http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Bike it or Not en Sun, 31 May 2026 06:02:48 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530&page=2#post-4159 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:29:54 +0000 Smudge 4159@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@wee folding bike "<em>I did used to walk around teaching college in tights</em>" careful what you say! ;-)</p> <p>Joking aside, SRD said;<br /> "....<em>the fact that this seems a gratuitous excuse to post a picture of a woman cycling in a revealing skirt. </p> <p>BUT it is worth mentioning that short skirts are great for cycling in the rain. Nylon stockings don't absorb water/dry quickly, so if your jacket covers the top half of the skirt, then you can get to work pretty dry. And/or I always used to go for short skirts on heavy rain days -- put waterproof trousers on over tights/stockings, shove skirt in bag, and off you go</em>...."</p> <p>I've been thinking quite a lot about this over the last day or so, I believe it is a very important point. Now firstly I personally don't think the photo was gratuitous, but the that is very much a personal opinion. :-/ The lady in question imho is dressed very nicely and I wouldn't have said was wearing anything excessively revealing, certainly she seems happy to be seen by random public and I see nothing wrong in her choice. That said, we all know that when a girl (or a guy!) chooses to wear a short skirt then many men and some women will find it attractive and will look and quite possibly pass comment.<br /> Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing or just a thing is probably not a discussion for these boards. Whether posting a photo in this matter with the implication, I believe with humorous intent and no malice, that showing a fair bit of leg is eyecatching is appropriate? Well if someone is offended then I guess it isn't, however it is a very fine line to tread. It certainly was not and is not my intention to cause offence or provoke anyone else into accidentally doing so.<br /> It is a complex and sensitive subject but certainly a discussion I'd love to continue if we ever meet up in "real life"!</p> <p>As to the option of wearing a short skirt in the rain, sounds like a cunning plan, unfortunately I suspect were I to turn up at work in a skirt I would not have my troubles to seek! (or ridicule!!) :-o :-))<br /> Be glad that you have more choices than us poor men, trousers in various shades of drab all day every day we work, rain hail or shine, it's probably why we look at the ladies so much ;-)</p> <p>Very best wishes, S </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530&page=2#post-4133 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:17:29 +0000 gembo 4133@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>my partner used to go on about a keen cyclist at her work, she used to think he was a helpful colleague and a nice guy, just one draw back, he used to come through the office in cycling gear and not change for about half an hour. I used to think this obscene and now I do it. How bizarre. Time to change back to long canvas shorts and cotton t-shirts, cotton is great - it absorbs odour. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530&page=2#post-4093 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:49:09 +0000 wee folding bike 4093@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't wear cleats on a Brompton. I did used to walk around teaching college in tights and cleats... still passed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530&page=2#post-4092 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:41:04 +0000 Kim 4092@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>At the end of the day all that really matters is that people feel they have the freedom to cycle in their local environment is what counts. Which ever way they want to dress.<br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49194391@N00/4453213907/in/pool-1361111@N20"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2712/4453213907_ebdb142e54.jpg"></a></p> <p>For the record, these photo came from my sanding at a junction for 30 minutes trying to photograph every cyclist who came pass to see if I could show there a <a href="http://www.copenhagenize.com/2007/11/18-ways-to-know-that-you-have-bicycle.html">European style city cycling culture</a> in Edinburgh. Is this something we all want? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530&page=2#post-4090 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:27:02 +0000 chdot 4090@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Well, the Brompton riders are definitely a bit tribal...."</p> <p>I'm sure there must be "No Bromptons" signs somewhere... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4089 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:23:17 +0000 SRD 4089@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I wonder if the time will come when pubs have signs saying "no cycling colours"?" </p> <p>Well, the Brompton riders are definitely a bit tribal.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4087 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:59:48 +0000 chdot 4087@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Does it count if you tend to keep the same kit on after you get off the bike?"</p> <p>Personal choice - though cycling shoes with cleats tends to be a bad 'look'...</p> <p>I wonder if the time will come when pubs have signs saying "no cycling colours"? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4086 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:58:35 +0000 wee folding bike 4086@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>steveo,</p> <p>I think the stylish corner might be a delicate light blue shade, not as light as egg shell, more the hue of a spring sky.</p> <p>Anywho, how about the extended phenotype found by Walker et al where car driver's risk compensation was altered by people wearing helmets? