Obviously misinformed. They used to be relatively rare, but with the resurgence in C&V bikes the sighting and riding of old Roadsters is becoming much more common. I worked in a bike shop from around 1974 until 1980 in that time frame I recall seeing 1 rod brake roadster. I now know where there are two and I have one. But in places like Boston or Minneapolis you are quite likely to see one on a regular basis.

Aaron

The blog "Riding Pretty" has a calendar of sorts with lots of posters for the Tweed Rides:
https://ridingpretty.blogspot.com/201...0-revised.html

I have never taken part in these and probably won't in future. It reminds of role play gaming and that whole scene has never appealed to me -be the theme dragons or bicycles. I normally wear a lot of wool and formal clothing on my bike, and I ride vintage bikes. But the point is that it is my normal way of riding a bike, and not a costume I put on along with other enthusiasts.

The DC Tweed ride was a couple Sundays ago. While walking to the 'post ride celebration' I was approached by a regular normal couple. They asked why is everyone in 'Period Costume'. I said it's the Tweed Ride. Later I thought: I'm wearing stuff I normally wear, on a bike I normally ride. I'm not in costume!

Seattle seems surprisingly depauperate in tweed rides. I believe there has been just one, and I missed it. As others have also noted, some of us do a tweed ride nearly every day on by riding roadsters and "normal" clothing. I would do one, though, as a way to meet other bicycle enthusiasts.

The only real group theme ride I have ever participated in was a costume ride on Halloween morning. That was fun-- I dressed as the wicked witch of the East to match my rod-brake loop-frame DL-1. The only slightly annoying part is that other riders kept asking me how I was riding so far in high heel shoes (sparkly red ones, of course)-- to which I kept pointing out that I am not walking in them, so it is easy as riding in any other type shoe. I wanted to ask them how they were able to ride so far in clipless with all this starting and stopping, but I held my tongue.

I went to the Dallas ride and it was lots of fun.



Lots of run of the mill bikes, but there were some vintage ones as well. About 300 folks showed up. I even got told "you're pretty fast for an old guy." Let it be known that I am not that old.

I am prepping to be ready for the New York Tweed ride, I have never been down to New York before and figure it would be a good little tour to see the city and meet people. I have been investigating outfits and may be searching the thrift stores as well. I might try to get down to a few rides next season, A seersucker ride looks fun too, for the southern states.

Madison Wisconsin is a big cycling town, and full of old steel bikes, but short on a cohesive C&V culture. I could pull together a half dozen people to do a tweed ride in Madison if I was lucky. Maybe it would gain traction after a few years. I am not ready to take up the challenge of organizing one, but if one was on, I would do it.

I did some shopping at Goodwill and got a pretty decent jacket and pants for cheap, and made the pants into knickers. Got some high socks at Academy ("Team Socks", what they use for soccer, etc.) and found a good cap at Burlington Coat Factory. But there were also people that bought or made their outfits that obviously put a lot more care into them, too. A ride like that is for fun, and people approach it in different ways.

I also noticed that while the preponderance of people there tended to be youngish, there were a reasonable number of people around my age, so I didn't feel out of place or anything.

Geo Cruise, the Big Apple Tweed Ride (in NYC) just happened this past Sunday. But as noted above, they have two per year.

We had our first tweed ride here in NJ this past May. I was the organizer. We held it in South Orange. Lots of pictures here. I'm the guy in the middle on the red bike. It's my 1967 Hercules 3-speed, made by Raleigh. As you can see, we tried each other's bikes. We beat NYC, having our first before theirs. The weather was warmish, so I got pretty hot. I don't find tweed to be very breathable! It's woven -- not knit -- very tightly. It is quite durable, however.

Look at the pictures of the Portland, OR ride. Looks great, with a huge turnout.

Yes, this all started in London in January, 2009. It's been spreading like wildfire. One woman walking on the sidewalk in South Orange saw us and laughed loudly.

you should totally do it! no shame in starting small

Tweed Rides = wannabe college professor's critical mass?

It would probably attract more than just the Madison crowd. The "All British Cycling Event" in St Paul MN pulls in people from a several state area. They even got a letter of commendation from a Canadian Member of Parliament last year and a couple riders from Winnipeg.

OK, tell you what. I'm currently restoring an English 3-speed with the help of a local mentor. In spring, he and I are going to take a ride together. If he agrees, I'll promote it in C&V and it will be Madison's first tweed ride.

Deal?

JohnDThompson and stefan s, that was at YOUR instigation so your attendance is NOT OPTIONAL!

^ very effective thread killer, evidently!

We are considering Saturday April 30th, May 7th, or May 14th for a possible tweed ride in Madison, Wisconsin. Timed to precede the Lake Pepin 3-Speed Tour, May 21st-22nd.

Ride would end with a picnic lunch at the big farmers market (biggest in the USA, actually) at the state capitol square.

More news as it breaks.

Maybe I could participate if I put a sticker on my bike that said "Vintage... From the future"

?

Tweed Rides (sorry, to me Run means motorcycles) are a form of re-enactment: People dressing and riding in a manner more appropriate to a century ago. No matter how loose the historical accuracy turns out to be. I'd love to see one in Richmond sometime.

PM me with your email address, and I'll send you my instructions for converting trousers to plus-fours (sorry, to me knickers are girl's panties). Passed a lot of copies out at NAHBS this year.

I'd like those, too. PM sent

sykerocker, I'd like them, too. My address is in my signature. Or why not post them where everyone can see? Got a blog?

A Tweed Ride (or Run) in Atlanta would be a hoot! Anyone have an idea how to get one started in cooler weather, of course?

I think any ride can be a tweed ride:



Neal

To expand on the idea.........

I gave away my '59 Hercules 3 speed a few years back. It was a bit small, but now I regret it. But I have my bike boom era bike. How about a polyester disco threads ride? Between the unbreathable clothes and bell bottoms next to flapping chains, a memorable time is guaranteed for all.

St. Petersburg, FL got in on the fun a few months back:


St. Petersburg Tweed Ride 2011 by (cobrabyte), on Flickr

The snobs out there will notice not everyone was dressed "correct", but a fun time was had by all. The ride ended at our historic shuffleboard club, where music (live band), dance, gaming and drinks flowed. I'm very much looking forward to the next one.

Lots of pics here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cobraby...7626305278275/

Well, I'd just have to wear my kilt (cyclling shorts underneith) and tweed vest.

Brad

Raleigh, NC's Tweed Ride was Sunday, March 5: https://www.facebook.com/TriangleTweedRide