tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post734305432977665003..comments2023-10-14T07:42:46.787-04:00Comments on Biker Chicks Of West Chester: Bike Chic, I hate itLibby Maximhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06058448010971518116noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-81375623189488332312010-02-26T16:29:57.065-05:002010-02-26T16:29:57.065-05:00Akugel - I wish you would explain what you mean, a...Akugel - I wish you would explain what you mean, and why you think that the bike "subculture"...which one?...is endangering the idea of city biking. Do tell.April Streeter, Gothenburg, Swedenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05574851953760400897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-80097943522642924172010-02-26T09:09:20.600-05:002010-02-26T09:09:20.600-05:00wow. it's clear the biking subculture is stunt...wow. it's clear the biking subculture is stunting the transformation of the bicycle as a legitimate, clean mode of transportation in the city.akugelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08992386943051634005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-65451300986678819842009-11-13T18:23:34.959-05:002009-11-13T18:23:34.959-05:00my latest blogpost
This has to be some kind of r...my latest blogpost<br /><br /><br />This has to be some kind of record for comments on a blog post, holy cow! glad to see all the posts and glad to hear all the different points of view, where I live, I have to bike 20-40 miles on roads just to get anywhere, so fashion is not an option for me, plus I can only afford one bike, and that is my road bike, do not have an assortment of bikes for different terrains.<br /><br />Wish i could and wish I could bike in a city like Copenhagen, I cannot even imagine it. Living in a city as beautiful as Copenhagen, well I hope you natives wake up each morning and count your blessings. I have never traveled except in a few places in USA, I have biked in FL and CA as well, both sons lived in those areas, that was fun, CA is all about the sport of biking, FL as well, racing bicyclists every where on high tech bikes with high tech gear<br /><br />The bike in those states is strictly for sport and exercise, triathlons being the rage in both states. Aerobars are popular and large groups of racing folks take over the streets.<br /><br />Pennsylvania, where I live, is rather hostile to cyclists on the roads. Not so bad around the large cities, Phila and Pittsburgh, but forget biking in spandex in northern PA, better cover up in a plaid shirt, ya might be safer.<br /><br />Bike chic seems to be for those who live in cities with support for biking. Flat terrain and easy access to nice roads. Many cities in northern USA are hilly and have brick roads and roads filled with potholes as well.<br /><br />So chic is not for me. Right now I am biking in gloves, shoe covers, tights and Windstopper jackets. But for you chicks lucky enough to live and work in a city that loves the bike, enjoy yourselves. Many of us will never have that opportunity and many of us will never see the scenic cities of Europe and Sweden.<br /><br />Some day in my dreams I will bike in Copenhagen.Libby Maximhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06058448010971518116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-16394596777754031742009-11-13T13:19:18.093-05:002009-11-13T13:19:18.093-05:00I assume the Copenhagen Cycle Chic blog is at the ...I assume the Copenhagen Cycle Chic blog is at the center of your cycle chic angst, but CCC features lots of <a href="http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/2009/10/red-light-conversations.html" rel="nofollow">women in flats and jeans getting around by bike</a>. There's nothing exclusively high heels about the blog, though high heels are of course not difficult to come by on the blog.<br /><br />I think you're missing the point of the blog. As a livable cities advocate, I love this blog and others like it because they fly in the face of the usual objections to using a bike to get around the city on one's daily errands. I hear from women all the time that they won't ride a bike because they don't want to sacrifice fashion or change the way they dress at all in order to get on a bike. They don't want to sweat. They don't know how they would carry things (<a href="http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/2009/01/night-cello.html" rel="nofollow">like a Cello, perhaps?</a>). They don't want to spend a lot of money on a bike. Etc and on down the line of excuses for staying in their cars. CCC is extremely productive in countering these ideas people have of cycling as only for athletes or for exclusive communities of rebellious young people. It's extremely useful to have a strong voice out there telling people they don't need to change anything fundamentally about themselves to get on a bike and ride. I adore that about CCC and I'm happy to see blogs like this one proliferate.