I'm trying to go seriously car-lite these days. Mostly, this is pretty convenient, but I've found one place for which it isn't yet - church. Here's the thing: it's 5 miles to one parish, including two significant hills just before I arrive. It's closer to 8 miles to the other, and once again it's hilly. I don't want to be all disgusting when I get there, and frequently it rains, but for a one-hour Mass it seems sort of overkill to drag along a whole change of clothes, get there early enough to change into it, then change again and go home. On the other hand, it seems highly inappropriate to wear spandex in church! Does anyone else bike to church? How do you make it work?

Well, I'm going to let you in on a secret. Jesus probably would have been much more sweaty and stinky coming to the temple or synagogue than you are, and I really doubt that he would take an extra change of clothes with him (heck, he probably didn't even have an extra change of clothes). The whole idea of having to wear your Sunday best and attract the right people to church is waaay over rated. You certainly won't be offending God in the least showing up at church wearing spandex or slightly sweaty clothing. (Heck, at my church, we often have a police officer show up in full uniform, gun and all).

I will raise the one issue I would have with someone wearing spandex in church: If you are a woman (which your user name suggests you may be), wearing spandex will emphasize your curves, and as a man, I can tell you it would likely be difficult for other men not to stare and lust and maintain a sexually pure mind. So in this situation, it wouldn't be a bad idea to bring a casual set of clothes that you can slip overtop upon arrival. That is my only issue. Even then, spandex probably won't be any worse than what many women wear to church in this regards.

But yeah, as for being sweaty or any of that, I don't think it matters. Some people might be mildly offended, but if you look in the New Testament, Jesus' seemingly irreverant attitudes and actions towards religious establishments and the like regularly offended the religious folk. So I would try not to worry about it. Bike to church to your hearts content!

I always thought it was strange how everyone seems to drive to church, even in a densely populated area (i.e. lots of people within walking distance), with good transit/subway access, park everywhere (blocking motor traffic on a public road - the churches I'm thinking of are relatively large and have less than ten parking spaces). I can see how it would be unpopular for the city to issue tickets (they could probably get dozens, if not hundreds every sunday), but given fair warning that might be okay.

Is there some rule in the Christian Bible that says you must drive to church?

I always thought it was strange how everyone seems to drive to church, even in a densely populated area (i.e. lots of people within walking distance), with good transit/subway access, park everywhere (blocking motor traffic on a public road - the churches I'm thinking of are relatively large and have less than ten parking spaces). I can see how it would be unpopular for the city to issue tickets (they could probably get dozens, if not hundreds every sunday), but given fair warning that might be okay.

Is there some rule in the Christian Bible that says you must drive to church?

The main problem with a lot of the downtown churches is that they were built waaay before the motor car became popular, hence the shortage of available parking. People USED to walk to church. I went to the old downtown Episcopal church where I lived for years. The church was founded in the late 1700s and the current building was built in the 1860s...kind of predates the car:D
As far as the OP question...dunno what your solution is, ride slower and wear less conspicuous clothing? FWIW I rode to church for many, many years and still do on occasion. Fortunately the ones I rode to were fairly close to my home and on relatively flat ground. I also ride upright style commuters not road bikes. YMMV

Aaron:)

[QUOTE=CassielHere's the thing: it's 5 miles to one parish, including two significant hills just before I arrive.[/QUOTE]

You don't have to go at a time-trial pace. Just soft pedaling the bike should keep you from sweating. If you have to - simply walk up the hills. For such a short distance there would be much of a time penalty for doing so.

I have ridden to synagogue before. Once I had a wrap around skirt that I put on over my bike shorts when I got there. It wasn't very inconvenient. Othere times I just wore normal, respectalb-eish, pants-type clothes without any problems. Any silliness I felt about having to do something with my neon yellow jacket or bike helmet was overwhelmed by the high from the ride and the joy of showcasing bicycling-as-transportation in an unexpected place.

