CUTE commuter gear???

[IvonaDestroi]

I have searched the internet high and low....

and aside from the adorable betty bike repair kits, I have found NOTHING in terms of a cute, stylish, low/mid priced bike gear company for girls!

And all I wanted was a cute fitted rain suit to match my vintage 3 speed... but NO!

If you wanna look like a girl you apparently have to wear cycling jerseys and spandex and have hundreds of dollars... otherwise, it's 80's leftovers or that awesome rolling trash bag look!!!

Does anyone know of a company that might do cute, stylish, gear for a young, female, day to day commuter? Pink? Leopard Print? Maybe some cute roll up pants that you can button or a jacket that doesn't ride above your butt crack?

Sorry... I'm starting to vent here....

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[shootingstar]

Gurrrlll/woman who are you?? You sound hysterically in need of a long bike ride.

Seriously introduce yourself. You did already about your cat under a different topic.

Let this site inspire you on many faces of commuting styles:
http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/

Ever heard of capris as part of the pant solution?

[IvonaDestroi]

Hey...

Sorry! I'm Ivona. I'm a fashion design student in SF graduating next month... I'm just irritated because it's something that I would just EXPECT to be out there... all I wanted was a freakin' fitted blue or pink or NON yellow/clear/80's addidas rainsuit so I don't get drenched all the time! For all the time I spend sewing I sort of just expect things like this to already exist...

Well I guess I now have a new inspiration...

I don't have a car, just a crappy old vintage bike (that I love anyway) but it pretty much IS my car. I'm too poor to afford anything better at the moment, I mean I'm lucky if I make rent every month. That's why I don't have a fancy bike like all of you!

Both my roomates are avid cyclists and I've learned tons from both of them, I'm really getting into learning to fix things up and restore them, though I don't have as much time to devote to it as I'd like to with school and all. They mock my classic step through frames and upright handlebars... But I think they're beautiful. They're Classic. Not that I'd be opposed to getting something nicer if I could afford it...

My typical clothing style normally includes things like pegged skinny jeans, so commuting clothing isn't so much of an issue as it would be a convenience... you know, a little loop for my U lock or the button on the side instead of the front, a butt crack covering lenth or just something cute that makes it feminine and bike related without being so serious... I mean I ride the damn thing everywhere. At the moment affordable fitted female rain gear that doesn't look like hell would be nice...

[lph]

Hey...

Sorry! I'm Ivona. I'm a fashion design student in SF graduating next month... I'm just irritated because it's something that I would just EXPECT to be out there... all I wanted was a freakin' fitted blue or pink or NON yellow/clear/80's addidas rainsuit so I don't get drenched all the time! For all the time I spend sewing I sort of just expect things like this to already exist...

We-ell - do you ever have your future occupation mapped out for you!

I mean it! Send this to some of the big cycling clothing manufacturers and see if anybody bites. I think TE (i.e. here, click on the chicky at the top of the page) has the best range of cycling clothing for women - if you can't find it here, it might not exist. Or send a note to Susan Otcenas (site admin), she'll know.

[tulip]

You can wear whatever you want! If you want bike-specific comfort, wear cycling shorts under your regular clothes. Bike commuters wear a whole range of clothes, not just cycling gear. We also ride a whole range of bikes.

And not everyone here rides super expensive bikes. Some of us do, some of us don't, and a whole lot of us have more than one bike--I had a beautiful 1950s JC Higgins 3-speed that I was planning to restore. Man, I miss that bike!

Your bike sounds lovely. The roomies obviously don't know much about bikes (new poseurs, perhaps?), or they would appreciate your classic one!

[uforgot]

Tulip - MY first bike was a JC Higgins. From the 60s. I sort of look at craigslist hoping to find one like it once in a while.

And you can look as girly as you want as you commute.

[IvonaDestroi]

You can wear whatever you want! If you want bike-specific comfort, wear cycling shorts under your regular clothes. Bike commuters wear a whole range of clothes, not just cycling gear. We also ride a whole range of bikes.

...

The roomies obviously don't know much about bikes (new poseurs, perhaps?), or they would appreciate your classic one!

I pretty much do wear whatever I want... have been for the past couple years... and it works but that's not the problem... My clothes work but it would just be nice to have something that's really geared towards day to day life riding around everywhere you go. Esspecially in the rain!!! Have you SEEN those god awful biking rain pants???? You might as well wrap trash bags around your legs!

Sometimes I wish I had a car, but really in the end I'm glad that I don't have one. You know how Timbuk2 makes handy messanger bags made for biking around? Same concept, but clothes wise. and AFFORDABLE would be nice. RAIN PROOF would also be nice.

In terms of my roomates, they're just poking fun. One works at a bike shop and the other is one of those creepy spandex wearers... I mock their fixed gears and ridiculously expensive mountain bikes just the same. Can't mock that carbon frame though...

They have taught me everything from changing out gears to building and tuning and trueing, they're awesome, so I don't think they mean any harm by it. Tons of bike tools and free lessons? They totally rule!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

and aside from the adorable betty bike repair kits, I have found NOTHING in terms of a cute, stylish, low/mid priced bike gear company for girls!
And all I wanted was a cute fitted rain suit to match my vintage 3 speed... but NO!

A water proof fitted rain suit would be horribly sweaty and stifling, I'd think. I have an expensive nicely fitted gortex lightweight biking rain jacket...and I feel like I'm suffocating when I ride in it. If I wear it just walking around in the rain I'm fine, but when pedaling it gets too suffocating. rain-proof fabrics tend not to breathe, so that's why they tend to be made into looser fitting items.
A lot of rain commuters wear ponchos because they can still breathe and can wear their work clothes underneath- no changing clothes once you get to work. Loose lightweight rain pants are good because you can slip them on over your regular work pants and arrive for work totally dry and ready to work.

