Archive for the ‘Dear Miss Panniers’ Category

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 »

Dear Miss Panniers: How to commute safely? #ghcc

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 by

Dear Miss Panniers,

I am a new bike commuter. While I’m committed to riding at least a couple days a week during Bike Month, I’m nervous about riding in traffic. Forget about etiquette, I just want to be safe. What advice do you have for me?

-Tottering Tanya from Tukwila

Gentle Teeter-Totter,

The only things that pleases Miss Panniers more than bicycle etiquette is bicycle protocol. Protocol specifies the proper and generally-accepted behavior for a situation. Commoners call this “rules of the road.”

In fact, understanding and employing bicycle protocol is the single most important action we can take to ensure our safety. Here are Miss Panniers’ priorities for proper pedaling protocol:

  • Ride in same direction as traffic.
  • Stop at all stop signs and red lights.
  • Yield to pedestrians.
  • Pass on the left.
  • Follow the first come, first served rule at four-way stops, traffic circles or unregulated intersections.
  • Signal your intent to turn or change lane position.
  • Ride as far right as is reasonable.

Because this last point is a constant conundrum from both an etiquette and a protocol point of view, Miss Panniers will offer some additional insight about “riding right.” The law of the land states that bicyclists should right as far to the right of the travel lane as is reasonable. Some feel that etiquette calls for bicyclists to hug the very rightmost edge of the road. Miss Panniers must insist that this is NOT reasonable. This area is prone to all manner of undesirable objects, including standing water, potholes, storm grates, gravel, broken glass and poor unsuspecting bicyclists.


Miss Panniers encourages her readers to ride at least three feet from the far right edge of the lane, whether that edge is a line parked cars, a paved shoulder, or even a bike lane. This position increases our ability to maneuver around aforementioned obstacles, offers enhanced visibility from both fore and aft, and still allows for motorists to pass when it is safe for them to do so. Much more reasonable.

Etiquette and protocol are also the primary tools of diplomacy. Miss Panniers cannot stress enough that this holds true for bicycling, as well. By riding well, you will not only enhance your own safety, you build positive diplomatic relations with pedestrians, other bicyclists and motorists. The resulting peace on earth and goodwill toward all bicyclists will further improve safety.

Posted in Bike Month, Commuting, Dear Miss Panniers | 13 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 »

Please illunimate us, Miss Panniers

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 by

Lighten up!Dear Miss Panniers,

I’m a little in the dark when it comes to lights. What’s the etiquette around here?

Cedric Libani, UW student

Gentle Cedar,

When it comes to lights, our goal is to see and be seen. (Just one of the many ways that cycling is like finely cultured society).

While Miss Panniers considers herself a slave to both fashion and etiquette, she is also a loyal subject of the realm. State law (RCW 46.61.780) requires a white front light visible from at least 500 feet and a red rear reflector visible from 600 feet in low-beam headlights. A red light or flashing “light-emitting diode” (blinkie light) may be used in addition to – but not instead of – the rear reflector.

Miss Panniers has noticed a widespread trend to use ONLY a white blinkie light on the front. This is like wearing a fabulous tie…without a shirt. Blinkies are an eye-catching accessory (goal: be seen); the steady beam is the all-important staple (goal: to see). That steady beam in front will reveal important terrain features such as curbs, potholes, storm grates, roots, small mammals, etc. Miss Panniers herself covers all her bases with the basics (white front beam and red rear reflector) as well as a red rear blinkie and white front blinkie.

Next, we consider location, location, location. Unless you wear your trousers backwards, Miss Panniers strongly admonishes you to NEVER, EVER use red lights in the front and/or white in the back. This fatale faux-pas sends the exact opposite message to passing bicyclists and motorists regarding your orientation and direction of travel. The ensuing confusion could lead to an ugly head-on collision.

Just as we survey our attire in a mirror before stepping out the door, Miss Panniers encourages you to survey your bicycle lights before you assume they are adequate. Use a friend as “mirror”: have them ride your bike (perhaps even wear your gear) in low light. Is your front beam directed so as to illuminate the surface ahead? Check out your backside: are your rear reflector and light blocked by your seat, rear racks, etc? Make adjustments or add reflectivity to ensure that you will see and be seen to best effect this winter.

Posted in Dear Miss Panniers | 2 Comments »

Feeling squirrely

Thursday, October 1st, 2009 by

Dear Miss Panniers,

There is grave danger lurking on our trails, streets, and sidewalks. It waits , obscured by overgrown blackberries, hiding in piles of leaves, ready to ambush unsuspecting cyclists. I’m talking about squirrels. They haunt my dreams. They interrupt my perfect cadence. They are driving me nuts.

Critter-cal Mass

 Gentle creature,

Ironically, your description of squirrels is nearly identical to that used by motorists to describe the frenetic darting behavior of some cyclists. So let us first take a moment to acknowledge that unanticipated darting by any creature is harrowing to others and dangerous to the creature, be it furry or otherwise.

Unfortunately, the behavior of squirrels (and other associated Rodentia) falls just outside the jurisdiction of vehicular law, and the laws of physics. And the laws of natural selection. And common sense.

Squirrels are wired much the same as deer. BADLY. Both will freeze momentarily, giving you just enough time to alter your course, and then they will run directly into your corrected path. So not only might you squish the squirrel anyway, your sudden swerve may cause a crash with a passing car, bicycle, pedestrian, or large ditch. 

The only way to completely avoid squirrels this time of year is to avoid riding. Given the luminous autumn light, fantastic fall foliage, and comfortable climate, Miss Panniers finds that an unacceptable option. 

So Miss Panniers’ advice? One cannot outthink or out-maneuver a spazzy animal with a walnut-sized brain. (This also applies to reasoning with toddlers.) Better to hold your line, minimize the chances of an avoidance-related crash, and trust that the laws of traffic/physics/natural selection are on your side.

Posted in Dear Miss Panniers | No Comments »