Info needed from the Cycle Chic ladies! - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Info needed from the Cycle Chic ladies!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Over the years, I've had the odd client who cycles to work and back, and I've helped them build a wardrobe around that lifestyle. In many Euro cities, bicycles are the number one mode of transport - especailly in the Netherlands, so I'm pretty familiar with the concept of "Cycle Chic".

I'd love your input too. There are ladies on our forum who bike to work (MN Sarah), or who bike to do errands (Malina, Kari, Heleen and Inge) - so, what do you wear? Do you dress differently when you climb on your bike to work or shop? Any information that you can share will be duly noted and appreciated

Note: of course, there are those of you who cycle for sport and wear proper cycling gear - that's great too! But it's not quite the info I'm after, unless you change into proper clothes at your destination. Hope that makes sense.

Thanks!

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from HeleenH

Anonymous

I love to wear street clothes when I bike to run errands. If I'm wearing a straight skirt that day, I do have to change to an A-line, clams or slim pants before I head out. Any kind of flats work for me; a cross-body bag and I'm good to go. I prefer to put groceries/packages in my wire basket as opposed to wearing a backback. I heart my Townie by Electra!

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modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I don't even ride a bike so my input here is limited but I just wanted to pop in to say always wear your helmet. It has saved my husband's life more times than I care to think about. Freak accidents can happen. My husband has had a bike break on him, has been hit by car doors opening on him, had heat stroke in the middle of summer... the list goes on. Please wear one even if you are just going on a leisurely jaunt around the corner.

@Claire, I <3 your townie too, I might even learn how to ride a bike if that one came in my size.

Isis

Veteran

Hey Angie,

This is a subject dear to my heart. I try to avoid cars as much as possible, and bike to work (around 3 miles) as well as shopping or visiting friends or any errands. Riding my bike everywhere makes me happy and connected to the outside world!

I always wear my regular clothes to work (my work is casual to smart casual). The only thing that is different is that I can't bike in pencil skirts as they constrict my leg movements. So, if I'm wearing a pencil skirt, I wear pants or shorts, roll up my skirt and put it in my panniers. (I never wear bike shorts to work as I feel self-conscious around colleagues in them.) I might also roll up a blouse and carry it if it is silk and 100 degrees outside and I don't want it to get sweaty. If I'm wearing a fit and flare skirt, or A-line, then I slip shorts under my skirt for modesty.

If I am biking after dark, then I wear a very non-chic day-glo biking jacket or vest for visibility. I slip it over my clothes.

I wear bootcut jeans a lot, and I just cuff and peg the legs before biking. I wear cages on my bikes, not clips, so I wear regular shoes or booties or rainboots.

When it rains, I put rainpants over my outfit and a longer rain jacket, and I wear rainboots with my regular shoes in my pannier. I have fenders on my bike and I stay pretty dry.

I guess another consideration is that I don't carry a large bag. I have a small crossbody bag that I slip into my pannier. I've never carried a large bag.

When my husband and I go on dates, we usually bike. We like it and it avoids parking issues! I wear a skirt or whatever. Anything works except for pencil skirts.

For me, I don't think biking has changed the way I dress.

Lynne

Veteran

Another plea for helmets! I have seen several cases where seemingly minor incidents (black ice, mainly) have resulted in ongoing visual problems including double vision. No vehicles involved.

rosee

Veteran

I haven't been riding for the past few years (but I have a great mountain bike in my garage that needs an overhaul). I used to bike everywhere but then I wore casual to smart casual clothes.
I AGREE about the HELMETS -- not flattering but life-saving! Saved my noggin several times (I used to be a bike messenger and race in my early 20s -- we used to ride in the winter too, on ice, -40 weather)! Hair wise, I found that longer hair tied back or shorter hair that could be restyled by rewetting worked best. I wore lots of cute hats back then too post ride.
This coming spring /summer /fall, I plan to bring the bike out again. Based on past experience, I can wear pants and flared skirts, but not maxis or pencil skirts. I like layering skirts with leggings (to the ankle or past the knee). Don't think I'll be wearing cycling shorts unless it's a sports ride. Bootlegs or flares can be fastened down with a velcro strap. Tops wise, anything comfortable would do, but I do worry about sweating. I'd imagine that I wouldn't be riding as aggressively now as I was used to, so hopefully going at a moderate pace wouldn't cause a sweating issue. I won't do toe clips this time but cages and hopefully that won't wreck my smart casual shoes and sandals.
I think I will follow some of the ideas used by Europeans who cycle commute regularly. I will be striving for that Eurochic smart-casual look.
Ohhh... and definitely crossbody or messenger bags to haul stuff, and paniers on the bike for things that don't fit in the bag.