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4085 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:56:01 +0000 wee folding bike 4085@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Does it count if you tend to keep the same kit on after you get off the bike? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4083 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:34:33 +0000 steveo 4083@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@wee folding bike. My comments were not related to this thread in particular but the helmet debate in general. </p> <p>Every time some thing like this comes up there is a snide side comment along the lines of "Shame she felt the need to wear silly head gear." The hypocrisy is deafening, encouraging people to wear normal clothes and get out on there bike then criticising them for making there own choice is just as bad as wanting people to use there bike instead of the car then suggesting that they should only go out in day glow and a hard hat.</p> <p>In the Red Corner the Health and Safety Brigade and Nanny state conglomerate who believe every thing should be sanitized and any form of risk should be managed away and if you must use a bike then it should be done with 500 lumen lights, a reverse signal (just encase), a 120 decibel bell, day glow clothing and full face motor bike helmet</p> <p>In the (ever so stylish) Blue Corner we have the Cycle Chic Copenhagenised alliance who believe every one should use their bike for every journey but only if they are dressed in there best jeans and smart shirt or flowing dress and that if only we all dressed like the Dutch and rode Dutch style bikes all the nasty cars would leave us alone.</p> <p>In the middle is the rest of us riding in what ever have and however we feel comfortable....</p> <p>On a barely related note I have my own personal theory about risk compensation with bikes (who doesn't ;).) Perhaps some of the people wearing their "magic hat" wouldn't feel safe on the road with out one and that for them the risk compensation effect is just getting out and riding, is that really that bad. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4082 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:32:44 +0000 Arellcat 4082@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Note to self: photograph the local scenery more. :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4080 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:00:35 +0000 chdot 4080@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"and the fact that this seems a gratuitous excuse to post a picture of a woman cycling in a revealing skirt."</p> <p>This has always been an 'issue' with "cycling chic". </p> <p>It's a fine line between 'celebrating' the fact some people ride bikes in nice clothes and just concentrating on pictures of female persons. </p> <p>The facts remain that women tend to have more interesting clothes, people with cameras are more likely to be male - as are bike riders. </p> <p>It's interesting that there is still no Edinburgh Cycling Chic web site - which certainly doesn't signifify a lack of interest in cycling and what people wear. </p> <p>There's only just been an ECC Flickr group set up. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1361111@N20/pool/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/groups/1361111@N20/pool/</a></p> <p>I suppose it depends on the definition/intent of "gratuitous". </p> <p>Perhaps we need more stylish men (not just tweed...) and maybe more female photographers. </p> <p>Having things like the <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=78">Beauty and the Bike project</a> complicates things even more!</p> <p>New thread anyone? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4079 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:43:21 +0000 SRD 4079@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"As to the rest of the look, well it caught your eye ;-)) and nicer than cycleborg (tm) (though less good in the rain!)" </p> <p>I'm going to (try) and ignore BOTH the helmet discussion and the fact that this seems a gratuitous excuse to post a picture of a woman cycling in a revealing skirt. </p> <p>BUT it is worth mentioning that short skirts are great for cycling in the rain. Nylon stockings don't absorb water/dry quickly, so if your jacket covers the top half of the skirt, then you can get to work pretty dry. And/or I always used to go for short skirts on heavy rain days -- put waterproof trousers on over tights/stockings, shove skirt in bag, and off you go. You just need to remember not to haul off the trousers in public.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4078 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:04:16 +0000 wee folding bike 4078@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>steveo,</p> <p>If you wanted to drop it why did you prolong the discussion? </p> <p>Looks a wee bit like a hit and run merchant. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4076 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:58:42 +0000 Smudge 4076@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No worries ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4075 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:55:38 +0000 steveo 4075@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sorry smudge that wasn't aimed at you or any one really but the helmet thing gets on my goat, wear it don't wear it but lets drop it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4074 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 23:17:05 +0000 Smudge 4074@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Steveo, I have no idea how risk compensation relates to helmet use, hence my comment about it merely being one factor amongst many. Risk compensation as factor in peoples decision making process has, I believe, been well established. Hence my earlier assertion.</p> <p>However that said, psychology is not one of my specialisms, so if you believe I am mistaken let me know and I'll do some more reading.