for me, same age as myself, disapproved of my wear.

This was in an office located at a construction site. So though that day I met with several managers (all male), it was an atmosphere of neat "casual", at most, business casual since we weren't labourers. I suppose I was not dressed properly as one of the few female managers on staff. :p But I genuinely had no choice. Home was 45+ kms. away..too far to waste time..to fetch a dress pant/skirt. And I didn't have a car.

Clothes pin tip GLC, certainly would work with a long flowing skirt and for a riding style where one remained seated when mounting hills (which is my style) and if one didn't have to stop and restart at traffic intersections too often (I am not seated on saddle when I stop at an intersection, I push back up onto saddle.)

uforgot

07-27-2009, 10:37 AM

I also like skirts in the summer. Like Zen says, they hide so many flaws. When I ride to school in a skirt, I have on cycling shorts underneath and ride my mixte so the skirt has a place to go.

badger

07-27-2009, 10:38 AM

I used to ride in my short skirt over shorts all the time. The last time was a couple of years ago when I wore my summer dress to work and the back of the skirt kept getting caught on the front part of the seat and it was just a bit too distracting so I haven't ridden with a skirt since.

But I would totally wear one if it was short and stretchy, I just don't have one right now.

Crankin

07-27-2009, 10:42 AM

The last time I wore a regular dress to ride in was in 1978. I used to commute all of 1.5 miles to summer school classes at ASU in sundresses that fell maybe just below the knee. I *think* my 5 speed bike probably was a diamond frame. I know I couldn't do it now. Of course, I also was not wearing a helmet, had a very un-ergonomically correct backpack, and was wearing sandals. Oh, and I am sure it was like, 112 degrees out.
I couldn't even ride to the train station without liner shorts under my pants last fall. It just didn't feel right! I also tried riding in regular shoes, which almost resulted in me crashing in the middle of a busy intersection, because I couldn't push off without having one foot clipped in. Both my feet flew off of the pedals and I had to stop and start again, in a long line of traffic, waiting to turn left.
This is why I have a bunch of non-lycra looking cycling clothes for doing errands, etc... skorts, baggy shorts, loose capris. They look acceptable for going to stores or for appointments.
If someone wants to ride in a dress or skirt, more power to them. I was amazed at the women in Italy riding in heels. And, btw, I am sitting here in a short jean skirt that I look perfectly fine in. I wouldn't wear it to work, but if someone is going to hate me because I am in my 50s and wear mini skirts for casual wear, so be it.

GLC1968

07-27-2009, 11:34 AM

I wouldn't wear it to work, but if someone is going to hate me because I am in my 50s and wear mini skirts for casual wear, so be it.

Ah, don't get me wrong - if my legs were better, I'd probably still wear mini-ish skirts for casual wear myself. I just wouldn't wear them to work. ;) Bear in mind, I wouldn't have worn them to work when I was in my early 20's either - just not my style.

And shootingstar - the clothespin thing worked even when I would stop at lights. I did it loose enough that no one would even know it was there, so that left me plenty of 'give' to move around and get off the saddle as necessary. Of course, a couple of times I forgot it was there and went to get off the bike only to fling the little clothespin a few feet from me. Luckily, no one ever got a little wood projectile in the eye! :p

BleeckerSt_Girl

07-27-2009, 11:36 AM

I just wear what I like. :)

PamNY

07-27-2009, 11:46 AM

I just wear what I like. :)

Well, you're no fun. How can you create a two-page discussion out of that?

Pam

PS I wear what I like, too.

SlowButSteady

07-27-2009, 12:39 PM

I wear skirts alot more now than I used to.

I like tennis, running and golf skorts for around the house, around the pool and even for cycling. I'll even wear a sports bra top and a skort as a bathing suit.

I like the golf length ones best as they are a bit longer.

