A List of Don'ts for Women on Bicycles

A List of Don'ts for Women on Bicycles Based on articles published in the New York World newspaper, circa 1895 Don't faint on the road. In the late 19th century a woman with a bicycle no longer had to depend on a man for transportation. More and more women came to regard the cycle as a 'freedom machine'," However, it wasn't the smoothest of rides. In 1895, members of the Unique Cycling Club of Chicago publicly disciplined' two of its female members for disobeying rules regarding dress code. The women paid the price for daring to cycle in skirts, as they were stripped down to their 'bloomers' in front of a crowd of 200 people by several 'strong armed' members of the club. Below is a published list of rules for women on bikes from the same newspaper. Read on if you want to tear your hair out! *Ref: Robert A. Smith, A Social History of the Bicycle, (McGraw Hill, 1972). p. 76. Don't Don't DON'T BE faint on the road Don't wear A FRIGHT wear tight garters a man's cap DON'T ATTEMPT A Don't boast of your long rides Don't forget Don't coast. Don't criticize your toolbag "CENTURY" It is dangerous. people's "legs" Don't wear loud-hued leggings Don't wear clothes Don't cultivate DON'T REFUSE Don't neglect a "light's out" cry ASSISTANCE a "bicycle face" UP A HILL that don't fit Don't race. Don't imagine everyone is looking at you DON'T WEAR Leave that to LACED BOOTS. Don't wear jewelry while on tour THEY ARE TIRESOME. the scorchers Don't go to church in your Don't wear a Don't contest the right of way with cable cars garden party hat bicycle costume with bloomers Don't ask, "What do you think of my DON'T WEAR Don't use bicycle slang. Leave that to the boys. Don't chew gum. WHITE KID GLOVES. Exercise your jaws in private. SILK IS THE THING. bloomers?" Don't go out DON'T TRY Don't let your golden hair be hanging down your back Don't without a TO HAVE EVERY ARTICLE OF YOUR ATTIRE "MATCH" after dark without needle, thread and thimble a male escort Don't discuss Don't allow dear little Fido to Don't scratch a match on the seat of yo bloomers with every man you know bloomers accompany you Don't appear in public until you have learned to ride well Don't try to ride Don't overdo things. Let cycling be a recreation, not a labor. DON'T IGNORE THE LAWS OF THE ROAD BECAUSE YOU ARE A in your brother's clothes "to see WOMAN how it feels" Don't cultivate everything that is up-to-date because you ride a wheel DON'T SCREAM IF YOU Don't emulate your brother's attitude if he rides parallel with the ground MEET A COW. IF SHE SEES YOU FIRST, SHE WILL RUN. Don't appear to be Don't undertake a long ride if you are not confident of performing it easily up on "records" and "record smashing." View the original list as printed in the New York World newspaper here: www.headwater.com/blog/?attachment_id-2523 That is sporty. Discovered and presented by headwater Headwater holidays are all about getting under the skin of the place you're visiting and, by travelling through the countryside at your own pace, and under your own steam, you'll discover more about the people, customs, history, culture and natural beauty than you ever could on an ordinary holiday.