If you wanna look like a girl you apparently have to wear cycling jerseys and spandex and have hundreds of dollars... otherwise, it's 80's leftovers or that awesome rolling trash bag look!!!
Does anyone know of a company that might do cute, stylish, gear for a young, female, day to day commuter? Pink? Leopard Print? Maybe some cute roll up pants that you can button or a jacket that doesn't ride above your butt crack?

Sounds like you could just wear regular rollup/button cargo pants and regular 'cute' jacket for that.

You don't say what kind or how long your daily work commute is. The big question is: do you need to wear actual 'biking gear' for your commute? (aside from helmet and gloves for safety of course)
Do you intend to have 'cute bike commuting clothes' for your commute and then change into work clothes once you arrive at work?...or do you want to just ride in your work clothes (whatever that might be) and cover them somehow against the rain? It would be helpful if we knew this.

[Eden]

I second that - for me, even the most expensive breathable fabrics turn into a steam sauna for me in all but the coldest weather. I prefer to either wear things that are warm/wet and quick drying or to carry a change of clothes....

I have a couple of pairs of microfiber exercise capris - of course capri length on me... more like high waters... one has a nice draw string at the bottom, perfect for riding around if I don't want to get into biking duds. My only wish is that they were a little more structured in the butt - little baggier back there than I really prefer.

[GLC1968]

I second that - for me, even the most expensive breathable fabrics turn into a steam sauna for me in all but the coldest weather. I prefer to either wear things that are warm/wet and quick drying or carrying a change of clothes....

Yep.

The reason is pure physics. Something designed to 'breathe' can only breathe if it is not actively also trying to repel water. You can't do both at the same time. Goretex (and other brands) are great for when it's not downpouring, but once it is...you are gonna get wet (one way or another!).

That's why pit-zips are so helpful!

[Eden]

Yep.

The reason is pure physics. Something designed to 'breathe' can only breathe if it is not actively also trying to repel water. You can't do both at the same time. Goretex (and other brands) are great for when it's not downpouring, but once it is...you are gonna get wet (one way or another!).

That's why pit-zips are so helpful!

but hmmmmm - whatcha gonna put on pants...... crotch zips

[GLC1968]

but hmmmmm - whatcha gonna put on pants...... crotch zips

Isn't that just a fly?


I personally like my amfib tights for cold rain. They keep me dry enough to stay warm but they don't get clammy. I would really like to try wool, I just can't afford it at the moment. Rain pants definitely suck - tried them once and it was so gross! I think they'd be ok for very short commutes though...if it's chilly enough to avoid sweating.

[Zen]

but hmmmmm - whatcha gonna put on pants...... crotch zips

[IvonaDestroi]

A lot of rain commuters wear ponchos because they can still breathe and can wear their work clothes underneath- no changing clothes once you get to work. Loose lightweight rain pants are good because you can slip them on over your regular work pants and arrive for work totally dry and ready to work.


Sounds like you could just wear regular rollup/button cargo pants and regular 'cute' jacket for that.

You don't say what kind or how long your daily work commute is. The big question is: do you need to wear actual 'biking gear' for your commute? (aside from helmet and gloves for safety of course)
Do you intend to have 'cute bike commuting clothes' for your commute and then change into work clothes once you arrive at work?...or do you want to just ride in your work clothes (whatever that might be) and cover them somehow against the rain? It would be helpful if we knew this.

ok... um I'm just gonna repeat one of my earlier quotes here:
_____
i pretty much do wear whatever I want... have been for the past couple years... and it works but that's not the problem... My clothes work but it would just be nice to have something that's really geared towards day to day life riding around everywhere you go.

Sometimes I wish I had a car, but really in the end I'm glad that I don't have one. You know how Timbuk2 makes handy messanger bags made for biking around? Same concept, but clothes wise. and AFFORDABLE would be nice.

_____

In terms of my commute, I ride my bike everywhere I go in combination with taking the BART subway which allows bikes. I take it to do groceries, go to school, work when I'm working, shop, go to friends houses and parties and shows, pretty much anytime I leave the house I'm on my bike. Which is all the time. So what I'm looking for is something wearable everywhere you go whilst still being bike related... not so much for neccessity, but more for comfort and convenience, and maybe a little girly bike pride.

I mean obviously you can wear normal clothes but I was just looking for something just a little bit more geared towards city life on a bike. The smallest details are so handy sometimes, like button/pocket placement or an extra lock loop here or a roll up button there.

As for the rain gear, thanks for the tip! You're right, it is baggy and not breathable... I didn't realize that even the more expensive clothing had that problem too. I love Eden's idea of altering wool dress pants. I might try making something using that kind of fabric... maybe spray 'em down with that water repellant spray for good measure...hmmmm.....

[Cataboo]

Mostly what I've been using for rain is: patagonia spraymaster jacket & pants if it's a torrential downpour (but I'm usually more likely just not to bike!) or arc'teryx alpha lt in gore pro shell.

The arc'teryx squamish is always in my pack in case of a rain shower - it's light, it unzips to my navel, which is more than enough breathability. Also works great for kayaking as a lightweight keep the sun off layer.

For a softshell:
Mammut ultimate hoody - hoody, water resistant, and 2 way pitzips - you can basically unzip the side of the jacket up to your elbows.

pants - rei mistral and I can't remember the name of the arc'teryx lightweight softshells I have.