ETA: the above only works on casual, in-city rides, not on long commutes or sport rides when I wore full-on gear (I was assuming Angie didn't want the gear response).

ironkurtin

Veteran

Angie, I think with really functional biking you need to do a gear-clothing cross-pollination. For example, clothing (esp pants legs) can easily get stuck in your gears, which makes them mangled and dirty. Hose and tights can get damaged as well.

So, when I have to bike but look good, I tend to go for sport-gear black leggings, and high sport sneaker-boots (like the ones from Y3 or Puma, or Stella McC). Then I change at the office into better bottoms, but even if I don't have time, I know I'm still within the realm in my bottom half.

sarah

Veteran

Angie and Isis - I'm chuckling because Isis could have written my answers! And Rosee, too!

I mostly ride to work, so I'm gearing my answers to that.

I use a Timbuktu messenger bag for my laptop and work papers because it's TOTALLY waterproof - it's gear, but it's so functional that I'll never give it up. I've been in downpours and gotten home and my precious laptop is dryer than dry. When I have spillover (e.g. because I'm carrying shoes, lunch, etc.), I use a pannier that is also waterproof. My handbag (I now own 3!) fits INSIDE either of them, so it can't be too large. Just like Isis, I use a smaller cross-body. When I get to work I can pull it out to run to meetings/lunch when I don't need my computer.

In summer, I mostly just bike in what I wear. If I have a dress on, I often pull biking shorts or leggings on underneath for the ride for modesty (e.g., when my dress flips up over my face). I can't bike in a pencil skirt, so that gets rolled up and put into my pannier or or messenger bag (the Halogen ones are great - NO WRINKLES!). If it's hot, I will strip down to one layer and the cardi for the cold office goes in the bag. My other big exception is that I try very hard not to bike in white jeans! I've made that mistake already. I just swap them out for bike shorts and roll them up into my bag. I got bike grease on my new white bootcuts the first time I biked in them : (. I was able to get it out, but I don't want to risk it again. Like the others, I put straps (or rubber bands) around my ankles when I'm wearing bootcuts or flares.

In winter in MN, it's a whole different ballgame. I wear snow boots, goretex rain pants, my down parka, a headband+hat, overmits over fleece mittens, etc, etc. I leave my shoes at work (or put them in my pannier). Since I have my down parka (my puffer), I can just wear that around campus without all of the extra gear.

For rain, I'm like Isis - rainboots, rainpants, raincoat (with the hood up and the helmet over it). My shoes are in my bag or pannier.

Fall and spring (and I'm imagining much of the weather in Seattle) are heavenly, as I don't have to do as much swapping out of gear. That said, this morning I wore my regular clothes and the short black Gallery trench that Angie recommended this past summer (which, I might add, is PERFECT for biking - it's like a fashion-forward windbreaker as it definitely blocks the wind without being too hot AND it rolls up into my bag nice and compactly - THANKS, Angie!) and my headband and warm windproof gloves. The gloves and headband are definitely GEAR. There's no way to not include SOME gear when the weather gets colder.

Since I've got the podium, PLEASE WEAR A HELMET! I know that they don't in Europe, but European drivers are TRAINED to be aware of cyclists. American drivers are not. I've been hit twice by cars, once ending up in the ER. My helmet has saved my LIFE, and I can't stress enough how important it is to wear them. I know that helmet head is a problem, but not when you're dead! Just be sure to shoot your WIW photos in the MORNING before your hair is a wreck ; ).

