The Cycling Gentleman

Kent’s Bike Blog blogged about Jerome K. Jerome’s 1900 book Three Men on Wheels a couple of months ago, and I just came across the beautiful cover while searching for an image of John K. Bangs’ The Bicyclers and Three Other Farces. I’ve not had a chance to read the whole thing yet, but this description of one gentleman’s cycling attire caught my eye in these weary dog days of summer:

George and I climbed in and sat waiting for Harris. He came a moment later. Myself, I thought he looked rather neat. He wore a white flannel knickerbocker suit, which he had had made especially for bicycling in hot weather; his hat may have been a trifle out of the common, but it did keep the sun off.

The horse gave one look at him, said “Gott in Himmel” as plainly as ever a horse spoke, and started off down Friedrick Strasse at a brisk walk, leaving Harris and the driver standing on the pavement.

The accompanying illustration doesn’t exactly communicate the strangeness of the get-up for today’s reader. One wonders what the horse might have said if he could see some of today’s cyclists.

Cover: Indiana University Lilly Library.

Illustration: Google Books.

Spotted in Boston. Check out that chain case; no need for trouser clips here!

I’ll try to have one of these images posted every week, even if/when I don’t manage to get other content posted.

Photo: Courtesy of Charlotte at Chic Cyclist.

“The Bicyclers” is a one-act farce lampooning the rage for bicycles that swept Europe and America in the 1890s. Although it was certainly a Golden Age for bicycling, many people considered it a fad, and an obnoxious one at that. Bicycles were dirty, dangerous, and exhausting, and bicyclists rode too fast, startled horses, and acted as if they ruled the road, or so claimed critics. Cycling attire was also a point of some contention, especially for women, who often wore controversial “bloomers” to facilitate riding. As this passage suggests, men’s cycling fashion, if less controversial, was no less entertaining.  

Bradley:  When did you go into short trousers?

Perkins (with a feeble laugh, glancing at his clothes). Oh, these–ha, ha!  I’m taking up the bicycle. Even if it weren’t for the exhilaration of riding, it’s a luxury to wear these clothes.  Old flannel shirt, old coat, old pair of trousers shortened to the knee, and golf stockings. I’ve had these golf stockings two years, and never had a chance to wear ‘em till now.

Thanks to jgodsey for the link.

Image: Indiana University Lilly Library.

Evidence that the more things change, the more they remain the same. While perusing old bicycle supply catalogues from the early 20th century, I came across this ad for trouser clips that bear a striking resemblance to clips I’d seen at Velo Orange and Harris Cyclery. For the gentleman who prefers not to bare his scrawny white ankles and/or black socks pulled all the way up, the trouser clip is a handy way to keep one’s cuffs out from one’s chain. Of course, if you’re lucky enough to have a fully-enclosed chain case, then you don’t need these fellers. Naturally, there are lots of DIY ways to replicate trouser clips, most obviously with a rubber band, strip of velcro, etc., but for the truly retro look, you can’t beat the original design. Of course, these are pretty snappy, too.

Images: vintage detail from the Canadian Cycle and Motor Company Catalogue, 1918 from Archive.org. Photo of modern clips from Velo Orange.

I think these two gentleman in the recent anti-bike/anti-transit/anti-scooter bit of dreck from BMW should be re-appropriated as icons of the new everyday bicycling culture. Perhaps the ad folks should have dressed them a bit more shabbily, because I certainly don’t see what problem they’re trying to convey.  

Image: Screen shot from YouTube video.

Or, a long-winded explanation of who we are and what we do.

It seems like every week now we see a story in the news about how high fuel prices are motivating folks to take to their bicycles instead of their cars for their daily commute, errands, and recreation. Many of these new cyclists are buying “comfort bikes” that seat them upright, have fenders and chainguards, and usually no more than three to eight speeds.  Sometimes these are “hybrid” style cycles, so-called “city” bikes, or the increasingly popular Dutch cycles. All of these bikes have one thing in common: they are designed for utility and transportation purposes over speed.

It doesn’t make much sense for the transportation cyclist or casual recreationist to get all gussied up in racing spandex, bug-eye sunglasses, and clip-on shoes, but for many years, Americans have believed that this constituted “proper” cycling attire. Bicycle culture in the United States has long been held captive by a cadre of enthusiasts who believe that a person is not a serious or “hard-core” cyclist if they don’t ride an expensive race bike or top-of-the-line mountain bike. This has been the result of successful marketing on the part of the bicycle industry, going back to the 10-speed boom of the 1970s.

Today, as bicycle culture becomes more diversified and accessible to folks who eschew the $2,000 racing models, we are left wondering what actually constitutes “correct” cycling attire? The answer is simple: whatever you feel comfortable in. Naturally, however, we would all prefer it if folks would forego the stretched-out sweatpants with the hole you-know-where in favor of more stylish alternatives. To that end, The Cycling Gentleman proposes to present a panoply of such alternatives and examples for your viewing pleasure.  The goal is to inspire, inform, and to help create a new sense of modern everyday cycling style. We will also be presenting material from the first Golden Age of cycling, the 1890s-1920s, when style actually meant something, and few climbed aboard their machines without looking dapper. We will surely evolve as the endeavor advances, but these, at least, are the initial goals.  Enjoy!

Image: The Worcester and & St. John’s Cycling Club near Bransford Bridge, Worcestershire, England, ca. 1890, from the Worcestershire County Council Record Office.