<br /><br />As a cyclist who sometimes bikes for sport in spandex and sometimes bikes for transport in jeans (or a skirt), I think you're comparing apples to oranges by presenting a time trial cyclist as a "real" cyclist as opposed to the women on CCC. I'm an active bicycling advocate, and I advocate for all kinds of cycling (road, mtb, transport), and so predictably, I despise the pitting of one group of cyclists against another. As a female bicycling advocate, I'm especially disappointed when one group of female cyclists is pitted against another group of female cyclists. It should be obvious that this sort of spiteful commentary is not helpful to either cycling or women. (I should point out here, that I also do not like it when livable cities advocates trash on cyclists who wear spandex while riding. I have the same criticisms of such statements. Apples to oranges, ppl. Can't we all just get along?)<br /><br />As someone else pointed out above, the actual wearing of heels by women and the appreciation of heels by men (and, arguably more so, by women) is another issue altogether separate from these cycle chic blogs. I don't wear heels because I can't, and that doesn't disappoint me too much because I'm a full-time pedestrian and I love to be as mobile as possible, and heels work against mobility. And I don't feel a loss of attention from men or from <a href="http://velovogue.blogspot.com/2009/10/dock-of-bay.html" rel="nofollow">cycle chic blogs</a> (yep that's me!) as a result of my abstention from heels. But the world being what it is, other people will feel differently and behave differently, and part of being a grown up is seeing this yet not reacting in fear and hatred and spiteful commentary.Sarah Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14226266204456003352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-50179183177134727562009-11-13T09:21:30.087-05:002009-11-13T09:21:30.087-05:00Who gives a crap what anyone else wears riding a b...Who gives a crap what anyone else wears riding a bike. Cycle Chic is about the clothes, not the cycling. Mikael is a clever guy who has combined his fashion photography sense and love of bikes into an interesting blog. Wear what you want. Let others wear what they want. But let's not kid ourselves, just about everybody likes sex. Everyone spends a lot of time within their gender assigned roles and their own self image, trying to get sex. Dress it up in fashion, or bikes, or music, or sports-whatever, we're all just trying to get laid! The more I see the more I believe that this is the driving force behind all the marketing schemes that allow people to be enslaved by things like cars. Also ironic that somehow a fit athlete on a Cervelo bike is sexy to Libby. Just as surely as the women who slavishly follows fashion rules, the Cervelo rider too is a victim of marketing that plays on the self esteem issues of the consumerBrendan61https://www.blogger.com/profile/11194093131915632455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-55865582608129784822009-11-12T09:50:50.735-05:002009-11-12T09:50:50.735-05:00I wouldn't confuse the pleasure that some wome...I wouldn't confuse the pleasure that some women take from looking good and a phony love of bikes. Appearance is important to some folks and while it is pretty silly to wear high heels on a bike, at least bikes are getting their due attention. Better to have all types riding bikes than a limited few. Maybe she was going to an interview?<br /><br />Fortunately, I find women attractive and bikes are cool to me. I fail to see the downside to anybody biking. Health reasons... glamor reasons... it's all good. I agree with everybody saying it's about the biking and not a social standard issue.<br /><br />Regardless, I'll turn to Mr. Rogers on this one and say everybody is special in their own way.Quinton Mosleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16976501250503942687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-8021011524925720732009-11-12T06:57:15.388-05:002009-11-12T06:57:15.388-05:00Sex sells. It's that simple. Frumpy also was...Sex sells. It's that simple. Frumpy also was sold, but nobody bought it, nobody appreciated "comfortable shoes".BeeRichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12448353170601559879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-72761986853616214592009-11-12T05:57:15.300-05:002009-11-12T05:57:15.300-05:00I think that there are two distinct issues here, w...I think that there are two distinct issues here, which need to remain separate rather trying to tackle them both at once. The first is that society (myself included) finds heels attractive, the second is that heels are used for most aspects of life - riding to work included. I think that the real issue is that heels aren't cool, regardless, not that they are worn while biking. <br /><br />Most of us have experienced the pain of heels - they give you back problems, impede your ability to walk, squish your feet, cut circulation to your toes, and essentially date back to Chinese foot binding and other ancient methods used by men to control women and literally slow them down if they tried to excape. Clearly, this is not longer the case, but the heel, unfortunately, still has sex appeal. THIS is the essential problem. Rather than lashing out at chics on bikes with heels, we should question why heels are promoted and accepted in such a way.