BFOC is a proud advocate for the Slow Bike Movement, dreamt up by the wonderful people at Copehagenize.com.
This movement, which parallels the “slow food” philosophy, is targeting those of us that prefer to not dress up like lycra wearing cyborgs when riding to the office. For us, riding a 1950’s cruiser is just as satisfying as the latest all titanium models coming out of racing set factories. BFOC believes it’s truly about the journey and not the destination.
When you view the average American bicyclist en route to work, you often see this:
In comparisson, our counterparts across the pond are comfortable wearing dresses, high heels, and business suits:
Amazingly, the above picture is a fairly new phenomenon in Copenhagen. Their bicycle infrastructure was championed by Jan Gehl in the 1960’s, and over the past 40 years, average citizens have taken up cycling in record numbers.
Could this happen in Dallas? Often times, people will complain about the temperature or the lack of denisty, but Copenhagen is bitterly cold and windy 6 months out of the year. In comparison, Dallas has a record 8 months of mild temperatures. Our 68 degree bike ride on February 2nd proved that. In the end, we only need the will for change. Email your council person and ask that “Complete Street” initiatives be followed for your community.
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff 
“lycra wearing cyborgs” ha ha. exactly.
I think that’s funny too. 🙂
I’d say the main reason commuter cyclists oftentimes dress like that is because they’re just wearing what they’re accustomed to wearing when they’ve been recreational riding, and that carries over to the commuting because recreational is typically the type of riding that came first for that person.
It’s just habit. Go to any trail {dirt or paved} and you’ll see/meet tons of people who think they couldn’t possibly throw a leg over a bike without wearing padded lycra and a dozen or so other specialized pieces of clothing/hardware. lol
When they start commuting, how else would you expect them to dress?
While it is fun to just leisurely and slowly spin around on a bike, I just hope that the “slow bike movement” doesn’t have a big say in designing bike facilities, as we need those facilities designed to allow for high speed of travel.
That way, if you want to ride slow you still can.
No need to engineer a system to slow everyone down just because YOU want to ride at a slow and leisurely pace.
While living in Holland, I commuted to work via bicycle in all weather in work clothes. If it was awful enough outside that I felt I had to change clothes, then I usually opted for the metro instead. That first photo makes me chuckle.
My wife and I have been members of the Slow Food movement for years. Since I took up bicycling again about a year ago, I have tried to use my stylish Electrabike Amsterdam Classic 3 as a way to accomplish things (shopping, etc.) and to commute as much as possible, rather than just mindlessly exercise.
I love the Slow Bicycle parallel movement. Keep up the good work!
I don’t think I’d ride to work in a suit in North Texas in August even if the cycling commute share were 100%!
But cyborgs end up ruling the world, haven’t your heard?
I ride a 14 mile commute, there is no way I will ride in my office clothes.
I am more than happy to change when I get to work, unless I am willing to make the 40 to 45 minute training ride into an hour and a half tour.
I will kit up and show up then change, however I would love to be free to ride in the middle of the casual dressed commuters, if there were any.
I guess it’s all a matter of what you can manage. People in Portland, Austin, and Boulder have found a way to dress business casually and ride…but that’s because they’ve made it more appealing to the common rider. I have a 15 mile commute from far West Oak Cliff, to Mockingbird and 75.
Today I wore corduroys pants, and a polo shirt. I purchase business casual clothes, lighter pants, and typically polo style shirts, and I walk into the office ready for business.
My favorite quote from our recent interview with Roger Geller, Portland’s bike coordinator, best illustrates my point:
“One story I like to tell is that I’ve ridden the same street to work for
years. Before it had bike lanes I wore lycra, rode my road bike, carried my
work clothes in a back pack and rode like hell. Once we striped bike lanes
on the street I took out my clunker, wore my work clothes, slowed way down
(so I don’t work up a sweat) and feel very comfortable doing so because I
then had my own dedicated space. It felt great.”
You know, I don’t really care WHAT you wear as long as your ASS CRACK is not showing!
And yes, @mannytmoto, you were guilty of that at the Lee Harvey ride!
And notice they’re not wearing goofy special ed helmets.
Snarky posts about individual clothing choices don’t exactly beckon new riders to commuting. And making fun of helmets? Grow up. Wear (or don’t wear) what works for you and ignore the biters.
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