Living Car Free - Carfree suggestions for females

When I'm commuting, I dress like a cyclist for the commute, then change when I get to work. After all, who would want to wear the same clothes you rode your bicycle in all day at work (ewww!).

Eh. You get used to it. I commute in 90+ degree heat every day and I don't smell or anything, I'm just sweat wet for a little while. They dry and the clothes are none the worse for wear. Since I have to carry all of my books, notebooks, shoes, food, and sometimes a laptop to class/work I don't add extra weight to my back if I can help it.

I also wear skirts whenever I can. I look hot as hell on my fixed gear when I do. Not gonna lie. ;)

Hey purplebike, do you know Ryan Salisbury? He's down here in Pensacola, I think hes from NC.

Eh. You get used to it. I commute in 90+ degree heat every day and I don't smell or anything, I'm just sweat wet for a little while.

Mmm-hmmm. R-I-G-H-T.

Do you have any really good friends who can be brutally honest with you ... or are your friends the type who won't tell you that you've got broccoli in your teeth or your fly undone? It's a rare person who does not smell when they get off the bicycle ... especially in 90+ degree heat. It's just that we cannot smell our own smells, so we might think we smell just fine when we don't.

she smells natural. not like a bunch of perfume and deodorant. maybe it's just a punk thing to be used to smelly kids.

she smells natural. not like a bunch of perfume and deodorant. maybe it's just a punk thing to be used to smelly kids.
haha word.

There's nothing wrong with smelling like sweat. It doesn't stink, it just smells like... sweat.

Now, a body odor after a long, hot day on the bike, that's a different story. But the kind of riding i do, and i imagine the op's gal pal does, probably not too stinky.

Sometimes I wear exercise clothes while riding my bike, like when I'm on my way to work, because I have to change when I get there anyway - I don't like getting my office clothes sweaty or getting chain grease on my good pants (yes, I know I should clean my chain more often!). But a lot of the time if I'm just wearing jeans and a t-shirt and doing something casual, like going to the store or the bar or whatever, I bike in casual street clothes. I know a lot of people who do this on a daily basis. I don't think they stink and I'm pretty sure I don't.

From jakbikes' description of his friend as a hippie surfer type who's wanting to rig up her bike on her surfboard, I'm guessing she's a casual clothes kind of girl.

Hah! Her bike on her surfboard! Now that would be a thing to see.

I meant her surfboard on her bike.

I lol'ed! we were talking today about if it would be possible to take your bike on a kayak somehow?? Anyone done this? And you're not reading it wrong, I said " bike on the kayak"

I lol'ed! we were talking today about if it would be possible to take your bike on a kayak somehow?? Anyone done this? And you're not reading it wrong, I said " bike on the kayak"

As an avid kayaker and bicyclist, I can tell you simply: no. Small sailboat yes, absolutely, I've done it a couple of times. But it's just not gonna happen with a kayak, not even with a folding bike.

To the question "Is it more dangerous to ride than to drive?"
I would say it depends. The car has an enclosure that offers additional protection; on the other hand, it usually has to be parked in a large parking lot. So the added safety concerns of the bike ride are offset by the lesser safety concerns of the parking situation. And again, it depends on the length of the ride vs the car or bike parking situation at both ends.


Regarding "Harassment"

Although not easy to do, one should differentiate between rude/impolite statements vs actual harassment. I have the feeling there is much less of it than there was 20 or 25 years ago. But maybe it's because I'm 48 and don't work or deal with teenagers and young adults anymore. I would like to think that society has evolved for the better, but I am not too sure of that.

What woman in her right mind would wear a skirt on a bicycle?!?!?!? :eek: :eek: This is NOT 1907 it is 2007 ... we women wear cycling gear just like the guys do!!...


I don't remember the numbers, but when you do, you ride a very long commute. Those of us who cycle shorter distances, or who cycle at a more gentle pace or who don't deal with huge hills are usually perfectly ok with street clothing.

I'm having trouble getting past this statement: "like with skirts" ..........


What woman in her right mind would wear a skirt on a bicycle?!?!?!? :eek: :eek: This is NOT 1907 it is 2007 ... we women wear cycling gear just like the guys do!!




Over the last month I went cycling with my daughter (19) several times. I would say that about half the time she wore light skirts. It was over 30c and I expect that she was right when she said that they were cooler. (She is now back in the states so I expect that I will not be seeing her for about another year)

What woman in her right mind would wear a skirt on a bicycle?!?!?!? :eek: :eek: This is NOT 1907 it is 2007 ... we women wear cycling gear just like the guys do!!
Well, I've always wondered whether or not I was in my right mind, but now there is no doubt. ;)

Speaking as a woman who does A LOT of cycling in a lot of different places, over a lot of different types of roads, at all hours of the day and night, etc.

