New kilt and bicycle

[way2fractious]

Welcome from the great central valley of California, where the bicycle commuting is great.

In 2002, I took a Sportkilt on a two-week cycling tour across Nevada and southern Utah. (In fact, I think my picture is still on the Sportkilt website.) After a long day in the saddle, the first order of business was *kilt on / shorts off*, before setting up camp, eating, or anything else.

Now I carry a camo kilt on every tour, one-day event ride, and commute to work, but only for use before and after the ride (all my bikes have a rack.) The challenges of contending with the loose fabric - any fabric - are just too great on a moving bicycle.

For commuting, I wear it over the shorts from bike rack to restroom in the morning, and reverse that in the evening. During lunchtime rides, it's a kick to wear it into Wal-Mart. It is essentially a cover-up so I don't get whistled at in the lycra shorts... just kilt comments/questions/stares/guffaws/etc.

Padding is not a true issue except for longer riding times. The real issue is the thin layer of lycra that provides the reduced friction against the saddle. Unless you are wearing the shorts, there is no way to provide that buffer.

I suppose short jaunts around town would be all right. Sitting on the pleats and aprons simultaneously might be one way to do it.

Others have offered the advice that kilts are not suited for certain things, like bungee jumping, working under cars, and the like . Bicycle riding may well be another activity that calls for bifurcated clothing.

Ride on!

[andyfg]

Welcome from upstate NY. Enjoy.

[kilted in kleaveland]

I know this is about bicycles but here is a simular thread on motorcycles.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=18452

[Martin S]

I've never had any problems at all wearing a kilt on a cycle.
With the saddle high, the extra cloth does not come anywhere near the rear wheel. On a long journey, wind drag could be tiresome, and on very windy days, I have been seen bifurcated.

In very cold weather, I have tried bike shorts under my kilt, but find that the front aprons do not stay in place, but tend to ride up my thighs.

In warm weather, I wear shorter homemade cotton mugs (less cloth, few pleats), and have always been qute comfortable.

At first, I thought kilts might be unsuitable, as I could imagine all sorts of insects flying up under the cloth and doing all sorts of nasty thing to tender parts of my anatomy, but in fact, this has never happened. Perhaps we are lucky here not to be plagued by midges or mosquitoes; plenty of wasp around, however.

And, although the wind may lift the cloth a little, I have never felt exposed. In fact air pressure holds the cloth down between the legs quite effectively.

Martin, who feels far less self-conscious in a mug than in close-fitting lycra.

[Pour1Malt]

walcome tae the rabble!

guid oan ya fur fin'in us!

[Canuck]

Depends on the bike. Having lived in Holland for a number of years where biking was the norm. I witnessed a number of women in all kinds of skirts riding their bikes to work without any problems. I ride my bike kilted and it hasn't posed too much of a problem..
Try it once around the block see what happens. If it works then go two blocks....

[Martin S]

In Holland, they make special saddles for skirt-wearers. Instead of the long point that thrusts between your legs and can spoil the cloth (not a problem with a kilt, but it's cetainly not good for an unpleated skirt), these saddles are almost round; it is just as if you were sitting on the front edge of a chair.
Excellent idea.

Martin, in France, where cycles are, alas, no longer considered to be a means of transport by 95% of the population -- just like skirts, that are no longer thought of as everyday wear by all but a very few (M or F).