Not enough women cycle. Is Fashion the answer?

laughingboy

I just read this article in The Times (The Tweed Cycling Club is laugh-out-loud preposterous, but read on).

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/diet_and_fitness/article4832999.ece

Despite the sneaking suspicion that the writer just wants to see some cheeky cleavage, I got through it, and began to wonder.

The article made me recall that there was a recent survey in which women said that they didn't cycle because it would make them sweaty, would mess up their hair, and leave them panting for breath (little acknowledging that it is in exactly this state that men would most like to see them). I have no idea whether this is actually true, or just a handy excuse not to bother.

Anyway, as we are all aware, more cyclists make it safer for everyone. So, we need more women on bikes. Do we need to infiltrate the fashion pages? Is Cycling Vogue the answer?

symo

.............because women are that vain. :roll:

linsen

It is true to say that a lot of my friends don't like to exert themselves too much. I don't care - think I must be a boy in disguise.

I think the competetive element of cycling (getting there quick, quicker than yesterday, despite the weather, etc etc) may not appeal to some girlies.

Lycra also incredibly unforgiving of slightest amount of body fat.

I don't think it's a fashion thing - it's a whole outlook on life thing. And I know many men who won't cycle either.....

symo

linsen wrote:

It is true to say that a lot of my friends don't like to exert themselves too much. I don't care - think I must be a boy in disguise.

I think the competetive element of cycling (getting there quick, quicker than yesterday, despite the weather, etc etc) may not appeal to some girlies.

Lycra also incredibly unforgiving of slightest amount of body fat.

I don't think it's a fashion thing - it's a whole outlook on life thing. And I know many men who won't cycle either.....

Good point. It is a mindset, you have to be prepared to cycle in the worst, and perhaps thats it. To be honest though I think women moan less than men when caught in the weather, so perhaps it is the mindset.

biondino

symo wrote:

linsen wrote:

It is true to say that a lot of my friends don't like to exert themselves too much. I don't care - think I must be a boy in disguise.

I think the competetive element of cycling (getting there quick, quicker than yesterday, despite the weather, etc etc) may not appeal to some girlies.

Lycra also incredibly unforgiving of slightest amount of body fat.

I don't think it's a fashion thing - it's a whole outlook on life thing. And I know many men who won't cycle either.....

Good point. It is a mindset, you have to be prepared to cycle in the worst, and perhaps thats it. To be honest though I think women moan less than men when caught in the weather, so perhaps it is the mindset.

You don't have to cycle in the worst though, that's the thing! Personally I think you have to be a nutter to actively choose to

Coriander

Seriously - it's impossible to retain a hairstyle and cycle. And I'm speaking from personal experience.

nicklouse

Coriander wrote:

Seriously - it's impossible to retain a hairstyle and cycle. And I'm speaking from personal experience.

that explains it then..

dondare

"It emerged from the underground cycle-courier circuit and has become the year’s hot trend in two-wheeled cool. But while plenty has been made of the perceived dangers of fixed-wheel bikes — gearless and sometimes brakeless — less has been said about the fact that “fixed” culture is doing to monochrome urban cycling what those candy-coloured iMacs did to the greige world of PC design. "

Oh FFS.

Does anyone remember when lycra cycling shorts were fashionable? It really wasn't that long ago.

dondare

linsen wrote:

It is true to say that a lot of my friends don't like to exert themselves too much. I don't care - think I must be a boy in disguise.

I think the competetive element of cycling (getting there quick, quicker than yesterday, despite the weather, etc etc) may not appeal to some girlies.

Lycra also incredibly unforgiving of slightest amount of body fat.

I don't think it's a fashion thing - it's a whole outlook on life thing. And I know many men who won't cycle either.....

err... how good's the disguise?

Just asking, no reason.

always_tyred

linsen wrote:

It is true to say that a lot of my friends don't like to exert themselves too much. I don't care - think I must be a boy in disguise.

I think the competetive element of cycling (getting there quick, quicker than yesterday, despite the weather, etc etc) may not appeal to some girlies.

Lycra also incredibly unforgiving of slightest amount of body fat.

I don't think it's a fashion thing - it's a whole outlook on life thing. And I know many men who won't cycle either.....

Ah, but all the men who don't cycle think they could cycle and have chosen not to. This enables them to tell you, from an informed perspective, how you should have been cycling when they have just cut you up. It usually begins "I'm a cyclist too and" and usually ends with me asking why they are wearing their airbag under their shirt.

