Cycling in a skirt - any advice?

[Milfmog]

In another thread Boca wrote:

A couple of weeks ago I was bicycling in a skirt.

I have never tried cycling in a skirt or kilt. I would imagine that a skirt short or loose enough to allow easy, comfortable cycling would result in showing off more than might be regarded as "proper", but since my bike has a top tube and no chain guards a long skirt does not seem like a great idea either.

Any hints?

Have fun,


Ian.

[eightofninekev]

I too would like some advice ,I tried riding with my favorite skirt on and ened up ripping it .I sat on the seat tried to move my legs to pedal but couldent almost fell of the bike.I eneded up tearing a big long line in the back.

[Departed Member]

In another thread Boca wrote:
I have never tried cycling in a skirt or kilt. I would imagine that a skirt short or loose enough to allow easy, comfortable cycling would result in showing off more than might be regarded as "proper", but since my bike has a top tube and no chain guards a long skirt does not seem like a great idea either.

Any hints? Have fun, Ian.

Before I had severe back/arm problems, I used to cycle 35-55 miles a week, come rain or shine. I used the only (two) skirts I possess with a length of 27-28in (anything below the knee to above the ankle is a 'no-go' for me, otherwise!). Hem around 50in, they don't ride up, catch in the chain or restrict movement. Although you don't have the risk of wasps, midges or similar flying up your shorts leg & getting stuck and then taking retribution (biting/stinging!), it is probably advisable to wear some kind of underwear!

Trad Kilts are rather cumbersome on a bike, and there's a risk of entangling pleats in your back wheel - not recommended! (Although the lower back support provided by a kilt is welcome).

As for Sports Kilts, I don't recommend them - full stop! The only time I tried, a gust of wind from the side blew the flippin' thing open, just as I was passing two young ladies sat by the kerbside!

[Since1982]

They are still around. Mostly at yard sales and pawn shops or even the back room of Bicycle stores. I found one, a Schwinn. Big seat, off yellow color, big tires. WHEN I get down to the weight I am aiming for I intend to ride it for exercise and I definitely won't be wearing shorts when I do. I'll probably be wearing an A-line that tends more towards straight so I have plenty of leg movement but no problems with wind. I'll probably go with about 26 to 28 inches in length skirts. :ninjajig:

[Kilted_John]

I'm planning to use a skirted swimsuit bottom when I start riding my mountain bike again. It's short enough (mid-lower thigh), loose enough to provide freedom of movement, and has built-in underwear that matches the skirt itself. So, it shouldn't be a problem. Might be worth a look for those of us who prefer bikes that have straight top tubes.

Get one in a dark color, and you probably won't need anything more than that, a t-shirt, sox, and shoes for riding. Might need a way to carry a wallet and keys, since there aren't any pockets on them...

-J

[AMM]

[Re: girls bicycles]

They are still around. Mostly at yard sales and pawn shops or even the back room of Bicycle stores. ...

LL Bean lists several touring bicycles in a "step-through" style. Some are listed as "step through", some as "women's".

One well-known gender-neutral attraction: you can get on and off without doing gymnastics.

One problem: they tend to be only available in smaller frame sizes.

-- AMM

[Since1982]

One problem: they tend to be only available in smaller frame sizes.

Keep looking, chubby women used to bicycle for exercise before exercise bikes were invented and there were lots of men's size step thru women's bicycles around say 30 years ago. Better made ones like Schwinn are still around in attics, yard sales and junk shops.

[binx]

An above-knee trad UK works great for bicycling. Heavy enough and designed to stay down all around.

binx

[Foppy]

I've tried, but I just can't do it. Actually, my bicycle is one of the reasons I rarely wear skirts these days (though I haven't stopped; I just don't wear them as often).

[Zorba]

I ride my bike back and forth to work every day - and wear all my various skirts. Mostly Utilikilts, but also a Macabi and a long denim number. The Macabi has a slight tendancy to blow up under the right conditions, but isn't bad. I wear it in cold weather.

The bike is a 1 year old Biria "EZ Board" which is a German made bike with an extremely low step through frame.

[boca]

The skirt I was wearing that day fell just above the knees and was a 20-inch long, 50in hem A-line skirt that is made of a fairly stretchy heavy cotton. It was just long enough that it wouldn't ride up too bad at moderate speeds and provided some "modesty". However if I got to a high speed (20mph+) it started to ride up a bit.

I would recommend something that is made of some fairly heavy fabric to keep it from flying up. Also, in order to keep the skirt from getting into the gears I recommend the skirt length is at least above high-calf to knee area. As long as it is higher than this it will not get stuck in the gears. Also make sure that the skirt isn't too short as the instant you start pedaling it will ride up your thigh. Along with length, make sure you watch the hem-diameter. You want something that will give you enough movement for your legs to peddle, but something not too big that will start flapping in the wind or will fly up.

I found that skirt cycling gives quite a bit of "air conditioning" "down there" where I get quite hot during a good bicycle ride.

Have fun riding

[matman]

I skirt and bike as much as I can. For me, though, the two are mutually exclusive. I could not ride five (5) miles without the pad of my cycling shorts. That's perhaps more to do with the type of riding I do, though. I've logged some 3600 miles or so, so far this calendar year. Most rides are in the range from 20 to 80 miles, although I've done two (2) 200+ mile rides so far this year. I wear skirts for comfort. That means around the house, and I'm getting more and more comfortable skirting while out on errands. Skirts with liners, aka skorts, don't cut it because that's the same, comfort wise, as wearing shorts or pants (comando style, anyway).

Bottom line, though, I want to see more and more guys in skirts more and more often, so that when people see me in em they don't think I'm strange or queer. The worst thing, for me personally, would be for the public to only see blatently extreem dressing men in skirts and kilts, and then me. Rather, I want more men, without tatoos, without piercings, without other "distractions", to be seen wearing kilts and skirts as everyday wear.

Cheers to all!

[bcmtnbka]

It depends on what kind of bicycle that you decided to ride. If you insist to ride with your skirt, I would recommand a crusier bike. They are made for upright position. They are fashionable now and many bike shops carry them.

Mordern bicycles are designed for pedal efficiency. They are streched out, that's why it is bad for use with skirts.

There are a few cycling appreal companies had made skirt for riding, but they are just not big hit with the women riders. They never caught on.

[Sylvain]

I biked once with my kilt. Only a short distance. But I own a Brompton http://www.bromptonbicycle.co.uk/index. ... ange.mtype
so I don't fear my kilt be caught in the wheel.

[matman]

Two weeks ago I was in Bicycle Gallery in downtown Portland Oregon. As I shopped for a cycling top for my wife I noticed they had cycling kilts in the womens dept. I really didn't pay much attention to them because I noticed that they were lined with a padded short. I'm not interested in donning a skirt over my cycling shorts, so I didn't look at them. My recollection though, is that they had several "pairs" of lined cycling kilts in stock. May be able to get them online from the Bicycle Gallery.

Cheers to all.