Last weekend had me looking frantically for a bicycle pump. My bike had sat unused for at least six months and the tyres were flat - not in a calm, smooth, toneless, low-heeled, unfizzy, unchanging way - in a deflated, airless way. You can see I've been reading the thesaurus again and it's all due to the Süslü women's bicycle ride on Sunday 25th. 'Süslü' is translated as 'chic' in most English language Turkish publications, but it really means adorned or decorated. Someone in a monochrome Chanel suit would be 'chic' but she wouldn't be 'süslü'. Add a pink feather boa, a pair of fairy wings and a couple of balloons and then she would be 'süslü'. I held off writing this blog post because I couldn't think of a good word, but hopefully you get my drift. My bike was more süslü than me but I managed some fake flowers in my hair and a charity shop Christian Lacroix jacket, worthy of an early episode of Ab Fab. And why were we dressing up and riding through the streets of Bodrum? Because 4 years ago, Sema Gür, a teacher in Izmir wanted to encourage women to ride bikes, without having to invest in all the lycra and padded gussets that usually go with the sport.
This year 28 cities and towns staged a 'decorated women's bike ride' and as a non political event it managed to highlight a number of important issues including the right for women to ride a bicycle - a freedom recently withdrawn in Iran. The right to wear what we want, whether it be shorts or a hijab. The demand that bicycles be given safe space to ride, rather than taking our life into our hands every time we take to the road in Turkey and the general appeal to get out of the car and on to two wheels.
Cars were stopped for our ride and we were preceded by a traffic cop on a motor bike so for once we experienced perfect riding conditions. My ride was cut a bit short as I realised that my newly blown up tyres, unlike my enthusiasm, were gradually deflating and I had to push my poor bike the last few hundred metres home.
Glad they stopped the cars for you! Looks like you all had a good turn out. I am glad to see this happening - women standing together.
ReplyDeleteI thought, when I first saw the photo, that you had decorated the bike ready for the upcoming nuptials - the women look much more feminine wearing shorts and tops anyway rather than having to don lycra.
ReplyDeleteWhat a super event!
ReplyDeleteBravo! On all counts, all fronts and to all participants and supporters.
ReplyDeleteWhat brilliant fun and a great idea
ReplyDeleteWearing lycra after 40 should be illegal for all sexes in all countries! We bought a couple of bikes when we first moved to Yalikavak. On our inaugural ride my pedal fell off, so that was that :-D
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had great weather for the event. When I see people riding around our island with the full gear including lycra covered with advertising for whatever looking like they're in the Tour de France, I burst out laughing. You gals look lovely.
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely enjoyed every bit of it. I have you bookmarked to look at new stuff you.
ReplyDeleteBodrum Excursions
What brilliant fun and a great idea to take the bicycle.
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