The point - actually I've forgotten where I was going with this....

biondino

Coriander wrote:

Seriously - it's impossible to retain a hairstyle and cycle. And I'm speaking from personal experience.

Well if you will rock the Tina Fey meets Jennifer Aniston look...

linsen

dondare wrote:

linsen wrote:

It is true to say that a lot of my friends don't like to exert themselves too much. I don't care - think I must be a boy in disguise.

I think the competetive element of cycling (getting there quick, quicker than yesterday, despite the weather, etc etc) may not appeal to some girlies.

Lycra also incredibly unforgiving of slightest amount of body fat.

I don't think it's a fashion thing - it's a whole outlook on life thing. And I know many men who won't cycle either.....

err... how good's the disguise?

Just asking, no reason.

Fairly good on a work day. Fairly bad when I'm on the bike

Kieran_Burns

dondare wrote:

Does anyone remember when lycra cycling shorts were fashionable? It really wasn't that long ago.

Ahem: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DcNUx0-XEfw :shock:

laughingboy

Kieran_Burns wrote:

dondare wrote:

Does anyone remember when lycra cycling shorts were fashionable? It really wasn't that long ago.

Ahem: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DcNUx0-XEfw :shock:

I notice that while he was 'down' with his 'bitches' wearing lycra, Hammer himself favoured a roomier trouser.

I don't suppose there's any reason for that, is there? :oops:

nicklouse

the Lady is the Boss.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qve-THEDTs0

girv73

Always Tyred wrote:

...and usually ends with me asking why they are wearing their airbag under their shirt.

</coffee-snort>

I'm writing that one down and saving it for later.

lost_in_thought

Grrrr boooooooo hiss.....

So stereotypical! Anyone who's seen my ugly sandals or seen me after i've been caught in the rain would know it's not for fashion.

Also, bloomin trixie chicks should NOT be set up as the example of people on fixed bikes! They're a very clever, trendy group of ladies, I grant you, but not every girl on a fixed is all 'oooooooooh pretty'. Damn it all.

It's not a flippin' fashion thing, it's about the gear that best suits the requirements. This 'ooooh which stereotyped demographic do YOU belong to?' thing annoys me.

Rant over!

Totalnewbie

There are tons of girls in Londinium cycling along sedately looking fashionable in normal clothes, but you just need to go so slowly when wearing normal clothes, and I can't do it. I overtake them all the time.

So now I tend to wear clothes fit for purpose that still look ok to go to the pub in. I very much like the clothes from Minx and Ground Effect. 3/4 length shorts and nice jerseys, that kind of thing.

When I first started cycling, I got it into my head that it was a perfectly fine idea to cycle my old sit-up-and-beg over windy Vauxhall Bridge while wearing a skirt.

It wasn't.

lost_in_thought

Totalnewbie wrote:

When I first started cycling, I got it into my head that it was a perfectly fine idea to cycle my old sit-up-and-beg over windy Vauxhall Bridge while wearing a skirt.

It wasn't.

Don't worry, I did exactly the same thing! Now I wear undershorts under my skirts...

laughingboy

lost_in_thought wrote:

Totalnewbie wrote:

When I first started cycling, I got it into my head that it was a perfectly fine idea to cycle my old sit-up-and-beg over windy Vauxhall Bridge while wearing a skirt.

It wasn't.

Don't worry, I did exactly the same thing! Now I wear undershorts under my skirts...

You mean you wore nothing under your skirts before?

always_tyred

lost_in_thought wrote:

Grrrr boooooooo hiss.....

So stereotypical! Anyone who's seen my ugly sandals or seen me after i've been caught in the rain would know it's not for fashion.

Also, bloomin trixie chicks should NOT be set up as the example of people on fixed bikes! They're a very clever, trendy group of ladies, I grant you, but not every girl on a fixed is all 'oooooooooh pretty'. Damn it all.

It's not a flippin' fashion thing, it's about the gear that best suits the requirements. This 'ooooh which stereotyped demographic do YOU belong to?' thing annoys me.

Rant over!

So i'm not clear - do you or don't you like Women's cycle gear to be in pretty pastel colours?

Porgy

Totalnewbie wrote:

When I first started cycling, I got it into my head that it was a perfectly fine idea to cycle my old sit-up-and-beg over windy Vauxhall Bridge while wearing a skirt.

It wasn't.

I see plenty of women learning this lesson every summer. :twisted:

lost_in_thought

Always Tyred wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Grrrr boooooooo hiss.....

So stereotypical! Anyone who's seen my ugly sandals or seen me after i've been caught in the rain would know it's not for fashion.

