Girly question - cycling in skirts

[Cathryn]

As a woman of poor figure I thoroughly recommend skorts having used them on my tour of the DAnube last year. Pearl Izuma do them: they are a ladies padded shorts with a cross over 'skirt' incorporated into the waistband. The fabric of the 'skirt' is such that it is not blown by the wind and sits flat. When one dismounts one is not wishing for a long t-shirt!! I thoroughly recommend them.

For my everyday cycling I can wear a skirt as I have a Dutch bike with chain and skirt guard - I even tested it before purchase wearing a wide knee-length skirt.

I'm going to try and get one. I like the idea. I always feel very unglam on tour, which is unpleasant in countries like France..I'm going to try the skort approach. Off to search for one now.

 

[HJ]

When I was a student I did ride to a ceilidh wearing kilt with out problem, and i am a true Scotsman, not that you would have found that out if you have seen me riding...

 

[bonj2]

Never cycle in a skirt. Ever. It's far too 19th century.

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

I see nothing wrong with Keiths mini skirt idea purely on safty grounds you understand ( it will slow traffic down).

 

[Plax]

The idea of cycling in a skirt has never occured to me. Couldn't you at one point get those shorts that looked like a skirt? I had a pair years and years ago. Culottes or something like that.
I think for summer, having not taken up cycling until September, I shall have to take some dresses into work via car. I usually stuff a pair of trousers in my rucksack, but I have some really nice summer dresses that just wouldn't cope in the bottom of a rucksack.

 

[rich p]

What about one of those lightweight sarong thingies you could whip out of your back pocket and Hey Presto - a skirt. Beckham proved it worked for us blokes too!!!

 

[Disgruntled Goat]

Red PVC hot pants - sylish and practical - its the way to go.

 

[summerdays]

Exhibitionist advice here http://www.happywomanmagazine.com/Features/cyclingskirts.htm

Hmm ... not quite sure I will be following that advice, I really can't see myself in white knee length socks... I'm the wrong side of 40. And I will bear in mind the advice it had on undergarments.

Remember the golden rule in order to avoid chaffing and saddle sores, nothing must be worn underneath

Definately ignoring that one....

See here for cycling Chic

http://copenhagengirlsonbikes.blogspot.com/

I guess that's what I'm trying to achieve, the not dressed up for the bike look.

I'm going to try and get one. I like the idea. I always feel very unglam on tour, which is unpleasant in countries like France..I'm going to try the skort approach. Off to search for one now.

I might try getting a skort (or maybe one of those dresses that go over trousers), but if you beat me to it, I would be interested in what you think of them... they always look very short.

 

[Cathryn]

Haven't bought one yet! I'm nervous of how short they are as well....we'll see. If you get one first, let me know!

 

[wafflycat]

Never did like cycling in a skirt. For it not to get caught in the rear wheel, it's got to be short, so you might as well be wearing shorts. If it's long, you need a skirt guard over the rear wheel, full mudguards, and a chainguard. Mudguards I don't mind, but the skirtguard and the chainguard I prefer to do without, thank you. I wear a pair of Ron Hill Bikesters over cycle shorts, or a pair of cycling tights. That way I completely avoid the trap of skirt in rear wheel, skirt getting filthy from any crud thrown up or trapped in the chain, or worse still - skirt blowing up - a distinct lack of decorum when that happens.

 

[summerdays]

During the recent warm spell I was cycling past Browns at the top of Park St. 2 girls were getting ontheir bikes, and well near caused a van driver to drive straight into me Not that I noticed until the last minute

Flippin heck, just don't take lessons in modesty from those 2 and you'll be fine

Well if I'm up that direction I usually lock the bike up opposite Browns - but its not been warm enough this year for me to bare anything other than hands and head (yet) - so it wasn't me.

 

[yoyo]

The skorts I have are no shorter than my padded cycling shorts; they are simply cycling shorts with a wrap over incorporated into the waistband. I think skorts are a good solution for long-distance summer cycling and I am anything but finely built, with tree trunk legs. Initially I purchased one to see how I got on and then decided on a second one.

 

[Butterfly]

In summer I often ride in a dress with a pair of cycling shorts underneath. It is easier with a shorter skirt - although I have been known to cycle in a full length evening dress, I don't recommend it. The main thing to avoid is a length or tightness that might catch on the back of the saddle or a floatiness that will catch in the brakes. The latter can be avoided by tying a knot in the front - I do that if I'm wearing more formal silk dresses on the way to lunch or weddings or such. I don't really get on with skorts - they never have the right shape to accomodate my hips with a nice line.

 

[clarion]

I can recommend cycling with someone cycling in a skirt

 

[Butterfly]

I can recommend cycling with someone cycling in a skirt