-- I ride like a vehicle of the road ... obeying all the rules of the road as itemized in the highway traffic acts, and city traffic laws, etc. Know your laws! This is VERY important if you want to be respected out there. It can also help to save your life ... if the drivers of motorize vehicles can predict what you are going to do next, they are less likely to run you over.

-- I ride all sorts of different roads from quiet country lanes to busy highways, from residential streets to congested downtown roads. (not saying I necessarily enjoy all types of roads, but I ride them) By riding all sorts of different roads you gain experience in knowing and understanding the traffic on those roads.

-- I avoid bike paths whenever possible, only using them in two circumstances: 1) when I have no other choice; 2) when I feel the urge to ride at an extremely slow pace, walking occasionally when there are other people on the path. Bike paths are generally dangerous places ... not only because of the variety of activities taking place on them (walking, cycling, roller blading, etc.) but also because most bike paths I've been on have sections which go through heavily forested areas (trees, tall thick shrubs, or whatever), and often these trees etc. are right next to the path. The path planners and maintainers rarely clear them back several metres like they should. People can hide in those trees ... and if you're cycling along there, you could be grabbed.

-- I pull over and stop (or walk) on occasion to let motorized traffic have the right-of-way in situations where I know I am (or will be) holding up traffic, or when I feel it is safer to get out of the way of the larger motorized traffic.

-- I wear the same type of cycling gear as male cyclists do. In fact, several of my jerseys are men's jerseys. I wear my hair back in a braid so it isn't obviously long at a casual glance. I wear my helmet, and gloves, and cycling shoes I can run and walk in as well as cycle.

-- On my long rides, I carry pepper spray and my cell phone (as much as I hate them, I can see how they can have a purpose).

-- I let people know where I'm going and approx. how long I'll be gone.

-- If you are going to be riding at dawn, dusk, or in the middle of the night (all of which I do), wear reflective gear and get good lights

-- If you are going to be riding in an area with heavy traffic, do not wear ear buds or headphones. Learn to listen ... my ears have saved me on more than one occasion.


Funny how everyone focussed on the skirt part of my comments, and not on the practical part of my comments! See above


Whether you wear a skirt or not (and I still cannot see wearing a skirt while cycling ... unless, of course, you're a hutterite and are required to do so) stay safe out there!! And don't get your skirt caught in the chain! :D

Tips for females? always keep some pain meds in your bag. I've had cramps start suddenly and I wouldn't have been able to get home if I wasn't carrying something to help me.

Tips for females? always keep some pain meds in your bag. I've had cramps start suddenly and I wouldn't have been able to get home if I wasn't carrying something to help me.
+100.

Really good advice there Machka. Not wanting to belabour the skirt thing, but I often wear long skirts while riding my vintage ladies bikes and I find that a simple device based around lead fishing sinkers and a largish safety pin works wonders for a skirt that wants to climb up one's legs.
Footware is really important and I always wear my well broken in lightweight hiking boots when I'm on my bike. Apart from being sensible because I'm living in a rural district I can both walk and run in my boots - and no doubt inflict nasty injuries with them as well if I had to. When I was studying Tang Sou Dao (Kung Fu) before my doctor made me give it up, my teacher (who was a married woman with kids) emphasized that trying to kick a man in the groin is almost always a mistake and that you can do far more crippling damage if you aim your attacks from the knee down.
Just as an aside while my doctor was horrified that I was studying a Kung Fu style (I have CFS/ME and I managed to bring on a relapse on myself), she had no problem with me continuing to practice Tai Chi. Tai Chi is of course a martial art and not merely an exercise form, BUT it is much more gentle on the body to learn and has benefits in improving balance and general health and wellbeing. Pretty much anybody can do Tai Chi which makes it far more accessible than the 'wham, bam, pow' martial art styles.
Because of my illness I often carry a walking stick clipped onto my bike and I must say a nice stout wooden walking stick is far more useful for fending off dog attacks than any bicycle tyre pump could ever be. Recently I had a pair of wastes-of-space attempt to set their mongrel of a dog on me as I was riding past, but they very quickly hauled him back by the collar when my response was to reach for my walking stick and pull if free of the securing clips.
We aren't allowed to have pepper spray here in NZ unfortunately, - more's the pity since there's a lot of people running around loose who should've been drowned at birth. :mad:

From some things. Although they can get to you even if your doors are locked, it takes some doing, and you are more likely to be able to floor the accellerator and get away than on a bike. At least that is the perception.

