Women on cycling, give me your views....

[summerdays]

Do you find it difficult to find clothing that transfers from cycle to going out? So if there were say a regular feature on transferable outfits, would t be useful?

Well its more sort of trying what in my wardrobe works and what doesn't - tried cycling in a different skirt when some balloons came near the house at the weekend and that was what I was wearing but it was hard to cycle and fairly indecent (and no in case anyone asks there aren't photos). I have one pair of old jeans that used to be very cycleable in due to having a stretch element in them and the seams didn't rub, other ones are only for cycling a mile or two at most.

But yes finding clothes that are technical and also looking like non sporty wear is hard.

 

[purplepolly]

1. What do you rate most highly:
peer support

2. Why do you cycle:
Commuting
Leisure

3. As a beginner who did you go to for help and advice?
forums

4. Do you feel that more women are cycling now than were last year?

Commuting - no , I saw another woman on a bike today on my commute for the first time in 7 months of cycle commuting. There are a couple at work who cycle though. There's a lot more men cycling though, so maybe it'll follow on from that.

Leisure/shopping - yes, it's normal now to see women on bikes in manchester ctiy center at the weekend.

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this
No I don't look as they usually all go up to a small size 16

 

[Wheeledweenie]

But yes finding clothes that are technical and also looking like non sporty wear is hard.

God bless the current fashion for leggings!

 

[Wheeledweenie]

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this
No I don't look as they usually all go up to a small size 16

I find that a problem. Cycling's got me down to a size 14 but I'm often in the Large/XL section in cycle gear or it's not actually factored in the extra girth in the thigh department that all cyclists have.

 

[summerdays]

God bless the current fashion for leggings!

For example can you buy a pair of cycling tights that look like leggings that don't have reflective bits and logo's all over them. I don't really like wearing clothes with branded words on it for example.

 

[Wheeledweenie]

For example can you buy a pair of cycling tights that look like leggings that don't have reflective bits and logo's all over them. I don't really like wearing clothes with branded words on it for example.

A valid point. I'm sure they exist but where?

 

[HelenD123]

1. What do you rate most highly:

peer support

2. Why do you cycle:
Commuting
Leisure


3. As a beginner who did you go to for help and advice?

LBS to get the bike and for a few bits of clothing. Then I stumbled across Bikeradar where I learnt a lot about road positioning then I found this place. I still feel like a beginner!

4. Do you feel that more women are cycling now than were last year?
I don't see many cyclists on my commute, and only two other women. It hasn't changed in the last year. There were a few women on the sportive I did a few weeks ago.

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this?
I've only been cycling a year or two and haven't noticed any significant change.

 

[trio25]

If not a new site, how about regular email newsletters on new products for women or features?

Sometimes that would be nice and I would subscribe.

How would you fund it, that was why the original shecycles was pulled.

 

[HelenD123]

I looked at the forum on TeamEstrogen for the first time this week and it was great to find some female-specific advice. As with all forums, you need a critical mass for it to work and there to be enough experience to draw on.

 

[trio25]

Do you find it difficult to find clothing that transfers from cycle to going out? So if there were say a regular feature on transferable outfits, would t be useful?

Useful as a feature, but would it not be a one off or yearly maybe?

I tend to ride in cycling kit and change or if short journeys normal clothes. So I don't have an issue, but I can see this could be a barrier to cycling.

 

[trio25]

I find that a problem. Cycling's got me down to a size 14 but I'm often in the Large/XL section in cycle gear or it's not actually factored in the extra girth in the thigh department that all cyclists have.

Men have the same problem! Cyclists are assumed to be small! American makes are more generous in their sizing!

 

[trio25]

For example can you buy a pair of cycling tights that look like leggings that don't have reflective bits and logo's all over them. I don't really like wearing clothes with branded words on it for example.

Surely just buy normal leggins then? I actually think more reflective bits on cycle specific clothing is needed and that women's stuff has less on than mens often - implying we don't cycle when it gets dark?

 

[Wheeledweenie]

Useful as a feature, but would it not be a one off or yearly maybe?

I tend to ride in cycling kit and change or if short journeys normal clothes. So I don't have an issue, but I can see this could be a barrier to cycling.

We're just throwing ideas around at the moment without specifics. We're trying to look at where the gaps are.

 

[summerdays]

Surely just buy normal leggins then? I actually think more reflective bits on cycle specific clothing is needed and that women's stuff has less on than mens often - implying we don't cycle when it gets dark?

I've got reflective bits on my night vision coat, and slap bands, reflective stickers on my bike, supposedly reflective bits on the sides of my tyres - I would rather have a pair of cycle specific leggings that looked like normal ones. So that the seams aren't in the wrong place and a technical material preferably.

 

[trio25]

I've got reflective bits on my night vision coat, and slap bands, reflective stickers on my bike, supposedly reflective bits on the sides of my tyres - I would rather have a pair of cycle specific leggings that looked like normal ones. So that the seams aren't in the wrong place and a technical material preferably.

I see, I like lots on my legs as they are what move and draw attention to me. But I can't imagine wearing leggings off the bike! Shows how much I know about fashion