Does anyone have any tips for how to cycle in a skirt/dress?

[helenclayton@mas.to]

@Hellybootwader

[adub@beige.party]

@helenclayton two words: skirt guard. they're helpful for a rider of any gender.

[bramblebearsnoring@mastodon.ie]

@helenclayton What would you need in a walking frock to make it walkable? That dounds like a good diy #makers project.

@patrickhadfield @Wen

[helenclayton@mas.to]

@BrambleBearSnoring @patrickhadfield @Wen there are plenty of patterns around but I can’t sew for toffee.

[bramblebearsnoring@mastodon.ie]

@helenclayton Great thread for #SolarpunkSunday

[amalia12@mastodon.social]

@helenclayton I cannot give you an exact description of how to do that, but you could trie to take two sides of the skirt and make a (temporary) knot into the skirt, so that the fabric will not get into the pedals or the wheels of your bike.

I don't wear skirts myself anymore, but years ago, I have seen a friend doing this and it seemed to work well.

[bramblebearsnoring@mastodon.ie]

@helenclayton Me either, but I try to bull through it badly anyway. I am oddly shaped, terribly hard on clothes, pants in particular. This reminds me I woul like to finish my flannel pants repair asap.

Mostly, I am curious what would make a skirt or frock good for walking? What features?

@patrickhadfield @Wen

[helenclayton@mas.to]

@BrambleBearSnoring @patrickhadfield @Wen I think it depends on the era. I’ve seen pictures of Victorian ones that could be looped up at the sides, though petticoats would still cover ankles. Edwardian ones could be a bit shorter. Fabrics like wool. Probably some pleats for movement. Obviously would have to have pockets for me!

[alexadeswift@lgbtqia.space]

@helenclayton

Unfortunately I have never ridden a bike in skirts or dresses, but Dutch bikes typically have a drop frame and skirt guards for just this.

[lepaggoth@mastodon.social]

@stufromoz @helenclayton @VWDasher I remember seeing those around in 1980's-90's, and have a vague memory of my mother crocheting one when I was little. I don't think there was pattern though, but she just followed measures of old and worn out one.

[lepaggoth@mastodon.social]

@helenclayton I've found knee-length skirts and dresses easiest when biking. I think one of my summer faves is mid-calf and haven't had trouble with that one either, but haven't really even tried with long flowy ones. I've admired one of my friends' steampunk-dress that has straps for adjusting skirt length, so it's easy to shorten the skirt for biking and lengthen it again later.

[helenclayton@mas.to]

@lepaggoth yes I was admiring a design for a Victorian dress that could be looped up at the sides. Most of my skirts and dresses are mid length or longer though I may have one that’s knee length. Will experiment.

[srlevine@neuromatch.social]

@helenclayton I think @forth uses both a chain guard and spoke guards (is that the term for them?), to safely ride in skirts. Though hers are homemade maybe?

[swachter@toot.boston]

@helenclayton How long is the skirt? I default to 1) leggings or bike shorts underneath 2) using a binder clip to clip my skirt together between my legs (only works with loose/voluminous skirts but those are the ones likely to flap up anyway 3) sewing a button and loop into the skirt interior if I’m going to ride in it often.

[justip@zeroes.ca]

@helenclayton @Kellyshenanigans

[helenclayton@mas.to]

@swachter thank you. I don’t know yet, only that I’ll have to wear a skirt or dress as I don’t have suitable trousers. Most are mid length or longer. I think I have one that’s knee length. I’ll experiment.

[kellyshenanigans@yeg.bike]

@helenclayton depends on the skirt length, volume, and if I care how I look while riding. I find knee length skirts or shorter, I don't need to do anything, maybe a weight in front to keep the skirt down. For a long skirt, I like to ponytail it, literally just tie a it up to one side. However, if I care how i look while I'm riding, I might "gird" it: pull as much fabric forward as you can, then pull it between your legs, and sit on it, works best with long, voluminous skirts.

@justip

[helenclayton@mas.to]

@Kellyshenanigans @justip brilliant, thanks ️

[kellyshenanigans@yeg.bike]

@helenclayton @justip i also have made a sewn solution, invented in the 1800s, involving a series of hidden cords and weights, and detailed in the book Bikes and Bloomers, but I'm guessing you won't want to sew modifications to your skirt(s)

[commonsparrow@mindly.social]

@helenclayton
In the early 1980's I used to ride a bike to work. I worked in a bookstore and frequently wore skirts. They were mostly A-line style or slightly flared, not really full, so less prone to flapping around. Also helped that I rode upright on what we jokingly called the Miss Gulch model bike. On particularly windy days, I used safety pins to take up the slack in the skirt. Lots of safety pins.