To Marylebone High Street via Hyde Park and Many Thoughts on Clothes

Mice Log Star Date 93. 17.42 miles, 11.1 average speed, 20mph max in 1 hr 33 on the Marin

As I pedalled around Hyde Park in a completely different season to the one of yesterday - I was actually snowed on today! - I started wondering about wardrobes and wheels.

For me, my wardrobe is chosen based on my destination and the distance I intend to cycle. Journeys with 15 miles before the first stop will more often than not find me in cycling specific clothes - often with the words Gore,  Assos or Lidl written in reflective fabric across my knees, calves and ankles.  These items aren't just an image thing - it's a comfort thing. 

Wearing clothes designed for cycling means that I am maximising the benefits of modern fabric technology.  I can stay the right temperature for the weather and cycling conditions which means I can concentrate solely on how much fun I am having rather than being cold/wet/miserably counting how many blisters I may be creating.

For journeys less than that, or if it's an all day pootle I wear my everyday clothes - looking relatively normal (although of course I consider myself - well attempting at least - to be looking supremely stylish!)

The decision what to wear really is based on comfort.  Do I want to be wandering around town, window shopping, popping in and out of restaurants in lycra and cleats? No, I don't!  Do I want to be on my bike for five hours without cleats or padded shorts? No I don't!

Am I treated differently on the road depending on how I look?  In my experience the answer is No, I don't think I am.  I have been close-passed, swerved in front of, beeped and shouted at for merely being on the road regardless of what bike I am on and indeed what I am wearing.

Equally I have had help with punctures, directions, courteousness and had space made for me.  I am going to study this a bit more just to be sure.

The bigger question in my mind at the moment is how long it will be until women's clothing combines with style and comfort so that I can wear technical cycling clothes that capture the style that I like.  Brands like Levi and H&M have already started a range of menswear cycling specific clothing.  This is a start. I haven't found the strength to go in to H&M yet but I understand from my sources that the items suit men on fixed wheels. I shall head to H&M and see for myself!

As I ride around London I see and meet some seriously stylish cyclists.  All of whom seem to have their bicycle as an accessory to their wardrobe.  Really cool!

Any new items I buy for my wardrobe must now always be wearable on my bike!  Skirts and dresses can no longer be ankle-length or indeed too tight - fabric wrapped around chain rings or sprockets is not a good look! Equally fabric that is going to reshape or expire after a minute in the rain is going to left in the shop. 

It has been an interesting exercise finding the winning combination of things that I would wear on and off my bike.  Most of the cycling tops I have seen look like exactly that - cycling tops! With go faster stripes swooshed across them for no good reason. Most trousers and jeans - are too low cut to wear on a bike - you can't move properly and anyone behind you can potentially see too much of your behind.  Definitely not a good look.

What fun I would have if I could help a clothes manufacturer make their pieces more wearable on a bike! Meanwhile I shall just keep looking at what is pret a porter (as they say in France and on line!) out there.