Vélocouture was coined by Patrick from Portland, (a bike hugga and avid Flickr contributor) His Flickr group by the same name, Vélocouture features photos of stylish practical clothing worn while cycling. For cycling to take hold as a major alternative form of transportation, people should feel as comfortable off their bikes as on them. Many would be cyclists conjure images of spandex clad, ultra fit tour riders, and simply never consider the possibility of a short trip to the store on a bike in practical clothing. I love catching sight of plain clothes cyclists in fashionable garb. We need more of you on the streets, showing the rest of us that cycling can be a simple, fun, and practical form of transportation.
Uploaded by Dapper Lad Cycles | more from the Bike Hugger Photostream.
or Plain-Clothes Cycling.
couldn’t catch me dead in “biking gear”, unless we’re talking some kind of bright colored windbreaker for windy/rainy/dark weather.
I love the freedom of taking my bike on errands and not wasting time with the car.
considering summer and thunderstorm season has hit michigan, way too hot to be wearing my regular clothes.
I don’t think that’s has to be either/or — meaning lycra or levis and functionality should reign over fashion. It doesn’t have to be a statement on either side. I wear manpris from Mountain Hardwear when I ride bettie, Metro shorts from REI on the Modal when I’m traveling, shorts with knee warmers when it’s cool on the Brompton, when it’s hot for sure a jersey that breathes, and when I’m training, racing, or touring, the full hugga kit.
It’s the situation that warrants the clothes choice, I think and for cyclist just riding to school, the store, or work, they want to ride in their work clothes, great. But I’d def tell them, it gets above 80, there are advanced in fabric technology that can help you stay cool.
Guys, lose the manpris. Seriously. I support everyone’s right to self expression, but you can’t honestly think those will persuade “mainstream” folks to begin bike commuting.
Very few people actually look “cool” when riding any how. Trying to look cool, whether it’s a pro-tour racing kit, or the urban hipster look, actually makes it worse.
Apologies in advance for ruffling feathers, but had to get this off my chest. -Sean
How does wearing man-pris affect mainstream cyclists — they totally work and I’d def tell them all about it. Ya know, the other name for man-pris (besides pantaloons!), is Pedal Pushers … .
As I posted above, I think drawing such firm distinction doesn’t make any sense. Why deny yourself a supa comfortable merino wool jersey cause it looks “roadie.”
If a cyclists wants to ride in jeans, ok with me, but I suspect after a few sweaty instances, they’ll start thinking about more comfortable options. Climbing clothes from Prana et al, probably have the most cross-over capability. Check what I wore in this video. Those pants are outstanding in all conditions below 60 degrees.
I’ve been wearing some Rin Project (a Japanese company) knickers. They have cargo pockets on the sides. It helps make them look less like women’s capris or dress slacks that have been chopped. I would describe them as clamdiggers, but without the baggy fit. Very comfy, but could use a slightly higher rise in the back. http://rinproject.open365.jp/Images/Product/0025/Sub/ショートCH サブ03.jpg
I like how the pockets are tilted so they stay more “upright” while riding… Where can you buy these in the states?
There’s bike shop here called Velo-Culture that tailors to getting people on fixies… so, it may just be down here in San Diego, but “veloculture” conjures up images Bianchi pistas and the like.
Haute couture (French for “high sewing” or “high dressmaking”) refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted fashions… So Patrick’s play on words of Velocouture, is meant to imply cycling fashion. However, at a glance, couture and culture look very similar.
I just don’t buy that seeing somebody on a bike, whether in full kit or hipster attire, would turn people off from trying to ride themselves because they think they look funny. Those people are already looking for an excuse not to ride.
I personally had my biking interest piqued when I saw a “racer” out training one day, and noticed how effortlessly he zoomed along. That in turn lead me back into biking, and now I ride in all types of clothing. One thing leads to another eventually…
Agreed,
I just raced at PIR — Monday night world championships in Portland — big fields, sometimes huge fields, 100s. There’s lots of cross-over between bike subcultures and that’s as it should be. I suspect many of those racers at PIR also have fixies, single speeds, and urban gear.
