Cycle and Style: Skirt Guard

The Electra Amsterdam Girard has a skirt guard colorfully painted with the folk art of Alexander Girard (Available at Bingham Cyclery)

By Tara R. McKee

In Continental Europe where bike transportation is popular, the utility bike is the most commonly ridden bicycle. It is equipped with skirt guards (called “coat guards” on men’s bicycles) fenders, and chain guards so that riders can wear business wear or semi-formal clothing and not worry about the clothing getting torn or dirty.
In the USA, we don’t have too much trouble finding fenders and even chain guards, but skirt guards have been difficult to find. You could order skirt guards from the UK or Europe or you could make your own or just buy a Dutch-made bike that comes already equipped with built in skirt guards. For decades, American companies didn’t make bikes with skirt guards.
Enter the Electra Bicycle Company, founded by two native Germans transplanted to beach-cruiser-loving Southern California.  The Electra Bicycle Company developed the Amsterdam bike line to replicate the popular European utility bikes in the Dutch style. Yes, they do make basic black, but the California influence comes through with the beautiful explosions of bright colors found on many of the Amsterdam bikes. And yes, they have skirt guards! Your clothes are perfectly safe on these bikes and the bikes are painted to look hip and artsy themselves.
This is a good trend for cyclists here in America that care about bicycling and wearing nice clothes while doing it. I hope other bike manufacturers in the USA try making bikes with skirt guards or at the very least—offering them as an optional part that could be put on their commuter bike lines.

Check this article out for a few tips on the art of riding a bicycle while wearing a skirt.

The yellow Electra Amsterdam Classic's skirt guard is beautifully painted with a tulip design. (Available at Bingham Cyclery)