Cyclist’s Fashions
I recently read an article by Karen LeBat writing for The
Berg Fashion Library entitled “Bicycle Clothing”. This caught my eye since my husband is an avid cyclist. Here in Santa Fe cycling is very popular as
the weather is generally conducive to the sport throughout the year.
LeBat wrote of early cycling (mid 1800’s) clothing problems
for women and Victorian notions of femininity and modesty issues.
I actually found a print by Rudolph Ackermann (1819) of
women astride English bicycles with drop seats allowing female riders to wear
their long skirts. Ackermann was a
London print maker and businessman who established The Print and Picture
Emporium at 101 Strand, London.
Coincidentally, Ackermann also dabbled
as an inventor and patented mechanisms for carriages. He also obtained patents for various bicycle
components, although it is not clear that he actually invented these components
or merely bought the patent rights.
 |
| Ackermann's print advertising "Ladies Hobbyhorses" now exhibiting at 40 Brewer Streeet Published May, 12, 1819 at R. Achermanns, 101 Strand |
By the late 1800’s women’s fashions introduced
knickerbockers also known as “bloomers” named after Amelia Jenks Bloomer an
American reformer. “Bloomers” were
loose, boxy trousers, gathered at the ankle or knee and worn by women and girls
for participation in athletics.
Men’s cycling clothing consisted of vests with insignias of
their racing clubs worn over long shirts.
Special shoes and headgear soon appeared.
According to LeBat, in the early 1920’s, only the
professional cyclists wore specialized clothing and the average cyclist wore
popular casual clothing. Today there is
a large textile industry dedicated to sports clothing, utilizing the most
advanced fibers and garment designs. Cyclists, both men and women, now wear body-fitting shorts and
shirts in vibrant colors to increase their visibility. Also necessary are gloves to facilitate grip
and glasses to protect from the wind and sun.
But one of the most important accessories is the helmet, aerodynamically
shaped. Many states require bikers to
wear helmets, and I cringe whenever I see riders without them,
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