The Don't List: Women on Bicycles

Source: triplemaxtons.com via Megan on Pinterest

I found a hilarious list of "don'ts" for women bicyclists published in 1895, and now that I'm a regular cyclist, I wanted to share it with you! I bought a bike a few weeks ago when the weather started warming up, and now I ride it whenever I can: to work, to Starbucks, to the library, down to the plaza to hang out at my favorite bookstore, to the grocery store, to the post office — basically anywhere within ten miles of my apartment! You can find the full list of "don'ts" here, but these are my personal favorites:

• Don't be a fright.
• Don't boast of your long rides.
• Don't wear loud hued leggings.
• Don't cultivate a "bicycle face."
• Don't imagine everybody is looking at you.
• Don't go to church in your bicycle costume.
• Don't chew gum. Exercise your jaws in private.
• Don't ask, "What do you think of my bloomers?"
• Don't let your golden hair be hanging down your back.
• Don't scream if you meet a cow. If she sees you first, she will run.

P.S. — How cool is this cyclist? He's like Spiderman on a bike!

P.P.S. — Don't forget to link up with me for Travel Tuesday tomorrow! I'll be talking about the destination I felt most unsafe in, but please feel free to write about anything travel-related if that prompt doesn't work for you.