Closest to cycling chic & why I can't get into cycling chic

[shootingstar]

This is the closest type of business work outfit that I would ever wear on bike to work.

I've only done it twice --when I had to cycle to meeting elsewhere in the city and then get to my office work building.

Still I change into business work shoes from cycling shoes that you see in photo.

**I like my business work shoes too much and they cost me enough I don't want to scuff them up unnecessarily.

I wore a light fleecy jacket underneath a $200.00 lined business work jacket. And black jeans which I wear 50% of the time at work. My jeans costed me $100.00....and it took me ages (2 years!!) to find a pair of jeans that fit me, etc. It has tiny bit of lycra for stretch.

I actually am afraid of ripping the lining of that jacket which is my best board room jacket for meeting with managers, etc. I CANNOT wear that jacket to and from work on bike.

This is one of the reasons I cannot be a Cycling Chic cyclist: I can't afford it given my size, my difficulty of finding good petite business wear to ruin them while I bike. It's far costlier for me to have a wardrobe that is business Cycling Chic wear vs. just cycling clothing, change them at work into workplace clothing.

[Crankin]

Shooting Star, there is no reason for you to pay $100.00 for black jeans with bit of stretch in petite sizes. I have 3 very nice pair from the Gap. They start at size 00 and go up to 14 petite. They don't often have these sizes in the stores, so I order on line.
I do agree, though that I would fid it hard to do the "cycle chic" thing. I would have to buy some very expensive cycling chic outer wear, to wear in lieu of my cycling jackets. I think this look is easier to pull off in the summer.

[shootingstar]

The weather was warm enough to wear that outfit ...but only for a short distance ride...like one would do in Europe under 5-10 km. 1-way...where cities are more compact than sprawly North America.

After hunting for jeans that long, I wasn't going to revisit all the stores all over again..so I landed on what seemed right. At least I wear them so often if I don't wear dress pants at work for large chunk of time.

I always wondered about the tweed wear fun cycling rides..maybe people go to Goodwill to get secondhand or just wear their stuff...and not worry about it much.

Warmer season to pull off cycling chic: Not based on my wardrobe at this time. If ever. I gave up wearing long flowing skirts over 20 yrs. ago. Lovely pleated skirts that I see now (if any would fit me..I did try some and gave up), aren't something I want to cycle around in. To me, the ones I've seen, liked, are too nice for cycling.

[PamNY]

Remember, there was a time before synthetic fabrics!

Tweed was originally used for outdoor activities such as hunting. The close weave makes it a sturdy and moisture-resistant fabric.

I've never heard of "cycling chic" and don't know anyone who would even think about such a thing.

[Biciclista]

Loving the snow in the background of your photo!

[Reesha]

When I lived in Belgium we would wear our normal clothes for all cycling. In fact it was odd for me to even think about wearing active clothes for biking. We never got real sweaty riding the way we did, but we were also teenagers. It was leisurely, for transportation, and sometimes I really miss wearing normal clothes on a bike (I don't have a bike fit for normal clothes currently).

I might also add that Bruges was completely and utterly flat. The biggest hills around were the canal bridges! I suspect other cycle chic countries like Denmark and the Netherlands have similar topography.

[shootingstar]

Copenhagen is quite flat --I was there for 5 days in 2010. Even cycling to the airport from downtown, was only 10 km. one way. A breeze!!

*In photo, it was approx. 45 degrees F., no wind.

I agree Pam, that tweeds are like reliable wools..at least higher quality tweeds.
Comments on cycling chic in a Momentum article: http://momentumplanet.com/articles/bike-vs-bike-cycle-chic-debate/comments.html

One of the short rides from 1 workplace to another, I was wearing a creamy white tailored shirt with stand-up collar. All I could think of as I cycled: Don't cycle hard and sweat up that pristine colllar, so that I would have to wash it after only wearing top for 1 day.

