One of the persistent complaints I've gotten about our series of bike ride videos was that they featured people "all dressed up in biking armor". Cycling attire is function-specific, and makes cycling both more comfortable and efficient. However, there may be times when it's inappropriate or unnecessary, especially for short rides in an urban environment.
Well, here's a mild-mannered lady (Ms. Keri Caffrey, a graphic designer/art director by trade) cruising the streets of Orlando, Florida on a comfort bike. Casually attired in shorts, polo shirt, and sneakers, she could be on her way to enjoy a double no-fat Macchiato at Starbucks™, or perhaps making a quick run to Whole Foods™ for some fresh arugula.
Again shot by Brian DeSousa of CyclistView (from his tiny folding bike), Keri demonstrates the typical experience of a vehicular cyclist who obeys the laws and controls her lane.
Welcome to the real world. As the Nike ad says, "Just do it!"
6 comments:
Geez, do I have to get out there with a hippie wig, a bike I dragged out of a dumpster, some cargo pants and a t-shirt full of holes, to prove that you can ride all over the City of Dallas with confidence and assertion? What's it gonna take?
Blogger whareagle said...
"Geez, do I have to get out there with a hippie wig, a bike I dragged out of a dumpster, some cargo pants and a t-shirt full of holes,"
I think an Electra cruiser (http://www.electrabike.com) and an outfit from Banana Republic is what they have in mind.
No matter what you do, they'll come up with excuses why the video is different from the average cyclist's experience. But I do think it helps the image to ride a cruiser and wear street clothes.
Most of the cyclists using the roads in Orlando are wearing street clothes, but pedaling their brains out on fixed gear bikes. More power to them, but many of them still think it is an activity which demands speed, skill and vigilance. I guess that's fun, when you're twenty-something it's cool to do something everyone perceives as dangerous.
(Of course, high speed does require more vigilance than loafing along at 12mph... which makes cycling that much more accessible for the rest of us!)
whareagle, my t-shirts don't have many holes and I DON'T wear a wig!
As for Electras, I've seen their ads and I can't say I have any particular desire for beads, jangly earrings, shaving my head, tattoos, jeans with holes in the knees (it's amazing how much cold air can blow into those holes), and especially not for pink, spaghetti strap tops. What's more I'm not willing to wear high heels just to show I'm as bicycle friendly as people in Amsterdam.
This PC bicycle stuff has GOT to stop somewhere!
Hey, Keri, let me clue you, it's even MORE fun & cool to do something everyone PERCEIVES as dangerous when you're fifty-something. I imagine it'll be more fun & cool yet to do it at 90...
I've tried to point out to some co-workers that the 'spandex' stuff really has a purpose, and that's to see that I can ride day after day without getting saddle sores. Then I offer to show them the proof. They usually don't bring it up again.
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