Fashion Curses Cycling

What is happening to cycling? As if it was not bad enough that people make complete assumptions about a cyclists view on the world by the fact they are riding a bicycle, fashion is now throwing their hat into the ring. Designers like Ralph Lauren, Missoni, and Kate Spade are now entering with their own bicycle product lines, which include bikes. 

Cruisin' State of Mind

There is peace in riding for miles on a bike. The back roads, or main thoroughfare, a day long trek to nowhere sliding through the gears and passing the world by at a bikes speed. My own stable of bikes is full of the Schwinn 10 speeds of old that make such rides an easy joy.
Then there are those rides where raw simplicity is the most pure form of attraction.  Whether its to the beach, or across town to a friends, nothing draws the moments of my youth like a cruiser.  Now I never had such a bike as a child, but it was the carefree way we rode as kids that is embodied in the cruiser bikes.  As an adult the same 10 speed that I would steel from my brother for the day has become more complicated.. I understand its functions now, and as such, use them.  When I was young, whatever gear he left it in was the one I rode around town in.  Carefree with energy to spare.

Cycling Fashion

This is a racer, now just add a rack on the back.

I found myself in bicycle shop looking in the clothing section.  Usually not my area of the store, but something caused a momentary lapse in my memory that somehow I was standing there looking into a rack of spandex like wedgey wear instead of where I last remember looking at the new Treks.  So I continued to stare at the rack wondering.  Why?  If you are some sort of competitive athlete looking to shave seconds off of a ride, sure, but why would a person that casually rides wear something like this.  I have seen them out on the roads and sidewalks about my travels.  At the college towns, a student putting pants on over a pair of these shorts by the bike rack before heading to class.  Do these uncomfortable and awkward garments serve some sort of mental function for those wearing them?  Does it make one feel authentic?

New kid on the block

A member of our team has started a new blog in our network, theantnerd.blog, that is a chronicle of the tech side of our endeavors in the world of cycling.  With updates on our web developments, progress on our bicycle history database, or blurbs about tech mods to a bike, this is the blog to check.  If it is directly related to the subject matter of this blog, we will place a clip in the thread.
Another future addition that is in progress, is a blog about cycling style and fashion.  Not my cup of tea, so another member of the Ant Mill network team has come forward brimming with ideas.  Apparently there is a portion of the cycling world that likes the artsy bags, fancy short pants, and latest trend stuff for their rides.  Who knew.  Gimme some cargo shorts, a t shirt and a jacket and leave me alone.  If you have any suggestions, leave a comment or visit the website and hit the forums.  (links listed above in the tabs).