List No. 103

DON’TS FOR WOMEN RIDERS

Unique Cycling club of Chicago

June 21st, 1895

On June 21, 1895, the Newark Sunday Advocate ran an alarming story, syndicated from New York World, about a recent gathering of the Unique Cycling Club of Chicago – an event that saw two lady riders publicly shamed for having the audacity to turn up wearing short skirts over their bloomers. The story can be seen here, as can a list that followed the piece, printed in an effort to better educate female cyclists in light of the bloomer fiasco and titled, “Don’ts for Women Riders”.

DON’TS FOR WOMEN RIDERS

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 criticise people’s “legs.”

Don’t boast of your long rides

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 “talk bicycle” at the table.

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 imagine everybody is looking at you.

Don’t go to church in your bicycle costume.

Don’t wear laced boots. They are tiresome.

Don’t keep your mouth open on dirty roads.

Don’t converse while in a scorching position.

Don’t go out after dark without a male escort.

Don’t contest the right of way with cable cars.

Don’t wear a garden party hat with bloomers.

Don’t wear white kid gloves. Silk is the thing.

Don’t chew gum. Exercise your jaws in private.

Don’t tempt fate by riding too near the curbstone.

Don’t ask, “What do you think of my bloomers?”

Don’t use bicycle slang. Leave that to the boys.

Don’t discuss bloomers with every man you know.

Don’t think you look as pretty as every fashion plate.

Don’t go out without a needle, thread and thimble.

Don’t allow your dear little Fido to accompany you.

Don’t scratch a match on the seat of your bloomers.

Don’t try to have every article of your attire “match.”

Don’t let your golden hair be hanging down your back.

Don’t appear in public until you have learned to ride well.

Don’t try to ride in your brother’s clothes “to see how it feels.”

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 throw your legs over the handle bar and coast down hill.

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 you 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.