Cycle chic according to the NY Times

[pll]

I am really surprised at the level of animosity toward "fashion." While I wouldn't ride in the clothes described in the article, so what if someone does? I love fashion, clothes, etc. It doesn't mean I don't also like working hard on my bike and getting sweaty and dirty.

There are judgmental attitudes on both sides. Part of the article implied that some people look down on lycra-clad cyclists, or consider them aggressive ('the adult cyclist as infantry soldier'). To some extent, I can relate to that feeling when I think of the groups of motorcyclists I see on occasion.

What I find most annoying about the article is that it implies riding on the sidewalk is OK:

Ms. Page-Green, who likes to speed around on the sidewalk, has encountered hostility. “When you’re going too fast, people get mad at you,” she said.

People may prefer to ride in regular clothes for short commutes, wear no helmet, etc, but they be civil and obey traffic laws. Speeding on the sidewalk or riding against traffic is not acceptable. If someone can ride comfortably in heels, more power to them.

[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).

[JennK13]

And we can't expect people to just "become cyclists" and adopt cyclist culture as we see it overnight......The best we can do as a cycling community is send the message that yes, cycling for transport is for everybody, and no, you don't have to look like a spandex-wearing superhero, BUT you have to remember that you are in traffic and behave responsibly.

Just because someone doesn't wear "cycling" attire (as most here are considering cycling attire - jerseys, close fitting shorts with chamois in them, shoes with cleats in them....) doesn't mean they aren't cyclists and aren't part of the cycling culture. There is a whole "hipster" group of people who ride, and even cycling specific clothing that doesn't look "racey" or tight. I find it narrow minded to think that people have to adopt cycling culture as many here see it - not just overnight, but ever.

I totally agree with the second part that cycling IS for everyone and you DONT have to wear spandex but everyone should behave responsibly.
(side note, totally not picking on you IPH, your post was perfect for both sides of the arguement! )

I ride a lot for many different purposes - I ride for health and exercise, I race, I ride FOR work (group ride leader), I ride for pleasure with friends, I ride TO work and run errands. I dress differently based on what I'm doing. Just like I wouldn't jog or do aerobics in jeans, or snowboard in sweat pants, if I'm working out or racing, I'm wearing cycling specific attire appropriate for what I'm doing (bike shorts and jerseys, and proper foot wear with cleats). I'd certainly look funny wearing a sundress in a cyclocross race - that's for the men to do!

If I'm using my bike for transportation, to the movies, to run errands, go to coffee with friends, to go to work, I'm not dressed that way - I have a serious fashion obsession (addiction if you ask DH), and as I sit here in my Banana Republic slacks and Anthropologie sweater, I see absolutely nothing wrong with looking totally cute and fabulous while riding my super cute bike with it's wicker panniers. I have ridden in a skirt (and I think those skirt garters someone posted a while ago are a MUST!), though I'm a clutz, so I don't ride in heels, but I do bring them with me to change into once I'm at my destination. There are "hipster" websites where you can get cycling specific pants/knickers that are cute and work appropriate, yet are seamed appropriately so as not to cause problems while riding, and are made of wool and wrinkle resistant material so they don't stink and look nice once you're off your bike.

When it comes to helmets, to each their own. If people dont want to wear them, that's their perogative - just like with motorcycles. The sidewalk riding is a huge pet peeve of mine, and while the article makes those that are riding the bikes sound like a bunch of jerks who give ALL cyclists bad names with their horrible traffic habits, what they wear has absolutely nothing to do with that. My helmet may protect my head if I hit it in a fall, but a short sleeved jersey and shorts don't offer me any more protection in a fall than anything else I might wear while riding. In fact, I wear the least amount clothes when I'm most likely to get injured - coming out of or going into transition in a triathlon.

Just be responsible when you ride, no matter what you're riding or wearing. And if you look good doing it, all the better.