Also, bloomin trixie chicks should NOT be set up as the example of people on fixed bikes! They're a very clever, trendy group of ladies, I grant you, but not every girl on a fixed is all 'oooooooooh pretty'. Damn it all.

It's not a flippin' fashion thing, it's about the gear that best suits the requirements. This 'ooooh which stereotyped demographic do YOU belong to?' thing annoys me.

Rant over!

So i'm not clear - do you or don't you like Women's cycle gear to be in pretty pastel colours?

Such a scientist... :P

I'd rather it wasn't actually, black or hi-vis or colours if necessary (ie black, grey or hi-viz not available) but not pastels - they get grubby too quickly!

As for the oooooh pretty coloured bikes, way too posey for my liking.

always_tyred

lost_in_thought wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Grrrr boooooooo hiss.....

So stereotypical! Anyone who's seen my ugly sandals or seen me after i've been caught in the rain would know it's not for fashion.

Also, bloomin trixie chicks should NOT be set up as the example of people on fixed bikes! They're a very clever, trendy group of ladies, I grant you, but not every girl on a fixed is all 'oooooooooh pretty'. Damn it all.

It's not a flippin' fashion thing, it's about the gear that best suits the requirements. This 'ooooh which stereotyped demographic do YOU belong to?' thing annoys me.

Rant over!

So i'm not clear - do you or don't you like Women's cycle gear to be in pretty pastel colours?

Such a scientist... :P

I'd rather it wasn't actually, black or hi-vis or colours if necessary (ie black, grey or hi-viz not available) but not pastels - they get grubby too quickly!

As for the oooooh pretty coloured bikes, way too posey for my liking.

Are you sure? I mean, what about flowery motifs and that? You know, flowery, colour coordinated panniers and the like?

lost_in_thought

Always Tyred wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Grrrr boooooooo hiss.....

So stereotypical! Anyone who's seen my ugly sandals or seen me after i've been caught in the rain would know it's not for fashion.

Also, bloomin trixie chicks should NOT be set up as the example of people on fixed bikes! They're a very clever, trendy group of ladies, I grant you, but not every girl on a fixed is all 'oooooooooh pretty'. Damn it all.

It's not a flippin' fashion thing, it's about the gear that best suits the requirements. This 'ooooh which stereotyped demographic do YOU belong to?' thing annoys me.

Rant over!

So i'm not clear - do you or don't you like Women's cycle gear to be in pretty pastel colours?

Such a scientist... :P

I'd rather it wasn't actually, black or hi-vis or colours if necessary (ie black, grey or hi-viz not available) but not pastels - they get grubby too quickly!

As for the oooooh pretty coloured bikes, way too posey for my liking.

Are you sure? I mean, what about flowery motifs and that? You know, flowery, colour coordinated panniers and the like?

lol....

I'm beginning to sense a hint of sarcasm....

But I'm sticking to my guns... no thanks! And what's more, those panniers are too small and don't have shoulder straps...

Kieran_Burns

I was going to mention pink tassles but I fear that LIT may travel north and hunt me down :oops:

Totalnewbie

Admittedly I'm currently in my 'autumn' jersey, which is bright Barbie pink. Stands out from all the yellow hi-viz, I like to think...

lost_in_thought

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I was going to mention pink tassles but I fear that LIT may travel north and hunt me down :oops:

Derby's not out of my range, Burns... Only joking!

I think some tassels may be in order, if they have an FCN +1 attached!

Shiny silver ones maybe...

NGale

I can't get into all that pink nonsense with cycling (Ok my bike is pink but that wasn't my choice, price at the time determined that) I tend to wear a grubby old Georlstiner cycling jersey (must get a new one sometime) and a pair of mens cycling shorts. Ok I have the p*** taken out of me, but who cares

as for skirts on bikes.....just one thing....why? why oh why? :shock:

Spinerette

I've just started commuting to work - today seen 2 other women and 1 male - all of us in normal cycling gear - looks like the men are outnumbered in this part of the country. I might not see anything or anybody tomorrow as it looks like I'm going to get caught in a downpour. And I've only just dried my shoes out from the Grid Iron ride at the weekend!

Parkey

Coriander wrote:

Seriously - it's impossible to retain a hairstyle and cycle. And I'm speaking from personal experience.

My girlfriend finds the solution to this is one of those ear warmer headband thingies. Only drawback is that when she takes her helmet off she looks like a ninja. The fact it has flames printed on it does nothing to mitigate this effect.