Reddit mentions of Bell Muni Bike Helmet (Matte Titanium, Medium/Large)

I've been a bike commuter consistently for the past three years or so. When I first started biking, I wanted to find accessories and gear that I felt fit with my aesthetic. After a lot of research and trial & error, here's what works for me:

 

Skirts/dresses: most of mine are A-line and not terribly short (~4" above the knee). I wear bike shorts underneath and tuck just a bit of the skirt into the edge of my shorts. Then when I get to work, I slip them off in the bathroom.
When it's too hot to wear multiple layers, I forego the shorts and use one of these skirt clips. I like the wider band one the best; I wear one on each leg if I'm wearing something really flowy or if it's very windy.


I've tried biking in skirts that are more restrictive (like a sheath dress). I can make it work by hiking up the skirt a bit when I sit on the saddle, but I just end up feeling kind of awkward and uncomfortable. My solution: I save the sheath dress for days that it rains and I take the bus :)

 

Hairstyles: like /u/doxiegirl1, I also have curly hair (though I have a pixie cut). I have known others to use the plop/scarf method she mentions below. Personally, I get pretty bad hat hair and I sweat a lot, and I didn't want to put anything extra on my head. So, I found a helmet that is lightweight with a lot of vents - I wear a Bell Muni helmet - and I'm always surprised that my hair is decent after I take my helmet off. I usually just have to fluff it up a little bit on the top of my head. Only if I take multiple trips on my bike in one day (I'm putting on/taking off my helmet a lot) will my hair start to get irreversibly flat.

 

Bags: I sweat a lot, so when I was looking for bags, I knew I would not want a backpack or messenger bag. I had several requirements for a bicycle bag: (1) safely transport my 15" MacBook Pro; (2) convert into something reasonably stylish that I can carry around off my bike; (3) hold a lot of stuff without being too heavy; (4) not look like I'm heading out on a cross-country camping trip.

And here are the ones that meet my criteria:
 

• The Market Shopper from Goodordering. This is a pannier that converts to a backpack or shoulder bag. I adore this bag - it's versatile, holds a ton of stuff, easy to put on/take off the bike, and super cute. When I was working full-time, I didn't need to bring my laptop (or my work laptop) around with me, and so this was my everyday commuter bag. You can fit a 15" laptop in this bag, but it only just fits and it's hard to fit a lot of other stuff in the bag with a large laptop. Also, it doesn't feel quite secure/protected enough for me to bike around without worrying about hitting a bump or something. Additionally, I did have some issues with the clips breaking prematurely, but I wrote to the company and they graciously replaced my bag for just the cost of shipping.
  
  I also have the Pannier, which definitely fits a 15" laptop with ample room for other stuff. I will sometimes use the Pannier and Market Shopper together if I have to carry around a ton of stuff, or if I want to bike to the grocery store. But, I find it really awkward to carry around off the bike - it doesn't have backpack straps or tote handles like the Market Shopper.
  
  Here's a picture of my awesome wheels with the Market Shopper.
   
  
• The Portland Business Bag from Basil. This summer I'll be working in a law office, and I wanted a bike bag that felt a little more "officey" than the Market Shopper. This bag is gorgeous, exceptionally well-made, and very sturdy; it has a padded laptop compartment, lighter padded tablet compartment, lots of pockets, and comes with its own rain cover in a zipper pouch. It fits my laptop perfectly, and I have enough room leftover to carry my notebooks, laptop accessories, charger, wallet, windbreaker, etc. The only two issues I have with this bag are that it is a little on the heavy side, and the drop of the tote handles is only about 6.5" from the top of the bag (just ever so slightly uncomfortable to carry on your shoulder with the tote handles). It does come with a detachable strap in order to carry it like a shoulder bag or messenger bag.
  
  I couldn't find a seller in the US, so after some Googling I ended up ordering it from Bike24 in Germany. It was $90 US - including DHL shipping - and it arrived in 5 days, which was super impressive!
   
  
• I also have a metal basket on the front of my bike (I got it after that photo was taken), which I use to put my lunch bag or anything else that won't fit in whatever bag I'm carrying that day.
  
   
  
  Other bike tips!
   
  
  
  • Safety: Usually I'm fine biking at night with my array of blinky lights, but if visibility is really low or if I'm biking really late, I just throw this reflective vest over whatever I'm wearing. It makes me visible without making me feel like a construction worker.
    
    
  • Shoes: It's certainly possible to bike in heels and sandals, and many women do. However, I'm really hard on my shoes (and I generally just don't wear heels), so any shoes I wear to bike in the summer need to be able to withstand the extra abuse. I have a pair of Converse Goreline slip-ons that I wear for biking. I wear them with everything, including dresses/skirts, and change my shoes when I get to my destination (in my old office I just kept all of my "work shoes" there, in the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet). In the spring/summer if I'm going somewhere other than work and I don't want to have to bring extra shoes along, I will wear my Spring Step Lizzie mary janes. In general, I recommend a sturdy pair of closed-toe, flat shoes that fit snugly on your feet. Some ideas:
    
    
    Clarks Feature Film
    
    El Naturalista Zumaia
    
    
    
    
    
  • Lightweight superfine merino wool is amazing for biking. It's breathable, wicks away sweat, and regulate temperature. I have a bunch of tank tops like this that I wear as a base layer almost year-round.
    
    
  • Get a light packable windbreaker. I have this one (in sky blue), which stuffs into its own pocket. It's perfect for fall & spring when it's still a little chilly in the morning, and easy to toss in my bag if I think I might need a jacket later on.
    
     
    
    Hope this is helpful! I'm in the process of putting together a Pinterest board with bicycle commuting stuff.
    
    EDIT: Formatting