[ziegi]

I already checked out what UK riders think about this but i'm keen to know if there's another opinion/solution elsewhere. Oh, and if this thread is in the wrong forum or offends anyone, i'm sorry. I'm genuinely just looking for a solution to my problem.

OK, the area where i live in Austria has a fairly large number of muslim visitors in the summer months and many of the women wear the full robes including the head dress. Now i'm guessing that since we just got started as probably the only English bike tour guiding outfit in the area and we'll advertise through the tourist info centres we'll be likely to get some muslim ladies wanting to ride with us. Obviously safety is a priority issue but how do i avoid offending anyone by insisting on appropriate cycling attire ?

I'm planning on talking to a muslim group, if i can find one locally, to see how i best go about this but does anyone have any ideas or even experience with this sort of thing ?

All ideas gratefully received.

ziegi

 

[SteveUK]

Hey ziegi,

For decades, women have worn long skirts while riding bikes, so the robes need not cause a problem. Maybe you just have to supply traditional female-framed bikes, and there's no reason why one can't wear a helmet with a hijab.
If it's just cycle touring, it's not as though anyone is going to be racing around the place and make tighter fitting clothes a necessity, so you may be worrying for no reason.
I'm sure that anyone who wears a hijab and is interested in riding bikes will have approached/considered themselves the matter of how they're going to ride a bike, so unless you have insurance/contractual reasons for specific dress, it's not your problem to worry about, although you could make it easier for them by supplying bikes with mud guards and a chain cover that would reduce the likelihood of clothes being caught in moving parts. There are products easily available, especially in cycle-friendly continental Europe which protect 'flowing' attire from getting caught in the chain/rear wheel.
There really is no such thing as "appropriate" attire for leisure cycling, I'm sure you've seen people wearing all kinds of things while riding their bike, so unless you have legal/insurer obligations you just have to make your tours as user friendly as possible. If people of any culture can't wear clothes that comply with your obligations you just have to refuse them the service, unfortunately.
Peace,
Steve

 

[Nat]

Check out this article regarding sports attire and Muslim women athletes.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16006608/

Maybe they'd be open to those bike skorts or full-length tights or something?

 

[ziegi]

Yeah thanks for that. Thing is i'm only providing the guiding not the package and this is likely to be a spontaneous book when you arrive sorta thing. As far as getting the appropriate bikes are conerned, my hire bikes are proper full sus mtn bikes without chainguards etc.

 

[formica]

Why not contact your local muslim group and make polite inquiries as to what might be considered appropriate? Most people really appreciate it when you ask nicely, especially when's it's about respect and not wishing to offend. Surely there is a muslim outreach group out there somewhere that can provide you with information.

Formica

 

[SteveUK]

"my hire bikes are proper full sus mtn bikes without chainguards etc."

Beg your pardon, I wasn't aware of that (although I probably should have figured it out on MTBR!!). With the exception of my misunderstanding, everything else still applies, surely. You have to, you want to, ensure the safety of your customers and so you're going to have to take a responsible position.
I'll be frank and say to buggery with causing offence. If the attire that anyone (I repeat anyone ) turns up in is unsuitable in your eyes, then, as provider of the service, you are within your rights to say no. If somebody turned up drunk, you'd refuse them the service, right? Are you afraid of causing offence to alcoholics?
If you want to try to come up with a solution, it helps to know exactly what the 'problem' is, so bear these things in mind;

1. Clothing must cover the entire body, only the hands and face may remain visible (According to some Fiqh Schools).
2. The material must not be so thin that one can see through it.
3. The clothing must hang loose so that the shape / form of the body is not apparent.
4. The female clothing must not resemble the man's clothing.
5. The design of the clothing must not resemble the clothing of the non-believing women.
6. The design must not consist of bold designs which attract attention.
7. Clothing should not be worn for the sole purpose of gaining reputation or increasing one's status in society

If nobody else has done it, see if you can design some suitable attire.

For what it's worth, I respect your efforts and I sincerely hope that they are appreciated. I realise that this is (unnecessarily) a sensitive issue at the moment, but all you can do is treat all of your customers with the same consideration for their safety. The safety of others is also an issue; I'm sure there are plenty of people here who have been hit by a flying bike or rider.
You can't stop people falling off, but you can do everything you see fit to decrease the chances of it happening. You are within your rights, in my opinion, to employ a strict dress code for your service and therefore to refuse participation to anyone who can't adhere to it.
Peace,
Steve

 

[formica]

here's another thought. Surely a Muslim woman who is going on a bike tour is familiar with bike and therefore she would be cognizant of how to accommodate herself? It's not like it's going to be someone's first time on a bike, ( lets hope)

 

[Sasquatch]

Check out this article regarding sports attire and Muslim women athletes.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16006608/

Maybe they'd be open to those bike skorts or full-length tights or something?

I just recently saw a picture of a muslim athlete ( Ithink she was a track runner) wearing a Nike headscarf, in bright yellow. It had the Nike Swoosh on it.

Nat, are you coming to ACM3? It looks like you've been spending too much time in front of the computer!

 

[MBJockey]

Ziegi, you must be commended for your effort and intention.
Like Steve stated, I can`t see any problems riding with track bottoms. Many of us ride with jeans on at times. And Formica`s right, anyone who`s interested in taking a biking tour must surely be used to riding.

I`m sure no one will feel offended if you ask politely, in fact I think your concern for their safety and your show of responsibilty will only be appreciated.

 

[Nat]

I just recently saw a picture of a muslim athlete ( Ithink she was a track runner) wearing a Nike headscarf, in bright yellow. It had the Nike Swoosh on it.

Nat, are you coming to ACM3? It looks like you've been spending too much time in front of the computer!

I doubt I'll make it to ACM this year. I'll be flying to Park City for a snowboarding/business trip right after ACM3 and have a ton of stuff to do between now and then.

Or maybe I'll go if I can wear the skinsuit.

 

[Crusty Oldman]

You can't be accomodating all sexual/racial/religious sensibilities until you consider what I think. And do you want to know what I think about accomodating anyone who wants to go mountain biking in a burqa, really?