Over the years fashion for riding bikes has changed and evolved as much as women have.
In 1878, the first bicycles were manufactured in America. Quickly, women began riding, and just as quickly fashion adapted. Women were riding and wearing fashionable clothing and pattern magazines were full of "bicycle costumes". The cycling craze practically mandated changes in women’s attire. Women from all classes were riding bikes and changing the way they dress.
Afraid of the power of an independent feminine woman, critics warned that biking could be sexually stimulating for women. Biking stimulated something in women, and many women such as Ameilia Bloomer and Susan B. Anthony expressed that the bicycle played a critical part in the battle for sexual equality and even the right to vote. The New Woman saw herself as an equal of men and the bicycle helped her assert herself.
Women were finding a new freedom from the restrictive clothing of the time. Once hidden under yards of fabric, women cyclists shed their old layers for clothes that allowed them to express themselves and move their bodies. Large billowing skirts and corsets started to give way to clothing that mimicked men’s fashion. The bloomer (a long baggy pant) and the knicker (a knee length pant) became popular women’s clothing for bike riding in the early 1900’s.
Pedal pushers or the Capri pant became popular in 1949. They were originally designed to provide a comfortable ride for women who wanted to look good and not get their pants or skirts caught in the bike chain and were instantly embraced by movie stars like Audrey Hepburn.
Pedal Panties believes that a woman should be able to feel feminine and free no matter what she's doing. Pedal Panties has taken a refreshing approach to bicycle wear. We design our panties with a woman’s body and style in mind. Who knows, we might eventually modify our pantie for men, lest they become too stimulated.