As a woman, I feel very safe at night on a bike. A bike is very maneuverable and so if you feel endangered by a weirdo in a car you can easily get somewhere that a car can't go. You can easily speed past a crazy on foot. If I spot someone that makes me nervous at a deserted intersection after dark I will run the red (if there is no traffic).

I think the only thing really to be wary about is getting a flat at night. Always good to have a backup plan, a cellphone to call someone or a taxi if needed. Even being experienced to change a flat, sometimes there are areas you might not want to stop to change one in.

And lastly a personal question for my reference as a carfree lifer. I ride a fixed gear everywhere, so I have no problem with traffic, but if I ride my bigger utility bike( a GT with rack and panniers) I have trouble b/c we have no bike lanes here, and rarely large comfortable shoulders either. How or where do you ride if you have a bike with wider handlebars or a trailer behind you when there are no bike lanes, shoulders, and usually no sidewalks as well??

What are the traffic speeds of the roads you are riding on? For urban roads at urban speeds, (typically 50 kph here .. just over 30 mph) I just take up the space I need. If the lane is not wide enough to share I don't give drivers the impression they can - I ride in the middle of the lane. Occasionally this causes some grief "what do you think you are a car?" but its mostly harmless. A rearview mirror is useful for distinguishing the harmless honkers from the homicidal types.

For higher speed roads (busy suburban and rural roads where traffic is travelling 80 kph and up...) its nice if the lanes are wide enough to share. If not I'm a bit nervous taking the lane if the sight lines are not excellent.

I usually try to ride just inside the white line. Cars usually give me enough room, and trucks usually don't. But the room I take is just enough. The lanes around here are usually wide enough but drivers like to take space alot of times. Pensacola is just a different kinda of city.

Mmm-hmmm. R-I-G-H-T.

Do you have any really good friends who can be brutally honest with you ... or are your friends the type who won't tell you that you've got broccoli in your teeth or your fly undone? It's a rare person who does not smell when they get off the bicycle ... especially in 90+ degree heat. It's just that we cannot smell our own smells, so we might think we smell just fine when we don't.


I do the same thing, and I have people who will jump on me for ANYTHING non hygenic in a heartbeat, they are absolutely BRUTAL, including my girlfriend, and several buddies at work.

And they have all exclaimed several times.. "I cannot BELIEVE you dont smell!" after sweaty rides on hot days.

/shrug.

I'm having trouble getting past this statement: "like with skirts" ..........


What woman in her right mind would wear a skirt on a bicycle?!?!?!? :eek: :eek: This is NOT 1907 it is 2007 ... we women wear cycling gear just like the guys do!!


OK, now that I've got that out of my system ...



My wife does quite often. She finds they are more comfortable for her on our shorter rides. I know of another lady that not only rides in a skirt but also in a heeled shoe, and by riding I mean 35+ miles at a time on an upright 3 speed. She does it with great regularity. To each their own.

Aaron:)

My wife does quite often. She finds they are more comfortable for her on our shorter rides. I know of another lady that not only rides in a skirt but also in a heeled shoe, and by riding I mean 35+ miles at a time on an upright 3 speed. She does it with great regularity. To each their own.

Aaron:)

I've seen pictures from the Netherlands and Denmark of Dutch and Danish ladies riding dressed like that. I've also seen pictures from Scotland of men riding in kilts. (It is called a 'kilt' because calling it a dress is a good way to get yourself kilt!)

I'm having trouble getting past this statement: "like with skirts" ..........


What woman in her right mind would wear a skirt on a bicycle?!?!?!? This is NOT 1907 it is 2007 ... we women wear cycling gear just like the guys do!!


OK, now that I've got that out of my system ...

Here's some pictures of Dutch women wearing skirts while riding a bicycle......

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/1087/womanskirtonbikebm8.jpg

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/1271/womanskirtonbike2xp3.jpg

When it comes to using a bicycle for transport I want to be able to set off wearing clothes I feel comfortable in - and when I arrive I don't want to have to muck about changing my clothes and being paranoid over whether or not I'm commiting the sin of actually smelling like a human being. I live with an illness so I have to be very careful with my diet and the spin-off from that is that I don't smell bad when I sweat. I ride ether my Hercules 3 speed roadster bicycle or my Hercules roadster based tricycle as my everyday transport and I find them supremely comfortable and relaxed to ride. I think I could go pretty much anywhere I pleased on a roadster bicycle. I do own a genuine 1942 one family owned Dutch bicycle which is absolutely superb, but I've decided not to ride it anymore until I can undertake a proper restoration as its wheels need a total rebuild.
I'm really looking forward to the day when the last drop of petrol is either gone or too expensive to use as a fuel for personal transport. Perhaps then we will see the human race coming to its senses and thinking in terms of local community based transport, agriculture, employment and housing.