I always thought it was strange how everyone seems to drive to church, even in a densely populated area (i.e. lots of people within walking distance), with good transit/subway access, park everywhere (blocking motor traffic on a public road - the churches I'm thinking of are relatively large and have less than ten parking spaces). I can see how it would be unpopular for the city to issue tickets (they could probably get dozens, if not hundreds every sunday), but given fair warning that might be okay.

Is there some rule in the Christian Bible that says you must drive to church?

I read this and thought of St Pauls on Bloor, holds about 3000 people, and has NO parking whatsoever, but is on a subway line, with a stop nearby. I live near Dowsview Park, and I BIKED to St Pauls last summer, parked against the construction fence.... We went in in our biking togs, and everyone we talked to was impressed, including the Rector! The age of the congregation has a lot to do with it, congregations that are prmarily older folks, will tend to frown if your not wearing your going-to-church suit. Congregations that consist of mostly younger folk, are much more lenient, and churches that are not air conditioned, also tend to be more lenient, despite age especially in summer.

Considering that the Bible pre-dates the automobile by some 1900 years, no, there is no commandment to drive a car to church. In fact we would be better off to follow the Orthodox Jew, and live within walking distance of our place of worship, we would have a much better sense of community. The worst thing Christians ever invented was the commuter church.

Since the OP is female, I'm going to tailor my suggestion accordingly. If you do wear bike-specific clothes riding, just get one of those pull-over, loose, hippy-type dresses. They roll up for wrinkle-free transport, and they tend to be long and very covering, so you don't have to worry about any modesty issues in church. There are some pretty ones out there.

Thanks for the input, everybody.
Good Lord, don't get me started on the Commuter Church. The first one I've ever seen here in Oregon was built about three? years ago, and it's the most atrocious thing I've ever seen. The parking lot is bigger than Costco's, and it actually has "street" signs named "Corinthians" and "Thessalonians." :-p It is a ginormous edifice. As a Catholic, I have nothing against ginormous edifi, but I do demand that they be tasteful and not look like some kind of WASP-only shopping mall. }:-|
Wogsterca has a great point about the potential community value of religious meeting-places. The expansion trend has really impoverished the community aspect of faith.
As far as no one caring that I smell, I find that related to the point about wearing spandex. I don't want to be a distraction. I'm sure I wouldn't be for very long; the novelty of a neon jacket and a bike helmet would probably wear off quickly. You're probably right about soft pedaling to keep the sweat off, and a little wrap skirt might just do the trick. Thanks again, everybody.

Portland? Catholic? Which church?

Sometimes St John the Apostle, sometimes St John the Baptist, sometimes the Cathedral...do I detect a fellow Catholic? :-)

Thanks for the input, everybody.
Good Lord, don't get me started on the Commuter Church. The first one I've ever seen here in Oregon was built about three? years ago, and it's the most atrocious thing I've ever seen. The parking lot is bigger than Costco's, and it actually has "street" signs named "Corinthians" and "Thessalonians." :-p It is a ginormous edifice. As a Catholic, I have nothing against ginormous edifi, but I do demand that they be tasteful and not look like some kind of WASP-only shopping mall. }:-|
Wogsterca has a great point about the potential community value of religious meeting-places. The expansion trend has really impoverished the community aspect of faith.
As far as no one caring that I smell, I find that related to the point about wearing spandex. I don't want to be a distraction. I'm sure I wouldn't be for very long; the novelty of a neon jacket and a bike helmet would probably wear off quickly. You're probably right about soft pedaling to keep the sweat off, and a little wrap skirt might just do the trick. Thanks again, everybody.

I was going to go to evening service, and just remembered to check the time, it starts at 7:00PM, D'oh

My wife, who is out of town, and I attend a kinda downtownish Baptist Church, that holds about 2500, the parking lot, holds maybe 40 cars, it's also near a subway stop. From home it's ~12km each way, I plan on trying it, at least once this summer. Across from my work is a huge commuter church, Pentacostal, seats about 2000, has a parking lot big enough for about 700 SUVs..... It's near a highway, and on the other side of that highway, is one of the poorest, crime ridden areas, in the city.

