Wearing a dress on a bike is almost a subversive act......
#51
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I love mixtes. I seriously considered a SOMA Buena Vista before settling on my Achielle Oma. I'm 5'4" and found that mounting the mixte in a dress wasn't quite as...um...ladylike as it was on the loop frame. On the other hand, I do tend to be a klutz, so that was probably operator error rather than a problem with the bike!
I don't use a dress guard. My dresses are mostly knee-length and an A-line cut, so they really couldn't blow back and get caught in the spokes. My coats also are either waist-length or tailored closer to the body, so I don't see an issue there either.
The best trick I've picked up about wearing skirts and dresses is about how you stop them from flying up. This is super simple: you just clip a binder clip or two to the hem to weight it down. Works perfectly. You just have to remember to take the binder clips off when you get to work!
The best trick I've picked up about wearing skirts and dresses is about how you stop them from flying up. This is super simple: you just clip a binder clip or two to the hem to weight it down. Works perfectly. You just have to remember to take the binder clips off when you get to work!
And now, because I never pass up an opportunity to share a picture of Sassy, my bike, here she is:
[IMG]P1050728 by Giant Doofus, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]P1050728 by Giant Doofus, on Flickr[/IMG]
#52
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I love mixtes. I seriously considered a SOMA Buena Vista before settling on my Achielle Oma. I'm 5'4" and found that mounting the mixte in a dress wasn't quite as...um...ladylike as it was on the loop frame. On the other hand, I do tend to be a klutz, so that was probably operator error rather than a problem with the bike!
I don't use a dress guard. My dresses are mostly knee-length and an A-line cut, so they really couldn't blow back and get caught in the spokes. My coats also are either waist-length or tailored closer to the body, so I don't see an issue there either.
The best trick I've picked up about wearing skirts and dresses is about how you stop them from flying up. This is super simple: you just clip a binder clip or two to the hem to weight it down. Works perfectly. You just have to remember to take the binder clips off when you get to work!
And now, because I never pass up an opportunity to share a picture of Sassy, my bike, here she is:
[IMG]P1050728 by Giant Doofus, on Flickr[/IMG]
The best trick I've picked up about wearing skirts and dresses is about how you stop them from flying up. This is super simple: you just clip a binder clip or two to the hem to weight it down. Works perfectly. You just have to remember to take the binder clips off when you get to work!
And now, because I never pass up an opportunity to share a picture of Sassy, my bike, here she is:
[IMG]P1050728 by Giant Doofus, on Flickr[/IMG]
Lovely red bike! I love how it has lights and a full chain case.
I will probably round out my stable with a Papillionaire Sommer. It looks much like your very lovely red bike. Unless I can find a comparable 3 speed in purple.... they did sell these in purple but stopped. So I'll just get a black one... maybe.
#53
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my GF rides in a skirt/dress as that is all she likes to wear.
I bought her a very inexpensive skirt guard from ventura dress guard, they are adjustable and has been working well for a about a year now.
She also has a hair clip on her handlebars that is there to tame unruly skirts.
[IMG][/IMG]
Her favorite accessory is is the cup holder on her 1969 Schwinn Breeze Delux. She gets a lot more looks and comments than I do, I thought is was because of the classic bike
I bought her a very inexpensive skirt guard from ventura dress guard, they are adjustable and has been working well for a about a year now.
She also has a hair clip on her handlebars that is there to tame unruly skirts.
[IMG][/IMG]
Her favorite accessory is is the cup holder on her 1969 Schwinn Breeze Delux. She gets a lot more looks and comments than I do, I thought is was because of the classic bike
#54
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I've got one of those to install. Still on the fence, but I am thinking it is practical. Especially now that I switched from a wooden crate in the front to a basket.
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I wear fuller skirts and just tie them up with a hair clip or scrunchy. I keep both on my handlebars. Just attach on the side with the chain and go.
