Women Without Helmets
Despite the very tiny footnote on page 103 I want to voice my objection to the portrayal of women not wearing bike helmets, in "Wheel Life," in the June 2010 issue. The perception that helmets are unattractive, cause bad hair, or are not cool enough to be photographed in is the primary reason so many people, especially women, do not wear them. If Whole Living is not merely another fashion magazine in disguise I hope that in the future the editors will not balk at depicting women behaving in health, not fashion conscious ways. Why not feature a range of hipper-than-thou helmets instead? If we expect our children to wear their helmets (like the child, but not the mother, on page 109) we need to make sure they see us wearing them.
Comment
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Comment by Alex Postman on May 26, 2010 at 9:59am -
Table-cloth weights are a genius idea. Let me know how that goes!
I just sat down at my computer after biking 5 miles from Brooklyn to Manhattan--it's almost 90 degrees here and I'd love to know from you and anyone else in the community what strategies you use to deal with SWEAT. My seat and my armpits are more than damp.... I thought perhaps keeping a chamois cloth here might work? Or maybe give up biking in work clothes for the summer and change when I arrive (we don't have a shower).
Alex
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Comment by Angela Taraskiewicz on May 26, 2010 at 7:08am -
HI Alex! Thanks for the reply. I don't mean to be huffy or anything. I adore my Electra Amsterdam and would love to cut the figure of Anais Nin riding down the street with a wicker basket full of farmstand produce. Which is to say, I am susceptible to the romance of the cycling woman which your images capture so well. But--I have a seven-year old son and I have made it my business that he never sees me leave the driveway without a helmet. Also, I teach undergraduates and I want them to learn 1) to drive their cars less, and 2) to feel comfortable enough with themselves to be sensible.
I did appreciate the link to the styling biking pants however! I have learned quickly what items in the working wardrobe are "bikeable" and which are not. I have considered attaching table-cloth weights to my skirts to see if this helps with fly-up! I'll send you a report if I actually try it.
Thanks for your considered response. I'll look forward to the helmet article!
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Comment by Alex Postman on May 25, 2010 at 11:21am
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Hi Angela, I hear you! The footnote was indeed too small; as someone who bikes to work regularly I did not intend to send a message that helmets are optional (or give you bad hair--who cares?). I think a round-up of cool-looking helmets is a great idea which we'll hop on asap--thanks!
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Comment by Angela Taraskiewicz on May 22, 2010 at 7:33pm
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See the May 22, 2010 NYT's article, "Grown-Up Cyclists need Helmets, Too," for more support: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/22/health/22patient.html
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