The Bike-Friendly Summer Outfits I'm Wearing Instead of Lycra
Like many Londoners, I have retired my Oyster card and now venture as far as I can either walk or cycle. My Strava has never seen such a flurry of activity, as I'm doing a cycling tour of London's parks for socially distanced picnics. The only downside is I don't want to turn up at 30th birthday picnics in padded Lycra shorts and zip-up jerseys that I'd usually wear for a long ride, but I learned the hard way that midi skirts and bike chains just don't mix. So although the Scandi Instagram crowd might cycle in printed midi dresses, I wouldn't risk the oil spillage.
I'm seeing as many bikes on my Instagram feed as I am white sheets hanging up as backdrops, but some of the outfits would be wildly impractical for a bike ride longer than one minute. I have personally found that aside from sportswear, jumpsuits, shorts and skinny jeans are the best things to wear for cycling. I've then turned to colour and bold prints to add more personality to my outfits.
Keep scrolling to see outfits that are appropriate for cycling but aren't sportswear.
1. A Jumpsuit Is a One-and-Done Cycling Outfit
2. Add Personality by Wearing Bold Prints
3. When in Doubt, a White T-Shirt, Jeans and Sturdy Sandals Will Do
4. When It Comes to Jeans, the Slimmer the Leg, the Better
5. If You Really Want to Wear a Dress, Keep It Short and Wear Cycling Shorts Underneath
6. Cycling Shorts Are (Unsurprisingly) Perfect for Cycling
7. Short Co-Ord Sets Are a Great Option for a Dressier Cycling Look
8. White Pumps Are My Go-to Cycling Shoes
9. And Finally, Always Always Wear a Helmet
Next up, see our guide to the key trends for spring/summer 2020.
Emma is a freelance fashion editor with over 15 years experience in industry, having worked at The Telegraph, Grazia and, most recently, British Vogue. Emma was part of the founding team of Who What Wear UK, where she worked for six years as Deputy Editor and then Editor—helping shape the team into what it is today is one of the biggest privileges of her career and she will always see herself as aBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing girl, contributing to both the US and UK sites. Whether she's writing about runway trends or spotlighting emerging brands, she aims to write about fashion in a way that is democratic and doesn't promote over consumption.
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