That Mule carrier is perfect! thanks for the link.

I would love to get a dutchbike myself, but they're wicked expensive.

true, to some degree, but i'm biased. :)
the higher spec'd dutch bikes are about as expensive as the interest payments for a car, or one year of fuel for an SUV...

i think going car-free can make life cheaper... but i'd still spend $$ on good gear. in the end you'll probably still have $$ left over.

ya I definitely do live more simply than most of my peers. But I don't work a full time job. Most of my money goes to my rent and food, and some for school loan payments. My biggest splurges are on coffee and every once in awhile a new bike part. I've been so tempted lately to buy a Raleigh frame from my friend and build another fixed gear. But I'd rather pennypinch for a little while longer so later on I can travel.

It's a rare person who does not smell when they get off the bicycle ... especially in 90+ degree heat.
As far as i know sweat doesn't smell the instant it comes out of your body, it takes some time. So i'm sure if i take a shower before i leave, and don't spend more than an hour on the bike, i won't smell when i get off. Later that day probably, but not right away.

I sweat on my way to work and during work for 6hrs. I get these weird salt deposits on my shirts from the sweat. That's what I don't like about sweating.

I guess I just have a high salt content in my sweat.

My wife does quite often. She finds they are more comfortable for her on our shorter rides. I know of another lady that not only rides in a skirt but also in a heeled shoe, and by riding I mean 35+ miles at a time on an upright 3 speed. She does it with great regularity. To each their own.

Lots of people, me included, tend to notice when someone wears high heels on a bicycle. Which is really pretty amusing considering the fact that the heel of a shoe has next to no effect on bicycling. I think I might ride with my heel closer to the pedal than most people, and my heel is still completely off the pedal.

Lots of people, me included, tend to notice when someone wears high heels on a bicycle. Which is really pretty amusing considering the fact that the heel of a shoe has next to no effect on bicycling. I think I might ride with my heel closer to the pedal than most people, and my heel is still completely off the pedal.

I agree that it has little to no affect on the actual bicycle riding itself. But it is an interesting phenomenon none the less. I have ridden toe clip bicycles for years, so even on the rubber block pedals I have a tendency to place the ball of my foot over the pedal axle.

Aaron:)

Riding a bike is just about the only way I can wear high heels for long periods of time. :o You've got to be careful, though. If you wear platforms, you will have to raise your seat if you don't want your knees to ache.

I use something similar to this (different brand) to carry my surfboard 18 miles from one end of the island to the other and I've never had a problem with it.

http://www.essentialsurf.com/ikorb.php?func=catalog&category_id=79&product_id=325

Although the topic of this thread has wandered a bit, I feel a need to comment regarding sweat... I commute 20 miles or so to work, and have to wear a suit almost everyday. I put my riding gear on, which is reflective, and take a main road where the speed limit ranges from 35-55 (Route 1 actually, you may have heard of it).

Anyways, I sweat a lot, AND I refuse to wear deodorant/anti-persperant (sp) - my work has showers, true, but to be honest, your sweat doesn't stink - it's your body odor after the sweat is dry and caked on, and the sweat in your now dirty clothes that causes the stink. All you have to do is towel off and change into clean clothes, seems to work fine for me everyday. One of my best friends works with me and he hasn't said anything - and I know him well enough that he would if there was an issue.

Now, Jackie (I presume from Jak) it sounds like your friend is looking for something with a bit more speed, probably a compact geometry or WSD. Hybrids can be decent, but get one with 700c wheels, some have 26" and you'll go about 9 inches shorter with a 26 vs. 28 per pedal stroke (if I remember correctly).

I personally like the 7.x line and the Sirrus line (Specialized) the Sirrus especially is really basically just a flat-bar road bike, save the shifters because of the flat bars. The Sirrus starts at 500 at most shops, or with a carbon fork and stays 700 - the 500 is probably what she's going to spend on a hybrid anyways.

I've never had a problem with Traffic, I live near DC and go to school in Richmond and both places have horrid drivers (although both see bikes often). Some of your comments though make me feel like you're riding a 39 x 16. For instance, if you're commuting to class I can see why you wouldn't wear "all the gear" as I never do, but for longer rides you can always get some shorts with the chamois built in, or even some tri-shorts to wear under your normal clothes.

