Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things: Is it still too cold to cycle?

Cycling is definitely becoming more and more popular, and the images it brings to mind are not quite Tour de France and waterproof jackets. There is, however, still a gigantic concern tied to it regarding style, or the perception of others - and this seems to involve women especially. According to the London Cyclechic blog, cycling is 'fairly mainstream now for women in their 20's/30's', and it's the teenagers who need the most persuasion, mostly because of the 'combination of safety fears and most importantly it just not being 'cool''. After seeing the posted video, I felt like the issues discussed there still very much apply to my age group, and perhaps to all age groups (what is the upper age limit for cycling? In the car-obsessed and -based social status world not many women want to arrive to work on bike, fearing they will be mocked and treated even less seriously). Beauty and the Bike is a short version of the documentary made by Darlington Media Workshop. You can order the full length, as well a book accompanying the project by emailing them (dmg at bikebeauty dot org), and an exhibition of selected images is on display at the Workshop. The project 'charts the journey of the Darlington girls, as they discover the results for cyclists in the UK of transport policy failure. But they also get a glimpse of how it can – and will – be in the future, as the crises of climate change and obesity demand a radical rethink.'

The infrastructure issues obviously concern us all, cyclists or not, and vary greatly depending on location, but what is universal is the fact that despite its undeniable advantages (to your health, your pocket, and the environment), cycling is still peripheral, seen as dangerous, a lot of trouble, difficult, or inconvenient. With matters of safety, like in so many other activities (the previous post is begging to take sex as an example), education is key. But once some basic precautions, such as wearing a helmet and lights, are taken, and we adhere to the road codes and norms, we're good to go... Or not! Weather is obviously a concern, but it's only a question of good clothes that will keep you warm/cool/dry/not sweaty. And here goes, I suppose, the greatest challenge - how to look good on a bicycle. Every other argument against cycling - that it's a children's thing, that it's not time-effective, or tiring, or a lot of work because you need a lock and it still might get stolen, or even safety concerns - pale next to the vital issue of self-image that is, presumably, threatened by the sport itself as well as the attire it implies. This argument, to me, sounds so dated - it seems like forever ago when Dutch bikes were thrown in to the cutesy retro mix. And yet - for a great number of people it was still too niche, still too youth culture to notice, and for those who did, bikes are perceived as a hipster cliché, as if assuming that everyone who got one recently and is trying to look confident and pretty on it must have done it solely for the purpose of fulfilling the updated cool cryteria. Somehow it is diffucult to combine the aesthetic and the practical, and either you are a crazy environmentalist, or a desperate wannabe, and in both cases, poser. There is another layer, much less hot, which is the simple physical responses of our bodies to movement and effort - you sweat, your cheeks get red, wind gets in your eyes and you cry, and all that. And as women, we are expected to look impeccable all the time, so if you're breathing a bit too fast, what the hell is wrong with you?

As for appropriate clothes, most clothes that are appropriate for walking are appropriate for cycling. High heels and short skirts included. You also don't have to race like a mad person, if the flushed cheeks and wind-blown hair is not your preferred look. There's a bunch of nice cycling clothing and accessories available, and it's alright to want to look good. Cycling requires a certain amount of equipment, but is not necessarily super expensive - like with anything, cheap or free options exist (I once got my friend a free bike off Freecycle: no joke). Places like Cyclechic blog are a bit geographically specific and promote a certain style, but there are sport shops almost everywhere, and a lot of mainstream sport brands have introduced lines for women (Nike Women, Stella McCartney for Adidas, and a lot more, not necessarily always with flashy names). And you don't need to have all kinds of bike gear - you can essentially go as you are, if you feel like it. It's supposed to be convenient, easy, and helpful in your everyday activities. Some places even have city bike schemes, where you don't even need to own a bike! (In Barcelona, it's called Bicing).

To me, the Cyclechic blog is a great inspiration, and its goal to 'combine safety, practicality and style' is definitely achieved. There's equal emphasis on aesthetics and advice, retro and modern, extravagant and everyday. Caz Nicklin who runs it (and according to her Facebook profile picture, has a small baby), is very dedicated to the project, and also very fair - she's got her own online shop, but the enterprise is far from commercial, and the amount of linkage going on is remarkable. Similar blogs now exist for many, many cities - just Google your own.

I was not surprised to see Barcelona Cycle Chic, but Warsaw?! Incredible! Snow is a particular condition that makes cycling hard, but every year I go back home, I see more and more people facing the tough weather. I also discovered a nice place for cycling enthusiasts, Cafe Cykloza, which serves vegan food and local drinks, and organizes gigs and exhibitions (a recent one by Agnieszka Prus, graphic and interior designer, one of last year's best graduates from Warsaw's Academy of Fine Arts).