I know 'cycle chic' tends to divide people - this post from Rachel Aldred speaks good sense about navigating the twin stereotypes of cycling wear, especially for women http://lcc.org.uk/articles/cycling-what-not-to-wear-1
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
What not to wear
(51 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Personally I tend to commute to work in tracksuit bottoms, shower and change at work. On Fridays where the forecast is clear and the ground dry, I'll shower at home and chance a sedate cycle in my civvies unless I'm looking to push myself hard. My cycling jacket is a permanent fixture in winter and optional in summer depending on whether rain is on the cards. Runs into town I'll do in civvies, rolling up the legs of my jeans and cycling in trainers etc, providing the ground is not totally saturated. Longer blasts with the sole aim of cycling in itself are done in cycling gear: lycra shorts, a compression top and a cycling jersey.
There's more to life than a fashion parade. I honestly don't care what others choose to ride in, just so long as they're getting on their bikes and people are afforded the view that cycling can be both what you want and need it to be. The beauty of it is that cycling can be a part of your life without defining you. I wish more people realised this.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"The beauty of it is that cycling can be a part of your life without defining you. I wish more people realised this."
+ 100
Posted 12 years ago # -
Wait, what? Cycling doesn't need to become an all encompassing obsession that takes up all your disposable income, free time and literally shapes you? Why wasn't I informed of this?
Marginally more seriously, the woman at work who is now the owner of the iron horse isn't a cyclist at all. She just uses the iron horse to get around.
And wickedly neglects the poor old boy so I keep having to nip her heid about chain lubrication and tyre pressure mutter gumble. And I really should get round to recabling the brakes, although with single-pivots on steel rims it seems pointless. Mind you, I've got a long drop new brake on black fruity that's going spare...pondergrumble.
Posted 12 years ago # -
The point is that in cycling cities people actually don't even think about cycling. They just do it, in whatever they happen to be wearing. Much as you wouldn't make a choice on wearing particular clothes to get on a bus or drive a car. Proper mudguards and baskets allow people not to have to wear waterproof trousers or carry bags either.
The trick to this, of course, is sedate cycling. And for that to be possible, you need lots of segregation (or many, many more cyclists on the roads), which is why it doesn't happen here.
I thought of a good analogy (if I may say so). To make cycling a mass participation mode of transport, it needs to be as accessible as possible. Football's the world's game because you only need a ball to play. You should only need a bike to cycle.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"I honestly don't care what others choose to ride in, just so long as they're getting on their bikes"
Bingo.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I tend to cycle in whatever I'm wearing, unless I'm going out cycling for exercise, or commuting. Therefore, if I'm heading to the shops, I will wear what I happen to have on, put some cycle clips on to stop my jeans from catching and, if it is raining, wear my waterproof cycling jacket. Other than that, normal clothing. I certainly assumed that most people both do this, and that those thinking about using a bike assume others do this, and don't feel that every journey made by bike has to be done in special clothing.
I used to commute in jeans too, but lately I came to the conclusion that, with all the rain last year, it wasn't worth it, so commute in Lycra, but keep jeans at work for a quick 1 minute change when I get there.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Okay, I'll confess I'm the complete opposite...
Lycra'd up on the roadie,
Full facer and body armour on the 'susser' (where appropriate!)I'm a marketers dream and a glutton for buying new kit.
But, I work hard and cycling's my passion so I like to treat myself!
Oh, but I do agree with other posters here in that it's each to their own, it's what you feel comfortable in that counts!
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'm completely mystified why some people make such a big deal about what to wear on the bike. Do academics write papers about what to wear on the bus ?
Posted 12 years ago # -
In fairness there's no specialist 'bus wear' available in the shops. Better comparison would be with low intensity hillwalking (which can be done in jeans, but some would argue is better and more comfortable in specific walking trousers).
Posted 12 years ago # -
Denim is a killer on the hills, my pal BDW was told in millets, Renfield st., Glasgow, few years back. I can cycle in any clobber. You get some funny looks in your suit.but the most abuse I get is when I don a tangerine fair isle tank top. Drivers swerve to hit me, pedestrians hurl invective, other cyclists shun me.
Posted 12 years ago # -
TBH I don't think the whole 'what to wear' thing is a huge issue for most people - the conditions on the roads are the really offputting thing - but among some subsections of the population it can be an issue, like teenage girls. I also wonder just how many non-cyclists would agree with the proposition that 'you can wear your ordinary clothes to cycle in', especially if their ordinary clothes aren't particularly practical. My gut feeling is that most would automatically assume that it's something you have to get changed for - and that erects barriers as to when and where they might actually considering cycling. And if their route to work involves muddy paths, or terrifying traffic, they might not be wrong either, if they have to look smart at the other end.