I can't enjoy a bike ride fully if I have to think about not sweating up nice clothing PLUS pay attention to traffic. I wish I could and had the income to support a full out wardrobe for work purposes (vs. weekend events) to be cycling to work without changing. Let's see, income to support more frequent dry cleaning of fully lined dress coats and business office jackets.

Has anyone in these forums worn a skirt/dress pants/business suit often for the business work environment on bike without changing? Let's see a pic or 2. :)

[soprano]

I stopped reading Copenhagen Cycle Chic when I realized that it was making me feel bad about myself. Problem solved. On or off the bike, I'm never going to live up to that kind of fashion standard. I care about how I look, but not that much. I always wonder just how much of the cycling population there is fashionable enough to be photographed... surely there are women in Denmark with less-than-perfect hair. Just not on that blog.


The weather was warm enough to wear that outfit ...but only for a short distance ride...like one would do in Europe under 5-10 km. 1-way...where cities are more compact than sprawly North America.


I think that you have hit the nail on the head here. If you aren't going far, or up and down any significant hills, and live in a mild climate, it's easy to look nice en route. The rest of us have to pack carefully and change and/or shower when we get there, and there is NOTHING wrong with that.

[PamNY]

Interesting, Shootingstar. Thanks. I was blissfully unaware of this.

I occasionally fail in my "responsibility to contribute visually to a more aesthetically pleasing urban landscape."

[PamNY]

Is this (http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/) what the discussion is about?

I often see people dressed like that on bikes in Manhattan. I just assume they aren't going very far.

I don't view it as something to be concerned about.

[GLC1968]

When we first moved to Oregon, we were renting an apartment that was 1.5 miles of flat roads from my office. When it wasn't raining, I just biked in my work clothes. I never took any photos, but there were days I was wearing a skirt or a dress with no problems (except a little wind!). Though, even for those distances, I would still sweat in the summer heat.

Rainy days were a bigger issue because there was really no way to avoid getting wet and no gear you could cover up in that wouldn't make you sweat, even for that short of a trip. I would have rather had a longer trip where I could justify putting on bike clothes for those days!

Now my trip is 20+ miles, so wearing work clothes is really not an option from a comfort, safety or fashion point of view. :p

[Susan]

Does the term "cyclingchic" refer to cycling in very chic clothes (like, say a delicate dress or a prom dress) or to just cycling in ordinary everyday clothes that you would wear to work?

If you don't wear everyday clothes when cycling (I'm talking about cycling for transportation, commuting), isn't it strange to run around in cycling clothes all day long? Or do you change everytime? What if you just go for a coffee or to the cinema?
It just doesn't sound very practical to me.

Maybe it just depends on what you do or how far you go? When we use our bikes to get into the city, doing groceries, going out, commuting etc., we always wear ordinary street clothes. But that is in a 10 mile radius most of the time.
For cycling as sport, where it gets really sweaty and the rides are longer, we always wear proper cycling clothes.
If it's something in between (a trip to the shopping mall a bit outside of the city) I sometimes wear a Merino shirt underneath so that I don't end up sweaty and slip it off/change the shirt when I reach the destination.

When I shop certain kind of street clothes, like winter jackets, I take into consideration if the are suited for cycling, if they are warm enough when it's freezing and if I can move enough etc. I use clips if my trousers are wide enough to get caught in the chain.
When setting up my everyday-bike, I used a mixte frame so that I would be able to wear skirts without hassle, used pedals that won't destroy my shoes etc.
I have to say that it never happened to me that I destroyed any of my clothes while cycling.

[indysteel]

I occasionally fail in my "responsibility to contribute visually to a more aesthetically pleasing urban landscape."

LOL. I'm pretty sure I fail at thus as well!

[rubysoho]

LOL. I'm pretty sure I fail at thus as well!

That is me when I do the first and last walk of the day with my dog. :p

My commute is over 10 miles. I am not sure I could do that in a skirt and cute top. At least not in the summer weather/humidity we have in Northern VA.

