Do all cyclists have to wear lycra? I’d like to ride my bike more often but I don’t want to wear what seems to be the Brisbane cyclist uniform of lycra all over and those clicky-clacky shoes (can you tell that I’m no cycling expert?).
I was lucky enough to visit Austria a couple of years ago, where riding a bike is a common way to get around the villages there. One sight that struck me as wonderful, and so very different to our cycling culture here, was seeing an older lady, at least 60 years old, sedately riding her bike into town to do her daily grocery shopping. She wore a ladylike skirt, practical shoes and a cardigan, sitting upright on her old faithful and sturdy bicycle with woven basket at the front.
I wish Brisbane could boast similar sights. It is so unusual to see people of all ages riding calmly to go about their daily business, wearing regular clothes and shoes. I feel, as a non-cyclist, that bike riding in Brisbane is about fast paced riding for fitness or commuting (wearing lycra) rather than an activity for everyone, all the time.
Maybe my perception is wrong. I’d like it to be.
Brisbane's CityCycle bike hire scheme is one example where cycling is all about everyday transport rather than speed or fitness. It’s also about wearing your regular clothes (albeit with a helmet) riding from one destination to another.
I saw the popularity of schemes like CityCycle in Paris and Barcelona and thought they really added to the vibrancy of the cities.
In Brisbane, perhaps March will be the month when cyclists take over the streets, because it is Bike Week from 12 – 20 March 2011. And there are lots of events organised.
There is ride to work day on Wednesday 16 March when it will be great to see King George Square invaded by hundreds of cyclists. It will also be a good opportunity to try riding into the city accompanied by others.
Plus Bike Week includes some bike maintenance workshops that a complete novice like myself would find useful. And a fun family ride where kids using training wheels are encouraged.
Would a casual cycling mentoring scheme be useful? A regular bike rider can take a non-rider under their wing and show them the best routes to the local library, a café, or nearest train station. It would give me the confidence to ride to more locations.
“Be the change you want to see in the world” Mahatma Ghandi said. He rode a bike and he didn’t wear lycra either.
So, inspired by Ghandi, if I want to see old women wearing cardigans riding bikes to the shops then maybe I need to be that woman (minus the old bit and minus the cardigan because it’s way too hot in Brisbane!).
I want bike riding to be about getting where I need to go easily, not about fashion or who has the most expensive racing bike.
Do you ride a bike without wearing lycra?
