tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post3439840410655639134..comments2023-11-29T13:50:03.704+01:00Comments on Cycle ChicĀ®: Cycle Chic Guide to Bike Commuting #2 - Cycle ClothingColville-Andersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-21796574339591492882013-01-22T03:40:02.314+01:002013-01-22T03:40:02.314+01:00It's been 4 years since I last posted on this ...It's been 4 years since I last posted on this thread and I'm now a Sacramentan. Leaving the cool breeze of Portland wasn't as hard as I thought and now that I've got a toasty-hot climate mastered, I'm even more interested in making the case for the casual rider who's put off by spandex. <br /><br />I guess my point is: Wearing everyday clothes is possible, even easy, and certainly more comfortable than spandex. <br /><br />Happy Riding, TriciaTriciaHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13862818377316929176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-8046742133707805372013-01-20T12:14:53.491+01:002013-01-20T12:14:53.491+01:00I don't really care what people wear, as long ...I don't really care what people wear, as long as they're enjoying riding their bike. Lycra or tweed coats are both fine by me. I love this blog as it's inspiring and fun, but let's not get all divisive and mock each other. For some of us, just getting out on the road is a battle without having to worry that the style police are going to give us a hard time. (I live in Australia, in a "4 seasons in 1 day" mountainous area with no such thing as a bike lane anywhere.) Loved my time bike-riding in Copenhagen - so liberating!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09140991317890857685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-1140366903836628772010-07-21T00:37:13.810+02:002010-07-21T00:37:13.810+02:00I wear normal clothes to cycle to work and most pl...I wear normal clothes to cycle to work and most places really.<br /><br />Been doing it that way for years (late 1980s), and encouraged by shops such as Rivendell when they opened in 1994. <br /><br />Oh, yeah. I never fell for the American spandex-cyclist thing. <br />I passed many of those people on a three-speed while wearing jeans and sneakers, so I knew it had nothing to do with performance.<br /><br />It's partly the bike shops' fault as they have so little business, they push the clothing as comfort and identity items.<br /><br />Americans are desperate to buy a sense of identity as many feel their own isn't enough.<br />So continue to sell to them, Mikael for they are easy targets.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-1211232363932765052010-04-25T16:17:48.106+02:002010-04-25T16:17:48.106+02:00I like the direction of your blog, but obviously y...I like the direction of your blog, but obviously you must realize that while your cycling style(chic) is top notch your communication style is a little harsh. We can use our voice to inspire and to spread intelligence by giving others real,substantive tips on what to wear when cycling or we can insult, degrade, and lampoon others.<br /><br />I try to practice compromise and I find it to be the sign of someone who has actually thought through an issue since none of us are ever 100% correct all of the time.<br /><br />1. When addressing American cycling it is best to address American issues around cycling. Climate, geography, people's attitudes, etc. Your blog is specifically restricted to 50F/10C locales like Copenhagen, which are a rarity in the USA; San Francisco is one such area.<br />2. I get it that biking clothes can look dorky, good point, but cyclists usually don't listen to such criticisms because they come from people who don't ride bicycles at all or who don't live where they do. What's the solution? Lead by example.<br />3. Please give suggestions for people living in hot and blistery cold climates as to what we should wear. Western and Central Europe don't have American weather. i.e. you don't sweat in Copenhagen. Copenhagen "heat" is Florida and Louisiana morning, springtime weather.<br />4. You downplay wool, wool is wonderful and if you don't like it, please mail your wool sweaters to me. Yes it's expensive to buy Merino or Lambswool, but I am sure all those boutiques you show are just as expensive. If not, send me the addresses I need to pick up some new clothes. <br />5.All the shots you show are in downtown... how many cities in the USA have a vibrant town center where you would actually ride a bike to different areas from an apartment? NYC, Austin, New Orleans, Cambridge, San Francisco, Portland,...Have you noticed something, these are all places that don't have a problem with "bike geek" clothing? But the vast majority of US cities (Orlando, Birmingham, Atlanta, St. Louis, LA) require longer cycling distances from the suburbs - an area in Copenhagen you totally neglect to photograph, because they use mass transit and drive cars instead.