ANYWAY, in my pipedream plans of riding around Sydney in my normal clothes, I have been looking at lots of blogs to see how people do it.
(Courtesy - The Sartorialist - such gorgeous photos, sigh!)
I came across Bird Industries who make skirt garters (amongst other cool things) and they went on sale a few weeks ago, so I decided to get myself 2 (although you can do with one).
"Each product I’ve made so far has been born out of a need/want I’ve had. I had one skirt especially that drove me crazy when it flew up while I was riding. I figured there had to be an easier way to deal with it than riding one-handed – the skirt garter was born. In the development phase of each new product I make, I first use it for a while, make tweaks, give them out for friends to use, get feedback, make tweaks, and so on." Full interview here.So today I was meeting my friend for a lunch date and because I was in lycra this morning doing park laps, I felt like I didn't want to change back into lycra during a work day, so I packed my skirt garter for the lunchtime commute.
It was the best thing ever! My dress is thigh length and not too flowy, but enough that I could freely pedal and get my leg over my saddle. It felt so secure, I didn't feel like I was flashing anyone (despite getting 2 honks by a car on the way home haha).
It felt really good.
I guess for some reason, I had almost sort of expected to have had a spectacularly awkward fall and flash everyone.
(Courtesy - www.taringa.net)
Second Bike / Quick Release
Specialized Globe Work 1 Step Thru Womens 2014
It looks skinny (I feel like a lot of the Women's commuter bikes look really thick and heavy) and it has the rack mounts and it's black so it looks cool (rather than a kid's or 80's bike).
I feel like my entry level road bike looks too fancy and is inviting being stolen... I've done some reading and I think there is some (although not much) pattern of people stealing more newer, expensive looking bikes.
I think the drop handlebars make it look more valuable.
Giant Avail 3 2014
BUT THEN
Me: Ew, this commuter bike doesn't have a quick release for the wheels!!
Husband: Well, if you're going to commute on it, you don't really need to put it in the car. And if you are travelling by car, you probably have enough space in the car to take a shifter or two with you.
Me: Oh yeah.
Chain guards
I just read from a comment on a blog post that the full chain guards aren't available on bikes with derailleurs, so that answers my question of whether to get one of those.
(ie. No. Because my second bike must have gears.)
(Hehe, but maybe my 4th or 5th bike will be a single speed..)
I'll just have to avoid wearing my longer dresses. Otherwise I might actually end up in a spectacular fall.
Near miss 1 / swearing
Today I also had my first potential "getting hit by a swearing motorist". It was actually on a confusing part of Doncaster Ave where the cycleway (in the door zone but hey, better than nothing) veers into a shared footpath. See below.
I'm not sure if it's new. The number of times I've seen cars drive and stop on the green part, makes me feel like something is missing from the signage and motorists are not understanding the implied behaviour required here.
Anyway, today I was riding along here and noticed a car driving up from the side street, so I slowed right down, which turned out to be the right thing to do because he sped all the way up, and must have noticed me track-standing there in the middle of the road to which he screeched to a stop on the green bit and swore quite a lot (not specifically at me, I think it was a bit more out of shock).
But I was very glad I had slowed down as clearly he was not expecting me there / nor had he noticed me approaching.
Near miss 2 / lycra
I was on the way home and had slowed down to a T intersection (from the stem of the T) to turn right and this super fast cyclist came around the left on the wrong side of the road, cutting the corner and had to swerve around to avoid me.
Being someone that rides in lycra, I don't think I'm the stereotype of what people derogatory call "the lycra clad" and I feel like there are people who behave badly in all categories of life.
So I am always thinking about what I can do to help change the attitudes towards "the lycra clad".
The only thing we have come up with is to be super nice when I'm in lycra and maybe I can be an counter-example to that stereotype.
Awesome opinion piece here -
The curious effect of Lycra-clad cyclists on otherwise rational people: Wear Lycra, and you are likely to attracted unwarranted insults. What is it about the material which makes motorists so angry? It's so little fabric for so much abuse
"I explained that I chose Lycra because it’s the most comfortable clothing to wear on a bike. I recounted how when my wife started cycling she was determined to never wear Lycra. A few long hot rides later, she’d changed her mind completely.
I don’t wear it to be part of a gang. I choose Lycra for the same reason I wear open-necked shirts and casual shoes: for comfort. I don’t want to look good – and believe me in Lycra I don’t look good at all – but I do want to feel good."
Oh, and in case you didn't know, this is what lycra looks like on a women. In case you weren't sure.
Yah. And people still wonder why the world needs equality for women.
