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Miss Panniers: I feel pretty sweaty #ghcc

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 by

Dear Miss Panniers,
How on earth do you manage to bike to work without ruining your attire or appearance? I’m not sure how sweet I’d look after a long, hilly rainy commute on any bike seat.
Daisy Bell, Kirkland

Gentle Seater,

Some commuters prefer to arrange their dress and tresses at home, simply pedaling along in their work attire. While Miss Panniers is pleased to see more suits and skirts on her daily commute, she recognizes that this may not work for everyone.

For carrying your clothes, Miss Panniers recommends wrinkle-resistant materials. For example, knits pack well, but linen does not. Also, roll – rather than fold- the clothes to further minimize wrinkling. Finally, pack the clothes on the top of your bag, so they do not get crushed by heavy items such as a laptop or those overdue library books.

Some bicycle commuters prefer not to transport clothes back and forth at all. Some stage their clothes for the week by bringing them on a driving or busing day. Others maintain an exclusive at-work wardrobe that goes from office to cleaners and back. For example, suits, scrubs and sensible work shoes see little action on the weekend. Ride home unburdened of such things.

Of course, maintaining a workplace wardrobe requires a place to store one’s things. While savvy worksites provide on-site lockers and showers for bicycle commuters, you may need to venture to a nearby healthclub for good facilities. Many locker rooms are equipped with towels, hair dryers and basic toiletries, further lightening your load. If you need or prefer to provide your own towel, Miss Panniers finds that a medium sized camp towel does the job, dries quickly, and transports easily for occasional laundering.

While Miss Panniers herself does not have a locker at her worksite, she does have taste and creativity. Her wardrobe hangs wrinkle-free in a garment bag, while a simple file box contains her favorite work shoes. A well-appointed kit of your favorite  grooming essentials in travel-sized bottles will ensure positive outcomes for hair and makeup.

Miss Panniers wonders how her readers manage to look (and smell) sweet for a day in the  office. Please share your suggestions, gentle readers.

Posted in Bike Month, Commuting, Dear Miss Panniers | 16 Comments »

Miss Panniers: What NOT to wear for a night on the town

Monday, February 7th, 2011 by

While illuminating, not the best choice for a singles mixer.

Miss Panniers would like to respond to a question posted on the Cascade Blog regarding appropriate attire for the single cyclists mixer on Thursday, Feb. 10 at the BalMar: ” What does one wear to such an event? Do I wear my best grease-streaked roadie kit, or my Ibex woolies? Which is going to impress the lady of my dreams? Where do I lock up my bike once there? What? No bikes inside? What do you mean that I can’t wear my cycling shoes on the dance floor? ”

Gentle meeter-n-greeter,

Miss Panniers does not generally tend toward absolutes, but here she must insist. Under no circumstances should you wear a roadie kit of any kind to this event. In fact, roadie kits should never be seen if any of the following applies:

  • The primary purpose of the event is not riding a bicycle.
  • Table covers are made out of cloth.
  • The music is performed by live humans such as a DJ or band. Karaoke is borderline (on many levels.)
  • You are celebrating a major life events (weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, etc).

This is not to say that you should not bicycle to such events. Miss Panniers absolutely encourages her readers to bicycle to all such events. In fact, rolling up to the singles event on your classic bike dressed to impress may conjure up promising images of fun-filled bicycle-based dates to come. The BalMar has ample bike parking just outside the door; bring your lock and your conveyance will be fine.

One’s attire should reflect your personality and  make an appropriate first impression. The  Bal-Mar is a classy place in a hip neighborhood. If you have a roadie personality, simply dress it up a little. Wool garmets are a good choice; warm outdoors and socially acceptable indoors. If you still want to be recognizable as a bicyclist, consider subtle accessories such a inner tube belt, tweed cycling cap, wool arm warmers or re-cycled jewelry.

This is more like it, although Miss Panniers must insist on a helmet, even for date nights. Even for Ms. Hepburn.

Footwear continually poses a challenge to bicycle fashion and etiquette. While Miss Panniers has danced the night away in her SPDs, she longs for the day when there is much greater variety in fashionable, functional bike gear. In the meantime, you may want to swap out your roadie pedals so you can swap in your date—night shoes.

For additional wardrobe guidance, Miss Panniers will be attending the Traffic Stoppers bike fashion show at the Seattle Bicycle Expo. In the meantime, she hopes to see more of her readers elevating their bicycle style — at the bar, at the market, at the theater, on the commute. You never know where you might catch the eye of that special single cyclist. And if you truly are a greasy lycra-clad roadie at heart, rest assured that you too will meet your match out there.

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Posted in Around town, Dear Miss Panniers | No Comments »