Here's my messenger bag:

http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/cus.....;uid=61636

Here's my pannier:

http://www.banjobrothers.com/p.....f-pannier/

Scarlet

Veteran

Although I don't currently bike to commute, I have in the past, and I still use my bike where possible. Mostly I wear the same thing I would anyway, except that pencil skirts or mini skirts are just not possible. In the summer I favor loose clothing or quick drying synthetics to avoid sweat issues. I also cycle slower to avoid sweating. I don't like to wear nice heels on the bike because sometimes the pedal hits against the heel if my foot slips and creates a nick. I use reflective velcro bands to keep my pant legs from flopping around, but this must be with a material that doesn't wrinkle easily. I wear a reflective band at night on my upper body--kind of like Miss America wears a sash. In the winter I must wear boots to keep my ankles warm. Otherwise there is too much draft up the pant leg. When it rains I wear a very unstylish over-sized rain jacket and rain pants. It's better than arriving wet and cold. I wear a helmet, which is kind of a bummer for nice hair-do's. However, I know too many people who have had accidents not to wear a helmet. Gloves are a must in fall and winter. If it's not too cold I wear lined leather gloves. If it is a long distance and very cold I wear ski gloves. The wind can be bitter cold on hands. In bad weather I must say I am not very stylish on the bike when I have a long distance to go, but at least when I get off the bike I am well turned out. In good weather with no hurry, a bike is much less of a style-impediment. I find a basket is indispensable for my handbag and other important things. I don't like to have a bag on my body when I cycle.

Anonymous

I did bike to work last summer. Now it's gotten cold. I do wear skinnies tucked into boots in the fall and skinnies with sandals spring/summer. I wear dresses and skirts ( but they have to be A-line. ) If I have tights, no problem. I use the system sitting on my skirt( rather than flicking it an let it drape across the bike) but either way a skirt-guard is needed. I even biked in moderately clunky heels. Other than stares, no problem. As for tops, I'm not much of a sweaty person. ( To be sure, I do freshen up in the restroom upon arrival anyway). Scarves are important and also gloves. Regular driving gloves or even better biking gloves ( they protect my hands against callouses). Also my dad made me promise I'd wear a reflective vest wherever is night/evening. Ugly but functional.

Inge

(website)

Love this thread! Unfortunately my beloved black oma bike got stolen a while back, but I still ride a bike regularly to run errands or just to relax, thanks to the new "Velo-system" here in Antwerp. I pay about $35 and that allows me to hop on the city bikes whenever I want, for an entire year. Fantastic initiative.

To be honest I've become a bit of a "fair weather cyclist" over the years:-) When it's really pouring I prefer to go on foot, or take the bus or tram. But I used to ride my bike to school all the time as a teen, rain or shine.
I also never "race", but ride at a moderate pace, so I don't get super sweaty.

My clothing choices have changed, of course, but I still actually wear nothing but my regular clothes for biking. The only thing I've stopped doing is biking around with one hand on the handlebars and an umbrella in my other hand. Too dangerous.

In Europe you see super stylish ladies and gentlemen on bikes everywhere. No gear in sight. I've biked in suits, dresses, short jackets, knee-length coats, trousers, party frocks, high heels, flats, midi skirts, pencil skirts (I admit you have to hike those up a bit, which I don't mind if I'm wearing hose or leggings, bare-legged not so much). I don't mind hanging a smaller bag on my arm while biking, but often use a basket for my larger handbags. Panniers are handy for grocery shopping or going to the library with lots of books:-)

I've never had a problem with longer coats or flowy skirts because all my bikes had coat guards, very handy.
Gloves and a scarf are indispensable when it gets colder.

When it rains many people just add a waterproof jacket or a rain cape (often in a fluorescent colour), the kind that you can drape over the handlebars which keeps you pretty dry all over. We don't see rain pants here so much.

