Cycle chic according to the NY Times

[lph]

Lph wonder if you are one of the rarer Europeans who believes in wearing bike helmet. The blogger for Copenhagenize and Copenhagen Chic, practically is foaming at the mouth in anger, whenever he looks to North America's bike helmet laws.

No, helmets are not mandatory but pretty much the norm here for regular cyclists and especially for kids, but I do regularly see "cycling non-cyclists" ie. students in jeans and backpacks, young urban hipsters in street clothes, the odd elderly gentleman or two... not wearing helmets. I figure that as long as they're not biking too far and are behaving predictably they'll probably be fine. Unfortunately these, especially the students and young hipsters are most often the ones behaving like kamikaze pilots and running red lights.

Copenhagen really does have a cycling culture all of their own. And I do think they may have a point in that mandatory helmet use works against encouraging "cyclism".

[hebe]

I stopped by one of the chic stores today (Adeline Adeline in Tribeca). Really, they were very nice and I'm not knocking the place at all. I wouldn't be surprised if they make some customers more comfortable than the traditional bike stores featuring monosyllabic male employees. I hoped to come away with an amusing anecdote, but was disappointed.The bikes I saw were Linus and Pashley. Most were on the heavy side -- no way I'd get one up the subway stairs.

The place was really, really, really chic, though. I need chain lube but didn't even ask. Theirs is probably organic and imported from the Andes.

I will be curious to see if they survive.

That sounds like a great shop to me, and I am sure they will do well if they are able to communicate and put people at their ease. Certainly I would (and now do) go out of my way for a LBS that is helpful and friendly. There's a shop in London called Bobbin Bicycles (I think) which I would love to see and visit, they do sell some racers though.

If some people choose to dress up in fashionable street clothing while cycling, etc. that's their thing. I wouldn't necessarily judge them less. If they want to ride heavier bikes, that's their thing. But for certain, they shouldn't presume that it's a good thing for newbies to ride a heavy bike. I wouldn't make that type of recommendation at all.

I just wonder how they keep their skirts, tops, etc. from oil stains, etc. and prevent scratches on beautiful leather dress boots or dress shoes. I honestly would need a new wardrobe to dress fashionably and cycle.

But when I was in Copenhagen, it was obvious that to have a truly cycling intensive city, regular cyclists (meaning us) have to embrace, all cyclists who may not wear comfortable cycling clothing, etc.Lph wonder if you are one of the rarer Europeans who believes in wearing bike helmet. The blogger for Copenhagenize and Copenhagen Chic, practically is foaming at the mouth in anger, whenever he looks to North America's bike helmet laws.

Pashleys do look heavy, no doubt about that. Here in Britain though they are often cherished in the same way as old Minis. I suppose the weight becomes an issue if you are taking it up metro stairs or a steep hill (why I am hesitating over one), but on the flat gentle towpaths and the country lanes for which they were designed I can imagine they must be great fun and as good for beginners as anything else. They look very practical in terms of carrying capacity too, which makes them popular as commuting bikes. I think women and men here appreciate the chain and skirt/coat guards on them which should allow stain-free riding.

I wear a helmet, as does my husband (who bought one in order to ride my bike home the 1 mile journey from the bike shop). It just seems the sensible thing to do. I have to admit to wondering what it would feel like to cycle with the wind in my hair as I've never experienced that. Maybe one day. Other than that my cycling kit consists of 1 pair padded boxers and various Lidl socks/gloves/jacket (Lidl is a European discount chain). I will get better stuff as I get to know what I need, but I would honestly not win any fashion competitions on my bike, nor do I look like a cyclist.

Very interesting thread, thank you.

[Owlie]

Copenhagen really does have a cycling culture all of their own. And I do think they may have a point in that mandatory helmet use works against encouraging "cyclism".

I seem to have missed this. Sorry to appear thick, but why? Personal freedom? People think it looks dorky and are less likely to ride because they don't want to look dorky?

[lph]

Well, I can't really speak for them, because I'm one of the lycra crowd who wears a helmet at all times. But my impression of mass "cyclism" in Copenhagen is that it's very low-key, everyday, a bit faster than walking, but more tailored to your needs than taking a bus. Regular city clothes, regular hairdo and make-up, practical but not very fast bikes, few conflicts with cars, fairly low speeds, low risk, for everybody who can turn a pair of pedals. So it's probably both a culture thing and a fashion thing, but also that type of cycling is just not that dangerous.

[jessmarimba]

Yeah, I can see the reasoning. I didn't ride my bike much in college because I wouldn't ride without a helmet, but the second I put a helmet on my hair was a disaster for the rest of the day. Rather than constantly worrying how bad my hair was sticking up, I'd just take the bus. Or drive.

Then again, I'm pretty introverted and very self-conscious about my appearance...and I am most self-conscious about my ridiculously difficult hair.

[Crankin]

PLL, I am well aware of the judgemental attitude of different groups of cyclists. And, I totally agree; no matter what you wear to ride in, follow the law! In fact, I am kind of a "rule Nazi" when it comes to this, but hey, that's me.
I just have noticed that there are some who believe that A) you can't be athletic and be into fashion or make up, etc and still be "strong"
B) That dressing fashionably means you're shallow or something.

[pll]

Crankin: +1, we agree. I was trying to understand why there was a apparent backlash on wearing street clothes in this forum. I think the tone of the NYT article has to do with it, at least in part.

lph: +1, too.

I commuted for couple of years in my bike and would wear normal street clothes. I would, however, not use nice shoes (heels or other) because I don't want them to get ruined. I was not time-trialing to work though, just a leisurely, short, ride. And a long time ago (late 70s, early 1980s), I commuted to primary and secondary school for about 6 years, in full uniform (skirt!), no helmet. I met with a lot of classmates on the about 20 minute ride. No time trial either. As lph mentioned, faster than walking and better than a bus.

[PamNY]

Crankin, I think most of the "fashion" comments were inspired by that silly article.

Sometimes I think wistfully that it would be fun to look nicer on my bike -- just to suit my mood, mostly. But I'm so committed to screaming yellow -- so the question for me becomes, is wearing my cool tweed jacket worth an accident? So far the answer has been "nope."

I never thought I'd wear tights, and I'm probably the only biker who started wearing tights because of birdwatching. I get cold when I stop and stand around for hours, and it's so easy to layer over tights and then take layers off for the ride home.

Did I ever tell the story about the time I went biking with a pair of panties stuck to the velcro on the parka I had hurriedly yanked out of the dryer for the ride? Now that was fashion.