Not enough women cycle. Is Fashion the answer?

biondino

Parkey wrote:

Coriander wrote:

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

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.

Drawback?!

lost_in_thought

I have a headband - more an 80's tennis player style than a ninja style, but it does nothing for my hairdo!

il_principe

I'm sure there is a serious market for decent looking but technical cycling kit for ladies. God knows there's a market for the male equivalent, look how well Rapha have done. If I had the slightest idea about designing and making clothing I would have set up a company that supplied good looking commuting cycle kit a long time ago. As it is there are precious few firms catering to demand - Swrve being my favourite but their range is limited, and Rapha's is far too expensive. It can't be that hard create kit that is wearable off the bike but effective on it.

il_principe

laughingboy wrote:

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?

Love this quote from the comments on the article:

Cycling attire is easy:

Jeans & t-shirt if sunny, shorts + t-shirt if really sunny.
Jeans & jumper + jacket if not.

Just get on yer bike already.
M. R., Stockport, UK

Any money you like this bloke rides an Argos full susser, on the pavement.

lost_in_thought

jashburnham wrote:

I'm sure there is a serious market for decent looking but technical cycling kit for ladies. God knows there's a market for the male equivalent, look how well Rapha have done. If I had the slightest idea about designing and making clothing I would have set up a company that supplied good looking commuting cycle kit a long time ago. As it is there are precious few firms catering to demand - Swrve being my favourite but their range is limited, and Rapha's is far too expensive. It can't be that hard create kit that is wearable off the bike but effective on it.

We were talking about this at beers were we not?

I agree, there is not much out there in the way of good cycling kit for us girls - we're used to having more choice then guys!

And I'm sure there are girls out there who would love some flowery pink cycling stuff, I am just a bit of a tomboy and find it annoying, even perhaps a little patronising, that a lot of ladies' gear is pastels and butterflies, whereas all I want is something cut for a girl-shaped person!

Gap in the market anyone?

Parkey

The impression I've gotten of women's cycling kit from my girlfriend's comments is that, whilst there generally isn't a problem with it being the right size or shape, the colours and styling seem to have been chosen by someone who thinks they know what women want to wear but hasn't bothered to find one and ask them.

Same goes for the colour schemes of women's bike frames. Although my girlfriend recently bought a Specialized Myka purely for the butterflies on the frame, so butterflies can't be all bad...

jonginge

Parkey wrote:

The impression I've gotten of women's cycling kit from my girlfriend's comments is that, whilst there generally isn't a problem with it being the right size or shape, the colours and styling seem to have been chosen by someone who thinks they know what women want to wear but hasn't bothered to find one and ask them.

They may have asked but probably not in the UK. Fashion tastes vary considerably across the pond and in europe. I'm sure we've all had a few 'my eyes, my eyes' moments abroad (and i'm also sure the feeling is reciprocal)

jedster

and Rapha's is far too expensive

says the bloke on the Prince :shock:

Totalnewbie

LiT, have you seen the Minx website?

Lots of nicely-cut stuff, not all in pastel colours/pink/flowers etc. None of it particularly cheap. But cheaper than the likes of Rapha etc.

http://www.minx-girl.com

lost_in_thought

Totalnewbie wrote:

LiT, have you seen the Minx website?

Lots of nicely-cut stuff, not all in pastel colours/pink/flowers etc. None of it particularly cheap. But cheaper than the likes of Rapha etc.

http://www.minx-girl.com

I nearly closed the window when it said it was 'A website dedicated to cycle clothing for girls with style and attitude.'

But to be fair they have some nice things. It is expensive, yes! And sadly their trousers are for midgets, but a good site!

I might even buy some more shorts.

Totalnewbie

I don't generally bother with full-length trousers for cycling, because they're never long enough. I wear 3/4 lengths with long socks instead. Sometimes glittery ones. An important safety aid at night, you understand

lost_in_thought

Of course!

Well I've picked up a gilet, some knee lengths and a jersey. Good recommendation.

And yes, a 30" inner leg is never long enough!