I have two "dream places" I want to live:

1. Downtown where everything is within walking/easy biking distance. (I'd own a very chic bike with beautiful accessories just to run errands... but then I'd probably not look as good as my bike. *sigh*)

2. Out in the country where I can have my 40 acres and a dog.

The first would support cyclechic, the second not at all, I think. Take pride in yourself. You don't look like a slob. And if you can still look professional at work, oh well! Good for you for being active and not contributing to pollution.

OR get one of those panniers that doubles as a garment bag and leave a little early so you have time to change.

[shootingstar]

to just cycling in ordinary everyday clothes that you would wear to work?

If you don't wear everyday clothes when cycling (I'm talking about cycling for transportation, commuting), isn't it strange to run around in cycling clothes all day long? Or do you change everytime? What if you just go for a coffee or to the cinema?
It just doesn't sound very practical to me.



I actually have 2 prs. of business wear pants of which 1 pr. I wear.. if I am not wearing a pr. of black jeans or a black, above knee light thin style black skirt.

That is all, for my bottom part of my business wear. I paid about $80.00 for the black dress pants. A light wool gabardine that is also suitable for summer as well winter. It requires dry cleaning if they get dirty. Honest, here in our city it's dry prairie city with sand used by snow crews during winter and just blowing around. I get smudges just from accidentally brushing my panniers against the pants.

I dunno, it means cleaning my bike too often.

When I go shopping on bike, usually I change into cycleable wear which means cheap (no chamois) tights (they're not cycling, just $25.00 lycra tights), etc.

I'm dressed really in my oldest clothing at home. So I'm not presentable to go to a store.. I have to change anyways to leave home. :rolleyes:

[missjean]

You can bike in almost any clothing. If I am going out for a ride ride I wear bike clothing - it's just more comfortable. When I have biked to a store, I have worn regular clothes. I'm lucky when it comes to commuting because I work in a bike store during the summer, so it's bike clothes to ride to work in and then I change into reg. clothing and nobody minds if I was sweaty because I'm among like minded people. :)

A while back I came across a blog by a young man who would go the thrift stores and buy old wool trousers that he would then cut & sew into shorts. He would wear them to both toodle around town in & to mountain bike. They looked really cool.
I also remember seeing another guy who bought old shirts from thrift stores for a couple of bucks that he wore to ride in. Short sleeve for summer & long sleeve for winter.
If I remember correctly, the guy who made the short s just liked the recycling idea, and the guy who wore the shirts was on a tight budget.
Maybe inexpensive clothing to ride to work and then change into the good stuff.

[redrhodie]

I can't ride in anything but bike clothes (except for sweaters and gloves) . It just isn't comfortable to me. It must help to have the right bike for that kind of outfit, with a step through frame for skirts, and chain protector to keep clean.

[Reesha]

Yes, the chain protector is a must unless you regularly ride in skinny jeans or something. I used to ride to school in my pleated uniform skirt, but on windy days it was tricky, so I always donned a pair of soccer shorts underneath. ;)

Truth be told, I would love an around town bike that I can wear regular clothes on.

[lph]

I can't ride in anything but bike clothes (except for sweaters and gloves) . It just isn't comfortable to me. It must help to have the right bike for that kind of outfit, with a step through frame for skirts, and chain protector to keep clean.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I hate riding in regular clothes, but that's largely because all my bikes have bars lower than the saddle and I end up with something digging into my stomach in front and a cold gap in back. But with a more upright bicycle I guess I could do some riding in regular clothes, for short distances. I've done it toodling around on vacation, on rental bikes. I wouldn't wear my office wear though, too expensive.

[Crankin]

I can barely ride in regular clothes or regular shoes. I did a few times when I had my flat bar road bike, but my butt hurt and my feet slipped off of the pedals on just a 3 mile ride to town. I do try to ride in more "commuter type" clothes when I do errands, but I always have a cycling liner under my pants or shorts and cycling sandals or shoes on.
Perhaps if I had an upright bike, no hills, and no propensity for sweating, I would.