<br />6. You have some good observations questioning the necessity of hi-tech clothes, unfortunately they are not concrete, yet you critique someone else's (League of American Bicyclists) concrete suggestions? Is that fair?<br />7. Offering well-intended, non-constructive advice is bad. I fear many potential cyclists in cities across the US will attempt your style chic and be discouraged from cycling because they end up a sweaty, smelly mess or get yelled out by motorists for riding their cycles in a city without a grid street pattern with slow traffic.<br />8. I am all for writing a guide to cycling clothes for different regions in the US. If anyone wants to collaborate with me on it, email me at mohene1@yahoo.com<br /><br />Reply to Zanesfriend:<br />3. An alternative to Wet wipes is to carry a wet shower cloth that has been frozen. This works for me in hot climates, where you sweat just by being outside. Also never lock your bicycle in the sun. I have also requested that the bicycle racks - they are a rarity in the Southern USA, sometimes you sweat walking around just looking for a place to lock your bicycle; not so in San Francisco or Chicago - be under shaded areas. But even at night, in places like the deep south you will still get muggy and sticky cycling at a slow pace even at NIGHT; that's why you take that frozen cloth. <br />But then again, our bodies are all different and some of us sweat easier that others. Some of us smell more than others, so my suggestions are only a starting point. You ultimately decide what is best for your life.<br /><br />cheersdd.ddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15310055044645291802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-10919623719549140112010-04-02T19:48:26.477+02:002010-04-02T19:48:26.477+02:00I live in London and find that my woolly gloves ar...I live in London and find that my woolly gloves are suitable for cycling however, i would prefer to have designated cycling gloves, but i can't find any that aren't really ugly. Does anyone have any suggestions?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02163388801128962398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-38449283203156339822010-03-19T05:35:53.868+01:002010-03-19T05:35:53.868+01:00To the question of how you can cycle in summer hea...To the question of how you can cycle in summer heat without getting all sweaty and icky, I say:<br /><br />1. Bathe before leaving, and use a good deodorant; clean sweat does not smell.<br /><br />2. There is no reason you have to attack your commute as though you were Lance leading the peleton. Leave a little early so you can go at a nice, sedate pace.<br /><br />3. Keep a stash of wet-wipes at the office. When you get there, a quick dash to the restroom to swab yourself off, and you're fine for the day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-49757415194616939992010-03-02T20:05:13.499+01:002010-03-02T20:05:13.499+01:00You've googled the City of Copenhagen, haven&#...You've googled the City of Copenhagen, haven't you? Unfortunately you're missing out on the fact that Copenhagen has the third largest urban sprawl in Europe.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.copenhagenize.com/2007/11/debunking-flat-countrybike-country-myth.html" rel="nofollow">We have debunked this and many other myths over at Copenhagenize.com</a><br /><br />regarding heat, the citizens of cities like Seville and Barcelona seem to manage fine.Colville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-71545087725970594092010-02-28T16:02:35.440+01:002010-02-28T16:02:35.440+01:00Copenhagen is a relatively small city of 91 sq. km...Copenhagen is a relatively small city of 91 sq. km. (USians: about 7 x 5 miles) It is not a place where people could have "lengthy, demanding commutes". My city is 1,214 sq km and I, like a lot of other daily cyclists here, spend a couple hours per day in often muggy weather, and slow or not, we sweat and then spend the day in workplaces where a neat appearance is appreciated. The clothes I wear on the bike are what I used to wear in the gym - loose, comfortable, and dry quickly. If I had a shorter commute, I'd wear more stylish clothes, too.New Yorkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-21255338559146155342009-10-01T13:11:02.524+02:002009-10-01T13:11:02.524+02:00First chill of autumn this morning . Must admit my...First chill of autumn this morning . Must admit my old Tweed jacket coped really well great stuff Tweed it looks its best after about twenty years and I did feel quite dapper cycling along in the sunshineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-19591867836953701142009-08-16T19:15:26.754+02:002009-08-16T19:15:26.754+02:00Tricia: your #3 actually got me laughing out loud....Tricia: your #3 actually got me laughing out loud... Funny because it's true (and I might be part of the problem, but I'm trying!). :-)<br /><br />I'm totally with you on #4, if people will ride more wearing spandex and a mitre on their head, well, more people riding is more better.<br /><br />It's just pants clip for me on the city bike, though, until the city bike gets a replacement with a proper chain guard.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021891826074851837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-21153828941788301792009-08-14T22:39:03.524+02:002009-08-14T22:39:03.524+02:00Regarding getting greasy...
