But then there are those rides when the point isn't so much riding the bike, but getting from point A to point B, often by way of interim points A2 and A3, meeting with friends for coffee at point A27. Being streamlined is not important - looking somewhat "normal" (as in, as if you didn't get there by bike!) is.
I started cycling for transport and for fun -- indeed, cycling as an adult, full stop -- in July 2009. As a beginner I fell in with a certain school of thought that said, if you're on a bike, then wear the right clothes for that activity. But by spring 2010, I began questioning that.
I intend to start posting more photos of myself wearing not-necessarily-cycling-clothes-that-nonetheless-work. But in the meantime, I'd like to capture and collate here my thoughts and attempts at this back in 2010.
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From the diary:
I started out cycling with blinkers on, thinking that only clothes cut specifically for cycling would be comfortable when on the bike for any length of time. Yet I hate lycra. Yet lycra's pretty darn comfortable and fit for purpose. Then I discovered, hey, for a social outing like cycling over to Wimbledon (half hour each way) to meet up with friends for a coffee, a dress & leggings & boots weren't too bad! So I went a bit mad the other way, wearing everyday clothes. Until I ruined a few good things with snags and scrapes. Not to mention mud.
So I've been exploring my wardrobe with an open mind these days. What's lurking in there that's stylish (for me!) yet tough and comfortable enough in the right ways for cycling? What cycling-specific stuff can be semi-disguised with accessories to pass as normal streetwear? Hmmm. A few mistakes. A few discoveries. Still learning.
So here are a few of my experiments. A kind of photo blog.
Health warning: all these photos are of me. If that's too egocentric for you, change channels or turn your monitor off now.
2010.04.10 All change please, all change! First day of real honest-to-goodness Springness! I mean t-shirt weather. Today I needed to run errands, potentially get-your-hands-and-knees-f Long lycra trousers/tights OUT - too warm and too...er, lycra-y!! My 3/4-length cycling trousers are being saved to wear tomorrow. So what to wear today? I have fallen in love with the 3/4 look - think plus fours, riding breeches or breeks, that sort of thing. AND I've discovered wild, crazy, funky colourful knee-high socks perfect to wear with them! Check out http://www.sockdreams.com/ for ultimate sock porn. ;) I've just taken delivery this week of FIVE pair from them. First pair out of the box was the ribbed grey merino pair - bliss in the cold weather under lycra tights. But with the weather warming up, I'm ditching the lycra and here come the more fun pairs. First up, today we have b&w rugby stripes. This pair, after the grey merino, is the most conservative knee-highs I ever intend to buy. (Wait til you see the ones I'm wearing tomorrow!!) Anyway, socks are only part of the story today 'cause I am fixated on the 3/4 trousers + tall socks look but only have the 1 pair of trousers. BUT.... a few weeks ago I went to a bicycle maintenance workshop, for which I was advised to wear old clothes that I wouldn't mind getting greasy. For that, I dug out a pair of faded black jeans I bought at Sainsburys for £6 about 4 years ago. I've never liked them and hardly wore them - something about the leg shape and they're just the teeniest bit too short. So they've been in the donate-to-charity box. But I didn't have any other trousers I was willing to sacrifice. Upshot was, I cycled in them to/from the workshop and thought, hey these aren't too bad. (For short distances. Anything over half an hour and that bulky inseam is gonna hurt.) So, today, I took the scissors to them and hacked off those weird too-flared too-short legs!! Hey presto, 3/4 length summerweight (stretch!) denim jeans. Plus white tank top and an ancient threadbare chambray shirt (from M&S 14 years ago). PLUS - obviously - stripey socks. :) (Note to self: must rescue Maddie's ball from under fridge.) |
2010.04.11 Chat Noir :) |
2010.04.24 Great plan but it turned out to be too hot today.) |
2010.04.26 going to work |
2010.04.27 going to work |
2010.04.20 going to work |
2010.05.03 going to work (I seem to do this a lot...) |
2010.05.03 |
2010.05.08 with raincoat |
2010.08.08 off to Heidi's 50th Birthday picnic - on the mixte |
2010.10.03 and then of course there were the Brompton World Championships at Blenheim Palace. A certain dress code was required. |
just discovered your blog. Enjoying it very much. Rather surprised you find a Lands' End Mariac jacket not wind proof. I have one bought in 07 and use it for cycling and hillwalking and it cuts the wind just find for me. Was riding in recent freezing temps in it over just a cotton tee shirt and felt nothing on my bare arms.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, please keep up the good work.