As the lower, easier-to-handle safety bicycle spread in the late nineteenth century, more women could ride independently. Long skirts were not always comfortable or safe near wheels and pedals, making clothing choices part of cycling’s development.
In the 1890s, skirts appeared that could be adapted for riding with buttons or ties. Other cyclists chose loose knee-length trousers and a jacket. These outfits allowed more freedom of movement, but could also draw public disapproval.
An incident in England in 1898 laid bare the tension: Lady Harberton was refused service at a hotel because of her practical riding outfit. The cyclists’ touring club took the case to court but lost. The dispute shows how the freedom to ride comfortably was tied to women’s freedom to choose what to wear.