Posted 12 years ago # -
My teenager declined to cycle the other day as the helmet would mess up her hair. Next time I will let her wear a. Little cap she has, quite cool, we will be off road
Posted 12 years ago # -
Ohhhhhh you went there didn't you.
Mine don't wear or indeed own one.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Yes but we are strong enough to swim with or against the current. LiangShangPo
Posted 12 years ago # -
Do not despise the snake for having no horns for who is to say it will not become a dragon.
I thought there were about 300 episodes, it seemed to go on for years, but Imdb says 26 episodes.
Another shocker is that David McCallum's Invisible Man only ran for one season. Que jokes about not seeing David McCallum's invisible man…
Posted 12 years ago # -
That is indeed curious as I would have said The water margin went on forever and did not resolve. The original texts are indeed very long, according to wiki. Would agree on invisible man mcallum and also Sapphire and Steel with Joanna lumley, what was that about?
Posted 12 years ago # -
It did end. I remember seeing the last episode over the Christmas holidays around '79 or '80.
Cow Chew got his just deserts.
I never watched Sapphire and Steel. Partly because I wasn't interested but mostly because even then I hated commercial channels. Now I record them and skip the ads but it's mostly movies. Yesterday I watched the Robe which is quite long enough without ads. Got Barabas still to watch. I've never seen it but apparently it has a real solar eclipse at the end.
School holidays mean I can stay up late to watch grown up films. Yesterday it was O Brother, Where Art Thou. Tonight I fancy Fargo. Can't watch that when kids are awake.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I need to read the article & reply when I have a proper keyboard not a phone
Posted 12 years ago # -
My gut feeling is that most would automatically assume that it's something you have to get changed for - and that erects barriers as to when and where they might actually considering cycling. And if their route to work involves muddy paths, or terrifying traffic, they might not be wrong either, if they have to look smart at the other end.
I'm sorry, I still don't get it. If I think I will need a change of clothes, I will take a change of clothes. If that isn't convenient then I will either live with a compromise set of clothes or chose another form of transport for that particular journey. I don't understand why anyone would see this as a big deal.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"I don't understand why anyone would see this as a big deal."
That's fair enough, but people do. I don't understand why people like raw tomatoes, but they do...
Posted 12 years ago # -
@weefolds coen bros festival in airdrie.?
@weewilmingtonscow what is not to like about tomatoes, cooked or uncooked?
Posted 12 years ago # -
@sally what i wonder about is who these people are who think you need 'special' clothes to cycle in. I do wear special clothes now, sometimes, but i cycled for years - decades - in totally normal clothes - to school, to uni, to work. and had seen my Dad do the same thing, even if he wore lyrca etc when he raced.
It never occurred to me that i needed special clothes to commute in (until i met you guys).
I suppose one answer is that they are the people whose parents didn't cycle to work. and who didn't ever cycle to uni.
but that also makes me wonder if they are ever likely to cycle at all....it can't just be the clothes keeping folk like that off bikes.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I wear what the hell I want to - however I race generally wear a helmet if I'm going out of town but don't bother around town. Also generally would lycra upfor anything more than 10km or so. Otherwise it's a nightmare of sweat and stink for me!
Posted 12 years ago # -
it can't just be the clothes keeping folk like that off bikes.
Something I've often wondered, why do 'we' try to get folk on bikes? I don't really care how many folk get about on bikes, or how they dress.
I get about on my bike dressed the way I dress, I like it, and I don't really care whether I'm the only person who cycles in Edinburgh, or of there are a 1000 more of me, and I have no right to impose my beleif of the benefits of cycling, or what I believe is the best attire to wear while doing so on anyone who doesn't want to listen.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Sometimes I think being a cyclist is, to the wider socirty of "normals", a bit like being a vegan or a teetotaller.
People kind of respect it as a choice, they might even think it's healthier than their choice (meat eating, drinking, or car driving), but it's also seen as hard work, demanding, and a bit puritanical or just plain weird.
Posted 12 years ago # -
A lot of kids don't like tomatoes.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I just wish that people would see a bicycle for what it is, simply a mode of transport there to be used for whatever purpose you want it for. I just wish that some people would stop making a big political song and dance about it.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"I just wish that some people would stop making a big political song and dance about it."
Do you mean 'cycling' or what to wear?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Both.
Posted 12 years ago #
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