Fashion at Jeep 48STRAIGHT

The question of the day is--is there such thing as mountain bike fashion? Are there any specific dos and don’ts when gearing up to hit the trailhead? We caught up with 48STRAIGHT competitor Jackie Baker who, along with fellow Jeep competitor Allie Burch, started the Freeride Foundation (a clothing and editorial website geared specifically to women’s mountain biking). Baker was kind enough to brief us on the women’s fashion scene.

What inspired you to start the Freeride Foundation? What is it exactly?

There is no other store or website like Freeride Foundation. Last season, all I wanted was to have a cute kit to race in that matched and fit well. It may not seem like that tall of an order until you start visiting local bike shops and surfing the Internet. Few brick-and-mortar shops can carry a vast array of women’s downhill and freeride clothing, because, in general, there are few girls in any one specific area who can support that kind of inventory. If you shop online, you have to know the exact brand and color that you’re looking for if you want to find a cute women’s jersey in the sea of men’s gear. I was so frustrated with the fact that there was no single place to find a jersey and shorts and matching gloves that I decided to create one.

I have a solid background in online sales and marketing. I recruited my friend and fellow pro racer Allie Burch to help me build the infrastructure for the website. We began the project last October and, miraculously, we were able to launch the live site on March 1, 2008. The site is still a baby, but we’ve had a solid summer of sales. We’re excited to bring in a greater variety of brands and products for next season too.

What are some fashion dos and don’ts in mountain biking? Is spandex totally out? Are women mountain bikers particularly “fashion” conscious like women snowboarders and skiers?

Mountain bikers, especially on the gravity side, are becoming more like moto racers who have to have clean, sharp-looking, matching kits for each day of riding or competition. There are more clothing options available to guys and girls now that allow for more creativity when choosing a kit. Girls didn’t have much clothing variety to work with a few seasons ago, so having a “fashion conscience” wasn’t an option. Now girls are definitely starting to seek out more colorways and put together outfits that express their personal style.

I was actually about to write a Blog post about fashion no-nos. The spandex question all depends on the mountain bike discipline. If you’re a cross country rider or racer, spandex is definitely not out. Many recreational cross country riders have dropped the spandex and moved on to less revealing options like baggy shorts and relaxed-fitting jerseys.

If you’re a gravity rider, though, spandex is definitely a faux pax. Occasionally you’ll see pro racers wearing skinsuits on high-speed courses. Often these suits are worn in irony, but they can cut down on wind-resistance under the right circumstances. I’ve heard rumors that the UCI may outlaw the use of skinsuits at their sanctioned events next year.

 

Most gravity fashion don’ts are based on safety. Here are a few do-nots, with their reasons and alternatives:

#1 Do not wear sunglasses with your full-face helmet.

If you’ve invested in a full-face helmet, you’re probably going to go fast. The speeds you will travel in that helmet kick up a lot of dust and create some gnarly drafts. Goggles protect your eyes from debris and wind. They’ll let you ride tear-free, so you can clearly see the rocks, roots, and ruts in front of you.

#2 Do not wear spandex with body armor.

Spandex isn’t made to be crashed on, body armor is. Wearing body armor is another sign that you’re going to go fast. Even if you’re not breaking the land speed record, you’re probably going to ride faster into techy sections that you would if you weren’t wearing that armor. And you’re probably going to attempt to ride techier terrain than you would otherwise.

Should you utilize your body armor during your ride, every other part of you that’s covered in spandex is going to get mangled. Spandex rips easily and provides almost no protection from pointy things like sticks and rocks. If your body’s hot enough to flaunt in spandex, you’ll be able to keep it that way by covering up a bit more when you’re on the bike. Wearing a looser-fitting jersey (especially a long-sleeve one) and longer, abrasion-resistant shorts will add more protection against impacts, slides, and rag-dolls.

#3 Do not wear upper body armor over your jersey or tee shirt

Body armor is ugly. It’s meshy and plasticy, and usually designed with awful color schemes. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Body armor is made to be worn under a jersey. Wearing it over a jersey or cotton tee shirt is a recipe for chaffing and funk accumulation due to trapped moisture. Most girls wear their upper body jackets over a sports bra, and then top it off with a moisture-wicking, quick-drying jersey. If you want to wear a shirt underneath your armor, opt for a tank top or tighter fitting tee that wicks moisture.

What kind of clothing/ protection do women wear when they are competing in disciplines like dual slalom?

We wear the same stuff the guys wear. Most people wear full face helmets and goggles. When we’re racing, we’re putting it all on the line, so when we crash, it’s not too pretty. Goggles protect from pebbles and dust, the full face helmets help us keep our grills intact. There are a few guys out there who wear skate-style helmets, but those aren’t as popular with the girls.

We also wear upper body armor or elbow pads. Upper body armor protects your chest and back. Our jerseys fit over our armor, and they’re usually pretty lightweight and breathable. Full-fingered gloves are important too. Nothing’s worse than getting pebbles shoved into your fingers or palms.

We wear abrasion-resistant shorts. If we crash, it’s often the lower body that takes the impacts, so longer, tougher shorts are key. Some girls wear hip pads too. We also wear knee and/or shin guards. Some girls like to run just knee pads for comfort and maneuverability. The knee/shin combo pads add more protection and also prevent you from nailing your shin if you slip a pedal.

We wear pretty much the same gear when we race and ride downhill too. More girls will wear full body armor for downhill, though.

Fashion Show is Clearly a Favorite at Jeep 48Straight

The fashion show is clearly a favorite event during the Jeep 48Straight weekend where professional and real life models sashay the catwalk in outfits by Bogner, Jet Set, Adidas, Rossignol and sometimes not much of anything at all.

Fashion Show Photo Gallery

Browse through photos from last season's Fashion Show. Click any image to enlarge.

The Look of 48STRAIGHT

The pantyhose look sans pants or skirt went over particularly well with the male audience in 2008, despite lacking any practical value. In the words of one first-time fashion show attendee,

I didn’t even notice they were wearing clothes. Were they wearing clothes? I think Kipp went down to Brazil on a private plane and pulled them all back here. That is my theory, and I want to go with him next year.

The fashion show brings the sexiness back to skiing, so don’t miss it when it joins the line up again during the 2008-2009 season.

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