As for the neon jacket and helmet, leave your helmet and jacket in the cloakroom. If you have a bike rack, use a large bag on the rack with the skirt and whatever else you need. Maybe use a cologne spray to ward off the sweat demon.

Yep,

14 miles each way. But church is very casual. I wear a respectable looking pair of Mtn bike shorts. My biggest peeve is not in how I look, but sitting for an hour in padded bike shorts.

-D

When you ride your bike to church, where do you lock it?

As for driving to church, doesn't the Bible say to be in one Accord?

I go to mass by bike all the time, because I have no car, and it's pretty hilly where I live, too. I just wear a pair of jeans and ride a hybrid and show up as I am. (Personally, I think the whole spandex thing is sort of silly, it's a bike, not the friggin' Olympics.) Somehow, I don't think God minds jeans all that much, and no one else, not even the ladies clutching rosaries, has called me on it, so I guess it's okay...

Maybe you can get a bike gang together and all ride in, I sense being the only might make you stick out.
I get that all the time since I live in an autocentric sity.

This is a strange read for me seing all of your locations. I live in Alabama and I thought the Southern Baptists invented the 'commuter church'. Interesting name for it BTW, we just refer to them as Six Flags Over Jesus or when there are two close together, The Immaculate Intersection.

I heard an interview this AM on Interfaith Voices (NPR) with a guy who wrote a book about the evangelical movement, comparing it to fascism, he made several interesting points, about these churches being about a cult of personality centered around the preachers and how they indoctrinate new members much like cults do. Very interesting stuff, i may go to their site and get the name of that book.

Biking is church.

This is a strange read for me seing all of your locations. I live in Alabama and I thought the Southern Baptists invented the 'commuter church'. Interesting name for it BTW, we just refer to them as Six Flags Over Jesus or when there are two close together, The Immaculate Intersection.

:roflmao: "Six Flags Over Jesus" is excellent! :roflmao:

I ride my bike to several churches actually. My wife and I are looking for a new one since we moved recently, but they are all within 2 miles with no hills.

Many of the churches around here have shuttle buses or vans that pick people up at home. But I think riding would be more convenient and more fun. "The Lord won't mind."

You can always ride in street clothes. many of us do it all the time. See the Attire (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=288310) thread.

When the wife and kids take the car out of town for the weekend, I bike a couple of miles to attend church. (Our usual church is about four times further away.) I ride in suit pants, dress shirt and tennis shoes. I put on the coat, tie & dress shoes when I arrive.

I'm an atheist. Don't go to church (or mosque, or synagogue, or temple, for that matter) :p

No Way!! I have to be in a dress to go to church! And a car!!

Maybe you can get a bike gang together and all ride in, I sense being the only might make you stick out.
I get that all the time since I live in an autocentric sity.

Actually, at my church (a Mennonite Church) there is a guy who preaches there from time to time, and every time he is at church (pretty much every Sunday) he is wearing his leather biker (motorcycle) gear, even when he preaches (he's got his beard shaved like one of them walrus mustaches, like the Kind Paul Sr. has on American chopper). Nobody seems to mind him dressing like this at all. He may have drawn some stares at first (It sticks in my mind he used to dress more cowboy like when I was a wee boy), but it probably didn't take long for people to get used to him. Heck, I'm pretty sure his wife dresses similarly at church as well.

This fellow is also part of a Christian Motorcycle Gang/Club/Whatever-its-called (he may be the guy in charge. I don't know). Comes to church on his Harley...

So, yeah. I don't think that you can really be irreverent in what you wear coming to church (well, maybe you can be if you really try). Yeah. Just my two cents worth.

Well, I'm going to let you in on a secret. Jesus probably would have been much more sweaty and stinky coming to the temple or synagogue than you are, and I really doubt that he would take an extra change of clothes with him (heck, he probably didn't even have an extra change of clothes). The whole idea of having to wear your Sunday best and attract the right people to church is waaay over rated. You certainly won't be offending God in the least showing up at church wearing spandex or slightly sweaty clothing. (Heck, at my church, we often have a police officer show up in full uniform, gun and all).

