Bikers shed spandex to inspire new riders

[William]

Pedal perfect: Bikers shed spandex to inspire new riders
By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/13/living/bicycle-fashion-tweed-ride/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

(CNN) -- Laura Bellinger wishes she could bike around Atlanta more often. She'd even consider making the five-mile ride to work if she weren't "a little chicken" when it comes to braving the city's infamous rush-hour traffic without the protective shell of a car.

But she couldn't resist an opportunity to bike for her first "tweed ride," the dandy's answer to critical mass, in which cyclists don vintage-inspired attire for a leisurely ride. Often the subject of fashion magazine spreads out of New York and London, it was the first-ever such ride in Decatur. The Atlanta suburb was recognized this year as one of the newest cities to make the League of American Bicyclists' list of top bicycle-friendly communities for its network of bike paths and bicycle education programs in schools.

Bellinger dug up a pair of cropped riding pants, dark-patterned socks and a corduroy blazer, loaded her mother's old white Cannondale into the car and headed to downtown Decatur, where a sea of cyclists dressed in autumnal shades gathered in the square Sunday afternoon.

"Events like this get me comfortable with the idea of riding more often because I can learn from others," said Bellinger, a public relations specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "I totally love fashion and vintage, so dressing up just made it more fun."

Style-themed bike rides are just one way in which advocacy groups are hoping to shed bicycling of its strict association with competitive racing and make it more appealing to casual riders and potential commuters in the United States, especially in communities such as Decatur making bike-friendly strides.

Bike stores are also showing up within those communities that look more like trendy boutiques than repair shops, with the goal of redefining urban bike culture. The target customers are new and aspiring cyclists, and commuters who might be turned off by the functional atmosphere of traditional bike shops.......








William
.

[djg]

I think it's all good.

But for those who just read headlines: you're supposed to shed the spandex behind closed doors, then put on street clothes, or other suitable attire, then go out in public.

[Grant McLean]

It's puzzling that the media can't quite grasp the concept that there is more
than a single bike culture, and has to frame every discussion with Lycra or
Lance.


-g

[jr59]

Where is all the outrage over these type of rides by the helmet natzis?

[cfox]

It's puzzling that the media can't quite grasp the concept that there is more
than a single bike culture, and has to frame every discussion with Lycra or
Lance.


-g

I agree, and I also can't comprehend why someone needs to go to the opposite extreme (tweed vs lycra) in order to be enticed to go for a bike ride. I guess it's not an "event" if you don't get to play dress-up.

[AngryScientist]

I agree, and I also can't comprehend why someone needs to go to the opposite extreme (tweed vs lycra) in order to be enticed to go for a bike ride. I guess it's not an "event" if you don't get to play dress-up.

i'm with you.

i think it's just for the sake of that article though - if you go to most big cities, the people out and about on bikes who are obviously commuting or just getting around are in normal street clothes, no big deal.

[thegunner]

I think it's all good.

But for those who just read headlines: you're supposed to shed the spandex behind closed doors, then put on street clothes, or other suitable attire, then go out in public.

i thought they found a bunch of roadies to do a nude ride at first. Guess my mind's in the gutter... :p

[LO^OK]

It's puzzling that the media can't quite grasp the concept that there is more
than a single bike culture, and has to frame every discussion with Lycra or
Lance.


-g


Very true... but then that is one of the major shortcomings of corporate news media: everything must be grossly oversimplified, personified, and a cult of personality instituted.

[fourflys]

I've only worn my Lycra only once or twice since moving to Kodiak... My riding has changed a bit and I've been wearing Zoic knickers with a chamois liner... Not saying I won't ever wear just my bibs again, but kind of digging the knickers right now... Not so conspicuous in a fishing town... ;)

[palincss]

Just reading the subject line, I thought this thread was about the World Naked Bike Ride.

[Steve in SLO]

Great, now we're both spandex f@gs (not my words) and tweed dandies.
No wonder the average person on the street sees cyclists as wierdos. Maybe we are but c'mon...

