Cycling clothing- $ restaurants, galleries, etc.

Admittedly yesterday we went to a museum wine and cheese function that was featuring a cycling display.

Of course, we cycled there. :) And I wore what was most comfortable for a hot 80+ degree F sunny weather which was still cycling. I never wear tank tops nor sleeveless when I cycle. Other cyclists there, most were wearing cycling garb, rare ones dressed up in non-cycling.

BUT...I forgot that other women there, who don't cycle, many wore their sleek/flirty summer dresses, skirts, some strappy sandals, etc. There were gallery members there who don't cycle but attended the event.

I never cease to be amazed by my own cluelessness and how much cycling has defined our lifestyle because it is our main transportation mode during non-snow/ice seasons. Even in high end, expensive restaurants, I'm having a nice meal with dearie, both of us in cycling gear. My partner refuses to dress up in dress shirt and dress pants for any event except when he's forced to because the event dictates it..ie. a wedding.

It's foreign world to me, to see little hordes of women dressed chic and semi-sexy for a night out at the bars in our neighbourhood.
I have no plans to become a chic copenhagen gal on bike. I love tasteful dressy clothing, but I just don't want to start sweating up that clothing too and dealing with stains, etc.

are you in Copenhagen??!

HAVE FUN!
I've seen you in that jersey :D

ummm, I wish I was in Copenhagen.
Yea, I like recycling my jerseys...over and over. :D

For me to wear a skort is not often at all since I tend to view it more for shorter distance cycling.

You look wonderful!--but my opinion in matters of style may not be exactly mainstream. Anyway, your kit fits well and is cute, clean, in good repair, and what more could anyone ask?

My goal for my own appearance has been reduced to "visually minimally socially acceptable."

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Originally Posted by malkin

My goal for my own appearance has been reduced to "visually minimally socially acceptable."

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Malkin, you must have a personality that outshines your goal..you aren't suggesting being visually ...a wallflower?

But I love that goal..the older we get, the truer it CAN become. :) It can be quite liberating. The fashion industry would go bankrupt because of us.. :p

I'm so far from the target audience of fashion industry marketing that they probably have no idea I exist.

We live in a very conservative area, and whereas in many places I'd hardly qualify as interesting, here I'm pretty unusual for numerous reasons. I work with children and families, so I try not to be more weird than they can tolerate.

You look so cute in that shirt and... skort? Anyway it's awesome. :)

It's a cute outfit! Similar to what you are talking about, but my bf and I went to tgi friday's the other night, after iwe had ridden for a while. He had on jean shorts ... But me, on the other hand, had gym shorts on and a t-shirt, and red-faced....
Are skorts comfortable to wear while riding?

You look cute!

I am the bane of my rellies, as they keep requesting that I 'bring some clothes to change into'.
I just gave in and realized that if I was riding everywhere, I would have to look like I was in a space suit!

If I am cycling to an event such as the one you went to, I would be dressed exactly as you.
That said, I love the "flirty, strappy" dresses you described others wearing. I love dressing up. I also love cycling clothes. I see nothing wrong with what you were wearing, especially to a cycling themed exhibit. However, I do not ride to most "events" and I would not look as "nice" as you do, as I get sweaty, helmet head, etc. even from short rides.
One time, though we were in Martha's Vineyard and rode to Edgartown for lunch. We went to a "nicer" restaurant (it's a kind of snobby place) and the people could not get over our attire; mostly my husband's, though.

At home we call going out in normal clothing "doing like the Phantom".

After all "sometimes the Phantom leaves the jungle, and walks the streets of the city like an ordinary man".

:D

Or maybe this comic is more wellknown here.

That's funny, LPH. Whenever my husband and I decide to ditch a ride or other physical activity to say, sit on the deck and drink a glass of wine, we say we are "acting like regular people."

My DH and I consider dressing up wearing new jeans and a clean polo! We used to be conscious of our cycling clothes but now frequent places used by other cyclists. Besides, my sister keeps complimenting my DH on his new physique and he gets lots of compliments on his Pink Floyd jersey.

Plus, the cycling outfit I have on probably costs more than what they are wearing (add in buff, helmet, sunglasses, shorts, jersey, gloves...........) I also console myself with the thought that the people starting are usually overweight, unhealthy, people driving SUV's and they are secretly jealous! I know, it used to be me :-)

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Originally Posted by cylegoddess

I am the bane of my rellies, as they keep requesting that I 'bring some clothes to change into'.
I just gave in and realized that if I was riding everywhere, I would have to look like I was in a space suit!

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What are rellies?

For kim: Am wearing an unpadded skort..meant for jogging. I don't jog. But then I don't wearing cycling bottoms with chamois. Yea, am pretty wierd after all these yrs. of regular cycling fun/passion. This skort has an attached lycra shorts underneath. I tend to reserve this skort for shorter rides..only because I want to make this skort last for next few years...provided I keep fit to still get into it.

TE ladies are great and accepting of "breaking" rules of image...especially as one ages.

'Cause in all seriousness, there are ALOT of other women, particularily older women in their 40's, 50's and up, who wouldn't be caught dead in running shoes (well, cycling shoes is similar) and a skirt/skort/shorts, plus messed up hair and absolutely no makeup to a public event.

I think rellies are relatives. Aussies tend to abbreviate and end everything with "ies"

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

I think rellies are relatives. Aussies tend to abbreviate and end everything with "ies"

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Yes indeedy, rellies are relatives. And so are "rellos."

