Nycycle

Here is my confession, My wife is physically un able to ride to church, so we take her van.

BUT!

I am the Church Maint. Man and I use my Hardrock for fetchin parts and hauling tools to do what ever at Church. NOW if she ever fails to join me I will be riding, sweat and all. Our new Church Building even has a shower, now that may work.

One time in a small we attended a service in this little Baptist Church full of tourists and fishermen, well in the back door comes 3 dudes and a girl wearing Pearl Izumis and tight Jerseys, some folks don't consider that modest enough, well 3 of them came forward at the invitation, blew the Pastors Bible over a couple pages.....AMEN

fuerein

I'm considering riding to church. Currently I take the Metro train, which is about a 10 minute walk from my place to a stop about another 10 minute walk from the church, but there is a bike/jogging path that is only a block or two from my place and only a block or two from the church. I took my bike on the train once last year and rode my bike going back home, it was about 8 miles or so and took about an hour. Depending on the forecast I may do that again next week and then depending on how well that goes I may try biking both ways in a couple weeks.

Neil_B

I rode 60 miles yesterday, and I was so worn out I overslept this morning. I pedaled as fast as I could, but I arrived at church just as services began. So I broke yet another of my overly fussy and fusty protocols and worshiped in bike gear. No one gave me a second glance. The only problem was congregational singing; my cleats get a little uncomfortable when I'm standing for three or more hymns in a row.

Cave

By tandem, 20+km each way. No problem.

You don't need to wear lycra every time you get on a bike. You can wear shorts over bike shorts, or a loose dress as donna suggests.

Nycycle

On that note, one day I rode in early, thought I would be alone, but we had this visiting preacher standing in the door when I walked in, he was a very old conservative looking man, but when we got done talking he promised we would ride together one day. No one had anything to say about my dress.

rmwkokomo

Wouldn't that make you a holy roller?

peace_piper

Everytime I feel the need to actually go. Which isn't that often. But yes. According to my religion it would be blasphemy if I didn't.

Sianelle 

I use a bicycle for all my other journeys around town, but since I live almost next door to the church I always walk. I could ride my bicycle, only I think I'd feel a little silly doing it for such a short distance.

Gustavo

Now I just walk to church, since I live 200 yards away, but I used to live about 7 miles away and we used to bike. I can't see the issue here at all. Our route was pretty hilly, but then you will just tailor your speed to the temperature. I never wear anything but jeans or shorts while out biking (I also can't see why you would want to wear spandex unless you were in the olympics, and personally I'd rather stay out of the olympics than wear that) and in the Orthodox Church there is really no rule that you can't wear jeans to church, I certainly always do, no matter if it's a city church in Tokyo or a monastary i Serbia. You should of course try to clean up and don't show your legs or arms, but you don't have to wear a suit and tie, Christ and the saints seldom did. And even if you do, just roll up your right pant leg and you'll be fine. Remember, you don't need to look like an eighties aerobics instructor because you are on a bike. I don't know if people were those horrible pants to ride faster or because bicyclist in competions on TV wear them or what it is, but even when I go for a 50 mile ride I am supremely comfortable in jeans, unless it's very hot, then I'll wear my cut-off army pants.

wahoonc

One of these days...people will "get it" that getting somewhere on a bicycle IS NOT a competitive sport all the time. I hear this all the time as an excuse for not riding. FWIW I normally ride in street clothes and usually average around 12-14 mph unless it is very hot, in which case I may slow it down a bit more. It cracks me up to see all the commuter folks agonizing over what wicking, padded whatever is the best. Just get on the freaking bike and ride! All of my bikes are intended to be used in street clothes, I may use cycling specific shoes and padded baggy shorts on a long haul tour, but that is about the extent of it.

Church...I usually walk by cutting thru the neighbor's field....walking was good enough for Jesus...

Aaron

MarkS

Perhaps the humidity is lower where you live. Or the temperature. Or its an age thing. Or you are blessed with an anatomy not given to sweat. I didn't think I'd ever get into spandex anything, but around here a trip averaging 12 mph will have my clothes soaked in no time. This makes any sort of distance over 2 miles too miserable to contemplate. Moisture wicking clothes (not necessarily official bike garb) makes all the difference.

On the church issue ... I don't think any denomination has an official rule about clothing. Its the "unwritten" rules that are often followed more religiously than the written ones. James 2:2-3 makes it pretty clear that no one is to be judged by their clothing, but in reality Sunday morning when I was growing up was like some sort of clothing arms race.

Gustavo

Really? I do sweat, profusely. Being of viking extraction and biking around in Tokyo... And then I've always found it hard to ride my lightweight at speeds lower than 20 mph. However, I only start sweating when I stop and step inside, but then it pours, I get completely soaked; as long as I keep the speed up the wind will take care of it, unless I wear my woolen sportscoat (for church for example).

Somehow, I found the sweating produced by standing in a crowded bus or metro train much more irritating, and smelly! So even if I do sweat like a pig, I don't smell until after a few hours...

Machka 

I used to, and what I'd do is ride there in cycling shorts and a nice-looking wicking top of some sort, with a small backpack. In the backpack I had some wetwipes, deodorant, comb and a skirt. I'd park the bicycle, pop into the washroom and clean up a little with my wetwipes and deodorant, touch up my hair, and pull the skirt over my cycling shorts.

No one complained, several people made positive comments about me riding to church.

Newspaperguy

Right now I'm the only one at my church who bikes in year-round. However, quite a few will walk, winter or summer. We also have several — including the pastor — who prefer motorbikes to cars. Nobody seems to care how anyone gets to church.

kemmer

I sometimes attend church with my wife who is a faithful mormon. Most people wear suits and I would feel out of place in anything less than slacks and a dress shirt. Since I don't attend all of the services, I don't ride with my wife and I either walk or ride. Luckily it's only a 3 minute ride, so it's no big deal. If the distance were greater, I might just opt to stay home.

Elkhound

I'm in the choir. I keep a pair of comfortable shoes in the robing room, and my robes go right over my biking togs.

supton

I biked one time to church; it's less than 2 miles. There was a church picnic immediately afterwards, 'bout 5 miles further down the road; I hoped that, by biking, I'd keep my appetite in check (didn't work, but the ride home was fine). I'd bike to church more often, but with two kids under 3, someone has to drive anyhow.

twobikes

In college I biked to church. I wore a suit and rode an English 3-speed. The trip was about five miles each way. Now I am the pastor and have lived within walking distance most of the time.

derath

2 kids in a trailer. Less than 2 miles? no big deal. Probably get them napping on the way home.

supton

Zero shoulder roads, and it's a 40mph zone. I'd like to try, but not on that stretch of road.

wahoonc

Been there and it sucks...actually got pulled over for "blocking" traffic. Cop lost.

Aaron

sailor2

+1

Elkhound

Does that mean three kids? How old?

sailor2

No. It meant I agree with other poster
But we do take three kids on my bike (I have only two kids of mine so far, but we do take a neighbor girl for rides and hope to commute to school with her during warmer weather)
Three kids on my bike is my 15 months old DD in the rear seat (Bobike maxi) and 3.5 y.o DS plus 4.5 y.o neighbor in Instep (Schwinn branded) trailer.

urban rider

I plan to ride my bikej to church. It is ten miles one way. It is a large church. I have seen people in various forms of dress so I don't think people will mind black wind breakers and a fleece top. I can always change my clothes in the bathroom.