That's about it for Belgian Cycle Chic style I think;-)

PS: Sarah, I love the rubber band idea for wider-legged trousers.

fern

Veteran

We live in close-in east Portland, so I walk, bus or bike. We use Zipcar (hourly car rental) if we need a car. I work from home 4 days & bike 1, but the office is very close. We went "car-free" 18 months ago.
I didn't change my clothes but I did change my bike. I wanted a bike as convenient as my car - no messing with batteries & remembering to take the lights off when I park the bike, no remembering rubber bands for my pants, no (more frequent) flat tires than my car. And no changing clothes! I was so mad at myself after I ruined my white jeans on a wet road a few years ago.
I got an Oma Dutch bike with built-in lights, internal hub/gears with a chainguard, big tires with a protected tube. I added a wire basket in the front and it has a back rack with bungees that is about grocery sack size.
It's so big and upright that I can only ride it at a moderate pace, so I don't worry about getting hot in the summer. Unfortunately it's too big to fit on the bus bike racks. I kept my mountain bike and I can use that if I know I want to bus/bike.
I really do wear normal clothes, including flowy skirts and dress shoes. For our 9 month wet season, I wear my long navy raincoat which is Marmot brand and double-zips - so I can unzip from the bottom to bike, but it still pretty much covers my upper legs. I add rainpants if it is stormy. I can usually tuck my skirt into the rainpants. I use a big oiled leather messenger bag which I can wear or put in my basket. And definitely gloves - that is the coldest part of cycling. In our worst winter weather I can fit a knit or fleece hat under my helmet.
The best unexpected benefit is I bike to exercise, as in, I bike to get to my indoor soccer game. It's the perfect warm up/ cool down. I didn't know that when we still had a car.

Kari

Veteran

Angie, I confess I haven't mastered this yet despite living within easy biking distance to work! I've biked to work a couple times, but to be honest I need to toughen both my tush and my wrists (wrist pain is starting to return - ugh!) before I can count on biking regularly to work. If I do end up commuting regularly by bike, I'll certainly revisit this thread - but as it's already very dark when I leave for work in the mornings, I'm more comfortable walking to the bus stop or driving instead.

I also get really freaked out by biking alongside traffic, even if I have a bike lane, because I have seen how careless and unobservant drivers are toward bikers on my commute. Some (not all) drivers can be really aggressive to try to get around bikers. And I'm not a solid enough biker yet (I'm out of practice) to be comfortable starting and stopping without losing my balance when I encounter traffic or stop signals.

To be fair, there are also some naive bikers who do really stupid things (like blow through an uncontrolled intersection, in the bike lane going the WRONG WAY even though there's a bike line going the correct direction on the other side of the road, without checking for driver or pedestrian traffic - and without a helmet. I once came DANGEROUSLY close to a biker who did all of these things at the same time on a busy intersection, and it was only because I was actually checking for bike traffic going both directions in the lane that I avoided plowing into him.)

The few times that I've biked to work, I either wore exercise gear there and changed in our bathroom (we have a shower/changing area that locks), or I wore a wider (non-pencil) knee length skirt with bike shorts underneath for modesty & comfort reasons. I didn't want to wear anything drapey that would potentially swing low and get stuck in the chain. I carried a backpack that I could stick my purse into, and where I could also store my bike lock on my ride. Whether I'm wearing gear or not I always wear a helmet (in my county, helmets are mandatory for bicyclists.) And because of my wrist pain I also must wear wrist braces when I bike, or else I'm in pain after a few minutes.

When I got to work I locked up my bike on a rack outside the building and stuffed my helmet into the backpack. I carried a few implements with me into the bathroom to do a little re-grooming - makeup was already done, but I touched up with some powder; I carried some dry shampoo spray and a small brush to clean up any sweat on my locks.

Kari

Veteran

Also, I'm sure you've probably already encountered it (I know I mentioned the site for one of the Weekly Links posts a few months back), but these categories on SimplyBike are super helpful and inspiring.

Biking in a dress: http://simplybikeblog.com/?cat=10
Biking for the daily commute: http://simplybikeblog.com/?cat=14

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks so much, ladies! This is fab info.

My apologies for not being able to reply to each of you right now. I have a hectic few days, but hope to catch up and absorb after that.

