Don'ts for Female Cyclists - 1895 Edition

k.shiz
Posts
372
Joined
7/24/2009
Location
Los Angeles, CA US
Edited Date/Time 8/18/2014 12:35pm


" The following list of 41 don’ts for female cyclists was published in 1895 in the newspaper New York World by an author of unknown gender."

Don’t be a fright.

Don’t faint on the road.

Don’t wear a man’s cap.

Don’t wear tight garters.

Don’t forget your toolbag

Don’t attempt a “century.”

Don’t coast. It is dangerous.

Don’t boast of your long rides.

Don’t criticize people’s “legs.”

Don’t wear loud hued leggings.

Don’t cultivate a “bicycle face.”

Don’t refuse assistance up a hill.

Don’t wear clothes that don’t fit.

Don’t neglect a “light’s out” cry.

Don’t wear jewelry while on a tour.

Don’t race. Leave that to the scorchers.

Don’t wear laced boots. They are tiresome.

Don’t imagine everybody is looking at you.

Don’t go to church in your bicycle costume.

Don’t wear a garden party hat with bloomers.

Don’t contest the right of way with cable cars.

Don’t chew gum. Exercise your jaws in private.

Don’t wear white kid gloves. Silk is the thing.

Don’t ask, “What do you think of my bloomers?”

Don’t use bicycle slang. Leave that to the boys.

Don’t go out after dark without a male escort.

Don’t without a needle, thread and thimble.

Don’t try to have every article of your attire “match.”

Don’t let your golden hair be hanging down your back.

Don’t allow dear little Fido to accompany you

Don’t scratch a match on the seat of your bloomers.

Don’t discuss bloomers with every man you know.

Don’t appear in public until you have learned to ride well.

Don’t overdo things. Let cycling be a recreation, not a labor.

Don’t ignore the laws of the road because you are a woman.

Don’t try to ride in your brother’s clothes “to see how it feels.”

Don’t scream if you meet a cow. If she sees you first, she will run.

Don’t cultivate everything that is up to date because yon ride a wheel.

Don’t emulate your brother’s attitude if he rides parallel with the ground.

Don’t undertake a long ride if you are not confident of performing it easily.

Don’t appear to be up on “records” and “record smashing.” That is sporty.
|
MW
Posts
10
Joined
3/18/2010
Location
Lompoc, CA US
2/22/2012 7:16am
Looks like they had their head angles dialed in 1895. It took over a 100 years for us to figure out they had it right. " Don't refuse assistance up hill" classic!
sspomer
Posts
4235
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID US
2/22/2012 8:32am
"exercise your jaws in private" - zing!
2/22/2012 7:29pm Edited Date/Time 2/22/2012 7:29pm
Those are some sweet looking cruzers. I'd love one, even though technically they're for females guys ride 'girl' bikes in Holland so its ok.
kidwoo
Posts
234
Joined
8/3/2009
Location
Grass Hut, FM US
2/25/2012 10:37pm
Thank god I'm a male. I get to enjoy discussing my bloomers without condemnation.

Post a reply to: Don'ts for Female Cyclists - 1895 Edition

The Latest