Bike Shoes on BART - Guest Photo from Laura Lukitsch

My bike/filmmaker friend Laura Lukitsch sent me this photo this weekend.

Saw this woman biker (well her shoes, not her too much) on Bart the other day. Thought you might want to post it on the blog.

Send us your bike street fashion pics or share them with us on our flickr photo pool.

Biking in Heels by Nona Varnado

Photo by ooolicia

Nona Varnado of The Bird Wheel has made a fabulous post featuring four women from NY to SF (including moi) who bike in heels and tell us how it's done. Here's a little snippet, but please visit her blog to read more:

Since the Victorian era when bicycles were introduced to women all over the world, it’s had an astounding impact on women’s apparel and their ability to hop on a bike and enjoy life.

Though fashion has changed enormously since the Rational Dress Movement was formed to encourage women’s underclothes to weigh no more than 5 pounds and switch out petticoats for bloomers – fashion on a bicycle still remains a hot topic and one that often evokes the question, “how do they ride in that?”

Today we hear from four different women from NYC to SF about the how-to’s and joys of riding your bike in heels. Like learning basic bike handling skills, biking in heels is not on its own dangerous. With a little skill and practice it’s a great way to feel pretty & confident making the bike a perfect compliment to the rest of your life and transportation needs.

sparkly shoes [there's no place like...]

Coming back to you with some regular programming today!

Shoes sparkle and shine in the Mission.


What else should a gal wear on her feet on a Friday night?


Sparkly shoes add magic to your wardrobe.
A bike adds magic to your life.

heroes of bicycle fashion

When I tell people I have a blog about bicycle fashion, I usually must explain that it's really about being fashionable on your bicycle. But they still don't get it. People always ask if I show people wearing lycra and fluorescent colors.

People. PLEASE.

Personally, I have started choosing clothing by imagining how awesome they will look when I'm on my bike - a new definition of bike-friendly apparel.

Case in point - these flowy pants on a girl in Barcelona.

by Bart Omeu

Walking in these pantalons just wouldn't do them justice. You gotta see the breeze.

And here I am in my new purple blouse.

When I saw it on the rack in a shop on Haight Street, I knew that it had to get on the rouge et noir aussitôt que possible. Just looking at it now, I can feel the air flowing through me!

And while we're on the color purple...

by we are photo

If you're going to go for cycling gloves, how about some sexy petite purple leather gloves that match your lilac scarf as it flows behind you in your tailwind (and once again, riding across cobblestones in high heels is much more graceful than walking).

It's all about bold statements. Cycle chic from Santiago - the long hooded cape.

by Quiltro Elemento

You only need about 5 mph to get some air underneath that one, and she'll become the superhero of the bike lane, flying to her destination.

Oh... wait, maybe SHE's the superhero:

by jay_dagar

Dress up. Get on your bike. We can be heroes.

[Treehugger] 6 Reasons The World Needs More Girls on Bikes

Photo thedigitel via flickr.

by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden in Treehugger

Most bike commuters find that the negative assumptions they had about bike commuting are mostly false. This goes double for women, who might find that riding in high heels is easier than walking in them; a special wardrobe is not necessarily required (though fun); and that biking boosts a sense of freedom in ways a car no longer can. Benefits to women are multiple, and the benefits to society are just as big. Read on for how we all get dividends when women take to their bikes.

[busbozo] My Other Cycling Shoes

They may not have a little bow on them, but man, they have attitude! Next time someone tells you it is better to cycle in lycra, remember this picture. I rode 19 miles today, in San Francisco traffic, I rode from City College to the Mission, back to CCSF and out to the beach. From there I picked up my 40lb son, 5 lbs of potting soil and a tomato plant and rode the 8 miles home, up hill the whole way. In these jeans, these high heeled boots on my drop tube 30 lb bike. I have had 4 knee surgeries (right knee) and am considered partially paralyzed in both arms. I had surgery on my right wrist in October of last year. So there!

Change your life, ride a bike!

Yellow Dress

Not long ago, Michelle Obama went to work in simple sweater sets from mainstream clothing manufacturers. Earlier this week, her husband was sworn into office, and she wore a magnificent gold-yellow outfit by a Cuban-born designer. We loved it!

Likewise, this gorgeous woman rode down Valencia in a yellow dress with black jacket and knee-highs. I know what I'm shopping for this weekend.*

*At Mission thrift stores

Here Comes Santa à Vélo!