Your input is much appreciated

Gracey at Fashion for Giants

(website)

I actually bike to work every day. It's not far (about 10 to 15 minutes) but I do bike year round.

Personally, I don't like to wear very short skirts, even over leggings or tights on my bike because I'm an agressive pedaler and don't want any of the school children I pass to get an eyeful. I also don't wear pencil skirts because they are darn near impossible to ride in - even knit pencil skirts are difficult.

But, I do usually wear skirts to work; it's just that full or A-line work best for me in terms of ease of pedaling and coverage. But, in the fall and winter wear a lot of leggings as well. I don't wear jeans that much because it rains so much here in Oregon and tights or leggings dry more quickly. I know some people wear rainsuits over their clothes, but they don't make them to fit over skirts yet, so I don't wear them.

I can, and do, ride in any type of shoes, from wedges to four inch heels to flats. I will say though that my favorites to ride in are a low-heeled shoe because the heel helps keep my foot from slipping off the pedal on rainy days. My least favorite to ride in are my four-inch wedges with a two inch platform; they're wood-soled and it's impossible to feel the pedals.

When I started riding (a couple years ago now), I changed my pedals from the sort of toothed medal pedals to grippy rubber ones so as not to ruin my heels. I also have a detachable bike basket that I put my purse and my lunch in. I don't like wearing a crossbody bag or backpack, personally, because I sweat enough as it is, I don't want something on body making me sweat more.

Coat-wise, I go with a full-skirted trench coat, rain proof with a high-neck that zips from top to bottom. My regular trench that only has a few buttons flies open when I ride and my lap gets soaked if it rains. A coat that zips or buttons all the way to the bottom will help keep you drier. And both gloves and a scarf are definitely necessities in the winter - the freezing wind on my throat and fingers is terrible.

But, I don't often wear hats because I'm usually wearing a helmet. I also have lights in the front and back and a light on my helmet. And I wear a reflective vest over my coat in the winter when it's dark during my rides.

If you look at my blog (http://fashionforgiants.blogspot.com) everything that I post in my daily outfits is something I have worn to work and therefore worn on my bike. If I haven't ridden that day, I usually note that.

Hope this helps!

Gracey

rachylou

Veteran

Windchill factor - gloves and highnecked jackets/sweaters. Or a muffler scarf thingy.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Since I commute to work on my bike I'm always on the lookout for an a-lined skirt or dress to give me room to ride my bike. Make sure to have bike shorts or leggings underneath for extra coverage, plus you can take it off once you get to work. Luckily, work is only 3 miles away so I don't need to don the spandex biking gear (thank God).

see my photo here: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....p-for-work

Now that it's getting colder out, I tend to wear more layering wicking shirts underneath my outfit so that I won't sweat and freeze to death. Also a must are wind proof gloves because your fingers are the first thing that usually gets cold.

On days I don't ride, I wear skirts or skinny jeans or skinny pants so they wont' get caught on your bike chain.

I have ridden in heels but decided it wasn't too practical so I wear flats with a rubber sole.

Anyway, that's my intake bike wear.

Kristine

Veteran

I bike to work in the warmer weather. My preference is to change my entire outfit, biking in workout pants and a t-shirt. I plan an outfit that won't wrinkle in my bag and pack it in my backpack. In the summer I often have a pair of shoes stashed in my desk. Sometimes I'll wear the same pants I plan to wear for the day, then I just bike in a t-shirt. I suppose I could bike in my full office outfit, but I haven't tried.

Helmet head is a challenge. I make sure my hair is bone dry, usually washing it in the evenings. I keep my bangs pinned to the side, then shake and brush out my hair once I get there. I keep a curling iron in my desk if things really go wrong.

HeleenH

Veteran

I completely missed this thread before, but todays blog led me here now. I have been thinking reading this thread, wether I own any clothes that I cannot wear on my bicycle and I haven't come up with something yet. If it is impractical for cycling, I don't buy it. I don't think it is a consious decision when I buy stuff, it is as ingrained in the kind of clothes I choose, for instance I don't like pencil skirts. The reason for that could very well be that I can't cycle with them. I do have one pencil-like skirt, that is made of a stretchy velours and I pull it up slightly when cycling.

