This post marks the second edition of the Urban Cyclists portfolio, but bear with me for a minute or two while I get this off my chest:
As an occasional fashionista myself, and one-time fashion photographer, I’m happy to see the rise of “cycle chic,” its followers replicating in the blogosphere almost as fast as “Get Rich” schemes.
What I’m not so impressed with is the common antipathy from the “chiclists” towards cyclists who embrace the embrace of lycra, or follow the Tour de France, rather than the Fall Collections.
If it’s what it takes to promote cycling, I’m all for “prêt-à-porteur”—whatever turns your crank—but the hissing and scratching should be left on the catwalk.
A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled on a newly-launched blog in this genre, run by a budding New York designer who oozed with adolescent contempt for anyone on a local bike event gauche enough to turn out in “athletic wear.”
It seems to me that the cycle chic phenomenon is a particularly North American meme, or export to Europe by crusaders, via the U.S. In the UK town of my youth, many everyday cyclists rode home from the factory, removed their mudguards, switched out their freewheel, changed into their racing strip, and went down to compete in the village races.
So what if some people are inspired by, and dress like, their cycle racing heroes. Aren’t followers of this new craze influenced by fashion designers and blogs in their orbit?
Celebrate cyclists of every stripe.
There is very little that is new; fashion copies itself. It might be argued that traditional cycling wear is the most unselfconscious choice. It has changed little over the years, concerned as it is with comfort and utility.
Personally, I dress for the occasion, wearing “ordinary” clothes around town, but adopt spandex (that some get so stretched out of shape about) for longer rides. I also choose my bikes by purpose; I have “fast bikes” and utility bikes. But regardless of the ride I’m on, I don’t waste energy judging other cyclists based on dress; I hate the ones that pass me, whatever they’re wearing.
Nonetheless, I’m at a loss to understand those who reject safety accessories such as reflective sashes and helmets (please, no helmet rants!). Rather than the reams of rationalization accompanying such opinions, why not just admit “They clash with my outfit!”?
My guess is that cycling is another fad for many velo-voguers. Fashion is fun, but it rarely survives the rinse cycle. Let’s see how many who adopted the bicycle as fashion accessory are riding a decade from now. If they are, it will be because they joined the great unwashed bicycle tribe, rather than, like high-school cliques, used their version to insulate themselves from “the others.” Let’s cheerlead for the home team.
The most gratifying part of compiling the accompanying visual documentary of local cyclists is focusing on the wonderful diversity of people on bikes, whatever their style.
Meanwhile, World Naked Bike Ride, where clothes are secondary to the celebration of the bicycle, is just weeks away.
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I don’t necessarily buy into the whole “looking good” ideal (or cycle chic) as much as I believe in wearing whatever you would while walking or driving. My clothing choices are far from chic or fashionable (just average), however what I wear while cycling I’d wear if I walked, took the bus or drove.
A few years back when I was talking with someone in BC, they said “sports wear” was common for most people to wear no matter how they got around, so perhaps this is why spandex is more accepted.
I remember when I started riding, I was one of only a few people who rode sans spandex in this city.
The first thing people would say to me in stores, traffic lights etc. is “where’s your cycling outfit?”
When I use to encourage people to ride back then, I’d get the “I don’t want to buy special clothing”.
Fortunately times have changed here.
For me it’s not what the spandex crowd wears that bothers me,but their attitude.
They are the only ones I see on bikes who never stop at reds, even within the city they ride two abreast (in the country sometimes 3). When they overtake me on the road they leave maybe an inch if I’m lucky.
I’ve also never had a motorist, pedestrian or other cyclists yell at me for not wearing a helmet. On four occasions (granted this is over an 8 year span) I’ve had this happen with those in spandex.
One other difference between here and BC, perhaps people wear spandex to commute there. Here it is the weekend warriors that wear it.
I know you said no helmet rants, but I think you’ll find people such as myself are against making it law or even the promotion of helmets. If people want to wear them that is up to them.
Ryan, I was trying to be careful not to associate any particular fabric with attitude. Certainly dicks can be encountered dressed in all materials.
Are there members of, as you put it, “the spandex crowd” who are jerks? No doubt. But just as all “suits” are not obnoxious, neither are all cyclists who wear clothing appropriate to vigorous riding.
