Comments on: We need to talk about skirts

By: Pedal

Pedal — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 10:19:31 +0000

To paraphrase Chuck Palahniuk: You are not the clothes you wear.
As a species we have been force fed a 3 course meal of advertising. I have never seen an advert praising the virtue of owning less. We are crash test dummies, lab rats for the gluttonous businesses who are never full up. I am glad to see that you are your own singularity, there is deep beauty in a free mind.
The liberty to speak to you about your skirt because of the mode of transport you ride is a different spectre. First we have to discount the notion that he may have recognised you as a PennyInYoPants lady and the skirt comment may have been a nod to this recognition. Having put this to one side, we have to examine the idea of cyclists being approachable people. We then have to wonder if cyclists in skirts are more approachable still or if another theory is befitting this phenomena.
I think that maybe I am delving too far down into this; if I close off the analysis and open up to creativity and intuition another idea bubbles up. You are vibrant and this creates conversation. People are drawn to rainbows, they are moths pulled to light. You don’t invite commentary but it happens because your attire forms a joyful discourse.
People in cars and buses are heads, you pass these metal boxes on your bike and you can only see heads and shoulders not the knees and toes. You are a fully flowing human being using your entire body and mind. You are truly alive. Those wrapped inside motor vehicles are fleshed out mannequins until they are back on the streets again.
Continue to dress in your dreams.

By: Stephan Matthiesen

Stephan Matthiesen — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 09:45:44 +0000

Not sure if this is skirt-related or generally cyclist-guy-related. I had similar experiences (without skirt) when I moved to Edinburgh from the continent long ago. At that time, few people cycled, but I always dreaded the few times when another cyclist caught up with me. Inevitably they lectured me about wearing the wrong shoes, the wrong gloves or no gloves, the wrong jumper, having the seat too high or too low, using the wrong gear, or just generally being a person that shouldn’t be on a bike because I’m not doing it right. I gave up cycling shortly afterwards and only started again a few years ago when I saw more and more people like you and me on bicycles.
I thought this was because many “keen” cyclists still have this group mentality, the bike is not a means of transport but you are supposed to become “one of us”, a member of a community, and adhere to all the unwritten rules, dress codes and traditions. And with this perception that you’re member of their “group”, they don’t talk to you like a stranger but feel perfectly entitled to talk to you as if you were the black sheep in their family.

By: Lilymae

Lilymae — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 19:42:24 +0000

Now that I have a step-through I can give it a try.

By: cassandra

cassandra — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 16:59:30 +0000

I always felt self-conscious when I was wearing dresses/skirts and riding my bicycle to go to work. Am I showing too much leg? Will I flash anyone when I get on/off my bike? I have a short commute, so I really didn’t want to bring along another change of clothes for a 10 min ride. I hardly ever break a sweat. So as time passed by I learned to embrace my outfits and not worry about what other people might think. I continue commuting in whatever I feel like it. And it feels great! I even ride in heels! Short heels, but heels none the less.

By: bikiegirl

bikiegirl — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 14:01:55 +0000

Skirt riders rule! When men make comments to me about riding in a skirt, I tell them they would run out and buy a kilt if they knew how great it feels to ride in a skirt! I’ve actually had a man purchase a pair of my Bikie Girl Bloomers to wear under his kilt. BTW, you can wear animal print lycra AND a skirt; check out: http://www.bikiegirlbloomers.com/Bloomers_s/1827.htm

By: Jo Holtan

Jo Holtan — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 13:02:01 +0000

YES!!!

By: Alison Hurford

Alison Hurford — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 12:54:49 +0000

Hear, hear! I'm a dedicated skirt cyclist