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Why I Ride #13: Self Expression and Style
(Robin Bylenga is the founder of Pedal Chic, the nation’s first woman-owned, women-specific bike store, based in Greenville, South Carolina.)
- Yes, there are crystal chandeliers in Robin Bylenga’s bike shop
Bike fashion … when I began cycling, that was a complete oxymoron.
Those were the days of awkward toe cages, heavy steel bikes, very few cyclists on the road (of any kind) and zero style on the bike. The choices for cyclists of every genre have finally (and thankfully) massively improved.
As an avid rider of city, road, triathlon and cruiser bikes, as well as a bike shop owner and self-proclaimed fashionista — I’m thrilled to experience first-hand the shift toward chic bike style. I thoroughly enjoy outfitting my customers in fashion-forward and cutting edge apparel, beautiful bikes and fabulous accessories.
I loved the day I watched my best friend cross the finish line of a race and the announcer proclaimed, “Congratulations Danette! You came in first and you’re wearing … a dress?” Thank you Sheila Moon for that memorable moment and your stylish, colorful cycling apparel!
At Pedal Chic, I encourage my clients to “bling your bike”…. personalize it. After all, your bicycle is an extension of your personality, so why not celebrate it?
On my Bianchi road bike, I color-coordinated my bar tape, cables, water bottle cage, put on a colorful seat bag and even a matching chain. Yes, it makes me look a bit “girly” but my bike is beautiful and I ride as strong as ever! On my city bike — a Linus Dutchie — I added a handwoven basket, headlamp, back light, an crystal “rock star” bell and my favorite Basil pannier. It’s so much fun to ride, and I feel elegant and sophisticated when I cruise around downtown running errands.
And I’m not the only one strutting my own style on two wheels.
One of my customers purchased the Nirve “Minx” bike — talk about a fashion piece and personality bike! This bike has leopard fenders, faux leopard suede saddle and matching handlebars. A matching bell and basket liner complete the ensemble – she even added a matching flask! The bike has garnered so much attention that she now has a toy box filled with additional accessories her friends have been sending her from all over the world. Hysterical and a fun story… but more importantly, she now loves getting on her bike and that’s what it’s all about!
Remember, Roadways are the new Runways! Enjoy Bike Month!!!
May is National Bike Month and this year’s theme is One Ride, Many Reasons. To highlight and celebrate the many benefits of bicycling, throughout May we’ll bring you the personal reflections and inspirations of a diverse collection of bicyclists from coast to coast with our daily 31 Days, 31 Reasons blog feature.
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May 14th, 2012 at 10:55 am
I couldn’t agree more with your post. People have a highly developed sense of personal style – and it goes way beyond what’s practical. If it was we’d all be wearing utility clothing like coveralls. It’s the same for bikes; they’re an extension of your personal style. Look at the professional riders and in every decade, amongst the dirt and sweat there’s a few riders who stand out. It just takes a little imagine and some research to hunt out the right things for you.
May 14th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
With due respect to all women who have benefited from any product they have purchased at your store, the shameless dumbing-down to women marketing that seems to underly most of the stores advertising, including your flagrant and cheap plugs on this post, has a regressive quality that does women more damage than good. Please closely examine your motives in being the “first women-owned, women specific bike shop” a phrase you repeatedly market in all the various media you advertise in, often at no cost to you. Because it is a wonderful marketing tool. it has gotten you free slots in media whose readership you have clearly not earned. Hosting a radio show on women and cycling??
The feel in your shop is rather silly. Women all over as that yo elevate this atmosphere and not make a mockery out of our intention to take on a the sport of cycling.
Why would a potential customer who doesn’t yet know the difference between a derailleur and a spoke choose to spend $50 on your overpriced store-branded arm warmers? Because the store’s advertising told them that this was a way for them to assert their individuality and do something good for themselves, which of course, they deserve? No, thank you. You are not helping.
We don’t need oversized woven baskets, white laced underwear-styled bike shorts nor ass-showing bike shorts, all found at your shop, Nor do we need to sit and drink wine after going on a bike ride. What is that?! No, it’s not a woman thing. And what about blood-sugar levels after exercise?? When I was first in your shop, you did not know how to raise a bike seat. You clearly stated this.
And your “REAL:” women references that show up in you online adds? These are possibly the most damaging of all your advertising tricks Being overweight is as serious or maybe more serious a health concern than being underweight. ALL women are real. Being overweight is also a health concern s is being under weight. The psychological factors that enter into both can be equally devastating. ALL women are real.
