Even so, conventional bike fashion and gear has presented a road block from switching out four wheels for two as an alternative mode of transportation.

For the stylish set, those visions of unflattering spandex and cumbersome helmets don’t exactly make you want to hop on a bike to ride to that job interview or catch cocktails with the new flame. But an upswing in the popularity of biking means two-wheel fashion is climbing to new heights. The era of cycle chic is upon us!

Here are four ways to dress for sustainable cycling success:

1. Get inspired!

Start navigating the unlimited modern bike fashion waiting for you to explore. Think the Sartorialist on two wheels. Kick off with the blog that started it all, Copenhagen Cycle Chic. Then work your way through Vélo Vogue, Velo Couture and Riding Pretty. You’ll be putting together cycle-ready outfits and hopping on your two wheels before you know it.

2. Choose clothes that are giving and made with eco-friendly materials.

There’s nothing worse than riding around in tight clothes, no matter how good those skinny jeans look, so make sure what you’re wearing is soft and flexible. Go for options like merino wool, bamboo and organic cotton.

Organic cotton t-shirts from Cyclelogical celebrate the spirit of cycling with designs printed with reflective ink – perfect for making sure you’re being seen. And even though their products aren’t available in the US yet, UK-based company Cyclodelic has some designs that make cycling look like the next big thing on the catwalk.

Remember that cycling fashion isn’t just for the female market. Guys should check out Outlier, which specializes in tailored garments for city riding and makes many of the line’s beautiful pieces right in NYC.

3. Accessorize.

Let’s be honest, nothing is better than a fabulous-looking reusable bag, and in the bike world, their are plenty of well-designed, eco-friendly options. Rickshaw’s Zero Messenger Bag, designed to optimize cutting and eliminate material waste, is made from nylon, making it 100% recyclable.

And every beautiful, functional bike has to have a bike basket, or at least a rack back, to carry your goods in. There are some great designs by Basil, PoCampo and Design House Stockholm worth a peek.

4. Be safe.

Yes, helmet hair is annoying but when it comes to cycling, safety should certainly come first. Plus, with companies like Yakkay, it’s easy to make your helmet fit your style.

Photo Credits: tejvanphotos, Cyclelogical, Design House Stockholm, Yakkay

Did you know…

…that cycling is almost comically efficient? You’re getting around 3 times as fast as walking but burning the same amount of energy. You’re like a car that does 1,037 kilometres a litre. Part of it is the sensible weight ratio: you’re around 6 times heavier than your bike, compared to your car being 20 times heavier than you.

…the U.S. government now pays you to cycle to work?

…that cycling is free? No sh-t, Sherlock, I know – but just weigh that against the cost of your gym membership. Do you pay money to sit in a car, then pay money to go to the gym? Could you combine the two and pay nothing, all the while keeping your fashion mojo intact?

…bikes make amazing coffee tables? And bowls?

…that the percentage of U.S. students cycling to school or college is less than a third of what it was in 1969? Meanwhile, the child obesity crisis intensifies every year, despite an impassioned warning by the Surgeon General in 2003.

…that America is designed for cycling, actually? As a starting point, look at the 38,158 miles of the Adventure Cycling Route Network.

…there are even bikes you can wear?

…that cycling is becoming a lot more social than you’d think?

…that this musical duo did 4,700 miles on bikes while promoting one of their albums? Check out the evidence, and our interview with them in March.

…that bicycles are time machines?

Images: moriza, m-louis, kamshots

The rumors are true: the bicycle industry is folding.

As much as I love being out and about on my mountain bike, there’s one experience above all that affirms my love for it…and that’s when I arrive anywhere. I step off – padlock – I’m done. But even this hassle-free process is becoming obsolete. Every year designers are squeezing and folding bicycles into ever more compact, portable shapes – take Brompton’s range, this beauty by Mercedes Benz, or Thomas Jowen’s “One” (below).

But you still have to lug these miniaturized marvels around by hand: portable, but still pretty hefty. And that’s why Bergmönch’s bicycle (top) is such a breakthrough. When the wheels have stopped turning, you fold it into a backpack and sling it around your shoulders.

The “crossbar” is actually a sturdy backpack in itself, with over 12 litres of storage – and when this is empty, the whole bike weighs less than 10 kilos.

Those wheels are designed for the roughest terrain. And of course, when you reach the other side of the hill…

Sign me up. That is, after I’ve finished paying off my glow in the dark bike.

And the grow-your-own bamboo bike…

More on Cycling:

Biking to Work

Where Facebook and Bicycles Collide

Old Bicycles Become New Art

…and furniture

A Guide for the Bike Curious

Images: Bergmönch and Thomas Jowen