In St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, a curious tradition as emerged in the past few years among outdoor enthusiasts: kilt cycling.
ATAILOR-MADE GOOD TIME
When artist and mountain-bike enthusiast Geoff Slater relocated to St. Andrews in the early 2000s, he immediately worked to build mountain-bike trails and introduce local residents to the sport. The town now boasts 50 miles of trails. Soon after, he met resident Kurt Gumushel, a trainer, and the two began riding together. When Slater found out that Gumushel’s father, Fuat, was a master kilt-maker, he had one tailored for a cyclist’s specifications: lightweight, and with a hemline that wouldn’t get tangled in the wheels (or flash too many people). Slater immediately took to riding in his kilt, and he, Kurt, and Fuat came up with the idea of having guided “kilt rides” as a way to boost Gumushel’s personal-training business.
PEDDLING TO THE CUSTOMER
The trend soon took off. Fuat made a series of “loaner kilts” for riders to borrow for their tours around St. Andrews. More enthusiastic customers opted to have their own kilts tailor-made. The loaner kilts have Velcro straps for easy fitting adjustments. Riders say they help one keep warm while pedaling through the often breezy, cool Maritime weather. Also, what better way to honor the town’s Scottish heritage than having a line of tartan-clad riders weaving through the streets?
Today the kilt rides are the calling card of Kurt’s training business. A local group called “Off Kilter” also coordinates rides with Kurt, often going well outside of city limits into more rugged terrain. Athletes of many other sports, such as distance running, have taken to the kilt rides as a fun way to diversify their training regimens. One tip: if you do decide to try a kilt ride, you may want to wear a pair of compression shorts beneath—leggings or tights are strongly recommended for the cooler months.
A women’s hockey team in 1920s British Columbia was called the Fernie Swastikas They all wore big swastikas on their uniforms.