[fiataccompli]

I guess if you can get a Harley and dress up like a Hells Angel, why not ride a bike and dress up like a dude from the turn of the (last) century? Anything that gets bikes & riding bikes out in front of our (US folks, I guess I mean) culture (and off the sidewalks) is good in my view. That's not particularly a scene I am into, but I like some of the bikes a good bit and I realize that not everyone who enjoys biking enjoys it exactly in the same way I do.

[veloduffer]

My wife's cousin is an avid cyclist and film producer, who has a blog on cycling attire: www.velovogue.com. She also produced this short video on urban cycling, including a shop that sells non-spandex attire:

http://vimeo.com/channels/kristintieche/19734178

and here's her video on a SF bike commuter's attire:

http://vimeo.com/channels/kristintieche/25062898

[Ahneida Ride]

I usually ride in just plain shorts.

Don Lycra ir ride is over 30 miles.

[Ken Robb]

Sky of Velocult used to organize tweed rides in SD.

[Hawker]

Maybe the original purpose would be best served if they just encourage everyone to ride in jeans and they handed out free bike pant clips.

I can understand non-cyclists not wanting to ride with lycra shorts right away, but if you feel weird wearing real bike shorts are you going to feel any better as as a tweed-wearing dandy?

[William]

Hey, what ever gets folks out on bikes. But I sweat when I ride and stinky tweed is not my idea of a good time.;)





William

[Hawker]

My wife's cousin is an avid cyclist and film producer, who has a blog on cycling attire: www.velovogue.com. She also produced this short video on urban cycling, including a shop that sells non-spandex attire:

http://vimeo.com/channels/kristintieche/19734178

and here's her video on a SF bike commuter's attire:

http://vimeo.com/channels/kristintieche/25062898

No offense..but does anyone wear this stuff outside of Portland and San Francisco?

[redir]

i thought they found a bunch of roadies to do a nude ride at first. Guess my mind's in the gutter... :p

Right there in the gutter with ya. :p

[Hank Scorpio]

No offense..but does anyone wear this stuff outside of Portland and San Francisco?

See below

[BumbleBeeDave]

I usually ride in just plain shorts.

Don Lycra ir ride is over 30 miles.

. . . he'd put a shirt on, too, but he refuses. :p

BBD

[veloduffer]

No offense..but does anyone wear this stuff outside of Portland and San Francisco?

New York, too. There will be more demand in NYC when the Bike Share program is fully implemented. I think that would be true of any large urban area with a Bike Share Program.

[William]

Reading the comments left on that article page is interesting. The fashion police seem to be out in full force....amazing how many folks disdain cyclists for what they wear.:rolleyes:






William

[Ken Robb]

Reading the comments left on that article page is interesting. The fashion police seem to be out in full force....amazing how many folks disdain cyclists for what they wear.:rolleyes:






William
I still believe that non-cyclists think riders in Lycra/team kit are not using their bikes for transportation but are just playing in traffic. I have had my share of drivers yelling at me to "get on the sidewalk where you belong", etc. when riding in Lycra. I have never had any similar episodes when riding in regular shorts, jeans or pants. I guess I look like a poor man who can't afford a car trying to get around.

[coylifut]

I still believe that non-cyclists think riders in Lycra/team kit are not using their bikes for transportation but are just playing in traffic. I have had my share of drivers yelling at me to "get on the sidewalk where you belong", etc. when riding in Lycra. I have never had any similar episodes when riding in regular shorts, jeans or pants. I guess I look like a poor man who can't afford a car trying to get around.

that doesn't happen here. well, certainly not very often. drivers would go hoarse in short order.

I'm seeing more and more folks wearing the quick dry trousers and such on the rides and wearing the same throughout the day at work.

[fourflys]

So I read some of the comments and while most are just idiotic, some had some merit... While I do think cycling-specific clothes serves a purpose, I also think part of the appeal is about "being part of the club"... That's not a bad thing by the way... Part of being part of a community is having something that bonds you together... Wearing cycling clothes is one way we bond with our "clan"...