I will raise the one issue I would have with someone wearing spandex in church: If you are a woman (which your user name suggests you may be), wearing spandex will emphasize your curves, and as a man, I can tell you it would likely be difficult for other men not to stare and lust and maintain a sexually pure mind. So in this situation, it wouldn't be a bad idea to bring a casual set of clothes that you can slip overtop upon arrival. That is my only issue. Even then, spandex probably won't be any worse than what many women wear to church in this regards.

But yeah, as for being sweaty or any of that, I don't think it matters. Some people might be mildly offended, but if you look in the New Testament, Jesus' seemingly irreverant attitudes and actions towards religious establishments and the like regularly offended the religious folk. So I would try not to worry about it. Bike to church to your hearts content!

Yes, I agree. God wants your soul not your apperance. So ride safe and don't worry about the "small"
stuff just get there. To worry about how you smell or look is to be a "Sunday" Christian....phoney.

Thanks for the input, everybody.
Good Lord, don't get me started on the Commuter Church. The first one I've ever seen here in Oregon was built about three? years ago, and it's the most atrocious thing I've ever seen. The parking lot is bigger than Costco's, and it actually has "street" signs named "Corinthians" and "Thessalonians." :-p It is a ginormous edifice. As a Catholic, I have nothing against ginormous edifi, but I do demand that they be tasteful and not look like some kind of WASP-only shopping mall. }:-|
Wogsterca has a great point about the potential community value of religious meeting-places. The expansion trend has really impoverished the community aspect of faith.
As far as no one caring that I smell, I find that related to the point about wearing spandex. I don't want to be a distraction. I'm sure I wouldn't be for very long; the novelty of a neon jacket and a bike helmet would probably wear off quickly. You're probably right about soft pedaling to keep the sweat off, and a little wrap skirt might just do the trick. Thanks again, everybody.

I agree. I'm disgusted by the enormous environmental footprints of Megachurchs, (excuse me "Worship Centers") - and they have as much value to the community as a Walmart. These fortresses surrounded by seas of asphalt are no different whatsoever than the shopping centers we despise for their lack of design consideration.

From my observations the old brick churches downtown, and the inner city churches run out of abandoned grocery stores and strip malls do far more for their neighborhoods and people in them than the afore mentioned monstrosities.

And their leaders seem to wind up in bed with gay hookers less frequently.

if i went to church i would ride because driving is a sin

Many churches have a dressing room where the choir and clergy put on special vestments for the church service. Why not just keep a change of clothing in said dressing room, and change into it when you arrive? Something simple but dignified. That's what I do, I have to ride 16 mi one-way to temple, so no way am I wearing street clothes for that.

My church is hosting a car free Sunday for Earth Day Sunday. Our pastor actually developed part of her sermon into ideas of commuting to church and neighborhood errands without using a car. She requested that if we must use a car, to at least car pool. She actually bikes to church often as well. We have a shower in our fellowship hall that welcomed to anyone. Our church as a whole is very environmentally conscious. I have already been biking to church lately. But the cool thing is, in June, I will be moving across the street from our church. This new location will allow me to be centrally located to just about everything in my town. It is going to be nice.

I ride ~23 miles to church every Sunday that I can. I usually just slip my Sunday "best" over top of my cycling clothes. In the summer/warm weather, when you can get a little disgusting on the way there, take a little rubbing alcohol with you. Before you stick on your Sunday best, do a quick wipe with the alcohol. It is actually quite refreshing and definitely removes the "disgusting" factor. As for the rain and snow, I usually end up taking the four-wheeled vehicle. I haven't figured out a way around having to get there early, but I have gotten quite fast at changing....

I just wear bike clothes (not spandex, normally) and carry my church clothes in my backpack, exactly like I do when I ride to work.

I change in a bathroom, and it has worked out pretty well so far.

In our most recent local weekly paper, there's an article about several people in our area leading conservation efforts, including one retired pastor who's endured mild controversy over his contention that churches encourage wasteful energy expenditure (large buildings that are largely unused a good portion of each week). He himself had been biking to services, if I remember the article correctly, since the 80s.

