Use of Cycling skirts/skorts for older women?

OK, so I've seen a couple of cycling skirt/skorts I was intrigued with. I believe one was Louis Garneau and one was Castelli and I think they both had a 16" skirt length and I am only 5'3" so they should be the longer ones, not the short ones. Given that a person is NOT a commuter, how would this kind of attire be accepted if an older woman wore it? Someone in the very high 50s, but not overweight, but also doesn't look like Jane Fonda? If I were to wear it in a village in Europe, would I be seen as an old lady with a "too short skirt trying to look cute" or would it be seen as something more modest than lycra/spandex cycling shorts? Thoughts?

I'm 44 and I wear a Terry wrap skirt over tights, in the summer it will be over shorts or a liner. I'm in the UK and have never had any problem, just positive comments and smiles. I have enough body hang-ups of my own without adding in other peoples opinions.

Personally, I wouldn't regard lycra/spandex as a less modest choice of clothes for cycling but that said I do feel a little "exposed" without a cloth layer over the top, especially if running errands. I absolutely love that skirt and think it looks great. I'd definitely give it a go.

Normally, I don't wear skorts on a regular ride, saving them for errands. But, I did wear a skort on the last, short ride of our tour, which ended in Durnstein, Austria. We could not wear cycling shorts in the hotel dining room(which seems funny when people were topless by the pool), so I wore my skort and then went on the ride, which was definitely a small village in Europe. No one looked at me, like I was immodest. At the time, I was 51.

Interesting question, haven't thought about it before. I've no problem with lycra shorts - and most of my rides are from home to home, or from/to my car so that isn't a problem. The skort idea is interesting however if I were going to do something different (other than going into a store for a potty break)... if it were something that didn't wrinkle too easily and I had something on my bike in which I could carry it for the occasional ride - it might be nice to have a little wrap something.

Deskrider, I think it is about what makes you comfortable. There are people who will find problems with whatever we choose to ride in for all different sorts of reasons.

I love skorts and CYA skirts on the bike, and have several of them.

No-one has ever yelled "Hey, old lady, take it off!" so I guess they are socially acceptable. ;)

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Originally Posted by deskrider

OK, so I've seen a couple of cycling skirt/skorts I was intrigued with. I believe one was Louis Garneau and one was Castelli and I think they both had a 16" skirt length and I am only 5'3" so they should be the longer ones, not the short ones. Given that a person is NOT a commuter, how would this kind of attire be accepted if an older woman wore it? Someone in the very high 50s, but not overweight, but also doesn't look like Jane Fonda? If I were to wear it in a village in Europe, would I be seen as an old lady with a "too short skirt trying to look cute" or would it be seen as something more modest than lycra/spandex cycling shorts? Thoughts?

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If you like how you look and feel it is fine. No one will check your credentials, so they won't know if you are a commuter or not.
As for the village in Europe, you probably won't look like one of the locals, but that's likely to be the case no matter what you are wearing.

I wore this skort over Europe 50% of time for 1 month --last year. We never drove. We travelled on our own and used trains and our bikes. I'm 5'1". I actually don't like longer skorts than what I am wearing now.


http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=31364

With an Asian face I could have never blended in...and some of those small towns don't have Asian locals living there. So why in the heck, would I even try to blend in? :p

As for ageism and looking "acceptable"? Alot of women in their 50's upwards still wear their low necklines to show off their decollatage. It looks less and less pretty over the years.

You're cycling. Be practical for easy movement. That's number one priority -- your physical comfort level for any long rides.

I just turned...52 today. Yay!:)

When I first looked at cycling skorts, I was a little uneasy about them thinking they wouldn't look "age-appropriate." But I don't feel that way about cycling shorts. They're like swimsuits in that they're appropriate for the activity, regardless of age. Then the skort, or the wrapper over the shorts, since they're not skin-tight, seem a little more appropriate when off the bike and going into a store, restaurant, etc. So I think they're o.k., too.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

I just turned...52 today. Yay!:)

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Happy Birthday!
Yay you!

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

I wore this skort over Europe 50% of time for 1 month --last year. We never drove. We travelled on our own and used trains and our bikes. I'm 5'1". I actually don't like longer skorts than what I am wearing now.
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I just turned...52 today. Yay!:)

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Happy birthday! You look darling in that skort, btw. I have a few skorts and wouldn't hesitate to wear them wherever! Never been to Europe, but what the heck, I'd wear them there too.

Happy Birthday Shooting Star! You look great in that outfit :)

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

I just turned...52 today. Yay!:)

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Happy birthday ss! :)