Bike To Work Skirt by BetaBrand

Last month, BetaBrand (the San Francisco clothing brand famous for Cordarounds) invited me to take a sample of their new Bike To Work skirt out for a spin. Photographer Jason Van Horn, who also happens to be the energizing force behind all of BetaBrand's Bike To Work collection, came along for the ride and captured these awesome shots.

The concept is similar to the Iva Jean Reveal Skirt, that darling of Kickstarter. A lot of Internet Commenters found the comparison irresistible, crying "but this skirt already exists!" when BetaBrand released their own bikable skirt.

Obviously that's a silly thing to complain about. We don't expect one type of bike to work for everyone. So why should we expect one type of bike-to-work skirt?

Like the Reveal Skirt, the BetaBrand version is a pencil skirt that converts to an A-line through zipper technology. It's a clever way to solve the problem most pencil skirts have: too tight across the thighs to withstand pedaling. Seriously, bike-built thighs rip most fitted skirts to shreds. This version has two invisible zippers in the front. Unzipped, they reveal godets made of moisture-wicking material.

Also this skirt is (obviously) grey. I wouldn't go so far as to call these color options, but if you're a skirt-biker like me, you'll appreciate the wardrobe possibilities that come from having a black or a grey pencil skirt.

A little history: the earliest online mention of this type of converted bike skirt can be found on the Skirts On A Bike blog – naturally enough – way back in 2011. The first versions were strictly after-market modifications featuring a brightly-colored, contrasting lining.

Not to imply that the concept alone is all that remarkable. In fact, you can see a version of the underlying idea in the sleeve of the Black Forest Riding Hoodie I'm wearing in this picture. And this sleeve style is derived from the traditional motorcycle jacket that has origins in the 1940s.Good design is all about the execution, not some hackneyed theory of originality. The BetaBrand version has some nice touches like a rear pocket that hides a retro-reflective flag for night-biking. Right now, you buy the skirt at the pre-order price of $88.20. Expected to ship in late April.