Two Interesting Articles That Came Across My Desk:

Always good to see articles validating Dismal’s wardrobe choices.

I dunno, as I’ve mentioned here before, I was inspired to take up bike commuting nine years ago when I saw “people like me” commuting by bike on the other side of my windshield. I was relating more to the demograpic (middle aged DC commuters) than equipment (bike or wardrobe). I would not have been put off if all of them had been riding state of the art racing bikes and wearing the most expensive technical gear available. I wouldn’t have known the difference. I just wanted what they had — a convenient and sane way to work that got me some exercise to boot.

I built my cycling wardrobe over time. At no point did I go out and drop $1100. I think I started with my running wardrobe, but eventually figured out my jacket didn’t cover my backside when I leaned over the handlebars, so I replaced that, and so forth. I still wear ski sweaters as a base layer. I still have a couple of pair of tights from my running days that I wear in winter.

I wear street clothes when I’m riding around downtown at lunchtime or for short errands in my community. But I suspect our commutes are longer than the average in Copenhagen and it is certainly hotter in summer, so it might not be realistic to expect all of us to commute in our work wardrobe.

On the other hand, I agree that “environmentalism” is not the most effective hook for convincing the masses. But I think sophisticated marketers such as Bike Arlington have already figured that out.

Liz

Copenhagenize makes my eyes hurt from rolling back into their sockets…

“Anybody who cycles in the winter deserves respect. Anybody who tries to tell the general population that you need anything more than your regular winter clothes to do it… does not.”

Nice strawman, which in my reading is very typical of the “Copenhagenize” crowd. They’ve invented this ELITEist bogeyman that just doesn’t match reality. I don’t think anyone says you “need” specialized clothing. The Civia cycles link referenced says “The clothing recommendation guide provides advice about how to dress for your longer rides where every day clothing would not be sufficient based around our commutes of 10-15 miles.”).

This is how I usually explain it…”depending on your circumstances, you likely already have the clothes you need; but specialized bike clothing can make your commute more comfortable, particularly if it’s long and/or hilly.”

Also, bike-specific clothing allows me to put the wear and tear on clothes that were designed with that activity in mind, whilst keeping me comfortably warm and dry (as opposed to the Copenhagen winter riders, who look freaking miserable). So yes, it may require me to spend some extra money up front, but if I rode wearing a nice suit in the blazing heat of DC winter, or the sloppy mess of a DC winter, I’d have to replace/repair my suits/shirts all the time and I’d have an insane dry-cleaning bill. That’s what works for me, but others may not make the same calculation and I don’t judge them for that.

@Tim Kelley 69565 wrote:

http://www.copenhagenize.com/2012/01/overcomplicating-winter-cycling-why-its.html?m=1

Ah… Sweet vindication.:rolleyes:

And to all those believers in specialized equipment: Rule #5.

So… if you google “winter cycling clothes”, you are going to get a bunch of results for clothes specifically geared towards cycling? In the winter? Really? And a large percentage of those results will be to vendors trying to sell you the stuff? Much of it overpriced and not absolutely necessary? Huh. Imagine that.

wondering if he has ever used google before???:p

one more point.

In Copenhagen, lots of cyclists bike in the winter. So motorists expect them.

here not only do we get fewer cyclists overall, we especially get fewer in the winter. So motorists are probably less likely to expect a cyclist. Which makes visibility more important. Which means brightly colored clothing is more important.

Also, I do not own a pair of ski goggles. I doubt many people around here do.

@lordofthemark 69595 wrote:

I can probably dig up an old circa 1990 REALLY brightly colored ski jacket

Please do this. Please.

Less snarkily, I just don’t see the average person thinking about getting a bike to tool around on every now and then googling “winter cycling clothes”, getting all intimidated, throwing up their hands, and saying never mind. Someone who decides to “take up” cycling as a sport might go out one day and buy a bike and a bunch of clothes and accessories and drop a whole bunch of money all down at once, but the people he’s concerned about who might want to ride for short distances for transportation just do not look at sport cyclists and think they’re required to buy all the same stuff in order to ride a bike.

Like Liz, I own a fair amount of cycling clothes, but I didn’t go out and buy $1100 of clothes when I got my first bike. I bought a bike, a lock, and a helmet. Then when I got blisters, I bought gloves. Some time later, when I got tired of running shorts bunching up while I rode, I bought cycling shorts. A couple years later, I decided to try those fancy clip-in pedal thingies. Etc. I think most “regular citizens” he is talking about are like me. They won’t be intimidated by all those links because they are smart enough to know what does and doesn’t apply to what they want to do.