We’re all I bet using messenger bags and those messengers are probably riding clipless pedals. Lycra came from Assos and the Olympics and damn if it isn’t a wonder material; especially when combined with Merino wool.
Use what works and fits. You want to commute all kitted up like Mapei? Great work that Euro style homie! You can also do that in cowboy hat and boots if ya want.
And note, “commuting” carries the same connotation of “gear” and special equipment that racing does.
The most exclusive clique is fixed; no gears, no brakes. Now that’s something you don’t want a general cyclist to try, but that aesthetic has certainly found itself into mainstream cycling, like that Trek Soho S we spotted.
Nice article, As a design thesis I tried to address this movement with a Velo-couture concept helmet, check it out here.
Nate,
First let me say, I’m for any type of cycling in any sort of clothing. However, I do believe many people view cycling only as a sport, like Tennis. They imagine it requires its own special gear, and it’s primary function is competition or exercise. They think of sport icons like Lance Armstrong, and don’t give cycling as a practical mode of transportation much thought. I celebrate examples of urban dwellers that choose to make their bike a primary mode of transportation. In some cities throughout Europe it is normal to see men in suits, or women in dresses integrating bikes into their daily routine. Even in the bike friendly pacific northwest, it is rare to see fashionable non-cycling specific clothing worn while riding.
I agree with you, those looking for a reason not to ride, won’t… I simply like seeing more cyclists on the road in practical fashionable clothing, because it reinforces the collective acceptance of cycling as a simple fun mode of transportation. Which is good for all bike hugga’s.
Keep Riding -Galen
I agree, we need more casual attire riders. However, I am just saying that what we really need are more bikers, period. Some people will start riding because they think messengers are all that is cool. Some people will want to feel like a pro athlete, and wear the spandex super suit. Some people will see how awesome it is to ride to the farmers market in jeans with a cruiser bike (complete with bell and basket of course).
Technical riding gear makes riding sooo much nicer. The latest wool products are not itchy, don’t smell, and work almost as well as the bright obnoxious race kit. While I opted for the spendy Chrome knickers, a similar cheap solution can be found by getting used (or retrofitting) wool dress pants and modifying them for cycling.
Riding in cotton, i.e. jeans and similar is torture for me. I see people doing it all the time but it’s not for me. Maybe I’m too high strung but my cruising speed causes some sweat so I need a technical setup. I’ve tried slowing down but it’s just now how I am wired. I’m not rolling at race pace but I like to actually get some velocity. Wool for my top layers and some knickers and a vest, all in low key earthtones is how I roll. I have no false perception that it’s truly stylin’ but I hope not to look like a total wank.
I accept my poor fashion when I throw on the race gear and go for a fast training ride. When at such intensity in different kinds of weather, the heat and moisture management that high tech riding/racing gear provides is essential. It can be the difference between a comfortable ride and hypothermia. Training should be suffering of one kind.
Otherwise for urban riding, wool is the biz.
Right on Zaphod!
Well put. I love my technical wool for urban riding and high-tech lycra for touring, training, and racing. And that’s not for the looks, but the functionality. The hugga kit, for example, is made by Hincapie and is really a nice jersey in terms of technical wear.
And all of this crosses over. Why ride in cotton, just cause it’s not “racer.” Geez, I’d soak through that like a paper towel.
I’m looking for what I suppose does not exist: a one-piece WOOL bicycle riding suit, made of a wool comparable to Filson wool, cut loose to allow ease of movement and getting on an off. I want to do a five mile commute to the university, stay reasonably warm and dry—but wool is not THAT warm hence minimal sweating—and step out of the thing and teach 30 kids at 8:00 in the morning. This seems a reasonable thing to me. But apparently not to anyone else?? Any advice, counsel, consolation appreciated.
Stephen Gatlin