Will this encourage more female cyclists?

SpaceBadger

Yes, really what I mean is "bless them for making some pretty little things for us to put our lippy/heels/tampons in. Now the little ladies can get involved in this cycling lark" :evil:

DonDaddyD

biondino wrote:

If Topshop branch into "serious sportswear" should Assos start making skinny jeans and ironic t-shirts. Come on, Topshop are reacting to what they perceive as an under-represented market - makes good business sense! Whether we like it (or feel patronised by it) isn't the point - it's an encouraging sign and there will, no doubt, be some female cyclists out there who think "fantastic, this is JUST what I've been waiting for!"

That was the same thinking that led to the goggle masked hoody.

DDD, I love my lycra and almost never cycle in casual clothes but for the majority of riders ain't gonna be seen dead in it. I think it's fair to say you're not the target demographic so while you are entitled to your view, I'm not sure you're entitled to decree what IS and ISN'T appropriate cycle wear.

I'm not going to get into a long ethical debate about how right I am and how wrong you are while confirming that I am infact the definitive knowledge on clothing.

I'm simply going to say that Top Shop is rubbish and I hate nearly everything they stand for. Almost as much as I hate skinny jeans.

secretsqirrel

Check out www.minx-girl.com

Re-assuringly expensive, fun and girly.

But serious cycling stuff all the same

lost_in_thought

SecretSqirrel wrote:

Check out www.minx-girl.com

Re-assuringly expensive, fun and girly.

But serious cycling stuff all the same

Already did. Unfortunately it seems to be mostly geared towards yoga and over-pricing of inferior kit right now.

medicbiker

It all looks stupid and impractical, I am still trying to find some decent baggy shorts that don't have a bizzare cut to them or look ugly, until then I am stuck in the lycra. I also tried to search for bib shorts recently and the only ones I came across were these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=31832 I don't think so! I don't mind pink so much but it would be nice t ahve a bigger range than baby blue and pink.

dirk_van_gently

Is the young lady in photo 7 doing a trackstand? or is someone holding the bike up, and then been photoshopped out?

If she is doing a trackstand, with that much nonchalance she is definitely cool.

Will it encourage more female cyclists?
I doubt it.
But it may ecourage some males

Biscuiteer

Ok, I'll admit to my total fashion ignorance here and ask just what are the rather chunky pink, blue and yellow things some of the girls are wearing above one or both of their ankles in the photos?

Eau Rouge

http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2009/03 ... gn-of.html

glorified trouser clips for the invisible trousers the girls are wearing, of course.

lost_in_thought

medicbiker wrote:

It all looks stupid and impractical, I am still trying to find some decent baggy shorts that don't have a bizzare cut to them or look ugly, until then I am stuck in the lycra. I also tried to search for bib shorts recently and the only ones I came across were these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=31832 I don't think so! I don't mind pink so much but it would be nice t ahve a bigger range than baby blue and pink.

I have some Briko ones which I obtained from Wiggle in black, girl-shaped. In fact I think wiggle do DHB ones too, if you don't mind the wrestler look!

plowmar

Talk about the trackstand and previously the lack of helmets.

How many sets of brakes are there? I can only see one set on the droppy and a front on the supposed fixie.

Obviously actually riding the bikes in safety comes second to fashion always the same for you girls though I believe. (Joke - honest).

steve-m

I think this is the right idea

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/30548/Cycli ... -beautiful

Not promoting cycling specific gear, but educating people that you can cycle and not have to go down the lycra route. A visit to amsterdam shows how it can be. We can keep our lycra etc but you are never going to persuade enough people if you cannot cycle in everyday gear.

greg66_tri_v2.0

'king hell.

What a bizarre little conversation I've wandered into here. :shock:

lost_in_thought

That was a big ol' bump by steve-m there...

I am becoming a little fed up of this drive to convice women cycling can be stylish.

We should instead convince them that it doesn't bloomin well matter if some people you've never met and will likely never meet again spot you without your fake tan, hair extensions, and make up that requires a sand-blaster to remove.

DonDaddyD

lost_in_thought wrote:

That was a big ol' bump by steve-m there...

I am becoming a little fed up of this drive to convice women cycling can be stylish.

We should instead convince them that it doesn't bloomin well matter if some people you've never met and will likely never meet again spot you without your fake tan, hair extensions, and make up that requires a sand-blaster to remove.

Don't know about you or anyone else on this site but that's not attractive to me...

Eau Rouge

DonDaddyD wrote:

Don't know about you or anyone else on this site but that's not attractive to me...

It's not men they are doing it for, it's to impress other women. seriously.

vorsprung

My 12 year old daughter is going on a cycling trip to france with her school later in the year

So I got her a new bike

Now she is concerned about luggage and looking fabulous on the bike

DDD might hate top shop but vorsprung junior loves top shop, new look etc etc

jemjah

the topshop stuff is rubbish, but there is a massive gap in the market. i don't wear lyra to commute, and probably never would, but i also would like something a little more practical than jeans!!!! for me it's being able to get off the bike and walk straight into the office without needing to change (and i am not one for wearning make up to work, or wanting to look particularly fashionable in the office).

but saying that, if i had been wearing lycra or shorts the day of my accident, i would have come out of it far worse. my jeans protected me a bit.

SpinningJenny

DonDaddyD wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

That was a big ol' bump by steve-m there...

I am becoming a little fed up of this drive to convice women cycling can be stylish.

We should instead convince them that it doesn't bloomin well matter if some people you've never met and will likely never meet again spot you without your fake tan, hair extensions, and make up that requires a sand-blaster to remove.

Don't know about you or anyone else on this site but that's not attractive to me...

Hello - newish here on the forum - mainly been on the 'road' bit so far.

Well, I'm a laydee and I cringed when I saw an article about this clothing and accessories line. Treating us women as if we need to dress up in order to enjoy our bike riding - aaagh! :evil:

I will never be a serious competitor, but I do take my sport seriously. It has frustrated me to see PINK women's cycling gear (or PALE BLUE, or WITH FLOWERS (especially on bikes!) but I'm glad to see that we're starting to get some stuff through now that isn't so lazily designed, in women's shapes and sizes.

I will not be wearing these crappy clothes and nor do I really care what people think when they see me (hopefully) whizzing past them. If I'm out for a day's ride, I want to feel comfortable and be adequately clothed, not look like I'm off 'up town' to go shopping.

FFS.... :P

steve-m

lost_in_thought wrote:

That was a big ol' bump by steve-m there...

I am becoming a little fed up of this drive to convice women cycling can be stylish.

We should instead convince them that it doesn't bloomin well matter if some people you've never met and will likely never meet again spot you without your fake tan, hair extensions, and make up that requires a sand-blaster to remove.

Okay, I was being selective in what I was agreeing with, specifically

“Many of us girls tend to worry that by pedalling to work, to the shops or to see friends we’ll arrive in a mess, but that’s hardly ever the case. Cycling is one of the easiest ways to get fit and feel good – and there is no need to compensate on style.”

Which was the thing that made the most sense compared with the topshop approach of cycling specific gear. Go to Amsterdam or Hamburg and people (boys and girls) cycle in their everyday gear - this is where the emphasis needs to be.