I, not a follower of any organized religion, attended Easter mass recently, since my sister was getting baptized as part of her conversion to Catholicism (she's getting married). I was the only family member able to attend, as the rest of my family lives too far away, so it was really important I be there. Fortunately, the church is close to my house, so arriving all sweaty was not an issue (and it was unseasonably cold, too). My parents called expressing their concern that I was biking, afraid I would get into an accident or encounter some other delay, messing up my "Sunday best". I suspect they were just as concerned about the image of me showing up on a bike, while everyone else would be arriving in their cars. Happily, I arrived unscathed at the church to discover they had a bike rack prominently in front (and not hidden in back, like I've seen at some churches). Of the hundreds that showed up, I was the lone cyclist. I actually enjoyed the attention I was getting, dressed to the nines with a messenger bag slung over my shoulder, clutching a bike helmet.

I was saddened (but hardly surprised) to see that James Dobson, the "pope" of the evangelicals and Jerry "the Ayatollah" Falwell are calling for the ouster of the Rev. Richard Cizik. They want to excommunicate Cizik because of his "preoccupation" with global warming and his call for Christians to be better stewards of the environment. I hope that there aren't any repercussions to people who ride their bikes to church.

Link (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/marchweb-only/109-53.0.html)

Wont's be much of a problem for me. Church of Christ is rather separate from all that infighting.

I was saddened (but hardly surprised) to see that James Dobson, the "pope" of the evangelicals and Jerry "the Ayatollah" Falwell are calling for the ouster of the Rev. Richard Cizik. They want to excommunicate Cizik because of his "preoccupation" with global warming and his call for Christians to be better stewards of the environment. I hope that there aren't any repercussions to people who ride their bikes to church.

Link (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/marchweb-only/109-53.0.html)

Hey, if a church want's to kick me out, for riding a bike to services, then I'll move on. Mine will get it's chance today, although the last time I rode to church, the Pastor was impressed, along with a few others, and it was much further away.

#pragma tongue-in-cheek=on

James Dobson and Jerry Falwell are following the 65,538th commandment which is thou shalt wear a wool suit and tie or a mid length dress with a high collar to church, no matter what the weather conditions or temperature. If your going to wear a wool suit on a summer day, you better have the SUVs AC set to 11. Of course cyclists and people who take transit to church are ignoring the 65,538th commandment, and this is a serious sin, certainly more serious they say Gluttony, eh Dr. Falwell.

#pragma tongue-in-cheek=off

** edited to fix a couple of mistakes, that's what I get for typing while under sleep impairment**

I do as Big Tommy. I bring a change of clothes in my panniers and just change in the bathroom. A small towel, deodorant and perhaps some body spray normally takes care of most situations and I feel completely comfortable during the service.

GreenAnvil
-completely car-less in Colorado Springs-

I bike to my church.. it's only 2 miles away! :) It's the Vineyard X-Treme church in Lomita. It's pretty casual there, so I can bike in jeans and sneakers or even sandals and a nice t-shirt. However, if I'm playing bass for worship, I would drive. I am looking into purchase a soft case for my bass so I can bike to worship rehearsal and church.... :D
http://www.vxusa.com

yes...and then as far away from it as possible.

I was saddened (but hardly surprised) to see that James Dobson, the "pope" of the evangelicals and Jerry "the Ayatollah" Falwell are calling for the ouster of the Rev. Richard Cizik. They want to excommunicate Cizik because of his "preoccupation" with global warming and his call for Christians to be better stewards of the environment. I hope that there aren't any repercussions to people who ride their bikes to church.

Link (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/marchweb-only/109-53.0.html)

You cannot be excommunicated from a protestant demonination.

this week I am going to a new church..I spotted a nice place to lock my bike(back entrance)..and its only a mile half away.flat. I just pedally lightly and be fresh..And I don't care who knows!

You cannot be excommunicated from a protestant demonination.