[shootingstar]

I've actually had people tell me on my blogs to wear ordinary clothing or whatever.

And I especially resent it ....when they're cycling men. They have no clue about the cost, quality (or lack of) for women's clothing off bike. Unless their SO, sisters, etc. are petite/have unusual sizing, they really don't know the difficulty of finding clothing that fits at right style without paying too much money. (which already some of you have politely told me I am paying too much. You're entitled to have a more informed opinion....you shop around for women's clothing.)

Dearie would never dream of telling me what to wear on bike...except to be comfortable and safe.

When going with someone who hasn't cycled for years, I might suggest politely something more comfortable if I saw clearly the person was going to start off uncomfortable in tight jeans, etc. Fortunately I haven't had to cycle with a newbie in thin rubber beach flip flops, etc. (It makes me wince just to think about it.)

[Tokie]

So cycling chic excludes helmets? I know here when I ride my beach cruiser with a helmet people think I'm crazy. That is, everyone that doesn't work in the ER or the ICU.....

[PamNY]

I have never heard anyone discuss what to wear when cycling except on this forum. I seriously can't fathom why anyone would even think about it.

Having said that, I was especially not cycling chic today. Last night I tossed my softshell jacket into the wash without contemplating the blanket which was also in there...and which I had let the dog sleep on.

The softshell is light grey so I didn't realize until I got outside in bright sun that I was pretty much covered in dog hairs. It was an unseasonably warm and beautiful day, so I decided not to think about it.

[salsabike]

I have never heard anyone discuss what to wear when cycling except on this forum. I seriously can't fathom why anyone would even think about it.

Having said that, I was especially not cycling chic today. Last night I tossed my softshell jacket into the wash without contemplating the blanket which was also in there...and which I had let the dog sleep on.

The softshell is light grey so I didn't realize until I got outside in bright sun that I was pretty much covered in dog hairs. It was an unseasonably warm and beautiful day, so I decided not to think about it.

(like) :)

[rubysoho]

Too funny, PamNY. I've heard a lot of people discussing what to wear outside the forum. But mainly in two different forms:

1. Cyclists commenting how much better cycling clothes are.
2. Non-cyclists who think it is silly to have specific clothing for cycling.

I get #2 whenever I commute to work. To get an idea of how silly it is... I work in a 130 acre park. By the time I was done changing in my building, where only one coworker saw me in my spandex shorts, and walked across the park in normal clothing to talk to another manager they were commenting one what I rode to work in and making fun of me and wondering why I wouldn't want to commute 20 miles in regular work clothes in the summer heat! (This person, I've discovered, has a bit of a social issue and making fun of a person is their way of trying to have a conversation :rolleyes: ) They hadn't even seen me! It was the one coworker (male) who immediately had to go gossip to the other coworker (also male).

I swear, the men I work with comment more on my various shoes and clothing and change of hair style than the ladies (who could not care less!) I work with. But most of the girls are into some sort of sport and as far as I can tell the men are not physically active.

I think athletes in general understand specific gear more so than inactive/non-sporty people.


Edit to add: One last thing... I would bet money that any of those bike commuters on Cycle Chic who do touring or more athletic cycling would be seen in cycling garb. I only wish I were so lucky to live in a place so bike friendly, flat and geographically small.

[Reesha]

When I commute, I often get the opposite reaction. For some reason most of my non-cycling co-workers recognize that riding 12 miles to work is a feat and that it produces lots of sweat and that I do it in bike shorts and a jersey is no matter to them. They are impressed that I choose to do it at all. I suppose it's just a credit to them-- they are a rather mature bunch of teachers!

Back in the day I used to ride my bike to my ice cream scooping job every summer and I did it my work uniform (soccer shorts and a tee), but the teenage coworkers still had something to say, even though I wasn't in biking clothes. :rolleyes:

I would totally commute around town in some of those cute cycling skorts I see! But I'd have to go real slow, lest I start sweating! ;)