We do get rainy days and cold days. On a rainy day I wear the outer layers on picture 2 (and sensible shoes) to keep dry. I actually wear the coat as my coat from early spring to late autumn. In winter I wear an old coat of similar quality (goretex or goretex-alike material so it breathes and keeps the rain out) but more boring, for practical reasons: I can wear more layers underneath that coat. When I was young a rain suit as it is called over here would be horrible as it was a kind of plastic of the before-goretex era... So especially if you were late for school you would be sweaty on arrival. School had an indoor bicycle shed (the basement of the school) and you would hang your rain suit over your bicycle to dry during the day. An with every rainfall it is the question: is this going to be just a tiny spell of rain or is it worth getting out the rain suit. You see quite a few people cycling with an umbrella. I never mastered that trick and feel it is dangerous anyway because most people have hand brakes so you miss half of the breaking power and in wet conditions that is dangerous.

In picture 1 you get a peek in our shed. Bicycle 1 is the old bike of DD6, used during play by friends. Bicycle 2 is DD6's present bike (handmedown from DD13). Then you have my every day bike (notice the fun red saddle protector? My saddle had tears that ruined the material of one of my dresses so now I have this fasionable item.), with fietstassen, a set of canvas bags that is permanently attached to my bike. I either pop in my handbag and protect it from stealing by pulling that little black thread through the handles and hiding it with the cover flap, or they can both contain one shopping bag. The red bicycle 4 ha only one wheel. The front hooks to DH's bicycle. It used to be Eveliens add+bike, now it is Heike. Unfortunately she is fast outgrowing it, by next summer I will probably sell it to the owner of the small bicycle shop at the end of our street who has epresssed his interest in it. The blue bicycle 4 is DD13's oma fiets for commuting to school and nr 5 is my bakfiets that was bought when DD6 was nearly 4 and was too heavy to do shopping with. Before that she would sit on a seat on the back of my bicycle nr 3. I had a luggage carrier extension so she could put her legs in front of my fietstassen. Now she cycles on her own but I will not sell the bakfiets on as it is so useful. I used it to bring an old chair to the city warf and it can easily contain my weekly groceries. I don't have to wonder if I can bring home the toiletpaper today, as I had to when I only had bike nr 3. Bike nr. 6 is missing: it is at work with DH.

In winter when the streets can be frozen or snowy, I prefer my bakfiets over the normal bicycle as the weight of the bakfiets is lower and the weels are thicker so it is more stable.

None of us wears a helmet. I did have one for the girls when they were small and on the back seat, but not anymore. It is adviseable to wear one when you are racing, but we only ride ordinary bikes and the traffic is used to cyclists on the road or cycling paths. None of us own special biking clothes either.

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HeleenH

Veteran

I forgot to tell you I do wear skirts under the raincoat if it happens to rain on a day that I am wearing a dress or skirt. I just hike it up in the middle and kind of fold each half of the skirt into the legs.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Brilliant info, Heleen!! Thanks for chiming in! Love the polka dot bike seat cover

HeleenH

Veteran

Bike seat covers are really fashionable at the moment. I don't think it is purely because we are very thrifty over here (both my bikes needed a new seat because the top was tearing), but also because you can put it on or of if you find your bike with a wet saddle after work or doing errands. You just pop it on or of and you have a dry seat. Before these saddle covers I would have an old plastic bag stuck underneath the seat, in the area where the springs are located.
The pink saddle cover on the childs bicycle is an advertising gimick that DD6 got when she was at the Amsterdam Uitmarkt with our neighbours. During election times some political parties hand out bicycle covers and if you commute by train you can find your bicycle seat covered with an advertising cover when you return.

HeleenH

Veteran

btw, anyone notice my coat has a rainproof hoody and I have a hat as well? It is better to wear a hat than use the hoody, because when you look back to check on the traffic, you would look into the hoody. Hoody is great for walking, but for cycling the hat is better.