<br /> Best,<br /> Smudge<br /> ps no axe to grind, I don't care whether people wear helmets or not as long as I get to make my own choices ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4073 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:39:16 +0000 steveo 4073@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh dear not this again</p> <p>There is virtually no evidence to support risk compensation while riding lidded. In reality when one doesn't have an axe to grind one recognises that people do stupid things lided, unlidded in a big iron cage or ontop a couple of bits of rubber.</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=179#post-1242" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=179#post-1242</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4070 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:46:40 +0000 Smudge 4070@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Risk compensation has, I believe, been well proven, it is of course though only one factor amongst many!</p> <p>The helmet? Personal choice, I almost always wear one off road, I'll sometimes wear one in heave traffic, just depends.<br /> The filtering, I'm not without sin, each manouvre has to be considered on it's own merits, some say "never" go down the left of a heavy for instance, but as an almost reformed heavy driver I have a pretty fair idea what most are likely to do and what they can/cannot see so if the circumstances permit then I'll sometimes do it.<br /> The red light, inexcusable :-(<br /> As to the rest of the look, well it caught your eye ;-)) and nicer than cycleborg (tm) (though less good in the rain!) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4069 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:58:41 +0000 Kim 4069@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Risk compensation theory? There has been some study of this... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4068 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:02:41 +0000 chdot 4068@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Odd how people wear a lid because they feel vulnerable, but then behave dangerously."</p> <p>Confirms my wholly unscientific theory... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4067 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:59:50 +0000 Kim 4067@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Smudge do you mean like this?</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49194391@N00/4450135131"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4450135131_fe80e170d7.jpg"></a></p> <p>Shame she felt the need to wear silly head gear, but then she had just filtered down the near side of two buses (one was out of shot) and jumped the red light. Odd how people wear a lid because they feel vulnerable, but then behave dangerously. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4062 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:56:26 +0000 Smudge 4062@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>(laughs) well at least we'd all look a bit more individual and probably a lot more stylish :-))</p> <p>I shall dig out a pair of britches and a shirt and tie immediately... ;-)</p> <p>One should always remember that being visible doesn't <em>have</em> to mean wearing the brightest colours, all you have to do is catch the eye! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4061 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:53:29 +0000 chdot 4061@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Edinburgh seems to be creating cycling clones"</p> <p>There may be a new orthodoxy soon.</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=253&amp;page=2#post-3722" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=253&amp;page=2#post-3722</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4060 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:49:59 +0000 Smudge 4060@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have to confess the current cycling "uniform" of helmet, dayglo yellow jacket and black trousers/shorts makes me want to wear something, <em>anything</em> different. Edinburgh seems to be creating cycling clones :-/ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4059 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:45:26 +0000 chdot 4059@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Stockbridge is trendy...</p> <p>(Well they used to think it was.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4057 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:38:09 +0000 LaidBack 4057@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was down at the Stockbridge Tap on Friday after parking the new LB ICE trike demo in borrowed garage space down there...</p> <p>anyway...</p> <p>Was chatting with a friend and having a Stewarts 80/- at window seat. She and I noticed that there were quite a few cyclists cutting though back route at St Bernard's Row on corner where they blocked the road. </p> <p>Many were not dressed in yellow and rode bikes with straight bars. Some Pseudo Dutch types of machine with low step over like one above. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4052 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:52:53 +0000 Kim 4052@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>How about this look Min?</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49194391@N00/4445280327/in/pool-cyclingedinburgh"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4445280327_6cc903f90e.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4049 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:52:33 +0000 Min 4049@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmm, well I'll go away and have a wee think about inviting even more aggression on to myself by going out looking lovely.</p> <p>I've thought about it. No.</p> <p>(I am sure my normal cheerful self will come back soon when I get my MTB back. :-) ) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=530#post-4048 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:18:25 +0000 chdot 4048@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I saw one (at Church Hill) who looked lovely and cheerful. </p>