New kilt and bicycle

[Scottish Chi]

I ride a recumbent trike and that would not work well with a kilt. While seated and going forward the kilt would be over my head in no time. Now on a bicycle (what we refer to as "wedgies") I would think the pleats could catch in your spokes or at the least get greased. Don't think I would risk a nice kilt. Easy enough to put on over your biking shorts once you dismount though.

I'll be riding the MS 150 again this year. Think I'll pack along the kilt for the evening. Thanks for making me think of that.

Cheers! Bill

[kilted in kleaveland]

Welcome from Ohio! I have tried to ride my bike kilted only once. While it is possible I don't advise it. I agree with others, pack it for later.

[Retro Red]

Hey, Ioltag! Welcome from a fellow kilted Zonie!

I really enjoyed the Flagstaff Festival a couple weeks. (I was the guy with the really long bright red hair.) Props to you & the rest of the NACHS! I like the 2 day format; don't have to rush around so much or worry about wanting to see 2 things at the same time. I plan on setting up a booth for Clan Donnachaidh next year.

Anyway, to your question about riding a bicycle while wearing a kilt, I concur with the others - the 2 don't mix well. Just too much material flapping around & getting caught in things, plus it'll put some nasty creases in your kilt. I'd stick with bike shorts & put the kilt on at your destination.

I use this kilt roll to carry my kilt when I'm cycling.

http://kiltstore.net/sr_thbla_kiltroll.html

See ya 'round Flag sometime...

.

[Kiltman]

I don't advise riding a bike in a kilt. It's hard on the kilt and hard on the bike, and, if you get the two messed up with one another, it's hard on the rider.

[way2fractious]

Welcome from the great central valley of California, where the bicycle commuting is great.

In 2002, I took a Sportkilt on a two-week cycling tour across Nevada and southern Utah. (In fact, I think my picture is still on the Sportkilt website.) After a long day in the saddle, the first order of business was *kilt on / shorts off*, before setting up camp, eating, or anything else.

Now I carry a camo kilt on every tour, one-day event ride, and commute to work, but only for use before and after the ride (all my bikes have a rack.) The challenges of contending with the loose fabric - any fabric - are just too great on a moving bicycle.

For commuting, I wear it over the shorts from bike rack to restroom in the morning, and reverse that in the evening. During lunchtime rides, it's a kick to wear it into Wal-Mart. It is essentially a cover-up so I don't get whistled at in the lycra shorts... just kilt comments/questions/stares/guffaws/etc.

Padding is not a true issue except for longer riding times. The real issue is the thin layer of lycra that provides the reduced friction against the saddle. Unless you are wearing the shorts, there is no way to provide that buffer.

I suppose short jaunts around town would be all right. Sitting on the pleats and aprons simultaneously might be one way to do it.

Others have offered the advice that kilts are not suited for certain things, like bungee jumping, working under cars, and the like . Bicycle riding may well be another activity that calls for bifurcated clothing.

Ride on!

[andyfg]

Welcome from upstate NY. Enjoy.

[kilted in kleaveland]

I know this is about bicycles but here is a simular thread on motorcycles.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=18452

[Martin S]

I've never had any problems at all wearing a kilt on a cycle.
With the saddle high, the extra cloth does not come anywhere near the rear wheel. On a long journey, wind drag could be tiresome, and on very windy days, I have been seen bifurcated.

In very cold weather, I have tried bike shorts under my kilt, but find that the front aprons do not stay in place, but tend to ride up my thighs.

In warm weather, I wear shorter homemade cotton mugs (less cloth, few pleats), and have always been qute comfortable.

At first, I thought kilts might be unsuitable, as I could imagine all sorts of insects flying up under the cloth and doing all sorts of nasty thing to tender parts of my anatomy, but in fact, this has never happened. Perhaps we are lucky here not to be plagued by midges or mosquitoes; plenty of wasp around, however.

And, although the wind may lift the cloth a little, I have never felt exposed. In fact air pressure holds the cloth down between the legs quite effectively.

Martin, who feels far less self-conscious in a mug than in close-fitting lycra.

[Pour1Malt]

walcome tae the rabble!

guid oan ya fur fin'in us!

[Canuck]

Depends on the bike. Having lived in Holland for a number of years where biking was the norm. I witnessed a number of women in all kinds of skirts riding their bikes to work without any problems. I ride my bike kilted and it hasn't posed too much of a problem..
Try it once around the block see what happens. If it works then go two blocks....