And we Aussies are possibly the laziest speakers in the world. You only need half of those consonants. And some of those vowels are superfluous too! And that's when we say the WHOLE word!:D

You can shorten anything by chopping any bit off it and substituting with "y" "ies" "oh" or "o" and everybody here knows what you mean. So afternoon becomes "arvo" and breakfast becomes "brekky." It's a whole new language!:)

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Originally Posted by lph

After all "sometimes the Phantom leaves the jungle, and walks the streets of the city like an ordinary man".

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I know that comic and that is a very appropriate equation.

For an event like that I might wear this and this

Zen, that gored, flared skort looks great. Not that I'm buying anything more for my overstuffed closet.

Wasn't aware of the Athleta distributor clothing lines. After seeing all the camis, tank tops..alot of lovely stuff was bypassing me to point I'm wasn't even aware of all the different styles.
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Since we live near some major bike routes that are well-used, we can see from home as well as when I'm cycling on such routes, alot more people (to me) than ie. 10 years ago, who are cycling a wider range of bike types and street clothing. Which is a great thing for spreading cycling passion. But maybe what I'm observing is not representative trend in smaller cities or even major, non-cycling oriented cities.

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Originally Posted by lph

At home we call going out in normal clothing "doing like the Phantom".

After all "sometimes the Phantom leaves the jungle, and walks the streets of the city like an ordinary man".

:D

Or maybe this comic is more wellknown here.

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I remember reading that comic when I was a kid. I remember when Mrs. Phantom - Diana? - gave birth to twins in the cave deep in the jungle and in prepping for the delivery, they showed her doing situps as the doctor the Phantom brought in watched. Golly.

What would Mary Worth say?

ha!

Roxy

Zen, I have 4, yes, 4, of those Eurohalters. The first one I bought full price and then for the others, I just waited until the winter and got them for half off. I wear them for yoga and running, too. I love them and they are perfect with a bolero and a skort for a cycling "dress up"look.
I have been eyeing that skirt you posted, too. Too many choices.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

Since we live near some major bike routes that are well-used, we can see from home as well as when I'm cycling on such routes, alot more people (to me) than ie. 10 years ago, who are cycling a wider range of bike types and street clothing. Which is a great thing for spreading cycling passion. But maybe what I'm observing is not representative trend in smaller cities or even major, non-cycling oriented cities.

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I see lots of cyclists, but I rarely see anyone wearing cycling clothes. Where I live you really don't special clothes for errands, going out to dinner, shopping etc. because the distances aren't that great. Plus if the weather is hot, you will get a lot sweatier waiting for the subway (or in many cabs) so your clothing isn't going to fare any better if you don't bike.

There's nothing wrong with special clothes if you need or enjoy them, but spending lots money to dress for a 10-15 mile trip seems a bit OTT to me. You can tuck up your pants with a safety pin and be just fine.

Pam

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

'Cause in all seriousness, there are ALOT of other women, particularily older women in their 40's, 50's and up, who wouldn't be caught dead in running shoes (well, cycling shoes is similar) and a skirt/skort/shorts, plus messed up hair and absolutely no makeup to a public event.

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That's what's so nice about getting older--you get wiser. ;)

Being a skort fan myself I think you are not only tastefully dressed for the occasion, but comfortable as well. Did you have fun? :)

When I ride to an event, I mostly bring some cityclothes in my backpack.

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Originally Posted by papaver

When I ride to an event, I mostly bring some cityclothes in my backpack.

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Except for cycle-commuting to work, where I do change into off-bike clothing, for cycling to other places/events in my cycling gear, I don't change into other type of clothing when I reach the event/destination. 90% of these situations, I'm cycling under 15-20 kms. (1 way)

I honestly do not want to cycle in good street wear..I spend time and money to either find clothing that fits me, quality style and fabric with time I've spent altering it or I've spent time sewing the garment. I'm a petite size (photo says it) and hence, clothing fit/style can be a serious search for me without looking too juvenile. I don't want to damage such clothing prematurely when cycling. Am picky, I was an excellent sewer of my own wardrobe for many years.

If it is an event I want to dress-up, I simply don't cycle but take public transit, etc. Yes, I have strutted onto the subway in a strapless knee-length black dress and pink chiffon shawl with dearie in his tie and suit. In a big metropolitan city, it's not totally unusual to see. For certain, a real copenhagen chic gal would cycle slowly in her attire! ;)

'"At home we call going out in normal clothing "doing like the Phantom".

After all "sometimes the Phantom leaves the jungle, and walks the streets of the city like an ordinary man".'

I just love that!
Ive always looked like a mess,so I figure that helmet hair, 'space suit' and clacky shoes are just as bad as anything else I wear. ( old goth chick, not the best of looks!)
But I do know that even though my hair looks messy, and Im dressed funny, my legs look awesome ( even my bottom looks good , despite chamois).

But as my hubby says, just dont wear the helmet inside!!
What I need is one little black dress, compresses to fit in a pocket , no wrinkling and drip dry!
How about it TE designers?( it could be skorts)!!!

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Originally Posted by cylegoddess

What I need is one little black dress, compresses to fit in a pocket , no wrinkling and drip dry!
How about it TE designers?( it could be skorts)!!!

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Check Patagonia - I have this dress in black (and teal) and it should fit the bill. I haven't specifically tried to fit it in a jersey pocket, but it packs down well, doesn't get wrinkly, and looks super cute as well.