I will probably round out my stable with a Papillionaire Sommer. It looks much like your very lovely red bike. Unless I can find a comparable 3 speed in purple.... they did sell these in purple but stopped. So I'll just get a black one... maybe.
#56
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I am not a crochet person
run cordage laced from the hole to the ring , radially, to fill in the space and keep the fabric out of the spinning spoked wheel.
there are clear plastic pieces made by European bike companies as part of their features* .. bikes made to be ridden as transportation.
took a long time to be taken up in the states ... where to make the selling price attractive low , are stripped to the basics ..
but now that is becoming Fashionable the market may follow ..
* Coroplast sheet is used for Political Lawn signs , and so is free the day after the election. to make your own
paint or bumpersticker over the names and slogans on the stuff ..
Last edited by fietsbob; 06-18-14 at 12:10 PM.
#57
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I think I am not a crochet person! But definitely want to look into a corded skirt guard!
I saw a skirt garter, and thought it was a good idea. But the "commercial" one doesn't seem to be implemented very practically, so I think I will make my own! With a velcro or button to close it, so you don't have to pull it up your leg. That is great for seduction, not so great for riding around practically and making lots of stops! Will keep you all posted.
I like those bikes too! I think all of the Linus/Public/PApillionaire new school dutch bikes are my scene.
I saw a skirt garter, and thought it was a good idea. But the "commercial" one doesn't seem to be implemented very practically, so I think I will make my own! With a velcro or button to close it, so you don't have to pull it up your leg. That is great for seduction, not so great for riding around practically and making lots of stops! Will keep you all posted.
I like those bikes too! I think all of the Linus/Public/PApillionaire new school dutch bikes are my scene.
I never seriously considered a garter. I like things I can leave on the bike.
And same. I like a little elegance in a machine.
#58
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You would not believe how long the whole basket thing took for me. I wanted something with wood and metal. Unfortunately the porter racks were pricy and had big holes. And the Brooklyn Cruiser crate isn't compatible with my rack. I did have a killer wooden crate that i strapped on that I picked up at Marshalls, but some loser broke it trying to steal the crate. So I thought a basket was lower risk.
I never seriously considered a garter. I like things I can leave on the bike.
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Skirts and dresses aside, I am not particularly "girly." The crochet seems too look cute for other people. On me I feel like we crossed a little too far into Sandy from Greece.
You would not believe how long the whole basket thing took for me. I wanted something with wood and metal. Unfortunately the porter racks were pricy and had big holes. And the Brooklyn Cruiser crate isn't compatible with my rack. I did have a killer wooden crate that i strapped on that I picked up at Marshalls, but some loser broke it trying to steal the crate. So I thought a basket was lower risk.
Bike theft is pretty rampant in my city, I like stuff I can stash in my purse. I figure it wouldn't take up much space. And I already bring a little headband to keep my hair straight and safe from hemet hair.
You would not believe how long the whole basket thing took for me. I wanted something with wood and metal. Unfortunately the porter racks were pricy and had big holes. And the Brooklyn Cruiser crate isn't compatible with my rack. I did have a killer wooden crate that i strapped on that I picked up at Marshalls, but some loser broke it trying to steal the crate. So I thought a basket was lower risk.
Bike theft is pretty rampant in my city, I like stuff I can stash in my purse. I figure it wouldn't take up much space. And I already bring a little headband to keep my hair straight and safe from hemet hair.
What I do know is that most bike theft in my area is done by males, mostly younger. A guy on a bike with crochet anything on it is going to stick out like a sore thumb. I consider it, my rainbow stickers and slightly rude bumper sticker mentioning dicks (under the rear rack, mostly to protect the paint) as theft deterrent. Why would they take this bike, that is embarrassing kitted out, over a bike that is not? That plus two locks allow me to leave her outside along while I shop.