I don't own a cycling-specific skort, as I figured the padding would be cumbersome for non-cycling activites and I can ride comfortably enough without a chamois.

gnat23

07-27-2009, 11:09 PM

Hee! This is funny, because I just the other day bought a super-short Castelli cycling DRESS. Comes with shorty padded shorts too! I'd like to think this might be what finally evens out my tan...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2666/3760443916_3dfc3f8cae.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gnat23/3760443916/)

-- gnat! (And hey, the boyfriend insisted on riding behind me and never dropped me for once...) :D

Crankin

07-28-2009, 04:30 AM

I love that dress!
However, I think my riding companions might have a heart attack if I wore it!

BleeckerSt_Girl

07-28-2009, 05:03 AM

I love that dress!
However, I think my riding companions might have a heart attack if I wore it!

You'd look great in it! Why not?? The others would merely be envious.

Gnat- that is fabulous! You look like Xena warrior princess in pink. :p

shootingstar

07-28-2009, 05:38 AM

+1. Dress suits you well, gnat. :)

Crankin

07-28-2009, 05:46 AM

I think the shorts might be just a wee bit too short for my old lady legs. I mean they are OK, but generally, I wear longish shorts to "hold it in." I have much less to hold in, after 9 years of cycling, but I think I would feel too exposed. The dress part would be fine, though. It's an interesting concept. I wonder how comfortable it is to ride in.

Zen

07-28-2009, 05:46 AM

I thought that was Lady Ga-Ga ;)

badger

07-28-2009, 08:21 AM

somewhat inspired by this thread, I decided to wear my summer beach dress and commuted to work on my bike. No snags and it was nice a breezy, I'm going to do this more often!! :D

Zen

07-28-2009, 12:43 PM

I also think you get some extra clearance from cars when wearing a skirt or something similar.

cattygrrl

07-28-2009, 12:47 PM

Skirts are more comfy than pants most of the time.

Shoot, my guy even wears a kilt (most often one of these (http://utilikilts.com)) when he's tooling around on his city bike...

shootingstar

07-28-2009, 12:59 PM

Skirts are more comfy than pants most of the time.

Shoot, my guy even wears a kilt (most often one of these (http://utilikilts.com)) when he's tooling around on his city bike...

If it works for him..;) Actually there's a local company that offers to clean eavestrough /window-washing...all the guys in company advertise themselves as wearing kilts like your BF.

Trigress

07-28-2009, 11:19 PM

I have the same dress as Gnat, and I think I might have caused a few heart attacks when I wore it for a sprint session last Friday - the shorts that came with it are really short and as with all other shorts that are supposed to go only a few inches down my thigh it ended up in a nice little roll around my crotch. This looked rather interesting when sprinting I'm sure... But it's really comfy!

Warning though: do not leave cellphones in the pocket when sprinting, they fall out.

Crankin

07-29-2009, 04:31 AM

OK, you just answered my question. Now, if we could just invent a cycling dress with longer shorts...

Zen

07-29-2009, 10:26 AM

Wear your own shorts. That outfit would be better if the shorts were the same length as the top.

gnat23

07-29-2009, 11:40 AM

Yeah, nothing preventing you from wearing your own standard length shorts under the dress, they're not attached in any way.

On the other hand, I'm pleased that I now have these supershort padded shorts that I can wear under other dresses, too. :D

-- gnat!

Tri Girl

07-29-2009, 01:56 PM

Now if only that cute little dress came with the cute little body I'd be all over it... you are too darling, gnat! If I had your bod, I'd be wearing that dress everywhere around town (not trying to be creepy- just sayin'). :)

GLC1968

07-29-2009, 02:00 PM

Trigress

07-29-2009, 10:56 PM

OK, you just answered my question. Now, if we could just invent a cycling dress with longer shorts...

I have another pair of Castelli shorts that aren't bibs (I normally wear bibs), and I'm going to use those in the future.

Crankin

07-30-2009, 02:51 AM

Thinking of buying that Terry cycling tunic. It would be a dress on me and I could wear my Shebeest S Pros underneath; they are shorter than my other shorts.
Looking at that Terry sale catalog is like bike porn for me.....

jillm

08-06-2009, 11:37 AM

I love skirts. They hide flaws and are non-confining.
I bought three of these (http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=683764002&userSearchText=whatever&searchCID=44995) and the Terry Tunic (http://www.terrybicycles.com/product/detail/1894/-/bike-tunic) which is long enough on me that it looks like a dress. I do wear tri shorts under it.