Not entirely correct. It is possible to be excommunicated from the Lutheran church, which is a Protestant denomination, according to what I learned in confirmation class (yes, I still remember quite a bit of it). Not sure how often it happens though--I've never personally heard of a case, just remember learning that it is possible but is an absolute last resort.

BTW, hats off to the poster who rides 23 miles each way to church! How long does that take? My church is unfortunately about 30 miles from where I live so I pretty much have to drive there (I'm not totally car-free, just trying to get into the habit of using the appropriate vehicle, which is often the bike, for any given trip).

Yes, I agree. God wants your soul not your apperance. So ride safe and don't worry about the "small"
stuff just get there. To worry about how you smell or look is to be a "Sunday" Christian....phoney.

Generally true, but there are still some things to think about as far as being respectful in how you dress (i.e. dress modestly so you're not making it hard for the opposite sex to concentrate and avoid thinking lustful thoughts; I was also brought up to not dress sloppily for church and still don't feel right if I am in something very casual). That said, I agree with the person you quoted who said the whole dressing-up thing often goes too far--you're not there to impress everyone else. To the OP, Spandex probably would be a distraction, but who needs it anyway? Just wear regular clothes that you can comfortably ride in, and maybe get there a bit early so you can go in the bathroom and wipe down to get rid of most of the sweat if you're concerned about offending anyone's olfactory sensibilities.

I attend a charismatic church. I do ride to church occasionally, and wheel the bike into the lobby and park it in the office section. It's about 10 miles round trip. My wife, a non-biker, usually passes me on the road on the way to church, and she crowds me off the road. My church is somewhat unique. The pastor's wife, once a month, brings in a box of poisonous snakes, and she kisses each of them on the lips. Hasn't been bitten yet! She is a good looking woman. Wish I was a snake.

I just wear a suit, though I usually take the coat off and put it in a backpack. When I get where I'm going, I just wipe the sweat off my face with a handkerchief and take the rubber bands off my ankles and the helmet off my head. Even if I'm sweaty, it takes a few hours for the bacteria on my skin to start producing foul odors. (Before that, it's just the scent of the great outdoors. ;)

The pastor's wife, once a month, brings in a box of poisonous snakes, and she kisses each of them on the lips. Hasn't been bitten yet! She is a good looking woman. Wish I was a snake.

Another good reason to always carry a patch kit.

I'm trying to go seriously car-lite these days. Mostly, this is pretty convenient, but I've found one place for which it isn't yet - church. Here's the thing: it's 5 miles to one parish, including two significant hills just before I arrive. It's closer to 8 miles to the other, and once again it's hilly. I don't want to be all disgusting when I get there, and frequently it rains, but for a one-hour Mass it seems sort of overkill to drag along a whole change of clothes, get there early enough to change into it, then change again and go home. On the other hand, it seems highly inappropriate to wear spandex in church! Does anyone else bike to church? How do you make it work?


Get an electric bike as a secondary bike. You can use it on those days when you don't want to sweat or are too tired.

You cannot be excommunicated from a protestant demonination.

You can be excommunicated from the Presbyterian Church too (little known fact, but my father was a pastor who was excommunicated--long story). If I ever make it to church, which is rare, I wear my riding skirt (picked it up for $1 at a thrift store, better to ride in than spandex, in my opinion) and let them deal with my sweatiness. :)

Lots of good comments here. My wife and I are "church shopping" right now since we moved recently. Fortunately for us we live in a town with a church on every corner so finding one within bike range for the whole family is a non issue, but acceptance is a big one. I am willing to conform and dress nice if that is the cultural norm for that church, but, ironically, they would have to be willing to accept me if I showed up wrapped in 8 layers of discarded clothing and stinking of booze.

You can be excommunicated from the Presbyterian Church too (little known fact, but my father was a pastor who was excommunicated--long story). If I ever make it to church, which is rare, I wear my riding skirt (picked it up for $1 at a thrift store, better to ride in than spandex, in my opinion) and let them deal with my sweatiness. :)


This must just be some presbyterian churches. I went to a presbyterian school from 1-10th grade and never heard of this.