Cycle chic according to the NY Times

[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.

[hebe]

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.

I'm going o/t here, but this has reminded me of the time I walked behind a girl who had a tiny pink thong stuck to the velcro on the back pocket of her cargo pants. I thought it was a breast cancer ribbon until I got closer, then she turned into a hairdresser's salon just as I was trying to get the courage up to tell her.

I no longer have the same level of interest in fashion/how I dress as I did pre-baby. That said, I do struggle putting a bright red and white jacket with a black and pink helmet, but safety and comfort (and price in this example) always win out over co-ordination. A small part of me will always want to be in a beautiful outfit on a beautiful bike, despite the fact that I think the bulk of my riding will be off-road and the remainder will be errand-running.

[pinkychique]

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.

Hahahaha!! That's awesome.

I think the term *fashion* is a double-edged sword: it can mean that someone looks nice, or it can mean they step on other people. riding on a side walk fast is an example of stepping on people by disrespecting their right to walk where you're supposed to walk without feeling threatened.

i'm hard-core about following the rules, and i've been known to yell at other cyclists (whilst i'm either commuting in jeans or lycra or just out on a training ride) for not following the rules like stopping (or at least LOOKING) at a stopsign/stoplight.

i have a bike specifically for wearing everyday clothes on, too. it's mostly for anything less than 4 miles. the butt of most of my jeans have saddle wear marks on them

and i wear a helmet always. helmet hair be danged. know too many people that broke their helments and not their heads (thank God).