Advertising that your shop caters to “real” women is also extremely hypocritical, being that you also promote and capitalize on stereotypes of women as caring more about their appearance than performance as evidenced by your extreme feminization of the sport of cycling, including certain apparel and bikes, and your slogan, “roadways are the new runways”. Life is a runway, but some of us don’t wear stilettos . Beautiful and attractive athletic apparel for women has been around for quite a while. Life is a runway, but some of us don’t wear stilettos,
WE, ALL women, DO deserve better.
May 15th, 2012 at 11:38 am
Carmen, you sound like you need to go a nice, stress relieving bike ride! WOW!
May 15th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Oh Robin. What an inspiration!
You really make me excited to get my behind back onto a bike. I’m not much of a girlie-girl so I won’t be going for the leopard print saddle but I do look forward to seeing your shop and meeting other women cyclists.
I used to mountain bike with the boys (it’s been a long time) and we would grill out at the end of a trail ride. It brought a wonderful sense of camaraderie to the group ride. Can’t wait to attend my first spin and sip.
You’ll see me soon!
May 15th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
@Carmen – I’m a dad who is very concerned about how media objectifies women but I think you’ve gone too far over to hyperbole with your critique of Robin.
This piece is about what inspires her…and for her, the aesthetic aspect of looking feminine is important.
Sports has been dominated by men for eons. They get the gear first, the bigger payouts in competition, the fame, the contracts. I would say this is especially true in the world of biking.
I would posit that maybe you are too indoctrinated by a this dominant male perspective. Function over form. Weight vs. cost. I don’t blame you: I do it too.
But that’s why I’m thankful I married what I consider a REAL woman. One who can play full court basketball with the guys or put on makeup and a dress or spend hours in her studio making something beautiful.
My wife brings more beauty into my life than I could ever imagine. I’m definitely a “function over form” person and would never think that spending hundreds of dollars on, say, a piece of art, myself. But my wife did…and now I stare at that painting all the time. I love it.
I think you might find something to like about Robin’s approach too. At the very least, she’s opened up cycling to a whole new demographic. You might call them “sheeple” or “posers”, I call them “active” and “happy”.
May 15th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
I don’t wear stilettos either (in fact, I don’t own a single pair of high heels, period), but I specifically reached out to Robin for this post (as the Communications Director at the League) because she IS undeniably expanding the number of people who ride in her community by changing the traditional face of bicycle retail to INCLUDE women who want to, as she said so perfectly, make bicycling an extension of their personality and style. I applaud Robin for having the courage to step out and do something different in a sea of homogenous bike shops that (whether real or just perceived) seem to cater to men.
May 15th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Carmen- I understand exactly where you are with your comments. As a father of a daughter and husband to a wife, the issues we have with stereotyping of women and women’s ideals is horrid. But I think you may or may not have gotten the correct take on robins shop. It’s more than a ladies bike store, fulla fashionable spandex for size fours only. It’s an empowerement center.
My wife- no athlete by any stretch-was treated with respect, dignity, and given hope. Hope for a healthier lifestyle. She came home and inspired all five of us to get more active (&new bikes,too!).
Sorry the great tag line “roadways are the new runways” offends you, I am sure it wasn’t meant to mock, but to inspire. and it has at our house.
May 15th, 2012 at 8:52 pm
I really like my “visibility flowers” — in the Dutch tradition of loading up one’s bike with flowers. They are stylish, and I picked bright orange (with reflective tape) to help motorists on the road see me better.
May 16th, 2012 at 5:38 am
@Carmen- My biggest problem with her shop is it is not local at all to me.;)
Hate going store to store all over my state trying to find women’s cycling clothing!!! Love it and wished I could open a similar shop of my own…ROAD TRIP!!! One day I will get to her shop!!!
May 16th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
I used to try to conceal my feminine side while cycling so that the guys would take me seriously. It worked, but I have grown tired of hiding behind a team kit style jersey. I want to be more girly on the bike. If I chose to wear a dress and add a basket to my bike…deal with it..and take a close look while you have the chance…I will quite likely pass you in moments. Women can choose to be whoever they want to be and looking pretty does not mean that we have sold out. I have had the wonderful opportunity to ride with Robin on my first trip to the top of Paris Mountain. She is strong and stylish and I look forward to having a glass of wine with her following a ride one day. Guess what…I know how to manage my blood sugar and enjoy some treats along the way. Go “roar” somewhere else, Carmen…Pedal Chic Girls are happy being exactly who we are!
May 17th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Robyn, love my minx, love you, and thanks for getting me on a bike after XX years! Your shop is an inspiration to all women. Thank you for sharing your personal story, ignore the haters.
May 22nd, 2012 at 8:58 pm
Is Carmen a mans or women’s name?
May 22nd, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Also “adds”… Does that mean ads?