EDIT:

Also, regarding your sweaty hot salty self - be sure to shower as soon as you can, and avoid wearing those shirts a second time (I know how hard it is to resist combatwoundedveteran). If not, you'll end up with spots on your body that look like you sunburned in a weird way - in actuality this is a fungal infection. Some cream will clear it up, but it's best to simply avoid that all together.

No I'm not Jackie. JAK are my initials. Jeremy if you must.
My friend has settled on a '08 Trek FX 7.2 WSD. She should be getting it in a week or so. We have friends that can make a surfboard rack, so we'll use that option for now. Maybe I can get a good trailer made, hmm.

At work I push carts around for Target out in the hot sun, so I sweat before and during work. I have a high salt content in my sweat, so I get these crazy white salt rings on my shirts and hats. But I usually don't smell. If I do it's understandable because I'm just the cart attendant. No showers at work.

I'm from Springfield, VA. where are you from Idig?

No I'm not Jackie. JAK are my initials. Jeremy if you must.
My friend has settled on a '08 Trek FX 7.2 WSD. She should be getting it in a week or so. We have friends that can make a surfboard rack, so we'll use that option for now. Maybe I can get a good trailer made, hmm.

At work I push carts around for Target out in the hot sun, so I sweat before and during work. I have a high salt content in my sweat, so I get these crazy white salt rings on my shirts and hats. But I usually don't smell. If I do it's understandable because I'm just the cart attendant. No showers at work.

I'm from Springfield, VA. where are you from Idig?

Definitely understandable to get sweaty being a cart attendant. All I can suggest is to just shower when you get home and wash the clothes. When I first started riding I wore my bibs and jersey over and over without washing them (I'm in college, the smell test did just fine) - I ended up with these strange polka-dots on my body, which turned out to be a fungal infection - GROSS. I applied this cream for like a week and now I'm back to normal - shoop da woop!

I actually live in Woodbridge and work in Springfield - I work at Olde Towne Bicycles in Woodbridge, but I go through Springfield to get in the HOV. Although I work at a shop, sometimes I still go into Performance to try and suck up enough courage to ask one of the females out for coffee. I actually left a missed connection on Craig's List but that didn't go anywhere.

Richmond Sunday!

No I'm not Jackie. JAK are my initials. Jeremy if you must.
My friend has settled on a '08 Trek FX 7.2 WSD. She should be getting it in a week or so. We have friends that can make a surfboard rack, so we'll use that option for now. Maybe I can get a good trailer made, hmm.


oooh! Did she get the black and pink, or the blue? I have the black and pink one, love that bike!

No the new one is like a teal color or aquamarine if you will. It's really pretty. They dont have it up on the Trek site yet.

Yeah I saw that one at the bike shop the other day. I thought the only one available was the black, but the blue one is new this year.

New bikes are so fun and exciting! I think she will love it.

she already does. Can't wait to get her hands, feet, and butt on it!

Now I gotta show her how to change a flat.
oh, what are some essential things I should teach her in her first few months of being car free. She can ride a bike just fine, but things like flats, and repairs take time to learn. So what techniques should I show her?

-changing a tire.
-?
-?

To start, everyone should know:

-Changing a tube
-Picking up a dropped chain (i know it seems like common sense but you'd be shocked how many people don't know how to deal with this!)
-Safety check. Just a quick look-over of brakes, tires, drivetrain, and any basic adjustments that might need to be made. I do this every time i get on the bike.
-Fit adjustments, what to be mindful of and how to fix it. Like handlebar height, reach, saddle height/tilt, for a few. Sometimes it takes several rides to get the perfect and comfortable fit dialed in.

anything I forgot?

eta: oh, and emergency maneuvers like a quick stop, emergency tight turns, are also good to know for biking in traffic. I wish someone had shown me before I had to find out by trial and error. Knowing how to hop curbs and riding on stairs are helpful, but probably not necessary.

I'm curious as to why girls and boys might have different issues with being car-free. I think we all the same! :)

Hybrids can be decent, but get one with 700c wheels, some have 26" and you'll go about 9 inches shorter with a 26 vs. 28 per pedal stroke (if I remember correctly).

Just wanted to clear up your misconception about 700c vs 26" wheels. It is true that one revolution on a 700c wheel is slightly further than one revolution on a 26" wheel. What that means is that you will end up using a lower gear on the 700c such that you travel about the same distance per crank revolution. If you use the same gears it will take more effort to maintain the same rpm or you will end up pedaling at a slower rate. There is very little difference in speed between a 700c and a 26" hybrid.
Breezer bikes are excellent bikes for commuting or car free use. Trek hybrids are pretty nice bikes also once you get the accessories installed.
Craig