Why do cyclists have to look so nerdy?
What exactly is sensible cycling attire? Trouser clips and a nylon mac?
A kindergarten-coloured helmet and high-vis jacket? Pedal through
Shoreditch on a Saturday night and you’ll see that the queens of the
road around this part of town view the whole issue rather differently.
Riding off for an evening out dressed up to the nines with high heels
to match may seem ridiculous (and dangerous) to cycling purists but
it’s actually underpinned by practicality. It’s not love of fresh air,
care for the environment or even keeping fit that governs them: it’s
being too cash-strapped to fork out for a taxi in the face of
lamentable transport links when heading north or east.
On five-inch peep toes, the totter to and from tube station or bus is a
sole-burning nightmare. On a bike: problem solved! Head north on Hoxton
Street round the Hyde Road roundabout, cross New North Road, duck
through Arlington Square and round the elegant back streets on to Upper
Street. Your feet will barely touch the ground.
Now designers of every ilk are seeing sense, too. The Wheels &
Heels show on Columbia Road during London Fashion Week showed
sweat-proof merino wool tops, stylish headgear and reflective ankle
cuffs. At last, it seems, we’re leaving bad cycling fashion standing.
Route rating
Miles 1.6 (Hoxton Street to Upper Street).
Average cycle time 15 minutes.
Calories burned 70.
Current trends referenced 4.
Feature continues
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6 comments
'Why adhere to a law that endangers me?' (re illegal pavement cycling) The same stupid selfish comment could possibly be made about knife-carrying. Get off the pavement, you selfish git - even if people say nothing to you don't take it as tacit acceptance, it's probably because they're frightened. Read letters in the local press and reports of local community and police meetings - it's you and others like you who are making the pavements in London a no-go area for old, disabled and vulnerable people. What a stupid and irresponsible article for Time Out to endorse - I will not be purchasing it again.
I was with a cyclist who was catapulted off her bike in an accident last week. She landed on her head and shoulder. Result: Helmet severely dented, concussion, face had a nasty case of road rash, broken collar bone. Without a helmet I think it could have been much worse.
Re: amazing statistics - the trouble with accident statistics is it is impossible to measure all the accidents that don't happen...
Did the writer really mean;
'Anarchic behaviour under the guise of protest is selfish and self-defeating.'
Or perhaps;
Selfish behaviour under the guise of protest is self-defeating.
Or maybe;
Selfish behaviour under the guise of anarchy is self-defeating.
Clean up on the stereotypes mate.
I ride through that road system most days and, as I've found generally with cycling in London at all times of day and night, if you ride with your wits about you, it isn't a problem. A cycle lane past Central St. Martin's would be safer and there's loads of pavement but in the mean time the author should grow a pair and use the road.
LB 's Southwark and Lewisham provide free Adult Cycle Training for all those who live, work or study in the borough. Available via www.cyclinginstructor.com. Online Booking!
Statistics show that amazingly cyclists who wear helmets have more accidents than cyclists who don't. This is because, the study says, drivers of cars and other vehicles tend to take it "slightly easy" when they see a cyclist wearing a helmet as opposed to when a cyclist is unprotected. A model Catch-22 situation innit?