Switching Gears: The bicycle's love affair with the sun dress
June 6, 2010
Summertime is here. Well…I guess not officially here, but it sure feels like it. I was having a summer moment on Saturday. It was humid out. I was hot and didn’t want to wear pants. So I didn’t wear pants! Its true…I rocked the sun dress. Unexpected by most, but pretty damn satisfying. I mean there’s not much better than feeling the wind on your legs, and having cute girls on the street telling you your dress is gorgeous. Just saying. There was only one problem, and you can probably guess what that problem was…the bike!
I mean, if walking around and feeling the wind up your dress is satisfying, feeling the wind up your dress while biking is probably pretty magical. But I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’m not the most graceful individual, and all I could picture was riding my bicycle happily down the road unaware that the reason no cars had passed me was because I was giving them all a massive peek at my cute skivvies.
And so I walked around all day and left Franklin at home to pout. At first I felt confident in my decision, but since it was so warm out, a lot of girls decided to leave the pants at home and not all of them decided to leave the bike at home. Yes, that’s right, there were girls riding their bikes in skirts and dresses, boots and flip flops, even some in heels. I was fascinated. Being a semi recent dress-wearing convert, I just didn’t think bikes and dresses could go well together, but it seems I was wrong!
I am now determined to figure out exactly what the secret is so that I am prepared for my next dress wearing adventure. Does it have to do with dress length? Do you really need the sloping top tube? Are there magnets on the bottom of those heels (because I can’t quite figure out another way to make that work)? These questions and more are on my survey sheet. I will get to the bottom of these issues and prepare an in depth report about my findings. I am doing this for you! For every dyke who has wanted to wear a dress but was unwilling to leave her bicycle friend at home. We will find a way!
So until next time, look for me standing Greenpeace-like in JP center, asking all the girls in dresses about their bicycle riding habits, and maybe a select few for their contact information. All in the name of science. Really…
16 Responses to Switching Gears: The bicycle's love affair with the sun dress
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Pingback: Anonymous
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Michelle says:
sounds refreshing. i vote .. no spandex.
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Steph says:
I’m gonna go with Michelle, come on now, Tasha, where’s your sense of adventure??
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Genevieve says:
I say, go with a skort. Yes, sounds funny but they (those technically savvy athletic companies) have manufactured a cute and somewhat sexy skirt with mini spandex (spandies as I like to call them) shorts sewed into the garment. AKA a skort. You can be sporty and spicy all at the same time. Some brands actually add girly graphics and feminine style lines. It can be done Steph- you just have to stay on top of your new interest. Riding in skirts with girls, that is.
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A skort eh? I will have to look into this…perhaps you should model one for me before our next ride, I think that sounds like a great idea…
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Marie says:
They make these things called “tablecloth weights” that you put on your tablecloth if you are using it outdoors, you know to keep the wind from blowing it all over. You could try those!
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Hmmm tablecloth weights…maybe held on with clothes pins? I’ll do an experiment and let you know how it goes
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YouKnowWho says:
“Modesty is the lowest of the virtues.”
I say, and I’m sure Mr. William Hazlitt would agree, go without any safeguard.
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We should probably start a sundress bike club. It seems like it would be pretty popular.
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As a long-time bike commuter which generally means that I am riding in some combination of skirt/dress/heels/sandals, I can honestly say that there isn’t really a secret – you just hop on your bike and ride. Granted, it is easier on a loop frame bike but it can definitely be done on a diamond frame. If you are worried about your shirt blowing up there are things you can do (tablecloth weights, pinning the inside of your skirt to a headband or garter on your thigh) but it’s not really an issue.
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Marianne! I know you from blogging years ago! I’m glad you found your way over to Diffuse 5!!!
Steph – be nice to her. She’s a super cool chica.
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These tablecloth weights just keep coming up, I will have to look into this!
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Hey, FemiKnitMafia! I think I actually ended up her via one of your Flickr posts – thanks!
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andrea says:
The sloping downtube does make it easier to keep your underwear under your wear, but tablecloth weights – brilliant! Re: heels – biking in heels is actually pretty easy; the heel keeps your foot from sliding forward. Much easier than flip-flops, which are good for just about…nothing.
“recently dress-wearing convert” lmao
maybe spandex under those skirts so that if it did blew up ur skevvies wont be so massively exposed?
most graceful monkey- franklin will appreciate ur survey the most!