I'm from Portland...Regarding getting greasy... <br><br />I'm from Portland, OR. Last year I taught a biking 101 class. After speaking to hundreds of "newbies" and reading this blog I've come up with some observations... <br><br />1. New riders (especially) worry about dirt/mess/grease. Their bikes are not set up to avoid it and they don't want to spend money and time until they've really figured out whether they will stick with biking. <br><br />2. Average cyclists in the US are not as accustomed to handling their bike as the average Euro cyclist. That means they get dirty more often. Its not a bad thing, its just a learning curve. It seems that the 100 million Europeans learned to avoid the mess at age 5, not in adulthood. So give them a break! <br> <br />3. People in the US don't dress as well as other places anyway. So why would they start on a bike? <br> <br />4. Spandex, skirts, bikinis, naked... who cares as long as they're not in an SUV! <br><br />And with that said... Happy riding!TriciaHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13862818377316929176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-23943578848389571552009-06-10T12:20:17.820+02:002009-06-10T12:20:17.820+02:00Greetings to Copenhagen Cycle Chic and devotees! F...Greetings to Copenhagen Cycle Chic and devotees! Frocks On Bikes is a Wellington (New Zealand) group dedicated to getting women onto bikes in whatever clothes they feel good in - frocks (pretty dresses), sharp suits, stilettos, jeans, boots... whatever! <br /><br />Wellington is a small city with lots of hills, a tiny handful of stunted cycle lanes and thousands of kamikaze drivers. <br /><br />We're also going into winter, so it's a challenge to stay stylish through storms that come to us fresh from Antarctica. To survive this and keep cycling, "proper" cycle gear is great to wear under your stylish outerwear: knee- and leg-warmers, arm-warmers, gloves, overshoes and - under skirts or dresses - proper cycle knicks! Lights are one of the key survival accessories these days. Not keep you warm against the elements, but to improve your odds of being seen by drivers peering through fogged windscreens and too irritated to remember to drive to the conditions.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02419022886626754083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-15674087929682370042009-05-19T20:13:00.000+02:002009-05-19T20:13:00.000+02:00lol, maybe that's it, tho I'm not sure I could rid...lol, maybe that's it, tho I'm not sure I could ride much slower, I'm quite puny really!!! Well I figure once it gets warm, it doesn't matter if I'm walkin or cycling, bound to get a little heated! And it's def a small price to pay for being out in the open, and enjoying all that goes with it(loved the cycling senses blogs btw) :)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01205256774725019483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-2033654496029938682009-05-17T20:36:00.000+02:002009-05-17T20:36:00.000+02:00personally, i just ride slower. it seems the other...personally, i just ride slower. it seems the other 499,999 of us do the same. :-)Colville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-81003944385867813812009-05-13T16:20:00.000+02:002009-05-13T16:20:00.000+02:00OK, So I know I know, this has been discussed befo...OK, So I know I know, this has been discussed before, but I've been to Copenhagen in the summer, it gets HOT! How can you manage to cycle without sweating a lot? This is a genuine query, I don't seem able to do it...maybe I just sweat a lot, lol :) Here in Ireland the temperature usually sits around high teens/low twenties in the summer, but still I get so warm once I'm on my bike! for me I don't wear special gear, just change my top when I get to work. No matter what, it's glorious to cycle in the warm weather, hate being cooped up in a car :)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01205256774725019483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-12083823522536595842009-03-24T09:49:00.000+01:002009-03-24T09:49:00.000+01:00I just like tight pants :-)I just like tight pants :-)joncrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05721091205094417564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-71796767855094677052008-11-05T07:56:00.000+01:002008-11-05T07:56:00.000+01:00thanks for that explanation... sort of... :-)thanks for that explanation... sort of... :-)Colville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-14065352613377189562008-11-05T06:49:00.000+01:002008-11-05T06:49:00.000+01:00I see that no one answered your question about Coo...I see that no one answered your question about Coolmax, so:<BR/><BR/>Coolmax is a trade name invented to get people who wouldn't be caught dead wearing anything but a 100% cotton T-shirt (because it gets really hot and really cold where they live; and polyester is just "icky") to pay up to 10 times as much for a polyester T-shirt (because it gets really hot and really cold where they live; and cotton is just "icky").