Bike fashion: Ditch the spandex for new commuter clothes

Johnny Woodside's cycling clothes are almost as cool as his name. The 30-year-old Minneapolis hydrogeologist dons flannel shirts, Red Wing boots and has a tapered mustache. Forget the blinding neon spandex get-up.

"The last thing I want to do is walk into the bar and hear, 'Lance Armstrong's here!' " said Woodside, who bikes to work, to happy hour and everywhere in between.

As more people trade four wheels for two, retailers are courting bike lovers by tapping into the cycling lifestyle. From boutiques that carry commuter-friendly clothing lines to hip bike hangouts with craft beer and coffee, every corner of the local cycling scene has a pit stop for people with a fashion sense.

"It's not a bunch of bike geeks anymore," said Luke Breen, owner of Calhoun Cycle in Uptown.

Minneapolis has the nation's second-highest bike commuter rate behind Portland — and the number is growing. Bike traffic in the city rose by 47 percent between 2007 and 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Twin Cities area is home to a busy schedule of bike events that bring together this well-dressed community. The recent Artcrank show drew more than 6,000 people to celebrate bikes, posters and fashion. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is often overrun with cyclists for its annual Bike Night (July 18).

But for most who attend these gatherings, bike fashion is more than a passing fad.

To feed this common philosophy, grease-stained repair shops are transforming into stylish hangouts. With its mix of bikes and artisanal coffee, Angry Catfish has become a thriving hub of local bike culture in south Minneapolis.

Over at the new Handsome Cycles shop in Minneapolis' North Loop, smart wool is the new Lycra. Custom bike frames line the back of the store. In front, tables display neutral-colored streetwear designed for cycling: from jeans with reflective lining and hidden pockets to polo shirts that will take you from the bike to the golf course. One wall features an impressive collection of shoes — even waterproof leather options for a business suit.

Looking for jerseys plastered with sponsorships or loud prints?

"Not here. So much of that stuff is just so ugly," said Handsome co-owner Ben Morrison. "A full Lycra kit looks great on you if you're 6 foot 1 and 150 pounds. But for most people it's not comfortable and it's just not them."

Until recently, commuting to work often meant packing an extra set of clothes and announcing your arrival at the office in an outfit of unflattering spandex and clickety-clack cycling shoes.

"Now, there are cycling-specific technical clothes that breathe better, wick moisture — they don't look like normal cycling clothes," Morrison said. "You can wear this stuff to the office and it's making commuting by bike a lot more feasible."

But commuter-friendly clothing isn't cheap. The pants in Levi's commuter line ($78) are water- and odor-resistant, feature reflective tape on the cuffs and a loop for a bike lock at the waist band. A Lands' End bike blazer ($250) also has reflective tape, hidden pockets and a spot for earbuds. Mostly, it just looks like a stylish sport coat.

When Lisa Austin started biking frequently in the early '90s, she recalls having zero options for women's bike clothes. Not even a Lycra jersey. Now the options are wide open.

"It's refreshing to see people biking and wearing anything they want," she said.

For her that means skirts — and even heels.

Cyclists are hitting the local runways, too. "All of this is helping to redefine our bike culture," said Patty Soldner, events manager for the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, which plans to hold its second bicycle fashion show next year.

Then there are the blogs, such as San Francisco-based Bike Pretty, which inspires people to, well, ride a bike and look pretty. Blog entries include: "How to ride in a maxi skirt" and "How to dominate hills in a dress."

Zachariah Schaap ascribes to a larger movement called "cycle chic," which refers to cycling in everyday fashionable clothes. The 27-year-old graphic designer and co-founder of "30 Days of Biking" shows up to meetings on his bike wearing button-up custom-made shirts and ties, and leather-soled dress shoes.

Schaap says cycling in streetwear requires no more effort than any other commute in Minnesota's temperamental weather — and provides much more of a payoff.

"Being stuck in a car during rush hour is the bane of my existence," he said. "I'd much rather look fancy on my bike."