I ordered the Whatever Skort from Athleta. Just got it and I LOVE IT! (The red one is on sale btw.)

Thanks Zen!

Jillm

fatbottomedgurl

08-06-2009, 12:28 PM

Gnat I like the Vans!

I have a '57 Schwinn Corvette that I ride from my library to the other school offices. It's my "campus bike." (Actually my DH said I had to get rid of one so I keep it at work.)

I find it most fun when I am wearing an above the knees skirt in heels- not high heels mind you- I'm not that sort of girl. If it's breezy I have to hold it down with one hand.

Tri Girl

08-06-2009, 02:41 PM

Why does that woman look so sad riding her bike? Poor thing- must be that wool button-up-the-neck dress. I'd be sad looking in that get-up, too. :p

sundial

08-06-2009, 05:36 PM

I also think you get some extra clearance from cars when wearing a skirt or something similar.

Had a guy in a tractor pull way off the road for me as I rode by in my flowerdy skort. :)

OakLeaf

08-06-2009, 06:39 PM

Why does that woman look so sad riding her bike? Poor thing- must be that wool button-up-the-neck dress. I'd be sad looking in that get-up, too. :p

Oh, it's only because she doesn't have the dog in the basket yet. :cool:

ummbnb

08-10-2009, 09:22 PM

I bike in a skirt pretty much every day. My commute to work is only 2.5 miles and in the summer I almost always wear skirts/dresses. I never have any troubles.

Chile Pepper

08-11-2009, 07:58 AM

I love skirts. They hide flaws and are non-confining.
I bought three of these (http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=683764002&userSearchText=whatever&searchCID=44995) and the Terry Tunic (http://www.terrybicycles.com/product/detail/1894/-/bike-tunic) which is long enough on me that it looks like a dress. I do wear tri shorts under it.

I just ordered the Athleta skort, too. I've been trying to resist ever since this thread started, but it just looks too cute. And we're going into our spring now, so it will definitely be put to good use.

jillm

08-11-2009, 04:48 PM

I love love love my athleta skort!

Was it this thread that someone mentioned using clothes pins to clip the skirt to the bike? I tried that but found that just clipping the pins (3-5) to the front of the skirt works better for me. Weighs the skirt down just enough. The pins closest to the top tube hit it and clink-clink, reminding me of wind chimes! A pleasant announcement that I'm about to pass!

shootingstar

08-11-2009, 05:30 PM

Hey jllm, maybe think of how you could design a skort with your batik designs. :)

deedolce

08-13-2009, 12:50 AM

:slaps forehead: a clothespin! Genius!

Yep, on my commuter, I wear skirts and ride all the time. I don't ride far (1/2 mile :D) and usually ride one handed, the other holding down a flowy skirt. The shorter ones, my knees by default, get closer unless the skirt is stretchy. I usually wear some kind of leggings anyway.

LOVE that biking dress! Where can I buy one? :D

KnottedYet

08-13-2009, 05:34 AM

LOVE that biking dress! Where can I buy one? :D

Right here on TE! http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodCI_A9056.html

(Hey, SusanO, how many you got left? There might be a run on these things! Gnat is SO CUTE in it!)

skhill

08-22-2009, 01:03 PM

I rode my bike in a skirt for the first time ever this morning! I was going to an ordination at the cathedral, so for once I dressed up for church (normal for me this summer is my good jeans and a t-shirt). I was wearing compression shorts underneath the skirt, and much to my surprise I ended up a lot more conscious of how low-cut my top was than the way the skirt kept creeping up my legs....

Mounting/dismounting: anyone have any tips? When I was downtown and used the curb, it was simple, but putting a foot down at redlights and getting on and off at home were a little, well, revealing...