Ladies and Diamond Frames

Lots of ladies ride diamond frame bicycles, even in a skirt. The lovely Charlotte of Chic Cyclist and the good women of Bike Skirt are just some examples. Recently, I tried riding diamond frames for the first time in my life.

Here is the Co-Habitant's vintage Raleigh. I had to wear platform shoes, because I can't otherwise clear the top tube of his 24" bike.

And here is an Origin8 Cykel, which I tried at the Bike Stop in Arlington, Mass. This time the frame was just the right size, though those super-wide handlebars took some getting used to.

My feelings about diamond frames are mixed. While cycling, I actually find them very comfortable: The horizontal tube helps me feel balanced and in control of the bicycle. But by golly, I don't understand how to mount and dismount gracefully. The Co-Habitant swings his leg over the back in one fluid ballet-like motion, but I seem to be incapable of executing this maneuver without faltering. Plus, in a skirt this can't be done without hiking it up first.

I've tried leaning the bicycle over toward me until the frame is low enough to step over, but that does not seem right either. Ladies, how do you do it? And when you're wearing a skirt?

UPDATE: The graceful Charlotte of Chic Cyclist has now posted a photo-tutorial showing how she rides her diamond frame in a miniskirt. Enjoy!

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In Defense of the "Frivolous" Bike Craze

[J. Crew catalog excerpt; image from pink-to-green.blogspot.com]

During the past two years, traditionally styled bicycles have gained considerable popularity in the US. Fashion models in ad campaigns have been featured riding Gazelle and Jorg & Olif, celebrities have been photographed cruising around on their Electras, and there is over a dozen weblogs now across North America dedicated to cycling and fashion. The New York Times made it official by referring to the stylish bicycle as the current must-have fashion accessory.

It is hard not to notice that some of the discussions of the “Dutch bicycle craze” come with a degree of scorn. There is an assumption that those who are buying such bicycles are not actually interested in bicycles, but merely want the latest “It” item -- a frivolous, consumerist attitude that is embarrassing to the real, authentic bike lovers. I have gotten this response form several shop owners when I told them what kind of bicycle I was looking for, as well as from some acquaintances who have been riding road bikes for years. Surprised and disappointed to encounter this sentiment, I offer two lines of argument in response.

[Gazelle Toer Populair for Club Monaco; image from thisislavie.com]

First off, those rolling their eyes at the girls who supposedly must have a Dutch bike as a fashion accessory, may be misunderstanding the situation. If you read the first post on this weblog, I think you will get a pretty good idea of why many women in the US do not ride bikes, and how introducing them to traditionally styled bicycles can change that. When I saw a Gazelle on the street for the first time, I did not know what it was. I had no idea whether it was new or vintage and whether it was considered popular in the public eye. What I did know, was that finally I was seeing a bicycle that I would be willing and able to ride.

The point is, that before the Dutch-style bicycles began to be imported in the US, it was simply not possible for fashion-conscious and unathletic women to ride a bike. There were no products for them to buy that would have accommodated their lifestyles. Now there are, so they are buying them. Therefore, to say that they are buying fashion accessories that happen to be bicycles is to misjudge the situation. They are buying these bikes, because finally the kind of bicycles that suit their tastes are available.

Second, even if some persons are interested in these bicycles only because they have been deemed a fashion must-have, I do not understand why this should evoke criticism. Is it not the ultimate victory for cycling advocates and environmentalists, that it is suddenly possible to get even the most unlikely suspects interested in commuting by bicycle? Wouldn’t it be an ideological coup for the go-green movement, if all those glamour girls previously driving enormous SUVs now think that cars are totally uncool and anyone who is anyone must have a Dutch bicycle? I can assure you that the majority of the population is far more likely to be influenced by these giggly spokespersons than by the earnest Green activists. It really seems like a win-win situation to me.

So please, hard-core cyclists: do think twice about criticizing those who you think want a bicycle “for the wrong reasons”. Consider instead what a fabulous thing it is, that they want a bicycle at all.

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