And they get caught in my chain if they are long enough.

always_tyred

Given the general derision with which fashion-based cycling incentives were first received, there appears to be an awful lot of excitement on the forum relating to minx-girl.com.

I think that the girls are showing their true colours (pastel, and preferably coordinated).

Totalnewbie

Well I'm glad I've helped lighten your wallet a little. Sound like essential purchases to help you through a winter of commuting.

A_T, an awful lot of Minx stuff is not pastel coloured. Although a bit of coordination never went amiss IMO...

lost_in_thought

Always Tyred wrote:

Given the general derision with which fashion-based cycling incentives were first received, there appears to be an awful lot of excitement on the forum relating to minx-girl.com.

I think that the girls are showing their true colours (pastel, and preferably coordinated).

You think girls are big on coordination, get thee to the next beers, and make sure Jashburnham and Greg66 are attending!

They teach us all a lesson in coordinated outfits.

I'm a shambles by comparison. :oops:

And this minx-girl is a new one on me, and to be fair is pricey but relatively good.

Greg T

Always Tyred wrote:

, there appears to be an awful lot of excitement on the forum relating to minx-girl.com.

Im excited by just thinking about it.

I fear however it's just knocking out burds cycling kit.........

biondino

Greg T has his hands full at the next Morpeth Arms social:

robbarker

I'll never understand women. WTH is this all about?

http://www.minx-girl.com/productdetails ... &curPage=1

Totalnewbie

That just liinks to the home page. What were you trying to link to?

Kieran_Burns

You have spent time on the Assos site?

Okay - the clothing is MASSIVELY expensive but go to the collections link from www.assos.com and the quality of kit is stunning.

Oh, and lads... it's like cycle porn sometimes :shock:

jonginge

Totalnewbie wrote:

That just liinks to the home page. What were you trying to link to?

The Terry Bolero under accessories, i think

Totalnewbie

I've got a black Terry bolero and know a couple of other female cyclists who wear them. It's exactly the same principle as arm warmers except joined together so there's no chance of me losing one of them.

I've also got rather long and slender arms so I'd struggle to get arm warmers to fit and stay up properly.

jonginge

Totalnewbie wrote:

I've also got rather long and slender arms so I'd struggle to get arm warmers to fit and stay up properly.

I have had similar problems. I've just recently acquired some castelli nanos in medium which are plenty long enough, snug and have decent grippers. Great bit of kit (And, for me, well worth the higher cost)

lost_in_thought

Why would you wear arm warmers/bolero jackets rather than just wearing a jacket or a jumper?

Don't... understand...

daniel_b

I tend to wear armwarmers sometimes in the morning when it's that bit colder (I just wear a cycling jacket over a short sleeved top) and the arm warmers give me that bit of extra warmth - haven't needed to so far this year though.

Then on the way home I can just fold em up and stick em in my rack bag, nice and small.

Dan

Parkey

My girlfriend found it near impossible to get arm/leg warmers that would fit her because she's quite petite.

She was very happy when I surprised her with a pair of these.

il_principe

jedster wrote:

and Rapha's is far too expensive

says the bloke on the Prince :shock:

Prince is worth every Penny, Rapha aint!

jonginge

It's all about options. Get too hot in a jacket you open it up and pretend to be a parachute. In warmers, you take them off or roll them down.
The last couple of days have been a case in point: yesterday was way too hot for a jacket but didn't realise that until a few miles into the journey (but I was wearing warmers and could roll them down). Today early doors was a bit nippy but later may be too warm for a jacket: warmers to the rescue!

il_principe

Warmers rock. As dies the Montane Velo jacket, rolls up to the size of a cricket ball. Fab kit.

That reminds me I ordered some lovely Castelli arm and leg warmers the other day, looks like Royal Mail have stolen them again. :evil:

biondino

Parkey wrote:

My girlfriend found it near impossible to get arm/leg warmers that would fit her because she's quite petite.

She was very happy when I surprised her with a pair of these.

Lock thread. There isn't *anything* that could scream "archetypical female cyclist gear" louder than those arm warmers.