1895: Don’ts for women riders

Blind Hemingway

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The below list was originally published by the New York World in 1895.

It’s not known whether the author(s) were male or female, but that doesn’t make it any less ridiculous.

For those who get nostalgic for that 1890s golden era of cycling, it’s important to realize it wasn’t golden for everyone.

Besides, did anyone really think that making a list of 41 “dont’s” would encourage more women to ride?

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.

The suggestion to not coast is referring to one taking their feet off the pedals of a fixed gear bicycle on downhills.

Can you really light a match from the seat of your bloomers?
 
"Don’t scream if you meet a cow. If she sees you first, she will run."

I always forget this. I just can't help myself.
However, I made sure to have two needles when I went out. And a button.
Does that make up for it?
 
Stuff like this scares me sometimes. I think it's -really- important to think about things like this before criticizing the behaviour of others. Sure, this is history, but our own attitudes will also be history at some point. It's so easy to be prudish without even realizing it. But some people have a hard time accepting things which are outside the norm. It's important that we don't let our own ideas of what we think a person should be interefere with what a person wants to be. I do like seeing 'popular perspectives' from different times though. It's fun, although sometimes slightly disturbing o_O.



Also, a bit related. I remember walking to work one day and seeing a woman in a hoodie and then proceeded to think up a futuristic article on fashion at the start of the new millennium.
 
Don’t cultivate a “bicycle face.”

What the hell is a bicycle face?
 
Have you fucking tried doing a century, dude? That's F1 driver kind of move.
 
Don’t ignore the laws of the road because you are a woman.

made me lol
 
I think I will ignore the laws of the road... because I am a woman.