Offered without comment: New York Times today on women cyclists

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/fashion/heels-on-wheels-books-of-...

OK, one comment: it is from the Styles section. . . .

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 14, 2012 at 6:40am

And I'd rather see the trend towards more women on bikes continue.  We've been underrepresented for too long.

Reba said:

I agree, Ann, that's a more constructive choice. Cranky old feminists (me) aside, it is fantastic to see so many women on bikes in the city! 

Anne Alt said:

I was trying to make lemonade out of the sexist lemons.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 14, 2012 at 6:54am

If someone chooses to wear their everyday clothing while riding, there's nothing wrong with that.  I can get the frustration some folks may feel if they find themselves sharing the bike lane with a clueless person for whom a bike is more of a fashion statement than a serious choice - someone who doesn't have any idea how to ride or share the road.  (I'm picturing the bike equivalent of Paris Hilton carrying along a little dog in a bag and treating it like a fashion accessory.)

However clueless some may be at first, there's always a possibility that they may be transformed by the experience of riding and become interested in bikes beyond their own experiences.  Those who do actually learn and become better cyclists may become positive contributors to our local bike community.  Everyone has opportunities to learn and evolve.  This can help us increase bike mode share and get us to the point where bikes are considered a "normal" mode of transportation sooner.  

Yep, just making lemonade out of the lemons again.  :)

Michelle Stenzel said:

I don't understand the negativity directed at this article, book or the movement in general. If women choose to wear their everyday clothing while riding their bikes, isn't that a good thing? It reflects that bicycling is no longer a fringe activity requiring special clothing, that women are given the freedom and choice to wear what they want to wear, and that women are choosing to ride bikes. If they want to wear jeans, that's fine, but if they want to wear skirts and heels, that's OK too. I know I do both regularly. The nice thing about living in a big city is that you can pretty much ride whatever bike you want and clothe yourself however you want to -- male or female -- and no one looks at you askance. I just want to see more women out there on their bikes.

Permalink Reply by David Silverman on October 14, 2012 at 1:53pm

Different spokes for different folks.

Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on October 14, 2012 at 3:42pm

2 questions:  In what social circles is this a contentious debate?  I'd like to know so I can stay far away from those people.  And, why would anyone care what another wears while riding a bike?  I look at step through top tube's as a convenience for some and a necessity for others whose physical make up makes it hard to mount and dismount a bicycle.  

I guess when you try to write an intellectual book about fashion, let alone bikes and fashion, you get stuff like this courtesy the NYT.    

Permalink Reply by Reba 4.0 mi on October 15, 2012 at 2:53am
I've been considering my reaction to this piece and wondering why it struck such a chord. Putting aside any message this article sends to readers about the cycling community in general, I think some women (OK me) have hesitated to ride in the city, fearing others' judgement of our appearance. One looses a level of anonymity couched over a bike, rolling past a line of cars in traffic. Catcalls, insults and the like are part of my life again after years of avoiding them.

So yes, I can see this article as a step in either direction: bringing more women to the streets regardless of what they wear. Or, making us all more aware that what women wear when they ride matters. (It shouldn't.)
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on October 15, 2012 at 3:01am

+1

Reba said:

I've been considering my reaction to this piece and wondering why it struck such a chord. Putting aside any message this article sends to readers about the cycling community in general, I think some women (OK me) have hesitated to ride in the city, fearing others' judgement of our appearance. One looses a level of anonymity couched over a bike, rolling past a line of cars in traffic. Catcalls, insults and the like are part of my life again after years of avoiding them.

So yes, I can see this article as a step in either direction: bringing more women to the streets regardless of what they wear. Or, making us all more aware that what women wear when they ride matters. (It shouldn't.)
Permalink Reply by April on October 15, 2012 at 5:48am

Come on people!  I can bike just as easily in heels as in sneakers. I tend to wear skirts (more freedom of motion than pants).  It is possible to dress up while biking.  I may not be at Premium Rush speeds but I definitely hold my own.  I'm rather offended by this comic.  Also who is to say this young lady doesn't become a better cyclist over time.  This might be her first day out--and if the idea of looking good on her bike was motivation to get started riding, who are we to judge? As a working professional who dresses up, I didn't start cycling regularly until I realized that there was style of bike, and tools (fenders, chain guards, etc.) that allow me to wear what I wanted. 

As for the last, panel, that's just plain sexist. Not funny.

OK done ranting.  Now everyone go visit Bike Fancy and see all the stylish and practical cyclists of Chicago!



James BlackHeron said:

Bikeyface just did a series of comics on this phenomenon. 

I won't snag them all but here is a sampling:


And conflating Mixte with Step-through frames is one of my pet peeves -so not the same thing  

Permalink Reply by April on October 15, 2012 at 5:51am

+1!!!

Michelle Stenzel said:

I don't understand the negativity directed at this article, book or the movement in general. If women choose to wear their everyday clothing while riding their bikes, isn't that a good thing? It reflects that bicycling is no longer a fringe activity requiring special clothing, that women are given the freedom and choice to wear what they want to wear, and that women are choosing to ride bikes. If they want to wear jeans, that's fine, but if they want to wear skirts and heels, that's OK too. I know I do both regularly. The nice thing about living in a big city is that you can pretty much ride whatever bike you want and clothe yourself however you want to -- male or female -- and no one looks at you askance. I just want to see more women out there on their bikes.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on October 15, 2012 at 6:56am

Wow, that would be my commute if I had to work at Green Gulch Farm from Sausalito.

Anne Alt said:

I've loved Bikeyface for a while, for this brilliant observation and so many more.

Permalink Reply by Chris B on October 15, 2012 at 10:38am

in case you haven't seen this ellen, it is great:

http://youtu.be/eCyw3prIWhc

incidentally I asked my wife if she wanted a "man's" bike because the step through is so heavy and harder to carry down stairs (it's easy to grab the top bar and put it over your shoulder) but she says no, she likes it and gives her the widest range of possible clothes to wear.

Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on October 15, 2012 at 11:57am

Yes, I loved that one, too! On the occasions that I do drive, it's frustrating, exhausting, and frequently less productive. Love Bikeyface. 

I will say to the larger discussion, though, Like Michelle, I'm a skirt-wearing cyclist most of the year, and I think it's OK to look good and be a confident and practical rider, too. Whatever gets more people out on two wheels. Spandex kits and super-geared-out men - er, folks of both genders - are on the same annoyance continuum to me as the accessorizing girls (a group in which I could easily be lumped). The whole Levi's/hipster bike line in particular is all of one mind with a book like this. See also the graphic posted here...:

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/fixed-gear-bikes-showing-u...

And also, I ride a diamond frame bike 90% of the time, too, with my skirts and dresses. Um, who cares?



Anne Alt said:

I've loved Bikeyface for a while, for this brilliant observation and so many more.

Permalink Reply by Michele on October 15, 2012 at 12:31pm

+1

Thanks, April, for mentioning Bike Fancy.

Go Martha Williams! Bike Fancy is the best!!!

It's not an either/or for me. It's an all/and.

I wear spandex when riding distances on my road bike, including commuting to client sites. When I get there, I do my "phone booth" transformation into appropriate business attire.

And, for shorter distances on my upright errand bike, I sometimes bike in skirts and heels and sometimes in jeans and bike shoes.

April said:


OK done ranting.  Now everyone go visit Bike Fancy and see all the stylish and practical cyclists of Chicago!

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