I feel like 1 in 10 of the people around me commuting are women so wanted to post some tips I’ve found so far. I’m not a great cyclist- only been commuting for about 4 months and winter has just started, 1 hour each way, like 3-4 times a week. I’ve never been a cardio person but I needed to do more for my health and even now I’m kindof a pathetic slow cyclist. I just started one day promising myself I’d take an uber XL back home if it sucked. Since then, I have cycled in professional clothes to go to very professional meetings, in costumes for several costume parties (with lots of bits hanging off me) , in fancy dresses and makeup to get to glamorous holiday parties, and in business casual just to work. I’ve always cycled partially dressed in the style I need for the day and hardly ever gone to the bathroom to change.
These are the things that helped me and are female specific:
\- SKIRTS: I wear skirts/dresses most days, often tight pencil ones I don’t want to strech. I just hike up my skirt or dress up to my waist and bought very very wide leg pants with a stretchy waist (normal ones for summer, fleece ones for winter, not cinched at ankles) that I can put on and take off without taking off my shoes. This is the easiest solution. I often don’t even go the bathroom to take them off, just take them off before taking off my long coat, pull down my skirt and then take off my jacket. I also like really strong tights, trying out sheertex now but becareful what you buy from them and not necessarily recommending that brand, haven’t used it enough. The cheapo stretchy wide leg pants are the best things I’ve bought.
\- MAKEUP: urban decay all nighter and MAC fix spray are great to keep my makeup on. I also need primer for my eyelids. I cycled to my holiday party the other day in snow with a full face of makeup that took me 30+ minutes to get on and my makeup was fine. Use a very strong moisturizer and of course, sunscreen, in the winter. If it’s really cold I use vaseline around my nose and on my lips and apply lipstick later.
\- SWEAT: I use Maxim antiperspirant once a week which prevents sweating all week. There are lots of these hyper-powerful antipersiprants made to be used once a week at night, Odaban is another brand- they all burn the first week or so, and then normalize. I don’t cycle fast so sweat has not been an issue for the months I’ve been cycling. Will cross the summer hurdle when I get there. I also put Maxim on the back of my neck to prevent sweating there and ruining my hair. I have not had much of an issue with sweat (see below). In addition, I use normal deodarent every day out of habit.
\-HAIR: I have very tempermental hair. I style it once or twice a week. I have a helmet with very tight almost non-existant ventilation holes and I prefer that to shield my hair from wind, rain, humidity, and pollution. I have a few bobby pins that I keep on teh strap of my helmet at all times and take them off before cyling and french twist my hair up and use the helmet almost like a shower cap. My hair looks better now than when I was walking to train station with just an umbrella. A Velcro headband is good for ears in winter, not stertching it over your fact saves makeup, and it catches sweat from going into hair.
\-CLOTHING: I’m a professional and really can’t be fussed with schleping loads of clothes or changing. So I usually cycle in my top (usually a sleeveless or tight top situation) and keep the blazer/cardigan in my bag. They are too hot to wear and act as natural layers when you get to the office. If skirt, see above. I have switched off my standard black work pants for ones that are halfway between sporty and professional. I got mine at Kohls, they have a commuter line called FLX, which is an Athleta knockoff. There are a few places that make them. No one has noticed at work. But most trousers are fine, really. I also keep a pair of nice shoes and spare blazer at my desk. My wardrobe is very designer and honestly, almost all of it has been adaptable to cycling. Really you’re just sitting there. I’m not breaking much of a sweat so far cause I keep jackets very light.
\-OUTERWEAR: Again, cannot be bothered with too much cycling specific stuff. I bought the thinnest bright green jacket / high viz I could find, it folds or crumples into the palm of my hand, and just throw it over my nicer coats/ even thick ones when cycling. That way if I want to go somewhere nice I’m not stuck with a neon jersey. I just take it on and off my standard coats. The jacket I had before I started cycling was long with an inner short highneck coat inside, I zip the short one and keep long open. It’s accidentely been perfect for the winter. Here’s a link so you get what I mean: [https://www.colehaan.com/signature-40in-taffeta-down-coat-with-hood/647080321375.html?src=googleshopping&glCountry=US&glCurrency=USD&utm\_medium=cpc&utm\_source=google&utm\_campaign=ACQ\_SEM\_Google\_USA\_Performance+Max\_Women&utm\_id=%7bdscampaignid%7d&utm\_content=&utm\_term=&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4NWrBhD-ARIsAFCKwWs0R7YVB9oW0mbDxTURHPStuQO3b5XbPJjCqvoHYZABWmjijmdPH2gaAhFCEALw\_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds](https://www.colehaan.com/signature-40in-taffeta-down-coat-with-hood/647080321375.html?src=googleshopping&glCountry=US&glCurrency=USD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=ACQ_SEM_Google_USA_Performance+Max_Women&utm_id=%7bdscampaignid%7d&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4NWrBhD-ARIsAFCKwWs0R7YVB9oW0mbDxTURHPStuQO3b5XbPJjCqvoHYZABWmjijmdPH2gaAhFCEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds)
\-HELMET&BIKE: I use the Closca foldable helmet (its certified) so I can throw it in my bag if I go elsewhere in the day without a bike. I have my own bike but prefer the city-bikes (shareables) cause I prefer the flexibility, can go drinking and take a ride-share home. Or use electric if I’m esp fatigued. Though I try to keep to regular bikes for exercise.
\-SKIN: cycling does wonders for my skin. I think I look more glowy and alive post a light zone 2 workout. Besides that I use my regular sunscreen.
\-SHOES: These days I cycle in full boots with 1 inch heels. That’s what I normally wear in winter any way in the winter. I guess if I were to wear heels I’d be carrying them anyway- even before I cycled. So I cycle in the my mostly flat-ish shoes that I wear all the time. They don’t get messed up. I did buy some waterproof overshoes in case it rains but have yet to really need them. Leather or weather-resistant normal shoes are just fine and most of what I own anyway. I like a bag with a shoe compartment for shoe changes.
\-BAG: My bag is big enough to fit the pants, helmet, top up makeup, an extra layer on cold days, gloves etc. I’ve never used handbags and always been a backpack kinda gal so don’t have much to add to this part. What I use is not what most women use and never has been. I used to use the NewFeel Backenger from Decathlon (switches backpack to messenger -in front of clients) and have recently upgraded to a crazy EDC bag, but can’t recommend yet, and it’s so extra, I don’t think it would appeal to the women who read this far given the title of this post. Bags are the one area I’ve never been girly and just stuck to functional stuff.
\-JEWLERY- I always wear a double back on my earrings, ever since I lost a favorite one years ago not on a bike. So I guess I’d recommend that. Everything else is fine. You can buy earring backs at pharmacies, online.
Cycle commuting has made me happier, healthier, and more productive. I hope more women join me on the road, and don’t feel they need to compromise any style that works for them. There’s loads of other advice you can find on this sub (like winter cycling) that isn’t women specific so here I tried to cover just the stuff you might need if you have style considerations for wherever you are going. Prob should’ve posted this in spring when people think to start bike commuting, but whatever. Here you go. These tips have covered me from a high of 90 degrees down to about 29 degrees F.
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by sleepsucks
2 Comments
I’m not a woman so this isn’t directly applicable to me but I’ve seen questions on this topic a number of times. This seems like a great primer to refer people back so and I appreciate the effort in making the post
My problem is I work all over the place now and have been trying to think my way round transporting all the stuff I would “need” and you’re absolutely right – it doesn’t need to be cycling specific clothing and there’s absolutely no reason I can’t cycle in low heels. Thanks for the shove.