<BR/><BR/>Yeah, there's a little more to it than that; it's a "technical" polyester (the fibers are grooved, not just round), but it's still just polyester.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-35780927266861745162008-10-17T07:41:00.000+02:002008-10-17T07:41:00.000+02:00Interesting thread and awesome site! I totally agr...Interesting thread and awesome site! <BR/><BR/>I totally agree that specialist 'gear' is unnecessary for day-to-day cycling. What's more important is wearing clothes you feel comfortable in, whether they be the clothes you will wear for the rest of the day or something else. For myself, I wouldn't dream of donning lycra/goretex/other man-made fabric of fancy names, but neither can I cycle to work in my full business suit (70% humidity + 28 degrees celcius by 8am + lots of hills + business suit on bike doesn't go together so well). A slight compromise is needed - but yes, normal clothes, on a normal bike, can be done, even in the heat! I get plenty of confused looks (as almost every cyclist I pass, or who passes me, is in lycra or sporty clothes), but also plenty of compliments and interested queries.<BR/><BR/>Although I must say that I am looking forward to being back in CPH again (visiting my boyfriend's family), riding around on nice safe bike paths with a stylish scarf and coat (and enjoying the cold, at least temporarily!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-19076505433794590092008-09-17T08:53:00.000+02:002008-09-17T08:53:00.000+02:00Each and every day over 500,000 cyclists fill the ...Each and every day over 500,000 cyclists fill the streets of Copenhagen. They don't seem to have these problems. Nor the millions of Dutch cyclists, or German, Swiss, Belgian... indeed 100 million Europeans each day.<BR/><BR/>Maybe you're doing it wrong?Colville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-10518953049881111192008-09-17T03:13:00.000+02:002008-09-17T03:13:00.000+02:00I find cycling too mucky for the wearing of smart/...I find cycling too mucky for the wearing of smart/expensive clothes and gave up. I can't afford to replace or dry-clean clothes so often and would get upset at frequently spoiling favourite garments. If not attracting grease and grime from my own bike, I was brushing against other peoples bikes when parking and getting dirty, getting splashed by other traffic in wet weather or wearing out my trousers from the constant rubbing against the saddle.<BR/><BR/>I now either wear old clothes or proper cycling gear. Lycra has its place - and its on a bicycle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-79799843184307521612008-09-13T15:56:00.000+02:002008-09-13T15:56:00.000+02:00found them ages ago... i believe it was on cafepre...found them ages ago... i believe it was on cafepress.comColville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-17583323493677363322008-09-13T15:15:00.000+02:002008-09-13T15:15:00.000+02:00Any chance you could post a link to where you can ...Any chance you could post a link to where you can get those designs you dislike at the end of the article? I'd be happy to wear them and know folk who it'd be right up their alley.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-89694248821941787052008-08-21T16:42:00.000+02:002008-08-21T16:42:00.000+02:00thanks joschmo. i've spent so many years being pub...thanks joschmo. i've spent so many years being published that a blog is refreshingly low maintenence.<BR/><BR/>selective. perhaps a little. but our concept is merely taking photos on our own A to B routes through the city and not going out of our way for a photo.<BR/><BR/>at the bottom right of each page we have a series of photos that are the most popular on flickr. a kind of top tenColville-Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749740728099129703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210935752673952814.post-13094651691108779492008-08-20T14:52:00.000+02:002008-08-20T14:52:00.000+02:00I'm not really a blog kind of person. Isn't it for...I'm not really a blog kind of person. Isn't it for people who can't get published? But Jesus I love this blog. An eye into another world.<BR/><BR/>I hope you're being selective with your photos too, are the women that gorgeous in Copenhagen? Maybe it's all that cycling. Maybe a blog on this, with a top 10 women count down? PLEASE? :)<BR/><BR/>I admire the style over speed sentiments. Too often the bicycle courier - lycra - tour de france crowd get all the attention. They intimidate others basically. COPENHAGEN proves otherwise, especially here in London.<BR/><BR/>Keep it up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com