So unless you've been living under that rock, you've probably noticed that "cycle chic" and bicycle fashion have finally eeked its way into mainstream media lately.
You've seen bikes in haute couture magazines. New York Fashion Week is going bike crazy. Models and celebs are out cruising around on bikes, and the paparazzi is watching.
And now, thanks to mainstream media paying attention to the bike fashion movement that we've been committed to for years, we've got some newbies doing their little turn in the bike lane. This is a good thing, people! I am happy!
Somehow I missed this July 22, 2011 article in San Francisco's 7x7 magazine - a lifestyle publication containing all the latest trends in food, fun and style in our magnificently diverse city. Yesterday, my friend Gwen, who has been directing bicycle fashion shows for the Bike Expo and SFBC and designing women's bicycle fashion apparel for years, called it to my attention that it was an article in the New York Times from 2010 - NOT the efforts of homegrown bike fashionistas like Gwen and bike fashion bloggers like myself (among many others) - that inspired and convinced the writer of the article to give the two-wheeled life a try.
Whereas I wholeheartedly applaud writer Janis Cooke Newman's transformation from driver to cyclist, I must ask her, is today's San Francisco bicycle fashion not stylish enough that you must take inspiration from last year's photos of bike gals in Brooklyn? I mean, come on! 7x7 could do a little research and give our city some PROPS! Seriously!
In addition, Newman implies that the different bicycle cliques cannot intermingle. Again, do you and I live in the same city? This is SAN FRANCISCO, where we believe that the diversity of our community enriches our lives! With all due respect, Ms. Newman, it's time for you to truly become one of us.
I would like to personally invite Ms. Newman to 1) join the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and become one of the 11,000+ bike advocates from all different walks of life who - in solidarity with each other - represent the bicycle culture of San Francisco; 2) ride with all of us one Friday at a San Francisco Bike Party, or attend Sunday Streets, so she can see with her own two eyes that the dreadlocked and the coiffed hang out and party together on and off the bike lane; and 3) come to the bike fashion show at the SF Bike Expo in November so she can see the latest trends in bicycle fashion from local SF designers.
San Francisco has been way ahead of the bicycle fashion curve for years. We have the largest bicycle advocacy organization in the country, which includes men and women who bike in the clothes that they wear to work and play every day. That mainstream media sees this as a trend is laughable, and that journalists act like they're doing something that hasn't already been done in San Francisco is somewhat embarrassing.
In any case, congratulations, Newman! You are on your way to becoming a true SF cyclist. And thank you for giving bikes & fashion some printed real-estate in your magazine. Also, if you need any help distinguishing a kitten heel from a platform, look no further - I'm your gal.
;-)
9 comments:
Perhaps Ms. Newman does not co-mingle and mistakes her single experience for the rest of us. Let's see, she could ride Butter Lap or CM or SFBP or Market St. and see how wrong she is. Then she could write an article based in the reality of San Francisco. Perhaps she could come ride with our dreadlocked/fashionable/single speed/Dutch/music trike crowd and have her horizons expanded a bit!
I had read that article with interest -- it was well written. However, I wouldn't worry so much where the inspiration came from to try the two-wheel lifestyle. Yes, there's plenty going on right around us every day, but sometimes we take more notice of things when they come from far away.
I agree. Well written article, but poorly researched. A magazine about SF culture & lifestyle should clearly recognize what is happening right here in SF with regards to the topic of the article.
I don't think we should hold it against Ms. Newman that she was inspired by NYT. She was, and that fact can:t be changed. It sounds to me like she instantly grasped the beauty of riding a bike in her city and through her article has exposed her new truths to countless others. No better inspiration for another car driver to give up their death monster. We are all at different places in our bike lives, and maybe now she will have the opportunity to learn about all the bike culture happening right here.
I'm not holding it against her, and I think I clearly stated that.
I am shocked, however, that a San Francisco publication uses an article from New York from LAST YEAR as the inspiration when so many wonderful things have been happening right in front of their eyes regarding biking here. A better article for 7x7 would have represented our city better.
It just goes to show that people in cars don:t see the bike culture all around them.
Man said...
I wouldn't be too surprised at all ....come on it is 7x7 we are referring to! I won't be too judgmental, but it is a magazine of "average 6 year old transplants" who look down upon the "new arrivals"....
OK I will stop, but will offer a constructive suggestion and that would be for you to send your well written blog post to the editor Robin Rinaldi. To her credit she is very open to publishing all sorts of comments on 'Letters to the Editor' even some of the most unfavorable.
Yeah, after reading the article, I agree that it seems she's missing something big about the SF bike culture. And for an article in a local paper, that's really off. If someone had written an article like that for one of Chicago's papers, I would feel the same way. Like, huh? Have you not looked around and seen the thousands of people in our city doing this already?
Thanks for your comments, Dottie! I mean, right???
Also - Man - suggestion taken! Thanks! Sent Robin an email. Let's see what happens next!
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