#60
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Oh, I'm not 'girly' either. Whatever that is supposed to mean. But, if you are wearing a dress on a bike, I think you already qualify a bit. LOL
What I do know is that most bike theft in my area is done by males, mostly younger. A guy on a bike with crochet anything on it is going to stick out like a sore thumb. I consider it, my rainbow stickers and slightly rude bumper sticker mentioning dicks (under the rear rack, mostly to protect the paint) as theft deterrent. Why would they take this bike, that is embarrassing kitted out, over a bike that is not? That plus two locks allow me to leave her outside along while I shop.
What I do know is that most bike theft in my area is done by males, mostly younger. A guy on a bike with crochet anything on it is going to stick out like a sore thumb. I consider it, my rainbow stickers and slightly rude bumper sticker mentioning dicks (under the rear rack, mostly to protect the paint) as theft deterrent. Why would they take this bike, that is embarrassing kitted out, over a bike that is not? That plus two locks allow me to leave her outside along while I shop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geIsWq5xOSE
I think I'd feel if I added the crochet to my step-thru bike, with a basket while wearing a dress. That's just too cliche!
*Thought it would be good to note the Trunk Bois are very active in our local Bike Coalition too. Scrapers (the cars) were tricked out cars in local slang...
#61
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I don't know so much in my city! We've got scraper bikes*.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geIsWq5xOSE
I think I'd feel if I added the crochet to my step-thru bike, with a basket while wearing a dress. That's just too cliche!
*Thought it would be good to note the Trunk Bois are very active in our local Bike Coalition too. Scrapers (the cars) were tricked out cars in local slang...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geIsWq5xOSE
I think I'd feel if I added the crochet to my step-thru bike, with a basket while wearing a dress. That's just too cliche!
*Thought it would be good to note the Trunk Bois are very active in our local Bike Coalition too. Scrapers (the cars) were tricked out cars in local slang...
The local hoodlums all ride BMXs. Those kids are the ones I worry about and those are the types of bikes I hear about growing legs on the local crime watch page. My nephew's faux BMX was stolen not too long ago. I have its replacement, a beat to crap BMX, in my kitchen, waiting for me to put the wheels back on.
Older guys ride mountain bikes for the most part. The few hipsters have butchered old ten speeds. My mixte really sticks out.
Funny enough, its my old Shwinn town bike (nearly as old as I am and looks it) that gets compliments. One of these days, I'm going to spray paint it....
ETA, it's neat that that rap group is still active in biking. That song is how old now********** Also, what exactly is in those wheels? Plastic bottles? Cardboard?
#63
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The song is from 2007 if I recall. A friend just started volunteering in the bike coalition and told me that they chatted about advocacy in East Oakland (where that video was shot).
In some ways it is pretty ironic. Most of the bike coalition members live in my part of town are white and affluent. My friend is white and he lives in the under-served under-represented part of town that skews people of color and middle class and working class. I live in the mostly white collar part of town where riders are hipsters or racers and have expensive bikes.
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I have seen cardboard and streamers but people must have plastic too!
The song is from 2007 if I recall. A friend just started volunteering in the bike coalition and told me that they chatted about advocacy in East Oakland (where that video was shot).
In some ways it is pretty ironic. Most of the bike coalition members live in my part of town are white and affluent. My friend is white and he lives in the under-served under-represented part of town that skews people of color and middle class and working class. I live in the mostly white collar part of town where riders are hipsters or racers and have expensive bikes.
The song is from 2007 if I recall. A friend just started volunteering in the bike coalition and told me that they chatted about advocacy in East Oakland (where that video was shot).
In some ways it is pretty ironic. Most of the bike coalition members live in my part of town are white and affluent. My friend is white and he lives in the under-served under-represented part of town that skews people of color and middle class and working class. I live in the mostly white collar part of town where riders are hipsters or racers and have expensive bikes.
Here, we come in all colors, but most of us are a bit on the lower/ lower middle class level. You have to leave town to find the affluent people. Most of them are too scared to come down into the valley! (Most of the crime is drug related and involves people who know each other. It's far from random.) I live in one of the better parts but it's still colorful! Just the other day, a woman was arrested for hooking down at the corner.