And what do you think Ms. Santa has in that oversized messenger bag slung over her shoulder? I'm hoping it's designated bike lanes for Market Street, more stop lights with bicycle signals at busy SF intersections, bike racks on every corner, and of course stylish clothing for all! Hmmm, can you think of anything else that San Francisco cyclists need for Christmas?

Biking on a budget

Jill Keto shown biking to work in heels, matching red fenders, skirt, sunglasses and scarf in Washington State (as indicated by the licence plate behind her). She's the author of blog Practical Chic and book “Don’t Get Caught With Your Skirt Down” which aren’t about bike fashion. They're about living well on a budget, something a lot of people, especially Americans are thinking about right now.

This photo is from her post Working Girl’s 5 Tips For Saving Money.

Encore de cupcake (tdc part 2)

As KT already mentioned, the Tour de Cupcake was pretty much the greatest thing that ever happened to anyone. Biking brings out the kid in everyone, but with the addition of cupcakes, you do take the risk of it all just being too much. Here are some kids ready for the ride:

The Bike Kitchen expected about 100 riders. Instead more than 400 showed up. The line was around the block. The wait provided me the opportunity to capture perfectly San Francisco outfits like this yellow mini with arm warmers.

Here's KT in full awesomeness with stylish hat, poncho and her usual vintage town bike with our friend Jeff:

This woman did the ride in heels, knickers and lovely green jacket and purse.
Finally, a few riders were in costume. I walked up to this guy and said "you dressed that way because you didn't want anyone to notice you, right?" He agreed by posing for me. His friend in pink is also fabulous.

I have enough photos for at least one more post. So, sit tight.

Fixed-Gear Dating Advice

Dating Advice from Fixed-Gear Riders
You'll get better advice on VV.

folding bike vogue

I saw this woman at the corner of Valencia and 20th with her folding bike. I liked her shoes, anorak and general poise.


Speaking of folding bikes, I wanted to get one after my vacation to Alaska on the Alaska Marine Highway (awesome!), but I have never thought of getting one so much as after being bumped from Caltrain 2 days in row recently.

footloose and fancy free

Sexy mama in black on her vélo complete with child's seat:

Practical pumps on the bike lane:

Parisian mom in classic style buying a boule de Berthillon for her son, removing one of her shoes before engaging the kickstand:

fancy footwear

Women in SF have no fear wearing their finest footwear while cycling to and from work.

Like these sleek below-the-knee black boots.

Or these gorgeous peach kitten heels (that match her pale peach bicycle).

So I decided to take my Miu Miu's out for a test ride.
Eat your heart out Louboutin.

Bicycle Music Festival, part 2

Great bag and dress:

See the blanket on the back of her bike? She's also illustrating the gear you may need for an event like this. A social event of the season:

I don't think this guy was even with the event. Why was he in business clothes on a Sunday afternoon?

You will remember that my first photo of the event was of this magnificent red tiger outfit. Here she's even making music and biking at the same time here.

I wonder if that lovely Russian-style hat is hiding a helmet?

bizarre

This woman's look took me quite my surprise. Black tights with cream-colored old-fashioned heels, cut-off jeans and a black sweater. Her purse, which was quite tasteful, was strapped to her handle bars (not shown). Where could she possibly be going?

(GDH) Foreign Correspondent

I'm here in the South of France where finding VV candidates is, as Lilia pointed out, "like shooting fish in a barrel." In the space of about 2 hours I was able to spot the following :

Sensible shoes and dress pants


A nice leather pannier (and something about only old men and children can wear shorts in France)


It was 29 degrees, but that shouldn't stop you wearing heels


Nor getting the kids home from school


And yes, you can even ride in chunky heels.

red pumps

Hot footwear! And if you don't have a chainguard, one of these velcro straps will do to protect those plaid wool trousers!

Dressed to the 9s + footwear

These ladies got all dressed up for the Bike-Away-from-Work party last month. We were pretty excited when we saw them biking in evening wear and got even more so when we saw their footwear. Hurray.

Black and strappy heels

I wasn't quick enough to get a good photo of this woman as she locked her bike in the shopping complex. She was all elegant in black, gorgeous shoes and sunglasses. Only after she went into a store did I realize that her bike was equally awesome.