Okay everyone...

With all this talk about comfort bikes being "girlie girl" bikes, (and I am a girl) what kind of changes would you do to make it more (ahem) "manly"?

Inclined toptubes? Can you ride the bike wearing a skirt? -in my case maybe a kilt -though I'm not Scottish.

Handlebar streamers, wicker baskets and turtle bells are out this year...turtle bell maybe's o.k.

Get a studded leather strap for a pantleg wrap (yes, wear pants) and slap a 'Hello Kitty' sticker on your saddle and sit on it. Practice scowling, just think of what the helmet is doing to your hair ..GRRR!
Voila'...tough girl...summer short sleeve weather, a few temporary tattoos.

Nobody will be dis'n your ride then!

This would be a good start:

https://sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html

OWWIEEEEE!!!!!



Okay, I chucked the basket, cut the streamers down to 1 inch (gotta look mean) and put on a pair of shorts. The bike is actually a men's frame so the TT is okay. Can't really have a scowl, that's not me. Soooooo..... What else?

If that is all, why do people call it a girlie girl bike**********

Beer can holders... 16 oz... one on each side of the handlebars.

--- Just emit loud flatulence while riding ANY bike.

Ah yes, we are always a big help to the ladies, huh?

...and say, Siu Blue, I know you are from SF and all, but please, stay a girl. Leave the manly man stuff to us. We guys are confused enough as it is nowadays. I mean, male bicycle racers shave their legs, so what does that say???

Oh, no intention of being anything other than the woman (girl, female, la tee da) that I am. It's just that I see a lot of negative things said about comfort bikes and wonder why it was put into such a category as GIRLIE GIRL. Now I must admit the step through style looks kind of funky, but come on, now. Just to make you guys laugh and I really shouldn't tell you this but hey, it's just between you and me... I was laughed at and told I look like I was on a Unicycle. Now that wasn't very nice.

Rub down the frame with Old Spice before each ride.

Wrap barbed wire around the downtube.

Wrap barbed wire around the handlebars.

Paint a picture of a doberman, rotweiller, or other such "manly" dog on the frame.

Ride with a real doberman, rotweiller, or other such "manly" dog on a chain leash jogging behind you.

Bwaaaahahaha!!! Strike two for Merton!

I read one more funny post from you man and I'm going home for the day!

As the president of The Order of The Manly Men, I can tell you that I would ***** slap anyone calling my comfort bikes girlie bikes.

Oh wow, Lauren! You mean I'm not the only one that has a comfort bike? YIPPEE!! I have a comrade!

Install this on your handlebar...



Bolt these on in place of your rear reflectors (I still recommend blinkies and active lighting however). If you have fenders then that's an even better place to place them.



And wear these for extra effect.

Now that I think about it... I know some real bad*sses who ride comfort bikes. I wouldn't feel comfortable calling them girlie-men.

Duct tape... Gives anything a man handled look.

where are these from. I need some to match my mudflap

OT. I ride my wifes"comfort bike" all the time. I never worry about the flowered fenders or the basket with the flowers weaved through it. Of corse I am 6'2" and over 300lb. I dare you to laugh!(actually its kinda fun. people look at me like I am some kind of fruit,and in small town rural indiana,most dont want to understand

Replace your current bike with this bike.

Hey Lauren! I have to admit, I also have a GT Outpost. But mine is from the pre-buyout days when GT was REALLY GT.

flat black spray paint and the biggest knobbies you can fit...

If you have to ask you'll never understand.

Of course I don't understand, I'M NOT A MAN!!!! (Sheeeeesh!) That's why I'm asking you guys! Geeeeez.

C'mon Siu Blue... this is about the last place on earth where we can act like morons without getting slapped. (Physically, anyway.)

I know, I know. I guess I'm just getting sensitive. Maybe that's a girlie thing... You guys are all great, that's why I'm here. There's nobody on this forum that I don't like. Maybe I have to toughen up. And be manly.

It's called testosterone. If you are good enough and clever enough, you can wait on the side of a road of the city's biggest peloton ride each week, and as the group speeds past, you might just be able to catch a whiff of some of this stuff. If are you REALLY lucky, you might score a snotrocket containing copious quantities of this highly valued hormone. If you do, carefully smear it all over the frame of your bike. In no time at all the testosterone will do its trick, and your she bike will... remain a she bike...

... because testosterone acts on the brains of males to ignite their competitiveness and to elevate them to the statehood of arrogance. Now, I don't have much in the way of testosterone left, and I like girlie utility bikes. Would you like to join *me* for a bikeride and I will show you what I mean?

Manly....ok...ummm....leather streamers on the bar ends. Flat black paint (all over, just try to keep the paint off the rims and brake pads). A couple of spots of primer. When riding, act less intelligent.(or stupid, whichever way you want to take that). Wear a helmet with a flame paint job. Do not shave your legs. Carry around one of those big, leather weight lifting belts on your rack. Switch to rat-trap pedals.

When I think of more, I will let you know.