#65
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I got crafty and made a DIY skirt garter. Now that it is done, I realize that the suspender clips are kinda annoying, so I think I will get quilting clips and try again. It took me about an hour and I am no crafter. But it is pretty close to exactly what I want. If anyone wants to DIY let me know. Minus the thread it took about $10 in material and there is enough for 2. With tons of extra elastic. . I just made up the construction!
Last edited by jade408; 06-18-14 at 12:00 AM. Reason: Added pic I hope
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The universe wanted me to get a bike...I ended up winning that one in a raffle (with options of upgrading to the internal hub). I paid the up charge when I heard that you could switch gears standing still. I am know bike expert and no idea about public or dutch style bikes till then. If I had known, I probably would have got one a long time ago.
Clothes make the man.... or in this case the woman... or the cyclist. How we dress... how we present ourselves to the public... determines how people react to us. Interestingly... discarding unusual, or provocative clothing... wearing a smile (or not) makes the biggest difference in how people relate to each other.
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society ~ Mark Twain
[Twain quote pre-dates the Kardashian's]
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society ~ Mark Twain
[Twain quote pre-dates the Kardashian's]
#67
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They can also unmake the man.
#68
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I got crafty and made a DIY skirt garter. Now that it is done, I realize that the suspender clips are kinda annoying, so I think I will get quilting clips and try again. It took me about an hour and I am no crafter. But it is pretty close to exactly what I want. If anyone wants to DIY let me know. Minus the thread it took about $10 in material and there is enough for 2. With tons of extra elastic. . I just made up the construction!
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Hummmmm...... I'd guess that a man having an Narcissistic Personality Disorder is fully "made".
So often we forget that many health disorders can be spotted very easily by ordinary people [called "friends"].
I had to look up monkey lights to see if they should go on my wish list.
Last edited by 905; 06-18-14 at 08:32 AM. Reason: Taxonomy
#70
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*Including the defect where I'm always on the balls of my feet
In some ways it is pretty ironic. Most of the bike coalition members live in my part of town are white and affluent. My friend is white and he lives in the under-served under-represented part of town that skews people of color and middle class and working class. I live in the mostly white collar part of town where riders are hipsters or racers and have expensive bikes.
M.
EDIT: Kat, seeing your Mixte is beginning to sway me towards it...$500 and I'll have an 8 speed IGH in my size...
#72
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I am going to make v2! I decided suspender clips were too annoying. Now on to quilting clips.
#73
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Your friend sounds a like me. Living in a working class neighborhood where all other cyclists besides my fiance and I are either unable to afford a car or have too many DUI's (these are often related). Most people cruise on either BMX bikes or seriously janky mountain style bikes. They typically have no brakes, and dismounts are usually pretty...kinetic.
#75
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I'll check this out!
Oakland is a pretty wacky place in a lot of ways. Lots of people bike. Ranging from the can't afford a car to the I am saving the planet to the I'm training for Tour de CA to the Utility Cyclist. You should see the Whole Foods parking lot. Typically car and bike parking are very limited. And there are spots for about 60 bikes! You've got the gamut of fixies, city bikes, beater bikes and fancy racing bikes with the Priuses, BMWs, Volvos, beater cars and the typical compact and mid-sized cars. Everyone is a Whole Foods. Literally.
Oakland is a pretty wacky place in a lot of ways. Lots of people bike. Ranging from the can't afford a car to the I am saving the planet to the I'm training for Tour de CA to the Utility Cyclist. You should see the Whole Foods parking lot. Typically car and bike parking are very limited. And there are spots for about 60 bikes! You've got the gamut of fixies, city bikes, beater bikes and fancy racing bikes with the Priuses, BMWs, Volvos, beater cars and the typical compact and mid-sized cars. Everyone is a Whole Foods. Literally.
I'm jealous of Oakland. Here I am, just getting settled into this area, which will never be as progressive. Then again, no way I'd be able to afford to live in Oakland.
M.