Comments on: Why I Ride #13: Self Expression and Style http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/why-i-ride-13-self-expression-and-style/ Blog for bikeleague Thu, 23 May 2013 21:08:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Barry http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/why-i-ride-13-self-expression-and-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36229 Barry Wed, 23 May 2012 01:00:16 +0000 http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/?p=8276#comment-36229 Also “adds”… Does that mean ads?

]]> By: Barry http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/why-i-ride-13-self-expression-and-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36228 Barry Wed, 23 May 2012 00:58:56 +0000 http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/?p=8276#comment-36228 Is Carmen a mans or women’s name?

]]> By: Tanya http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/why-i-ride-13-self-expression-and-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36165 Tanya Fri, 18 May 2012 01:58:21 +0000 http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/?p=8276#comment-36165 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.

]]> By: Jennifer Billstrom http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/why-i-ride-13-self-expression-and-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36150 Jennifer Billstrom Wed, 16 May 2012 20:20:20 +0000 http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/?p=8276#comment-36150 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!

]]> By: Bernadette http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/why-i-ride-13-self-expression-and-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36136 Bernadette Wed, 16 May 2012 09:38:11 +0000 http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/?p=8276#comment-36136 @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!!!

]]> By: Becka Roolf http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/why-i-ride-13-self-expression-and-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36130 Becka Roolf Wed, 16 May 2012 00:52:40 +0000 http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/?p=8276#comment-36130 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.

]]> By: Tyler durden http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/why-i-ride-13-self-expression-and-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36125 Tyler durden Tue, 15 May 2012 18:41:25 +0000 http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/?p=8276#comment-36125 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.

]]> By: Carolyn http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/why-i-ride-13-self-expression-and-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36124 Carolyn Tue, 15 May 2012 18:17:24 +0000 http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/?p=8276#comment-36124 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.

]]> By: Upstate, not Stuck Up http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/why-i-ride-13-self-expression-and-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36121 Upstate, not Stuck Up Tue, 15 May 2012 16:26:09 +0000 http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/?p=8276#comment-36121 @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”.

]]> By: tinkhanson http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2012/05/why-i-ride-13-self-expression-and-style/comment-page-1/#comment-36120 tinkhanson Tue, 15 May 2012 16:17:57 +0000 http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/?p=8276#comment-36120 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!

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