There was much contention about women adopting cycling costumes that clashed with the conventions of the day. Of course, those rules were set by men, and included long skirts and corsets. These were unsuitable for cycling.
Women responded by redesigning their clothes, and ‘bloomers’ (loose cotton pantaloons) and the divided skirt came into use, though not without a harsh response from society. For some time, women were barred from public buildings wearing such costume, and stones were often thrown at them as they cycled in the street.
The cycle industry designed special bicycles for women – ‘loopframes’ that could be ridden wearing a dress, and these were heavily promoted and became very popular (see above). With their upright position, they were not built for speed, but were ideal for touring. They often had a chaincase to protect a rider’s dress from the chain, and a skirtguard either side of the rear wheel – made of string passed through holes in the rear mudguard – so the dress whould not get caught in the revolving rear wheel (see below).
In the items shown here, you can see some variations of female cycling costumes of the day, reflected in household items of the time.
What is not commonly known is that some women were not satisfied with only wearing divided skirts or trousers – they also rode men’s bicycles. Note that one of the bicycles featured in a statue below is a man’s model with a top tube, ridden by a woman.
1890s Mirror featuring female cyclist
9.25 x 8″
c1895 statue of a woman riding a man’s bicycle
5 x 5.5″
This statue would only have been made for women. The idea of a woman wearing trousers riding a man’s bicycle would not have appealed to men!
1890s courting tandem. Inkwell with its original glass jar
9 x 11″
During the 1890s, it was not possible for a young man to court a lady without a chaperone in attendance. However, bicycles, and in particular tandems, changed all that. The tandem became known as a ‘courting tandem’ because, once on it, the couple could pedal away much faster than the poor old chaperone trailing behind!
Note that this is a ‘lady-front’ tandem, the most popular style from 1895 to 1899. They were steered from behind via a linkage from the rear handlebar to the front forks.
c1896 Mirror with removable glass, patented by Patented Wiederer.
It features a tandem and a lady rider
13 x 12″
1899 Clock statue featuring a woman advertising chainless bicycles
11.5 x 9″
1899 picture frame featuring bicycles and riders
8.25 x 7″
