Women won't cycle because of concerns about 'helmet hair'

[wafflycat]

As a woman who cycles, the most frequent reaction I get from non-cycling women is nada to do with helmet hair but more of an "OOOH, aren't you *brave*. I'd never cycle as it's far too dangerous out there!"

Mind you, as a woman who cycles, helmet hair is an issue. It's why I have long hair that I tie back into a ponytail. Much easier to deal with than having a short style under a lid.

 

[dondare]

Didn't someone post a couple of months back that some researcher discovered wearing a longhaired wig was safer than wearing a helmet?

(i.e. drivers give you a wider birth, both as a helmetless rider and as a woman).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/5334208.stm

 

[RedBike]

I wont commute by bike because there isn't a shower and I hate having to walk through the middle of the office with my hair in a mess / no makeup on.

 

[Jake]

right then, down to the trannie shop in camden to get a wig

 

[Priscilla Parsley]

I think most women see cycling as alternative and 'crusty' and not for them i have only managed to convert 2 ladies to the great liberation, but they both had green credentials. i liked it because it was free and quick, most people never mind ladies can't comprehend how quick cycling can be compared to driving. helmets do f up your hair though and you also cant cart chic winter coats to work, so you might have a fetching work ensemble but it will be ruined by your flouro water proof when you nip out for lunch, the same can be said for the the rucksack and heels combo, i have learned to love these contradictions, but having one foot in the corporate world and the other in cycling can be tough for a girl, having said that im a student now and have no such problems.

 

[BentMikey]

Easy answer - no fluoro waterproof, and no helmet. Like good Dutch girls.

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

I suppose it depends what job you do.If you work in an environment where your smart appearance is utmost then I can see helmet hair would be a pain.

I work with photographers so over the past 20yrs they've got used to me looking like sh*t i wear my oldest clothes as they get chemicals on them and i very rarely brush my hair so I always look like i've been dragged through a hedge.

I'm painting such an attractive picture of myself

 

[summerdays]

My daughter had to get to the hairdressors shortly after school, not enough time to walk so I made her cycle.... and she did the 25 min walk in about 10 mins cycling. I'm hoping this will make a valid point to her that the bike is a useful way to get around town. She refused to wear a helmet as it would mess up her haircut on the way back!!!

 

[Priscilla Parsley]

[quote="BentMikey"]Easy answer - no fluoro waterproof, and no helmet. Like good Dutch girls.[/quote]

i must say i never had ANY cycling gear for approx 6 years, i took pride in cycling in pencil skirts and 4 inch heels, (work like toe clips in my mind- fine if your not boozing), and vintage tartan capes, but if you go over 5 miles or fancy getting a bit of a sweat on, its no good. however if a classy dutch lady wants to show me how I'm totally open minded.

 

[Auntie Helen]

As I've got long hair, like Wafflycat I put it up in a ponytail. This means that helmets don't fit - or if you put the ponytail lower so the helmet fits you can't use the headrest on the trike. So I don't wear a helmet (I don't feel one is necessary on a recumbent trike anyway).

My issue is more that if I'm wearing eye makeup (mascara) the speeds that it's easy to attain downhill on a trike mean your eyes stream and you end up with dark tide marks across your cheeks.

I work from home but I imagine if I worked in a company where I had to be smart it'd be difficult to cycle there unless I went at least once a week by car with sets of clothes for each day. I tend to find when I cycle that all my clothes get too sweaty to wear comfortably - even though I'm lycraed up.