I believe that tribalism intrudes too often into our relationships, as we see here, even amongst people who share interests. All cyclists should be united in the cause of acceptance and increasing our collective safety on the road.
Look at the photos. These are B.C. cyclists. Of course, I edited the gallery and could have included more lycra, but the mix you see here is pretty representative of the “dress code” of the general cycling population. Pretty eclectic, and I’m really quite taken with the interesting styles worn by some riders. Vive la différence.
I do agree all cyclists should be united in the cause of acceptance and safety, however it can be difficult when the “sub-groups” within cycling don’t always agree.
Perhaps signaling out the ‘spandex’ crowd is incorrect. The ones where I tend to have issues with are the weekend warrior/race crowd…Those who generally drive in their SUV’s to a meeting place to ride for a few hours…They just happen to wear spandex, whereas the overwhelming majority of commuters here just wear ‘everyday clothes’.
When discussions of bike lanes come up, the race crowd are as opposed as businesses are. Both from a motoring standpoint and a cyclists. They would rather there be no bike lanes, as getting more people commuting by bike isn’t their goal.
Ottawa faced the same issue last year when a separate bike lane was being put in.
The one group of cyclists (commuters) loved the separated bike lane.
The second group (speedsters) hated them.
I’m not even opposed to racing…Hell when I have the wind at my back and I’m riding my faster mountain bike or I’m coming down the steep Niagara Escarpment, I love the speed.
When I get a chance I even watch road cycling on TV. I tuned into the Giro a few times (regrettably not the last day).
“it can be difficult when the “sub-groups” within cycling don’t always agree.”
This is my point.
I think separated bike lanes are useful in the city. Of course, one doesn’t expect this to be the case everywhere outside cities, at this point.
I also don’t want to be told to “get on the bike path,” where I choose to avoid a crowded multi-use trail in favour of a perfectly good highway shoulder nearby. This is the case in Nanaimo, for instance, where a path (E&N Rail Trail), with dangerous bollards, road and rail crossings, parallels the Island Highway for 8km.
It is, IMO, both safer and more straightforward to simply transit the area on the wide highway shoulder. However, doing so since the trail was installed inevitably results in verbal abuse from city motorists.
I’ve experienced the same thing on the section of the Pacific Rim Highway entering Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, where a modified sidewalk runs alongside the road.
Some cyclists, with good cause, worry that their rights to using public highways is being eroded with the expectation that they will be moved from highways to inadequate trails. We must protect our rights to the use of public thoroughfares, while lobbying for safer cycling infrastructure everywhere.
Lycra or Tweed, we Canadian Cyclists have hit the big time. The Pink Jersey! A B.C. boy; way to go Ryder! Thought of those early riders, Stieda, Hayman, Bauer. Had a sentimental week, bikeless for 6 days, taking me mum to the seaside, Chemanius. Very interesting, 89 y. old former English warbrides are a hand-full even with the aid of my brother, my sister, my sister-in-law {Nurse}, brother-in-law and 2 support vehicles! So, hit Van., rented a bike, hung out Mt. Pleasant and it was very very pleasant. Bikes to the left of me, bikes to the right, everywhere! P.S how about the buried Spitfire in Burma story?
Yup, great days for Canadian cycling! I see a lot more lycra and bikes debuting across the country! Hallelujah! Speaking of, I broke the bank on some new bibs yesterday (or someone else did; gift actually).
Gee, you were close by. Sounds like you had your hands full, but contact me next time!
I’ll dig around for the Spitfire story.
A great article Ray. One of the positives that has come out of the “cycle chic” popularity is that it has helped to dispel the “special clothing required” myth that seemed to pervade cycling for so long. This is shown most eloquently in your photos (if indeed photos can be described as eloquent). The unfortunate side effect is the all too often anti-spandex crowd end up clouding the issue and cause the opposite effect. I have both and use each form of cycling attire as appropriate. One soon learns what works best for each form of cycling and that each option has there place, and sometimes the hard way. For example someone who makes a short commute or shopping trip and swears by jeans and a cotton t-shirt will quickly learn just how inappropriate these are for longer and hotter rides. 😉
Thanks, Richard. I hoped that the photos would speak louder than words, but had to have a bit of a written rant as well. 🙂
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