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05182557808936600703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-65771287089738572022009-11-09T09:25:52.629-05:002009-11-09T09:25:52.629-05:00I ride for transportation. My destination determi...I ride for transportation. My destination determines what sort fo clothes I wear, not the bike. I think that is the whole point of the web site. These women are wearing clothes for their life, not for biking. Don't judge, a snap shot of a person does not tell you if that person is about objectifiying herself for men.<br /><br /> Don't tell me I have to put myself in spandex, expose my midrif and and look tough to be taken seriously. I refuse to be forced into a pigeon hole because of someone's view of what woman is suppose to wear or act.<br /><br /> Lighten up-the website is a light hearted response to the prevailing attitude that a person can only ride a bike with expensive bike gear. Let's get out of our molds!Colleen Carbonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12106365374635093392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-70563170833076369142009-11-09T04:39:23.608-05:002009-11-09T04:39:23.608-05:00"Helping women"? C'mon. I would li..."Helping women"? C'mon. I would like to think that women know the ramifications of choosing different types of shoes. For decades now, they have chosen make-up and fashion as a regular event. You should give some credit to women. <br /><br />I think Oprah's message is "do what you want, and it's ok to dress like a sexy woman". Here in Toronto, women are either in some kind of destructive fashion (Emo's or whatever you call it), pole dancers (you know the type), or frumpies. To find a textbook attractive woman that isn't afraid of the presence of stereotypes, that feels allowed to be anything she wants, is very rare indeed. Insecurity is completely rampant in this town, and it makes for a very difficult social environment. <br /><br />Oh, as an aside, I love heels. Women know that men love heels. Oh am I so glad that they know that.BeeRichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12448353170601559879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-75089704696853120562009-11-07T17:42:25.310-05:002009-11-07T17:42:25.310-05:00This is not a feminist issue. To echo many previou...This is not a feminist issue. To echo many previous points, commuter biking will thrive when people feel like they don't need to wear a special "get-up" to get on a bike. Some people like to dress up, some people (like me) are slobs. The dressy people are going to look dressy on a bike if they're wearing their everyday clothes. What's the problem with that? People should wear what they want...and bike!Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03044283236439546902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-68362764912269864432009-11-07T01:25:58.742-05:002009-11-07T01:25:58.742-05:00I see the cycle chic thing as more of a "hey,...I see the cycle chic thing as more of a "hey, bikes are a mode of transportation just like anything else, and you really don't need special gear for it" type of thing. I think you've just generally misunderstood the whole point. These women aren't getting dressed up to go cycling. They're getting dressed up to go wherever it is they're going. They happen to be getting there via bicycle. In the US in the 70s/80s, for whatever reason (I have a few theories) cycling went from "transportation" to "recreation", and was suddenly (nearly) exclusively a sport with often-expensive gear. <br /><br />Many sports are niche activities and thus went cycling in the US. But not in parts of Europe. I see the photos from there of everyday women on non-sport bikes, wearing what they'd wear if they were driving or taking public transport inspiring. Now, depending on what part of the US you're in or if you're in a city, suburb or rural area, these may not be "everyday" women around you. If you look at ALL the photos from Copenhagen Cycle Chic (which is where the photo you posted is from), most women are not in tight minis and stiletto heels, and actually reflect a fairly broad spectrum of clothing styles for an urban area (looks actually very similar to the streets around me).