{"id":5369,"date":"2016-05-25T18:14:12","date_gmt":"2016-05-25T18:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/discerningcyclist.com\/?p=5369"},"modified":"2024-01-02T12:40:42","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T12:40:42","slug":"stylish-cycling-clothing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discerningcyclist.com\/stylish-cycling-clothing\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Cycling ‘Fashion’ Improve the Perception of Cyclists?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ask almost any person in Britain to describe what a cyclist looks like, and they’ll probably conjure up an image of a MAMIL<\/a> (a “middle-aged man in Lycra”). However, ask the same question on the continent – particularly in the likes of the Netherlands, Denmark or Germany – and your answer would be more likely to be simply that of someone riding a bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britain has long lagged behind its European neighbours when it comes to cycling infrastructure. Whilst much of Central Europe enjoys spacious bicycle lanes and priority given to cyclists on most roads, junctions and roundabouts, in the UK it’s very much different. A bicycle path is a rare, narrow, \u201cluxury\u201d, while cycling is still very much considered an alternative mode of transport, rather than the norm. This has led to a British culture of \u2018vehicular cyclists’, whereby many cyclists try to behave as if they were a car and by doing so attempt to ride at the same speed as the traffic and hold stronger road positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you want to keep up with a car for a long period of time when cycling, you’re going to get sweaty. And this is the prevalent reason why many cyclists you’ll see in the UK opt for a racing bike and sporty cycling attire \u2013 typically changing their outfit upon arrival at their destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Vehicular<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Again, this contrasts significantly from on the continent, where the most common type of bikes<\/a> you’ll see are commuter and urban bicycles that allow the rider a more leisurely upright position while riding. Cyclists also wear \u2018normal’ everyday clothes, or whatever they plan on wearing when they reach their destination. Indeed, are they even \u2018cyclists’? Or just people on bikes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That brings me to an interesting question: can what people wear on their ride change perceptions of cycling?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a point worth considering. Cycling has a bad rep in the UK. It’s not considered cool in the mainstream, and is even a source of angst amongst fellow road users. However, as proven elsewhere in Europe, an increase in cycling<\/a> can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n