Cycle chic or bicycle chic is the culture of cycling in fashionable clothes. It is now associated with the strong utility cycling movement. Cycling is an everyday transport choice and many cyclists choose to wear their regular clothes, as opposed to outfits generally associated with cycle sport, such as bicycle shorts, lycra, gloves and shoes. Sydney Body Art Ride.
Which is all well and good if you are cycling along the pavement from your East London squat to your East London art school, but if you are travelling any distance and want people to feel comfortable in close proximity to you at the other end, a change of clothes would be the considerate thing to carry.
What’s more, should you fall from your bike your hands will slip from your non-taped bars, you’ll love the road-rash on your palms where your gloves should have been and your ironic hair cut will just not provide enough cushioning as your head hits the ground.
I know a lot of people don’t deem this stuff necessary, but it only takes one slip up to really ruin your day.
I agree, “couture” or not, sitting next to stinky co-worker who rode into work just ain’t cool. I say wear what you want, but be sensible (gloves and helmet, at least) and considerate–extra change of clothes, etc.–to co-workers and such.
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http://www.singlespeedrevolution.com
Ride One or Ride None!
Why would you have a fixed real wheel and no front brake….but still have a rear brake…?…have you even ridden a bike?
“from your East London squat to your East London art school”
Oh, you’ve just made my day, thanks so much!
@clung: I don’t get your comment. And why would you have a fixed rear wheel anyway?
‘I know a lot of people don’t deem this stuff necessary, but it only takes one slip up to really ruin your day.’
True. My Rubinos dropped me on the ice yesterday. I’m glad I had a lid & gloves.
The only thing you really need is a lid if you stack it.
It’s going to hurt if you’ve got all the kit or not.
I see people riding to work looking like they’re running late for the Tour de France. I can’t afford to look like I’m sponsored so rolled up trousers and a jumper it is.
True true. Those silly little cloth caps are pretty tedious too.
If you want decent technical (i.e. fast drying) clothes for the commute, you could do worse than looking at Decathlon’s stuff. Their own-brand running tops do the job fine and can usually be had for under a tenner. That way, your cycling clothes will be dry by the time you go home, and you won’t stink.
Much…
…..so tape your bars, plonker! And fit a front brake, then you have much less chance of a fall in the first place. What i’ve seen of the ‘fixie’ fashion victims in london, they dont seem to be wearing their ’special’ cycling clothes at all, unless rolled-up combats and flailing open shirts are now cycle clothing!
Merino for me all the way, but under something civilised, like tweed!.
Is the ‘fashion’ for single speed bikes the engineering equivalent to a voluntary lobotomy?