<br /><br />I further think that one of the major reasons the high heel thing gets pointed out a lot is that most men and many women find high heels somehow intimidating, or an ultimate expression of impeded mobility. Same goes for skirts/dresses. Personally, I hate this. I DO see how heels can be viewed that way, particularly for those people with flat feet/weak ankles etc, but really, it's not a big deal to wear them. And I resent the idea that wearing a skirt impedes mobility in any way--that's just some stupid hangover from "girls can't do anything" days. You can do anything in a skirt that you can do in pants, particularly if you don't mind the possibility of showing a little leg accidently (and why should I, my body is nothing to be ashamed of!). Anyway, I think the reason the skirt/heels thing gets pointed out is that the authors are playing to most peoples' perceptions of the "weakness" of traditionally-female clothing.<br /><br />Finally, I think that cycle chic images can serve to get more women on bikes in addition to, not instead of the niche sporty women. So what's wrong with it?Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00825740791198007780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-8731637516193105692009-11-06T22:00:07.281-05:002009-11-06T22:00:07.281-05:00my view on cycle chic,
it isn't a movement, i...my view on cycle chic,<br /><br />it isn't a movement, it just is.<br /><br />its putting on anything and riding<br /><br />but looking good to yourself and maybe others.<br /><br />i have to admit, as a fan and photographer of cycle chic, the fact that I happen to photograph someone i consider "chic" is purely selfish.<br /><br />i'm not an advocate for cycling, and i couldn't care less about the lack of bike lanes or safety issues. However i do feel that when i don't ride i've missed out on something. and i feel most cyclists share that with me.<br /><br />there's a time and place for every type of fashion, style and bicycle<br /><br />but the people i've captured riding coudn't care less that i was watching them.<br /><br />cycle chic is not a movement, its an experience.<br /><br /><br />'X'Xander Labayenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793880692099538955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-35382019504311622952009-11-06T13:32:18.984-05:002009-11-06T13:32:18.984-05:00Libby - Do you not see the irony of it when you ta...Libby - Do you not see the irony of it when you talk about "showing skin"? The lady on the racing bike you posted is wearing far less clothing than the lady in a skirt on the upright bike. The racing bike lady is exposing her midrif, wearing skin-tight mini-shorts that highlight her buttocks, and a bra. And she cycles this way on the streets - one might say flaunting her body to any man who sees her. Now, you probably look at the way she is dressed and think "normal cycling outfit", because you are accustomed to it and do not associate it with sexual flaunting despite its skimpiness. To me however, it's "Wow, if that stuff didn't have logos on it, it would be bra and panties! She must really be looking for attention." <br /><br />So consider for a moment that women who dress in skirts and heels feel the same way about their clothing - "normal clothing for a woman who enjoys fashion", while you politicise and criticise it, because it seems strange and "other" to you. Again, it's all about open mindedness and considering others' points of view, others' preferences. <br /><br />I am not a proponent of the so called "cycle chic" and do not use that term on my website for a variety of reasons. But I am a proponent of being yourself, on a bike. And whether a woman's "true self" is a mini-skirted waif, a middle-aged soccer mom in sensible shoes, or a tri-athlete, it's all good and who am I to judge.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-13367725528590763612009-11-06T12:07:45.395-05:002009-11-06T12:07:45.395-05:00Your post ended up on Streetsblog.net the day you ...Your post ended up on Streetsblog.net the day you posted it. The headline no doubt drew a lot of eyes :)<br /><br />And chic just means fashionable. Where do you get that it means sex or skin? Just curious. The site where that photo came from - Copenhagen Chic - really are just random, normal women in Copenhagen.Paul Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00337082439464131108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-55443461112660716382009-11-06T07:51:44.750-05:002009-11-06T07:51:44.750-05:00last word in last post is LADY not ladlast word in last post is LADY not ladLibby Maximhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06058448010971518116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-32300070422118244752009-11-06T07:50:59.316-05:002009-11-06T07:50:59.316-05:00Most folks reading my blog post on Bike Chic misun...Most folks reading my blog post on Bike Chic misunderstood my stance. What I hate is the fact that bike chic for women TENDS to be women in skirts and spiked heels. And this is true of any fashion chic involving women. I do not care what women wear on their bikes, but I do care that "chic" is skin and sex.<br /><br />And what prompted my blog post in the first place was the TV show Oprah did on the same issue except it did not involve bikes.<br /><br />She had her show guests pulling average looking women off of the streets and redoing them. Off came the sneakers, pants and backpacks and on came heels, skirts and expensive purses.<br /><br />This is what got my blood boiling. And now I see this same thing with women and bikes. IF you want to bike naked, go for it, just don't proliferate the Net with pics of ladies on bikes half naked and call it "chic."<br /><br />That term needs to be redefined to include lots of ladies on bikes. To me any lady biking, be it in heels or bike gear is a chic ladLibby Maximhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06058448010971518116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-58806558662280369692009-11-06T07:31:34.915-05:002009-11-06T07:31:34.915-05:00it is amazing, i post blog comments for the last 3...it is amazing, i post blog comments for the last 3 yrs, suddenly I write about women and short skirts and folks come out of the woodwork to bash the post, let's hope this enthusiasm continues in regards to promoting safe cycling for allLibby Maximhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06058448010971518116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-33371075366084121432009-11-05T21:06:33.113-05:002009-11-05T21:06:33.113-05:00orc said...
"Male gaze."
That was durin...orc said...<br /><i>"Male gaze."</i><br /><br />That was during modernism. Today's women are post-gaze. Like duh!Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-8267071059914302532009-11-05T21:03:16.577-05:002009-11-05T21:03:16.577-05:00Some of the greatest setbacks to women's freed...Some of the greatest setbacks to women's freedom come from other women, who take it upon themselves to criticise those who do not conform to <i>their</i> standards of the way women should dress and behave. This was as true during Victorian times as it is today. It's disappointing that you choose to perpetuate this with vicious and misinformed comments, rather than supporting a woman's freedom to choose. High heels are dangerous on a racing bike, but they are perfectly safe on an upright bicycle with relaxed geometry, a step-through frame, and grippy platform pedals. Enjoy your bicycle and consider being a little kinder and more open-minded, Sister.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-36302992192060222352009-11-05T17:51:33.883-05:002009-11-05T17:51:33.883-05:00"... and for us old ladies from the 60s, seei..."... and for us old ladies from the 60s, seeing you young chicks promoting heels and tight skirts and looking sexy on a bike, all i can ask is WHY??"<br /><br />Male gaze.orchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127551500120547348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-65119257070812726532009-11-05T16:57:35.323-05:002009-11-05T16:57:35.323-05:00I'm not too keen on the "cycle chic"...I'm not too keen on the "cycle chic" concept either; the suggestion is that you have to look like a model to ride a bike. What's interesting to me is what ordinary people look like when they are cycling--just an extension of good old New York City people watching. And by large, it's not high fashion or spandex, pretty much the same thing the pedestrians are wearing. Check it out:<br /><br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/bicyclesonly/collections/72157603553344699/BicyclesOnlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12462981941173857205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-73776144590949130042009-11-05T14:27:49.089-05:002009-11-05T14:27:49.089-05:00"Not only does this lady look ridiculous, it ..."Not only does this lady look ridiculous, it is just plain unsafe to bike in high heels."<br /><br />It seems safer to cycle in high heels than to WALK in them. Really, it's a relief.Christahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09457121626940305454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-8007321445195495512009-11-05T14:26:54.127-05:002009-11-05T14:26:54.127-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Christahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09457121626940305454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1290910961912664208.post-29764809131221403532009-11-05T08:21:04.742-05:002009-11-05T08:21:04.742-05:00fantastic comments, wish there was this much enthu...fantastic comments, wish there was this much enthusiasm when bike lanes and bike infrastructure comes up for a vote, unfortunately here in the US of A, biking and bike infrastructure becomes a hot potato political issue, conservative home boys see biking as a wimpy liberal issue, too bad it ends up this stupidLibby Maximhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06058448010971518116noreply@blogger.com